BOOM colt Sepoy stamped himself as one of the great two-year-olds of the modern era when he blitzed his rivals by over four lengths in the $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield today.
The Peter Snowden-trained colt joined 1982 winner Rancher as the only odds-on favourite to claim Victoria’s premier two-year-old race with both horses saluting at the short odds of $1.40.
Sepoy, who is now unbeaten in four starts, also became the first horse since Bel Esprit in 2002 to make a clean sweep of the Blue Diamond series having won the Preview and Prelude en route to today’s Group 1 triumph.Snowden said that Sepoy, who is owned by Sheik Mohammed of Dubai, has continued to amaze the stable with his efforts on raceday.
“He’s surprising me. As I said in the interview this morning, he’s a good trackworker, but on raceday he pulls out more and more. He’s really surprised me how good he is,” the Sydney trainer said.
Winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who rode the juvenile for the first time, was in awe of Sepoy’s performance and declared the colt the best two-year-old he has ridden.
“He’s come here again and blown them away. Three for three this time in, he’s won all the lead-ups and now the main one, so it was a job well done by everyone,” he said.
“He’s a horse that gets there and you could almost go a stride quicker and he’d still blow them away. He’s got that great ability to sit right on the speed, do it easy and then have a really good turn of foot.”
McEvoy paid tribute to Mark Zahra who had ridden Sepoy in his first three starts before making way for the stable’s number one rider in the Blue Diamond.
“I want to thank Mark. Obviously it’s a tough position for him and we’re good friends, he’s done a top job on this horse and he’s a great asset to the team,” he said.
Sepoy is likely to be given the chance to become just the fifth Blue Diamond winner and first since Courtza in 1989 to win the $3.5m Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), which will be run at Sydney’s Rosehill Racecourse on 2 April.
Second across the line in the Blue Diamond was the Peter Moody-trained filly Hallowell Belle ($13), who narrowly held off the Lee Freedman-trained Masthead ($51) and her stablemate Metonymy ($41).
Second favourite Atomic ($12), for whom the Freedman stable paid a $55,000 late entry fee, finished second last of the 14 runners leaving connections without any prize money to cover their outlay.
Two other Group 1 races were showcased at Caulfield today with Gai Waterhouse’s brilliant mare More Joyous claiming the 10th win of her past 11 starts when victorious over Whobegotyou in the $500,000 Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes (1400m).
Champion jockey Damien Oliver and Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes then made welcome returns to the Group 1 winners list when they combined with $20 outsider Eagle Falls in the $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
RVL stewards reported that 48 horses that were nominated for this meeting underwent out of competition testing leading up to today's event. Stable security also applied to runners in the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes.
WHAT THE JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS OF THE WINNERS HAD TO SAY
RACE 1: Premier Signs Plate 1200m $70,000
Winner - Stirling Grove
Mitch Beer – Richard Jolly Stable Representative
“It was a fantastic win.
“He lost no admirers when he just went down first up to a handy horse (Broken) and today he's beat a fair field.
Future plans: “With a win like that there are plenty of options for him, so whether he goes home for the Adelaide carnival or Richard finds a race for him here. I'm sure wherever he goes he'll be competitive.
Thoughts throughout the race: “It was a fantastic ride. Coming to the corner I thought it was going to be a real duel down the straight but he just proved too be too strong.
Craig Williams – Jockey
“I would have liked to control it but he sat outside the other horse and he just wanted to be a little bit keen.
“Richard's got a great option with a really nice horse. At the moment, the way he raced today – he did a little bit in the middle not forward not back – I think wherever they decide to go with him they can change some gear to suit his running style.
“I like him a lot. He's a really smart horse, been placed really well, but even today he wasn't really dominant but worked the whole race within himself and he's got a great motor when you ask him to.”
STEWARDS REPORT
Due to a flight delay, C Brown was unable to fulfil his engagement to ride Too Deadly. He was subsequently replaced by G Boss.
Commanding Time raced wide without cover.
From the 400m, Utah Saints was unable to improve its position when held up behind Éclair Mystic and only got in the clear near the 200m.
