The Valley, G2 Ladbrokes Feehan S., $250,000, 1600m
Race Summary:
Ben Melhan produced an excellent ride aboard Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) to steal the show.
He was positive from a tricky gate to sit up on the speed and then put the issue beyond any doubt when they kicked well clear 300 metres from home.
Mahamedies (Magnus) chased gamely and was rewarded with the runner-up cheque and Best Of Days (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) showed the benefit of his first-up run with an improved showing for third.
Pedigree Notes:
Homesman has a rich international pedigree and he’s a a half-brother to the Listed winner and G1 July Cup runner-up U.S. Ranger (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
Their dam is My Annette (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winner and successful sire Dynaformer (USA).
They are out of the G1 Aqueduct Top Flight H. winner Andover Way (USA) (His Majesty {USA}) and the G1 Belmont Suburban H. winner and sire Offlee Wild (USA) also features on the page.
The Valley, G2 Mitty’s McEwen S., $200,000, 1000m
Race Summary:
Jamie Kah took advantage of the bias today at Moonee Valley on Faatinah (Nicconi), sitting outside the well supported Eduardo (Host) and proving too strong over the concluding stages for Bons Away (Bon Hoffa), who peaked on his run in the G2 McEwen S. at Moonee Valley.
Back from a brief but successful trip to Dubai in which he won one race and finished second to Blue Point (Ire) (Sharmadal {Ire}) in the G2 Meydan Sprint.
The 7-year-old gelding by Nicconi is an underrated sprinter who relished the conditions at Moonee Valley today.
Pedigree notes:
Faatinah is a stakes winning son of Nicconi and his dam Alqwah, was a winner. He is a half-brother to Jalsah who finished 3rd in the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield behind Star Witness.
The Valley, Listed Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank S., $140,000, 1200m
Race Summary:
Tasmania proved once again that it's a force to be reckoned with, when The Inevitable (Dundeel) made it 7 wins from just 9 starts with an emphatic 4l victory in the LR Bendigo Bank S. at Moonee Valley today.
Craig Williams had to defy the patten when his mount, The Inevitable was slow to begin and settled in the second half of the field. He made a long sustained run to hit the front 500 metres from home, powering to the line for a convincing win.
The plan for The Inevitable is the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield over 1400 metres and then the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle to be run at Rosehill over 1500 metres.
His Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton said "I think the horse is capable of doing anything that we set him for."
Pedigree notes:
The Inevitable was a $90,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase from the Cornerstone Stud draft. He's now won a total of $389,775 for his connections.
The son of Dundeel is the final foal of his stakes winning dam, Gift Bouquet who unfortunately died in 2017. She had 14 foals to race, 11 winners.
The Valley, Listed Inglis Atlantic Jewel S., $140,000, 1200m
Race Summary:
Exhilarates is the daughter of Snitzel who proved too classy for her rivals second-up over 1200 metres in the LR Atlantic Jewel S. at Moonee Valley.
Craig Williams took the initiative to ride outside her usual racing pattern, choosing to be close enough to the speed from the positive draw and it paid dividends to the punters who took the odds on quote.
After taking the sit behind a hot speed set up by Taraayef (Lonhro) and Cheer Leader (Snitzel), she sprinted quickly at the top of the straight to put the race beyond doubt.
It will be interesting to see if they stretch her out to a mile for the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield or keep her to the sprinting distances.
Pedigree Notes:
This filly was purchased for $600,000 by Godolphin at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sale from Vinery Stud.
Exhilarates is bred in the blue, by three time Australian champion sire Snitzel and is out of Samaready (More Than Ready) who was successful in the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield and the G1 Moir S. at Moonee Valley.
