Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
G1 Memsie S. - a trio of Australia's best
What a stellar guide this weight-for-age contest at Caulfied - one which was upgraded to its current Group 1 status in 2013 - has proven in regards to spring success; over the last five decades 13 of its winners going on to win another big one in the same carnival.
And what a list of outstanding gallopers that is... Rubiton, Rancho Ruler, El Segundo (NZ) (Pins), Weekend Hussler (Hussonet {USA}), So You Think (NZ), Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), Regal Roller (Regal Classic {Can}), Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), Dissident, Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars), Silver Bounty (NZ) and Behemoth (All Too Hard).
Connections of all of this year's runners will be hoping for big-race success over the spring with five of them already successful at the elite level - Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls NZ}) and Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) between them winning 10 Group 1 races.
Mr Brightside (NZ), the current favourite for the G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
One horse has managed half of those - the oh so tough campaigner Alligator Blood who returns for a second crack at a race in which he did not enjoy much luck 12 months ago.
Not having much room in the run home on that occasion, the gelding had finished second in a Flemington jump-out in the lead-up whilst this time around he has really looked the goods recording two easy trial victories at Randwick and Rosehill.
Favourite to add a second Group 1 to his tally on the back of his TJ Smith S. success over Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in April is The Everest-bound I Wish I Win who first-up last spring charged home late to only just miss picking up Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in the shorter G1 Lightning S. down the Flemington straight.
And of course, Mr Brightside has to be respected again; he was great winning the G2 PB Lawrence S. first-up and after winning that same race last spring, he absolutely bolted in with the G2 Feehan S. second-up.
G2 Chelmsford S. - a history of class
What a wonderful honour roll this Tattersall's Club feature at Randwick boasts, the historic race first run back in 1895 won by the likes of Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), Gloaming (The Welkin {GB}), Heroic, Windbag, Beau Vite (NZ), Bernborough, Tulloch (NZ), Gunsynd, Kingston Town (Bletchingly), Emancipation (Bletchingly), Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Lonhro and Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).
It is a race that on 12 occasions has been won by the same horse more than once, a feat that connections of the 2021 winner Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) are hoping that he can achieve.
And he is favourite to do so, having run so nicely at his comeback from injury when a close-up sixth in the G1 Winx S. at his first run since April last year.
Connections of Think It Over are hoping he can win the G2 Chelmsford S. at Randwick for a second time | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Should he succeed he will join The Chief (Gozo), Prince Foote, Duke Foote, Limerick (NZ) (Limond {GB}), Rogilla (Roger De Busli {GB}), Delta (Midstream {GB}), Prince Darius (Persian Book {GB}), Roman Consul (NZ) (Agricola {GB}), Kingston Town, Stargazer (NZ), Hawkspur (Purrealist) and Lonhro as winners of more than one Chelmsford.
Chris Waller boasts a good record in this race and is saddling up five of its 12 2023 contestants. Taking out the race six times in the last 11 years, he has two of the leading fancies - the four-time Group 1-winning mare Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) who recorded smart sectional splits when eighth in the Winx first-up and last year's G1 Surround S. winner Hinged (Worthy Cause) who was on the heels of the placegetters in that same race.
Duais (Shamus Award) was another to have run smart times (third fastest late sectionals behind the winner Fangirl {Sebring} and Montefilia) in the Winx and it would be great to see that triple Group 1-winning mare back into the winner's circle.
G3 McNeil S. - quality on and off the track
For a race only run since 1991, the G3 McNeil S. at Caulfield packs a lot of punch in regards to future success for its winners both on and off the track.
Subsequent G1 Caulfield Guineas winners Starspangledbanner and Super Seth came through this race whilst others to go onto further Melbourne and Sydney spring carnival success in the same year include Sistine Angel (Testa Rossa), Golden Archer, Lady Of Harrods (Dubawi {Ire}), Merchant Navy, Native Soldier, Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice), Tahni Girl (Redoute's Choice), Bel Esprit, Jacquinot, Sequalo, Theatre (Roi Danzig {USA}), Gold Ace and Tierce.
Sixteen McNeil winners have ending up standing at stud and seven of those are still currently on offer to Australasian broodmare owners... Defcon (Boyne River Thoroughbreds), Danerich (Cornwall Park Stud), Starspangledbanner (Coolmore Stud), Merchant Navy (Kooringal Stud), Super Seth (Waikato Stud), Bruckner (Widden Stud) and Jacquinot (Widden Stud).
Of the McNeil stallion winners already represented by runners, eight have sired stakes winners with the most successful of those being Starspangledbanner (33 stakes winners, six Group 1 winners), Bel Esprit (28 stakes winners, three Group 1 winners), Sequalo (20 stakes winners, two Group 1 winners) and Danerich (10 stakes winners).
Legacies, the current favourite for the G3 McNeil S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Female winners of this race have also fared well at stud, of the eight first across the line six of them going onto produce stakes winners... Miss Finland the dam of the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}), Tahni Girl producing the Group 3 stallion Maschino and the Listed winner Kentucky Breeze (Pierro), La Baraka (Euclase) represented by the Group 2 filly Alizes (Rory's Jester), Valourina (Snippets) doing a great job with the Group winners Media (Gilded Time {USA}) and Timbourina (Timber Country {USA}) as well as the Listed winner Cardinal Virtue, Snippet's Girl the dam of the Listed winner Academy Dancer (Royal Academy {USA}) and Lady Of Harrods heading to the US where she has produced the Listed winner Omaha City (USA) (Temple City {USA}).
