The Racing Weekend In Review 6/2

12 straight weeks of Group 1 racing kicked off yesterday at Caulfield with the running of the C.F. Orr Stakes. Whilst the Randwick meeting featured the $2 Million Inglis Millenium and the $1 Million Inglis Sprint.

Caulfield

The Group 1 feature at Caulfield was taken out by Streets of Avalon after the 6-year-old gelding was headed and kicked back to stave off the challenge of the fast finishing Imaging. The win gave jockey Zac Spain his first Group 1 which made the victory extra special whilst the sight of winning owners at a Group 1 in Melbourne was great to see. 

The spotlight after the race quickly turned to Sir Dragonet’s performance after he finished a lacklustre 7th in the field of nine. The Cox Plate winner was in the headlines all week after he was a surprise nomination into the 1400 metre feature. The ‘Dragon’ ended up taking his place after some concerns on whether the track would be too hard however jockey Glen Boss wasn’t keen on blaming the track.

“I’m not going to blame the track at all. The track is in great condition and his action was fine. We just found that he hasn’t got the speed to win over seven (furlongs).” said Boss 

Where Sir Dragonet goes next will be interesting as the All-Star Mile, which was his original plan, is only 200 metres further then yesterday’s assignment. Whether he can be competitive with some of the best milers in the country after yesterday’s performance, we will have to wait and see. 

Probabeel, another All-Star Mile hopeful, returned to the races in fine style winning the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes. Concerns over the 1200 metres being too short for her first up were thrown out the window when she bolted clear at the top of the straight. 

She will have to step up if she is to be competitive in an All-Star Mile after she did only beat Pauls Regret and Snapdancer who would be outclassed in that race. However, to return to races in that fashion she looks primed for a shot at the $5 Million event next month. 

The Blue Diamond picture became a little clearer after the two Blue Diamond preludes. Arcaded took out the fillies division in impressive fashion whilst General Beau just held on in the colts and geldings division with a late dive from Anamoe. The fast finishing Anamoe was sent up to second favourite in the Diamond after his eye catching run and looks one of the very few dangers to Enthaar in a fortnight.  

Randwick

There was no Group 1 in Sydney but the $2 Million Inglis Millenium provided a potential superstar with 2yo Profiteer destroying the field by five lengths. The valuable colt was expected to be winning but the way he made a mess of his rivals puts him right in the Golden Slipper picture alongside boom filly Enthaar. 

In the Inglis Sprint it was Rocketing By who provided an upset winning at $26. The return of Ole Kirk was pleasing with the Caulfield Guineas winner having to come from near last to finish within a length of Rocketing By. The same can’t be said for the return of North Pacific who was sent around a $2 favourite in the Eskimo Prince. The colt was left a little flat footed at the top of the straight and only managed to finish 4th. 

Two short priced favourites got the job done earlier in the day in Written Beauty and April Rain. Written Beauty, who could be a future Group 1 competitor, was first up and was ridden like the best horse in the race under a cool ride from Tommy Berry whilst April Rain kept rising through the grades with her potential looking untapped.   

Hobart

Earlier today Hobart hosted their annual Cup meeting with the well backed Patrick Payne trained Double You Tee taking out the 2021 edition. The 6yo gelding was too good for Classic Weiwei and Barade who filled the minor placings. 

The big news out of the meeting was inaugural All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey going under again, which raises doubts on her trip to Melbourne and whether or not she has run her last race with a career at the breeding barn looming. 

Looking ahead to next week…

Flemington takes the spotlight with the running of the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes down the straight. It looks like a mouthwatering encounter with the likes of Bivouac, Nature Strip and September Run set to clash. 

Whilst in Sydney there will be Group 1 runners resuming everywhere with the running of the Group 2 Apollo Stakes including the likes of Verry Elleegant, Kolding and Funstar.

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