Cover image courtesy of Brisbane Racing Club
Sunshine and heavy ground at Doomben
The field went through the first 600 metres of the G1 Doomben 10,000 in slick time. Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) and Schwarz (Zoustar) clapped it on and by the time they hit the halfway mark, they were almost 5l ahead of standard time. But a weak close from this field saw Sunshine In Paris (Invader) stop the clock at 1.11:61, which is only a fraction inside standard time. I suppose the heavy conditions worked against her, and others, but given the lead speed was so strong, you’d expect a higher rating for such a race.
In Flight (Flying Artie) did a super job absorbing a tonne of pressure in the Listed Bright Shadow (1110 metres). Tiger Shark (Rich Enuff) ripped through the first 500 metres more than 8l above standard making it tough for any horse who wasn’t fit.
In Flight was superb, she was the only runner in this race to break 24 seconds for the last 400 metres and she did it comfortably in 23.86. Her last 200 metres was bang on average for the grade, which means she’s absorbed the high pressure immensely well.
Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) won the G2 Spirit Of Boom (1200 metres) showing his affinity for rain affected going. His sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ) is a great producer of wet trackers and this hard fit juvenile gave Chris Munce a terrific birthday present when he recorded the 10th fastest last 400 metres of the day to chalk up the hattrick. He ran a standard time but the late splits suggest he could’ve gone a tad faster.
Keep an eye on runner-up Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett {GB}) as only two winners all day came from further back than 3l off the lead at the 600 metres and they were 3.5l and 3.6l respectively. Gallo Nero was more than 5l off the top spot at the halfway mark and his last 200 metres ranked 6th for the meeting, which is very good for a juvenile on a day where we had Group 1 sprints.
The star of the show up north was Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G3 Chairmans Stakes over 2000 metres. He copped a check after the barriers opened and wanted to over-race in the running. Then he got shuffled back a pair or so on the bend before having to go back towards the inside of runners where the ground was inferior (all winners lanes 4+) and launch his run.
The fact he was able to reel off the second-fastest last 200 metres of the day to win is astonishing. He had no right to do that with 60kg on his back, not mention being first-up at 2000 metres on the slop. He is a serious horse that should be considered a genuine Cups hope.
Southern features
Down in Scone the run of Melody Again (Your Song) was one of a mare that is in rare form. She produced a career best figure for 1400-metre races when she took out the G2 Dark Jewel beating standard time by 2l.
That’s now her second win from as many starts this prep and the fact she is beating Group 2 standard time suggests this is the best form she’s ever been in.
Meanwhile, at Flemington the race of the day for us was the BM78 for fillies and mares over 1200 metres. The winner, Star Sirius (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), ran standard time but she was home in 11.96, which is 4.5l above standard and the second-fastest late split of the meeting.
The fastest belonged to Cindy Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), who ran third in the same race, and like the winner, was having her first go down the straight.
Both these mares could be horses to follow over the winter months at Flemington. Particularly the third horse, who displayed tremendous straight-line speed that is a handy asset for sprint races at Flemington.
Looking ahead to Doomben Cup raceday
This week racing heads back to Doomben for the Doomben Cup. Hollindale Stakes winner Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is a deserved favourite but I suspect Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) will trim up from his current $6 quote given he tested Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) over 2000 metres in the Turnbull Stakes last spring.