When Utah Saints was held up, it did shift out slightly on the point of the home turn, tightening the running of That's Not It, resulting in That's Not It bumping the hindquarters of Commanding Time.
Rounding the turn and in the straight, Goldstone failed to obtain clear running for a major part of the straight. At the same time it had a tendency to lay in.
Rounding the home turn and in the straight, Too Deadly was held up for clear running until after passing the 200m.
C Symons, rider of Éclair Mystic, which was disappointing, could offer no explanation other than he was advised by the stable that the gelding would be spelled. A veterinary examination of Éclair Mystic revealed the gelding to have an uneven gait at the trot and a slow recovery rate. Trainer Mr R Smerdon was notified that prior to Éclair Mystic racing again, a veterinary certificate of fitness must be produced. The stable did confirm that Éclair Mystic would now be going for a spell.
Subsequent to the running of this race, Stewards upgraded the track category from a Dead 4 to a Good 3, at 12.37pm.
RACE 2: Clamms Seafood Cup 2000m $100,000
Winner - Vesper
Nick Williams – Part-Owner
“He's a horse that's on the up, he's typical of the Zabeel breed and you could see by the price; blinkers on people want to back them.
“He's out of a very good mare in Sylvaner and we paid a bit of money for this horse and he's starting to fulfil the promise. I think he's going to make a really promising stayer.
“We've got a group of these four-year-olds who are all pretty similar. We won one last night (at Moonee Valley) with a horse called Upon. Whether they're up to Melbourne Cups or not, only time will tell but they're certainly on the up.
On the addition of blinkers: “You'd say he settled better with them on than he did last week without them. That was actually one of our worries, at home he settled too well in them previous when we tried them.
“Very happy that he did the job. It was a great ride by Nick, he stacked them up and the horse settled beautifully and once they came around the turn nothing was going to catch him off that pace.”
Nick Hall – Jockey
On the addition of blinkers: “He relaxed good enough in blinkers, he was always going to, it was just a matter of timing when we decided to put them on. He was able to dominate the race today and come away with it.
“He's progressing slowly, we probably had some really big things in store with him and we've come back a notch, but today he's finally back on the winner's board, which is good to see.”
STEWARDS REPORT
Trainer Mr R Hickmott advised Stewards prior to the running of Race 1 that N Hall would not be given any specific instructions on how to ride Vesper with the view to have the gelding ridden where it is most comfortable. An announcement to this effect was made prior to the running of Race 1. Vesper led and won.
Down Under Boy and The Wolverine (NZ) were both slow to begin.
Vesper brushed the running rail near the 1500m.
Near the 1200m Port Vell commenced to over-race and had to be checked to avoid the heels of Above Average (IRE).
Rounding the home turn at approximately the 350m, The Wolverine had to be checked when attempting a run to the inside of Ajhar where there was insufficient room. The Wolverine then had to be eased out across the heels of Ajhar to gain clear running approaching the 200m.
Subsequent to the event, the Club's veterinary surgeon reported that Scenic Shot had pulled up suffering a mild case of the thumps.
RACE 3: BMW Angus Armanasco Stakes 1400m $180,000
Winner - Pinker Pinker
Greg Eurell – Trainer
“Terrific effort today. She bounced out of the gates, I winced a bit because I didn't really want to be there, but when I saw the tempo in the race it pleased me a little bit more as they got further into the race. Big effort today.
“She earned it today and it's probably a race today that we were really hoping to see how well she did go to give us a fair guide as to whether we head to Sydney or head to Adelaide.
“I think we might head to Sydney.
“Last time she was in I was quite happy with that she was doing but she never really had an even preparation. She come in, she had a couple of runs, went out for a break, back in again and was just coming to end of it a couple of those runs.
“She had a really good spell, she come in, she put on a lot of weight, she conditioned up and got a lot stronger and she just has not missed a beat this time.
The big plus with her, she can handle the wet so if we do decide to go up north it's not really going to matter.”
Dwayne Dunn – Jockey
“The track's in great condition and I was a little bit concerned that maybe we weren't going to make much ground through the day, but they seemed to go very, very fast early there and it gave us the opportunity to finish off from back in the field. She's done a great job to power home as she did.