There are some nice prospects contesting this year's edition with the return of the exciting colt Veight (Grunt {NZ}) and the unbeaten filly Legacies (Justify {USA}) whilst the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) will have derived benefit from his first-up run.
G2 Furious S. - stars in the making
On three different occasions during its impressive history, this early spring feature at Randwick has been won by fillies who have not only gone on to win multiple Group 1 races - but who have done well enough to earn the title of Australian Champion Racehorse.
In fact, between them those three fillies - two of whom had this race as their first stakes success - won eight of those titles between them!
Research (Imperial Prince {Ire}) was crowned Australian Horse of the Year for the season 1988/89, Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) was the best three years running from 1999/00 to 2001/02 whilst Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) earned the accolade on four occasions between 2015/16 and 2018/19.
The G2 Furious S. was the Winx's (pictured) first-ever stakes success | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Research was a very nice 12-1 when she won this race in 1988, Winx was 13-2 and Sunline, making her Australian debut on the back of four wins including a Listed success in New Zealand, was favourite but at a generous 4-1. Oh, if only for a punting time machine!
Another 15 winners of this race - first run in 1986 - have gone onto Group 1 glory... Shamekha (Secret Savings {USA}), Mnemosyne (Encosta De Lago), Samantha Miss (Redoute's Choice), Melito (Redoute's Choice), Streama (Stratum), Dear Demi (Dehere {USA}), Angst (Kala Dancer {GB}), Danarani (Danehill {USA}), Dashing Eagle (Danehill), Stella Cadente (Centaine), Danglissa (Danehill {USA}), Unworldly (Quest For Fame {GB}), Speak Fondly (Northern Meteor), Foxplay (Foxwedge) and Tristanagh (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
It's a nice race for future broodmares as well, nine of its winners producing stakes winners with three well-represented by Group 1 horses - Mnemosyne the dam of Impending; Twiglet (Twig Moss {Fr}) producing Fairy King Prawn (Danehill {USA}) and Easy Rocking and Bold Promise doing well with their daughters Merlene (Danehill {USA}) and Miss Pennymoney (Brocco {USA}).
The 2023 edition of the race is an even one with five of the 13 runners opening up at single-figure odds led by the early favourite Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) who was flying late when a close-up third in the G2 Silver Shadow S.
Tiz Invincible, the current favourite for the G2 Furious S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun) won that lead-up race and should again prove hard to beat and also good in that race were Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar), Amazonian Lass (More Than Ready {USA}), Mumbai Muse (Zoustar) and Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel).
G3 Cockram S. - a first for the Godolphin blue?
It has been 12 months since Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) let rip from the 100 metres at Caulfield to win this race in impressive fashion and she is one of this race's 10 winners (from 31 runnings) to have gone onto further spring carnival success.
The others being Storm Signal (NZ) (Keltrice), Cats Whisker (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), Tickle My (Perugino {USA}), Strikeline (Desert Sun {GB}), Savanna Amour (Love Conquers All), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Dea (West Point), Petite Amour (Prego {Ire}) and Street Talk (Marauding {NZ}).
Two starts after her Cockram S. success, winning the G2 Tristarc S., Chain Of Lightning was ridden last year by Jamie Kah - the comeback rider who is hoping to make it two in a row as she partners this year with one of the most favoured runners Parisal (Astern).
Godolphin are hoping Parisal (pictured) will prevail in the G3 Cockram S. at Caulfield to hand them a first-ever victory in the race | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Godolphin blue is in flying form of late - especially in 3-year-old races - and this is one of the few they have not already won. And they will be hoping to as it is a nice race to have on a broodmare's resume.
Already 11 winners of this race first contested as a Listed race in 1992 (upgraded to its current Group 3 status in 2005) have gone onto black-type careers at stud with two of them producing Group 1 winners - Cats Whisker the dam of the 2017 G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock) whilst the 2004 winner Strikeline has a rather handy one - one who is racing on Saturday in fact, the mighty sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi).
Parisal's main rival on Saturday looks to be Benedetta (Hellbent) who has been so impressive winning five of her seven starts.
They take on a few nice up-and-comers - Papillon Club (Toronado {Ire}) who easily won the G3 Alexandra S. back in March, C'est Magique (Zoustar) who was terrific splitting In Secret (I Am Invincible) and Buenos Noches (Supido) in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. last spring and the consistent G3 Bellmaine S. winner Wrote To Arotaki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}).
G3 Concorde S. - the return of our best veterans
There is a million dollars on offer for this test of speed, a race which sees its last two winners - the old rivals Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Eduardo (Host {Chi}) again take their place.
Favourite on the back of good trial form when resuming in this race last year, Eduardo proved a class above his rivals recording his 12th victory. He has not been in the winner's circle since but there was plenty to like about his Warwick Farm trial victory.
Nature Strip was also first-up when winning this race two years ago. He was odds-on that day and won like it, never in any danger leading throughout.
Nature Strip and Eduardo will do battle once again in the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Only Redzel (Snitzel) in 2017, 2018 and 2019 has won this race more than once - can one of Australia's best veterans do the same?
Well, at 10 and nine Eduardo and Nature Strip are entitled to be past their peak but they have both trialled very nicely and how fun it would be to again see the two chestnuts head-to-head.
But they won't have this race to themselves with the likes of In Secret, Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), Remarque (Snitzel) and Zapateo (Brazen Beau) all big chances to issue serious challenges.
The winner in March of the G1 Newmarket H. and last spring of the G1 Coolmore Stud S., In Secret can fly fresh whilst Bella Nipotina, Remarque and Zapateo are all capable of bold first-up showings.
