Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Napoleonic sneaks into the Doomben 10,000
Connections of talented 3-year-old Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Napoleonic may not have been feeling overly comfortable earlier in the week when the Tom Charlton-trained colt sat as second emergency for Saturday’s G1 Doomben 10,000.
With a full field assembled and several well-fancied runners ahead of him, there was every chance the progressive colt would miss a start in his major target.
But circumstances changed quickly.
Napoleonic | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
First came the withdrawal of Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) due to a stingray wound, before Private Eye (Al Maher), Abounding (Rich Enuff) and Devil Night (Extreme Choice) were also scratched by Thursday night, opening the door for Napoleonic to secure his place.
It was a major relief for Charlton, who now avoids contingency plans and gets the colt into the race connections had targeted throughout the campaign.
“It’s important because he looks like he’s in a big race with a chance,” Charlton told racingandsports.com.au
“It’s important because he (Napoleonic) looks like he’s in a big race with a chance.” - Tom Charlton
“It has always been the plan, and it’s not normally a race where you get a full field. Normally a (benchmark rating) 103 3-year-old gets in, so it was a bit of a spanner in the works.
“But thankfully, we’re in.”
Tom Charlton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Confidence levels remain high after a strong piece of work on Tuesday alongside the classy Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), with James McDonald taking the ride in trackwork.
“He worked very well with Linebacker on Tuesday. James came in and rode him, which makes our life easy because he knows where we’re at, and he was very pleased,” Charlton said.
“We can’t fault the preparation thus far.”
As expected in any Group 1 weight-for-age contest, the race is loaded with chances.
Napoleonic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The hardest to beat appears to be the proven and elite Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who brings a clear class edge after a strong-finishing third behind Beiwacht (Bivouac) in the G1 All Aged Stakes last start.
Fellow 3-year-old Beadman (Snitzel) returned to form with victory in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas at his last start, while Grafterburners (Graff) demands respect with Zac Purton aboard.
Poster Girl a chance - But bigger targets ahead
One of the more intriguing local hopes at Doomben on Saturday is the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Poster Girl (Alabama Express), who resumes in the Listed Magic Millions Bright Shadow Stakes.
The daughter of Alabama Express was in superb form at the back end of her previous campaign, winning four of her final five starts, highlighted by victory in the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares at the Gold Coast in January.
Since then, she has placed in both lead-up trials and heads into Saturday’s assignment in good order, although connections are clearly building towards larger carnival targets.
Poster Girl | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Potential races later in the preparation include the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes and the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara.
“She’ll have a couple of lead-up runs,” Corey Munce told media earlier in the week regarding Poster Girl’s carnival plans.
“If she can draw a gate early in the prep, she’ll probably have four runs.
“If she (Poster Girl) can draw a gate early in the prep, she’ll probably have four runs.” - Corey Munce
“If she can draw a gate there on Saturday, she’s going to be competitive first-up, I think. It’s a strong little field.
“But, we would like to try and get her into a Dane Ripper and maybe even a Tatt’s Tiara. We will see.”
Corey Munce | Image courtesy of Munce Training
Poster Girl also impressed in a strong piece of work earlier in the week alongside fellow stablemate and G1 Doomben 10,000 contender Payline (Shooting To Win).
“We had Payline gallop with Poster Girl. For Payline, it was very good work and Kyle Wilson-Taylor was on him.
“Martin Harley rode Poster Girl and that was very good work, too.”
It shapes as a deep and competitive mares contest.
Nepo Baby (Lucky Vega {Ire}) is racing consistently and looks deserving of another victory, while Poster Girl's stablemate Lonhro’s Queen (Lonhro) commands respect. Austmarr (Exosphere) and Give Giggles (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) also profile strongly.
Melody Again chasing history
The Scott Singleton-trained mare Melody Again (Your Song) attempts to achieve something never previously done on Saturday - winning the G3 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic in consecutive years.
The 6-year-old mare was outstanding winning the race at odds last year, but faces a much tougher assignment this time after drawing barrier 19 prior to emergencies coming out.
Singleton is confident the mare has returned in even better form this campaign.
Melody Again | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She’s arguably in much better form this year than last year,’’ Singleton told Racing NSW.
“It was no fluke last year, she’s performed well in quite a few stakes races since then.
“I think if she didn’t have her last run I’d say she’d have to nearly be favourite.”
“I think if she (Melody Again) didn’t have her last run I’d say she’d have to nearly be favourite.” - Scott Singleton
Only two starts ago Melody Again produced a brave fourth placing in the G1 Coolmore Classic before enduring a race pattern against her in the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes won by Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}).
That contest was run at a brutal tempo set by Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), which Singleton believes worked against his mare.