“They were flying around that first corner. It's up a little bit of a hill from the 1400m, so it always gave me great confidence I was going to finish off.
“First up she was a little bit above herself and run super, she run third and we were really impressed with her there. Today she was a thorough professional, so she's come on nicely from that run.
“I think they've got Oaks in mind for her, so she's got a lot of big fish to fry yet and it was just good to get a nice win on the board for them now.”
STEWARDS REPORT
A short distance after the start, Frenetica shifted out and bumped Miss Elvee, which got unbalanced.
Zelsnitz, which had sweated up in the mounting yard, raced wide without cover in a fast-run race and then had to be steadied near the 200m when weakening to avoid the heels of Sistine Angel, which shifted out. A veterinary examination of Zelsnitz revealed no obvious abnormalities other than it was apparent that the filly returned to the mounting yard with its tongue tie unfastened. A post-race swab sample was taken for analysis.
J Maskiell, rider of Kya, reported at the scales that the filly felt short in its action. A veterinary examination of Kya revealed no abnormalities but it was noted that Kya's forelegs were poorly conformed.
RACE 4: The Yalumba 162 1800m $180,000
Winner - Folding Gear
Shannon Hope – Co-Trainer
“It was a big step, we threw him in at the deep end, but on paper it was probably on a Class 1 (or) 2, he was proven at the 1800 (metres), worked very nice here on Tuesday morning so onwards and upwards from here.
“We wanted to get over today (before deciding) whether we go to Adelaide or even Sydney maybe, we'll just weigh it up.
“Just with racing he's got better. He's got better with everything, he's coped with everything, very laid-back sort of a horse but he was a bit more switched on today and I thought Ben rode him a treat. He put him in the box seat from the barrier.
“It was a bit unfortunate that Craig (Williams) couldn't ride him but he was committed to Mick Kent's, so that's life.
“My father (and co-trainer Lee) found him at the ready-to-run sales. He paid $50,000, I think. We've had a lot of success coming out of the breeze-up sales and he just wanted time, so we've given him time and here we are today.
“My father looks on actions and temperaments and that's what this horse has got; he's got a great action and a great nature.”
Ben Melham – Jockey
“He gave me a really nice feel. He was good winning the other day in lesser grade and looked as though he had good upside.
“Shannon's obviously a very good trainer and he gave this horse a good push today and I think he's right, he's got a nice horse on his hands.
“He left the barriers pretty good. The good draw helped us obtain a good spot, but there's still improvement in him and I think he's got a bright future.
“He loves a fight, my horse, and he fought pretty hard and come through.”
STEWARDS REPORT
Clemente wanted to over-race and hang in in the early stages.
Near the 600m, Kim Divine shifted out to improve, bumping Muirfield, which was forced wider on the track.
After passing the 200m, Clemente was accidentally struck over the nose by the whip of S King (Almindoro).
Second Draw, which was making ground, had some difficulty in obtaining a clear run inside the 200m when having to avoid Clemente, which was giving ground.
Near the 100m, Domesky shifted out in an effort to gain clear running and in doing so, inconvenienced Eureka Jack, which had to shift out abruptly, hampering Muirfield and I Think I Do. C Williams (Domesky) was advised to exercise more care.
When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on Muirfield, M Rodd explained that his mount over-raced in the early stages and for that reason he allowed his mount to stride however, he had to work hard to gain a position with cover. He added that near the 600m, he elected to come to a three-wide position without cover to ensure that he had an uninterrupted run as he was mindful of Kim Divine in front of him wanting to come out.
RACE 5: Ebony Futurity Stakes 1400m $500,000
Winner - More Joyous
Gai Waterhouse – Trainer
“It was just so exciting. The pressure's on you when you've got a big-time horse.
Firstly, the public expect it (victory) and, most of all, the owners expect it and then all the connections expect it, so we're very relieved when she does what we know she can do.
“She's just so unflappable isn't she? It was nice with Dave, the gentleman who looks after her, the way she was just so relaxed before it. He didn't rush with the saddling of her and everything and there was just a lovely calm before the storm.
