Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Miraval Rose resumes in Sir John Monash Stakes
The Grahame Begg stable has been in outstanding form throughout recent months, highlighted by Splash Back (Fr) (La Havre {Ire}) claiming Group 1 honours during the Brisbane Winter Carnival before Queen Peta (Dirty Work) bolted in at Sandown on Wednesday to announce herself as one to follow.
Begg will look to continue that rich vein of form when classy Group 2-winning mare Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) resumes in Saturday's G3 Sir John Monash Stakes over 1100 metres at Caulfield.
Miraval Rose | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The mare has not raced since finishing fourth behind Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) in the G2 Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill last November after a minor setback interrupted her autumn campaign.
"She had a little bit of a setback, nothing major, and that's why she didn't race in the autumn," Begg told racingandsports.
"She (Miraval Rose) had a little bit of a setback, nothing major, and that's why she didn't race in the autumn." - Grahame Begg
"We've brought her up nice and steady, but she's not really well suited on the ground.
"She's trialled good, she's prepped up good, but there was nothing for her, so that's why we've spaced her trials.
"She's okay on the soft, but hopefully we get a fairly good rest of the week, while the 1100 metres is probably a bit short of her best distance. It's probably not ideal, but it's a matter of getting a run under her belt and then she can push on to the Bletchingly after that.
Grahame Begg | Image courtesy of Grahame Begg Racing
"We're trying to get a bit of fitness on the other ones late in the season and then she might be able to go on to the P B Lawrence over 1400 metres, or something like that, or there's those mares' races in the early spring."
The Sir John Monash Stakes shapes as an even contest, with 2024 winner Recommendation (Shalaa {Ire}) among the leading hopes. Winnasedge (Cliff's Edge) was impressive winning last start, while Watchme Win (Harry Angel {Ire}) resumes after competing at Group 1 level during his previous campaign.
Angels Fury chasing back-to-back wins
Things did not go to plan for the Ciaron Maher-trained 2-year-old filly Angels Fury (Harry Angel {Ire}) on debut in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) in January, but after a break the exciting filly displayed her real ability with a dominant Bendigo victory on June 13.
She now looks well placed to make it consecutive victories when she lines up at Caulfield on Saturday. Since her Bendigo success, Angels Fury has maintained her fitness with a jump-out win at Cranbourne on June 29 and appears primed to perform for in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone, whose claim reduces her weight to a very enticing 54.5kg for a race winner in a 2-year-old Handicap.
Angels Fury | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
"She's always been impressive since day one," Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, told Racingandsports.
"To run on debut and run the way she did was very deflating, but at the end of the day we knew we had a young horse that pulled up with a few issues and we were able to reset and come back.
"All through her training this prep, she has been A-one. It's been there to see in her jump-outs and that translated into her Bendigo run."
"All through her (Angels Fury) training this prep, she has been A-one. It's been there to see in her jump-outs and that translated into her Bendigo run." - Jack Turnbull
Such was the stable's confidence in the filly that the Maher team purchased her half-brother, by Spirit Of Boom, at the Magic Millions for $200,000 Gold Coast Sale before she had even made her race debut.
"You want to back your judgement of what you see at home and to see it race day, even in a maiden, it's very satisfying," Turnbull said.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Hopefully we can continue because she has a lot of upside."
Turnbull said Saturday's performance would shape the filly's future plans.
He said the stable was planning "a month, month, month", all being smooth.
"If she was to win on Saturday, being a city class race, you would have to consider going up in class, a Stakes race, but we're one race at a time," Turnbull said.
"She'll get there eventually, whether it's this spring or the autumn."
"She'll (Jack Turnbull) get there eventually, whether it's this spring or the autumn." - Jack Turnbull
While Angels Fury deserves favouritism, Team Hayes-trained Portinari (Home Affairs) appeals as the biggest danger despite her form not fully reflecting her ability. Gavin Bedggood's Egyptian Dancer (Portland Sky) also profiles as a knockout chance after making strong late ground at Caulfield last start.
Pinstriped ready to rock and roll
It has been some time since Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) produced his memorable G1 Memsie Stakes victory over Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in August 2024.
The now 7-year-old has not finished in the placings in his past 11 starts, dating back to his third placing behind Mighty Ulysses (GB) (Ulysses {GB}) in the G3 Moonga Stakes later that same month.
However, trainer Enver Jusufovic believes his stable favourite is thriving ahead of his return in Saturday's BM100 Handicap over 1400 metres at Caulfield after enjoying a relatively unique in recent times trouble-free preparation.
Pinstriped | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"In football terms, he's had an uninterrupted pre-season and is good to go," Jusufovic told Giddy Up with Gareth Hall on Thursday.
"I can't fault him.
"There have been no interruptions, at all, which is a first for many years."
