Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Over the past five decades, 14 winners of the G1 Memsie S., a prestigious weight-for-age race, have gone on to claim another major victory during the same carnival.
And of the 11 horses to have won it since it earned Group 1 status in 2013, five have put another elite level win on their record afterwards.
First run in 1899, the Memsie has some outstanding modern day gallopers on its honour roll; the likes of Rubiton, Rancho Ruler, El Segundo (NZ) (Pins), Weekend Hussler (Hussonet {USA}), So You Think (NZ), Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}).
And 11 high-class campaigners have won the Memsie on more than one occasion including some of the greats of the turf, namely Eurythmic (Eudorus {GB}), Heroic, Ajax, Comic Court, Lord (NZ) (Targui {Fr}) and Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}),
We don't have to look too far back in history to find the last dual Memsie winner, that being the aptly named Behemoth (All Too Hard) who took his big frame across the line in 2020 and 2021.
Mr Brightside (NZ) looks to become a dual winner of the G1 Memsie S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
This year that feat is being attempted by the grand galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) who resumes in the race at Rosehill, having been second-up in it last year, taking out the G2 P.B Lawrence S. in the lead-up.
That win was one of his three first-up successes, Mr Brightside also kicking off his latest campaign in winning style defeating Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the G1 CF Orr S. as an odds-on favourite.
It was an exciting finish to that race, and everyone is excited to see those two wonderful horses clash again, under similar circumstances (same track/distance/class) on Saturday.
The pair met another three times after the CF Orr; Pride Of Jenni turning the tables in The All-Star Mile whilst she was second with Mr Brightside fifth in the G1 Australian Cup. And who could forget her stunning G1 Queen Elizabeth S. victory over last weekend's G1 Winx S. winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) in a race in which Mr Brightside was third.
G3 Up And Coming S. - a filly's fight for history
It's quite an ambitious name for a race but it has proven quite prophetic with this 1300-metre contest at Rosehill first run in 1979 taken out by a number of talented gallopers who have gone on to prove themselves in Group 1 company.
Such as Broad Reach (NZ), Sky Chase (NZ), Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}), Kinjite (NZ), General Nediym, Our Maizcay, Sir Dapper, Best Western, Manawanui (Oratorio {Ire}), Snowland, Exceed And Excel, Fastnet Rock, Snitzel, Divine Prophet, Testa Rossa and last year's winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}).
As is evident from the above list, this is a race that appears on the resume of a number of very classy stallions and six of this year's runners are colts who are well worth keeping an eye on regards to the future.
Such as the $300,000 Magic Millions graduate Wanaruah (Snitzel) who has looked good leading throughout at his first two starts for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable and the $200,000 (also Magic Millions) horse Axius (Justify {USA}) whose mid-week form lines are strong.
Wanaruah | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Fillies rarely contest this race and none have won it yet the favourite on Saturday is one, the Chris Waller trained Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), a $1.8 million half-sister to In The Congo, impressive at her Rosehill debut a couple of weeks ago.
G3 McNeil S. - eyes peeled for Caulfield Guineas hopes
Growing Empire (Zoustar) and Stay Focused (Cosmic Force) are fighting out favouritism in this 1200-metre contest for 3-year-olds at Caulfield, a race that during its relatively short history has proven a great guide to future success both on and off the track.
Stay Focused | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
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.
And last year's winner Veight (Grunt {NZ}) won this year's G1 George Ryder S. and the G2 Australia S.
Sixteen McNeil winners have ending up standing at stud, several of whom are currently serving mares including Starspangledbanner (Coolmore Stud), Merchant Navy (Kooringal Stud), Super Seth (Waikato Stud), Bruckner (Widden Stud) and Jacquinot (Widden Stud).
Five of this year's nine runners are colts including the two most favoured runners.
Growing Empire resumes off good Cranbourne jump-out form having won at Listed and Group 3 level in Melbourne and Adelaide during his short but sweet debut campaign whilst Stay Focused has been jumping out well at Pakenham.
Growing Empire | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
He also displayed plenty of potential during his first preparation, not always having the best of luck; winning at debut before racing wide at his next two starts with his G1 Blue Diamond S. fifth from an outside gate a particularly brave effort.
Damian Lane has been aboard the last two winners of this race and looks a chance again with Band Of Brothers (Omaha Beach {USA}) too good when the blinkers went on in the G3 Vain S. a couple of weeks ago. Second and third in that race also ran very nicely; Let'sfacethemusic (I Am Invincible) and Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) and they seek to turn the tables on Saturday.