On not being comfortable at Caulfield: “If you played tennis with your right arm all your life and went to Wimbledon to play with your left for two games you wouldn't be that happy either. It's the same thing.
“She doesn't train on this leg, she doesn't race on this leg. But I'll tell you something, when she gets to Caulfield she knows how to use the other one.
Future plans: “She'll go back to Sydney because she's set for the Doncaster. How lovely to be able to come here and have a horse good enough to win this race.”
Nash Rawiller – Jockey
On whether he feels pressure riding More Joyous: “Once you get on her back and you get out there and get amongst it, it all seems easy.
“You go through different scenarios in a race, but I suppose you've got to win these races because you don't get another chance in them.
On the run he had: “It was magic, but that's the beauty of having a horse like her.
They've got to have the speed to put themselves in the race – I felt we were dictating the race early, I was making them roll to suit me – and that's the beauty of having a horse like her.
“The track's quite firm here today and you wouldn't be at all surprised to see them changing legs a couple of times in the straight where they normally wouldn't, but once she balanced – I think it was Dao Dao that started to come at me – she really found plenty.
On convincing owner John Singleton to be trackside: “I know he's had a lot of good horses but they don't come along all the time and you've got to make the most of it.
We can have a really enjoyable next three years with this mare but you've got to be here to enjoy it.”
WHAT THE BEATEN JOCKEYS SAID
DAMIEN OLIVER (Whobegotyou 2nd) It was an excellent run. Enormous. I would like to have drawn a bit better. He could have given her a bit of curry I reckon.
DWAYNE DUNN (Dao Dao 3rd) Her ran out of his skin. It was about as good as he can go. He is probably a length or two off some very nice horses. There is a race for him. He tries as hard as he can. He deserves to win one, let's hope it is sooner rather than later.
SAM SPRATT (King Mufhasa 4th) It was a good run. He was just over racing a little bit too much. I gave him a bit of a dig early and he raced a bit hard. I thought it was an honest run. He normally has a high cruising speed but he doesn't normally fight you and he was just trying to fight me.
STEVEN ARNOLD (Voile Rouge 5th) He did a good job under the weight conditions.
MARK ZAHRA (Ortensia 6th) She just didn't run out the 1400 metres.
LUKE NOLEN (Doubtful Jack 7th) He probably just felt the track a bit. He's a soft tracker and he can probably come back a couple of grades too.
MICHAEL RODD (We're Gonna Rock 8th) Very disappointed. I just don't know.
CRAIG WILLIAMS (Avienus 9th) The way that she competed with the run she had, she is right on song going towards the Coolmore. I was very happy with her because she had an ordinary run throughout the race.
NICK HALL (C'Est La Guerre 10th) Track was a bit hard for him.
STEWARDS REPORTAt the start, C'est La Guerre (NZ) jumped away awkwardly, shifted out and bumped Voile Rouge (NZ).
Avienus raced wide without cover.
On straightening, We're Gonna Rock was disappointed for a clear run to the outside of Ortensia and as a result, shifted in after passing the 300m to obtain a clear run.
RACE 6: Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate 1100m $400,000
Winner - Eagle Falls
David Hayes – Trainer
“We've had a bit of a quiet run and we really fancied this horse today.
“He got the breaks, he didn't get them last week.
“He loved the high speed, I'm not sure what time they ran, but I'm sure they went quick and the blinkers first time did the trick in a big race, which was nice.
On adding the blinkers: “He had to find a length and I thought he just raced inside them (last start) like he needed blinkers.
On how he stacks up with Hayes' best sprinters: “He's got to win a few more to be right up there but he's a terrific horse – he should have been very competitive in Dubai, he got absolutely flattened – and if he steps out and does it in the Newmarket in a couple of weeks he'll be up with the better ones.
On teaming with Oliver: “I think we both needed a big win, so it was good.
Damien Oliver – Jockey
“Dave's been having a tough run lately, but he's got to take a lot of credit for putting the blinkers back on this horse. It was a winning move, it really made the horse travel up at the business part of the race.
“He's been consistent at the top level without winning a good one, this horse, so he really deserves it.