Jusufovic admits only race day will reveal whether the gelding can return to his best, but he is delighted with the way the horse has progressed.
Enver Jusufovic | Image courtesy of Enver Jusufovic Racing
"Obviously, he didn't come up as well, last prep," he said.
"But I've done a lot of different things with him, this time in, to rejuvenate him. I'm really happy with his jump-outs and Lachy (Neindorf) was quite impressed with him.
"I am hoping he is forward enough to be hard to beat (this Saturday)."
"I am hoping he is forward enough to be hard to beat (this Saturday)." - Enver Jusufovic
"I've worked him like a sprinter – a lot of short, sharp stuff," he said.
"He is jumping out of his skin."
The race looks highly competitive, with the Bangaloe Stud and Widden Stud-owned Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) chasing a hat-trick, while the Ciaron Maher-trained Ten Commandments (Palentino) also brings winning form after successive victories.
Pollard chasing Sydney breakthrough
In-form Queensland trainer Todd Pollard has enjoyed an outstanding start since launching his solo training career following his departure from the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable, already collecting two Listed victories during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
He heads to Randwick on Saturday searching for his first Sydney success with All Kinds Of Folk (D'Argento) and Chassagne (Dundeel {NZ}) making the trip south from his Brisbane base.
Pollard has been delighted with the way his new venture has unfolded.
Todd Pollard | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
"I can't ask for anything better than how it's unfolded for me, I wasn't expecting anything so it's all great at the moment," Pollard told Racenet.com.
"These are two mares that definitely need it wet so I'm hoping it keeps raining. If it stays heavy I'll be over the moon," Pollard said.
All Kinds Of Folk won first-up for Pollard on a heavy Sunshine Coast track before finishing an unlucky second at Doomben at her most recent appearance.
"It's probably been somewhat of a frustrating prep.
"She won really well first-up, she was pretty well placed in provincial company to do so but 1400m was always going to be short of her best.
All Kinds Of Folk | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
"Second-up she got back from a wide draw in a slowly run race, nothing got into it. We put her on the quick back-up and she didn't really handle it but still ran an okay fifth.
"Then at Doomben she was certainly a good thing beaten, she got held up and shuffled back in the field and was the worst affected by the slow tempo. There was no doubt she should have won but it means she didn't go up in ratings points for this."
"The prize money is so enticing and it'd be a great result for her and the owner if we can pick up a good chunk of it."
Chassagne is a new addition to Pollard's stable, although he knows the mare well from her time with the Archibald team.
He believes the conditions will suit her perfectly.
"It'd be a waste of time kicking off on a good track, she's an older mare who feels her runs a bit, it's a long way to go for a kick off race but that's the best thing for the horse and the longevity of the preparation," he said.
"She can run well first-up over a mile for sure. She's been off the scene for a long time so hopefully she's finding the line late.
"She (Chassagne) can run well first-up over a mile for sure. She's been off the scene for a long time so hopefully she's finding the line late." - Todd Pollard
"She probably hasn't quite lived up to what we expected but she had three runs last preparation on good tracks and it really jarred her up."
Rumdabar out to make amends at Randwick
The Kris Lees-trained 2-year-old Rumdabar (Castelvecchio) endured a luckless debut when trapped wide before finishing last behind Why So Hard (All Too Hard) at Randwick on June 6. He quickly turned the tables with an impressive Newcastle maiden victory by just under two lengths on June 27 and now steps up to 1400 metres at Randwick on Saturday.
Lees believes the colt has plenty of upside after circumstances conspired against him on debut as he goes back seeking more luck.
"The stablemate over raced terribly and had him in a four deep run without cover, it was an ugly watch for a debut," Lees said.
Kris Lees | Image courtesy of Sportpix
"He came out of it pretty well and I always thought he'd get over a bit of ground.
"He got a lovely ride at Newcastle to be fair but reacted well and it was a good win.
"I think he's a nice horse, he'll be better next preparation like most 2-year-olds, but off that win he deserves his chance in better company."
"I think he's (Rumdabar) a nice horse, he'll be better next preparation like most 2-year-olds, but off that win he deserves his chance in better company." - Kris Lees
Lees is also confident a rain-affected surface will pose no problems.
"All tracks are different but he seemed to handle it pretty well," he said.
"A stalking role would be nice, the 1400m is relatively kind at Randwick. Who knows how the track will be playing so we probably wouldn't want to be giving away big starts." Lees told Racing NSW.
The race looks another competitive affair. Beautifully bred Coolmore Stud colt Defensemen (Wootton Bassett {GB}) commands respect, Gary Portelli's Rebel Shield (Rebel Dane) brings strong debut form after finishing fourth behind Omolong (Extreme Choice), while Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's Woodenbridge (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is another 2-year-old capable of making his presence felt.