“They’ve run home in 36 seconds, she can definitely run quicker than that,’’ he said.
Scott Singleton | Image courtesy of Singleton Racing
“She’s quite brilliant when she’s right, she can get back and sprint home. Pride Of Jenni, that first 1000m of that race was run so brutally, took the finish out of a horse like mine.
“Without being biased to my own horse I’m willing to be quite forgiving of that run given she performed well in all the other stakes races since last year except that one.”
Interestingly, Singleton is not overly concerned by the wide draw.
“I don’t think the barrier is too bad. I’d say they will roll along a little bit, I don’t think it’ll matter too much,’’ he said.
“I’m very confident she is going to run well, she just needs that luck in running and everything to go right on the day. With the sort of order she’s in she can only run well.”
“I’m very confident she (Melody Again) is going to run well, she just needs that luck in running and everything to go right on the day.” - Scott Singleton
It is an open edition of the race with multiple winning hopes.
Snow In May (The Autumn Sun), recently purchased by Yulong for $1.05 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, is one of the key chances alongside Tuileries (So You Think {NZ}), Surfin’ Bird (The Autumn Sun) and More Territories (Territories {Ire}).
The Western Front chasing a Melbourne Cup ticket
Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 2800 metres again carries enormous significance, with the winner securing a golden ticket into the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
That naturally makes the race highly appealing for connections looking to sneak into Australia’s biggest race with a light weight and a low rating.
One stayer rapidly building momentum is the Team Hayes-trained The Western Front (NZ) (War Decree {USA}), who has won three of his past four starts and was dominant in BM84 company at Flemington in late April.
The Western Front (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The progressive stayer has continued to please connections, with co-trainer JD Hayes believing the gelding is only now reaching his peak.
“We are really excited, ever since he’s got past 2000 metres, he’s really come into his own with two dominant wins, he has just come of age now,” JD Hayes told Racing.com.
“We’ve always liked him and had a nice opinion of him. Just being a stayer, we had to take him through his grades and learn his craft; he still does a few things wrong.
“He’s always been a developing stayer and we always thought he would be better once he got out over a trip.”
JD Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hayes said significant work had gone into improving the gelding’s racing manners.
“There has been a lot of work put into him to make him relax early and finish late.
“He’s trained-on beautifully and we’re really looking forward to seeing how he competes on the weekend.”
“He’s (The Western Front) trained-on beautifully and we’re really looking forward to seeing how he competes on the weekend.” - JD Hayes
The race looks wide open.
The promising Grahame Begg-trained Zakouma (Crowded House {GB}) is the deserved favourite, while G1 Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), promising import Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) and Yulong-owned Zarir (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) all profile as serious contenders.
Concord Connie out to stamp herself again
While it may have only been a 3-year-old fillies handicap at Flemington late last month, Concord Connie (Contributer {Ire}) announced herself as a filly with genuine Group potential.
The Charlotte Littlefield-trained filly demolished her opposition by six lengths over 1400 metres, producing a devastating turn of foot that immediately caught attention.
She returns to Flemington on Saturday over the same trip, this time taking on the boys with Jett Stanley again aboard.
Despite the dominant performance, Littlefield is remaining measured with the talented filly.
“We’re just trying to keep a lid on her at the moment and not get ahead of ourselves,” Littlefield said.
“She has to back-up that performance before we start jumping up and down, but she’s in really good order. She’s doing everything you want to see, she’s ticked all the boxes, and we’ve got to get through one more day.”
Littlefield has been particularly pleased with the filly’s natural athleticism and aerobic capacity.
“She’s a naturally athletic, fit and a gifted horse aerobically,” Littlefield said.
“She’s (Concord Connie) a naturally athletic, fit and a gifted horse aerobically.” - Charlotte Littlefield
“I can’t fault the horse, and we’ll see how she goes on Saturday.”
While interstate targets and bigger races are tempting, Littlefield is clearly mindful of the filly’s long-term future, particularly given her immaturity.
“We haven’t gone to lofty heights, we’re in a handicap for 3-year-olds,” Littlefield said.
“We haven’t gone too high and this might be her last run before she heads to the paddock with spring aims. She’s a filly that is still quite fragile at times, quite sensitive and I think doing too much at this time will be detrimental to her future.”
Charlotte Littlefield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Concord Connie is clearly the horse to beat and the market reflects that, although Dom Sutton-trained Super Seth gelding Sulek (NZ) shapes as the hardest for her to beat.
Flying Done (Kermedec {NZ}) also warrants respect after winning his final three starts last preparation before heading to the paddock, with the Matthew Williams-trained galloper capable of featuring fresh.