“He put the writing on the wall a bit the other day and the blinkers were really a winning move.
“It's great to win a good one for Hayes and also Rupert Legh and Andrew Ramsden, a lot of the owners have been great supporters of mine.
“It's been a while since my last Group 1, so you never forget that feeling of winning a big one like that and it was a great buzz.”
WHAT THE BEATEN JOCKEYS SAID:
LUKE NOLEN (Avenue 2nd) Typical run for her around Caulfield. Very honest. Hopefully she will be a good thing in the Sangster in Adelaide.
CRAIG NEWITT (Hinchinbrook 3rd) He went super. Really good. Just wants six furlongs. Probably drawn inside wasn't an advantage. He stepped a bit slow and was always going to be back and need a bit of luck. His final sectionals were probably the best in the race and two weeks into the Newmarket will be right up his alley. Got to run into Black Caviar but there is no hard in running second to her.
STEVEN KING (Varenna Miss 4th) Good run, it was only the sixth start of her life and she has got a nice future.
GLEN BOSS (Solar Charged 5th) She is not good enough. Simple as that I think. She is capable of winning a good race but at the moment I don't think she is capable of winning a group one sprint. She just lacks a couple of lengths.
COREY BROWN (Undeniably 6th) Just wants a bit further now.
CRAIG WILLIAMS (Response 7th) Unlucky is an understatement.
NICK HALL (General Truce 8th) He went super. Got a long way back. He is in at Adelaide in two weeks and will go close.
MICHAEL WALKER (Panpique 9th) A really good run. Possibly change the barrier and it might have been a different result. Just drawn so wide I had to ride her so far back and they went lickety-split I couldn't keep up. But she hit the line very very strong. I'm very happy with her.
SHANE SCRIVEN (Reward For Effort 10th) Going well until the 100m and then he dropped right out.
STEPHEN BASTER (Keano 11th) They went too fast. Too quick.
NASH RAWILLER (Shellscrape 12th) He jarred really quite badly and I just wasn't happy with his action.
JAMES WINKS (Cardinal Virtue 13th) He ran fair.
MICHAEL RODD (Catapulted 14th) I can't offer much guys. Very ordinary. It was the worst run he's put in. He always gives his best so we will just have to see how he pulls up. You can't blame the track because he is from Adelaide and so he has probably been on harder tracks that that. Very disappointing.
JIM CASSIDY (Faster Son 15th) He was never it.
BEN MELHAM (Set For Fame 16th) Melted before the start in the weather I reckon.
DWAYNE DUNN (First Command 17th) I think he has hurt himself again.
STEWARDS REPORT
Subsequent to the running of Race 3, Stewards established from trainer Mr A Noonan that Varenna Miss would be ridden off the pace from the wide draw. Varenna Miss settled a little worse than mid-field.
Hinchinbrook was slow to begin.
Faster Son jumped away awkwardly
Catapulted raced wide without cover.
Faster Son raced wide without cover and also hung out.
Solar Charged hung out rounding the home turn.
At no stage in the straight did Response obtain a clear run and subsequently went to the line not being fully tested.
Inside the 200m, Cardinal Virtue was checked when Catapulted shifted in when starting to give ground and Shellscrape shifted out after initially being taken out slightly by Set For Fame. In this incident, Panipique, which was following, had to be eased to avoid the heels of Catapulted.
D Dunn (First Command) was of the opinion that the gelding may have hurt itself on jumping away. It was noted that First Command had jumped away awkwardly. A veterinary examination of First Command revealed no abnormalities.
N Rawiller (Shellscrape) reported that the horse felt short in its action. A subsequent veterinary examination of Shellscrape revealed the horse to be lame in the near foreleg.
M Rodd (Catapulted) was of the opinion that his mount did not appreciate today's firm track. A veterinary examination of Catapulted revealed abrasions inside its off hind leg and muscle twitching in both shoulders.
B Melham (Set For Fame) was of the view that his mount got stirred up in its preliminary to the barriers, which in his view was the reason for today's poor performance. A veterinary examination of Set For Fame revealed no abnormalities.