G3 San Domenico S. - the return of Storm Boy
So many eyes come Saturday will be on glamour colt Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) at Rosehill, the boom horse of last season's 2-year-old racing who faces the starter for the first time since finishing fourth as favourite (not enjoying the best of luck) in the G1 Sires' Produce S. in early April.
Also beaten as favourite though hardly disgraced when third in the G1 Golden Slipper S., he had created a big impression winning his first three; a couple of Group contests and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Storm Boy | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
How much he has progressed during the break is of great interest and he has certainly looked the goods winning a couple of Randwick trials.
A horse with a fitness edge challenges Storm Boy for favouritism, Gatsby's (Snitzel) having plenty in hand when winning the Listed Rosebud two weeks ago.
Mayfair (Fastnet Rock) also displays plenty of natural ability as does the race's sole female contestant Extreme Diva (Extreme Choice) who seeks to become the first filly since Obsequious (Lonhro) in 2010 to win this race.
Gatsby's | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
At one stage not run on the same day as the G3 Up And Coming S., this 200-metre shorter race has a few winners to have taken out both contests.
And several winners who have gone onto Group 1 success; Sir Dapper, Omnicorp (NZ), Merimbula Bay, Our Maizcay, General Nediym, Testa Rossa, Mistegic (Strategic), Regimental Gal (General Nediym), Charge Forward, Gold Edition (Lion Hunter), Duporth, Shellscrape, Foxwedge, Snitzerland (Snitzel), Japonisme (Choisir), Exceedance and In The Congo.
G3 Cockram S. - Group 1 mares form
This 1200-metre contest at Caulfield for mares has, since its first running as a Listed contest in 1992 (upgraded to its current Group 3 status in 2005), always been a good race but it has been enjoying a particularly good run as a form reference in recent years.
Four of it last five winners have gone on to Group 1 glory; Benedetta (Hellbent), Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and Pippie (Written Tycoon).
“Four of its last five winners have gone on to Group 1 glory; Benedetta, Chain Of Lightning, Probabeel and Pippie.”
Last year's third placegetter Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) seeks to go two better this time around. This time last year she was double-figure odds and first-up as she is again and her jump-out form has been solid in preparation for her return.
She is one of the race's five contestants to have already won at Caulfield though the only one to have won at stakes level at the track, taking out two Group 3 events there last year.
She is one of the class runners, along with the G1 Levin Classic winner Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award), the dual Group 2 winner Skybird (Exosphere), the G2 Rose Of Kingston S. winner Life Lessons (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), the G2 Dane Ripper S. winner Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) and the G2 Queen Of The South S. winner Caste (Sir Prancealot {Ire}).
Wrote To Arataki (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It is however a couple of up-and-comers most fancied in the early betting with favouritism being held by Expressiveness (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) who ran so well in the Listed Regal Roller S. first-up whilst also being kept safe is Extratwo (Toronado {Ire}) who burst through the field to win from the rear at Moonee Valley last weekend.
G3 Vale Black Caviar S. - in memory of the great one
A race which has at times been run under a sponsor's name, its tradition name being The Heath S., this sprinting contest has been renamed this year for Caulfield's favourite daughter who so sadly died a couple of weeks ago.
Four of Black Caviar's (Bel Esprit) wins came at her home track including one of the most memorable; the one and only occasion she was tried over 1400 metres; in the 2012 G1 CF Orr S. racing away from her rivals as a $1.05 favourite.
The Heath S. has been renamed this year for Caulfield's favourite daughter, Black Caviar | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
First run as a Listed race in 2005 and as a Group 3 since 2014, this race already has some very nice winners on its honour roll with eight of its 19 winners going on to salute at the elite level.
We only have to go back 12 months to find the last horse to achieve that, Asfoora (Flying Artie) kicking off her last spring campaign with a win in this race and we know where those form lines took her!
It would be apt for Peter Moody to win the race named in honour of his great mare and along with Katherine Coleman he saddles up Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) who at this meeting two years ago won the G3 Cockram S.
Chain Of Lightning | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
This year's G1 TJ Smith S. winner races for the first time in the Yulong colours having been sold for $2.5 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in late May.
The Pakenham jump-out winner has been out of the placings only once in five first-up attempts and she is one of the most fancied runners though not as short in the betting as the flying Recommendation (Shalaa {Ire}) who has been in great form at Caulfield winning the G3 Sir John Monash S. first-up and the G3 Bletchingly S. second-up.