RACE 7: Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes 1200m $1,000,000
Winner - Sepoy
Peter Snowden – Trainer
“I think Paul's the trainer down here, he's done a tremendous job.
“It just proves what we're all about. Racing's important to everyone, but for us and the position we have, we're expected to do this and it's good when it comes off.
On Sepoy's season to date: “He's surprising me. As I said in the interview this morning, he's a good trackworker, but on raceday he pulls out more and more. He's really surprised me how good he is.
On a Golden Slipper tilt: “I think the five or six weeks timeframe we have is perfect for him.
“As long as he comes though all right, I haven't spoken to the team about this yet, but that's always been in my mind to go there all being well.
“He'll be back at the farm Monday and he'll have a bit of R and R in the paddocks and on the water walker and we'll assess him then, but to my eye we've got one more to go.”
Kerrin McEvoy – Jockey
“He's come here again and blown them away. Three for three this time in, he's won all the lead-ups and now the main one, so it was a job well done by everyone.
On the feel he got at his first ride on Sepoy: “He's a horse that gets there and you could almost go a stride quicker and he'd still blow them away. He's just got that great ability to sit right on the speed and do it easy and then have a really good
turn of foot.
On taking over from Mark Zahra: “I just want to thank Mark as well. Obviously it's a tough position for him and we're good friends, he's done a top job on this horse and he's a great asset to the team.
“Sheikh Mohammed and the team, they all look at the results with their breeding glasses on. We're a breeding/racing operation and it's a fantastic thrill to come here and win these good races and hopefully see these horses go on to stud.
On whether staying up for the Golden Slipper will be a problem: “I don't reckon so, because he just does it so easy and does it on his ear and has got that little racing attitude that you want.
“I'm sure everyone will just wait and see how he pulls up, but a top effort by Paul and Peter and the whole Darley team from the top to the bottom.”
WHAT THE BEATEN JOCKEYS SAID
CRAIG WILLIAMS (Hallowell Belle 2nd). Great run. Even the way she went to the gates today she just improved. You could feel the improvement in her. Pete put a shadow roll on her and she raced a lot better. She did her job and got beaten by a superstar.
DWAYNE DUNN (Masthead 3rd) It just seems to be a great race for me. The horse was 50/1 and ran super. He got speared off on the bend which probably cost him running a clear second. But he will be hard to beat in the Sires.
LUKE NOLEN (Metonymy 4th) I think with an even run she probably finishes second but I just had to wait for Craig's horse to go and we ran into a bottleneck as a result.
DAMIEN OLIVER (Holdontoyahorses 5th) She ran well. Ran to her best and will be better in the spring.
CHRIS SYMONS (Delago's Lad 6th) Tardy away. Took a furlong to get into any sort of rhythm,.
BEN MELHAM (Running Tall 7th) He will probably take a bit of improvement out of that. Probably should have had two runs going into the Diamond.
NASH RAWILLER (Grand Britannia 8th) His run was pretty good, he was pretty luckless actually. He was slow away and got into a bit of a scrimmage on the corner and again in the straight. He is more of a Sires horse over further.
MICHAEL WALKER (Spectrolite 9th) Nice horse, bad barrier. Got back and ran home nicely. Put him aside now and he will be a nice three year old.
NICK HALL (Anevay 10th) The 1200 is a bit far.
GLEN BOSS (Envious 11th) He never coped. He will go to the paddock now.
DALE SMITH (Arctic Command 12th) He's a horse in the midst of growing and still learning what it all about. I think he is going to be a lot better for it and I'm looking forward to his three year old season.
CRAIG NEWITT (Atomic 13th) Not yet.
JIM CASSIDY (Helping Hand 14th) Just outclassed.
STEWARDS REPORT
Grand Britannia jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.
Atomic, Delago's Lad and Masthead jumped away a little awkwardly.
Near the 1000m, Hallowell Belle shifted out slightly, resulting in Metonymy having to be checked to avoid that horse's heels.
Rounding the turn nearing the 400m, Metonymy (L Nolen) shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, tightening the running of Grand Britannia, which had to be checked. A short distance afterwards, Metonymy shifted in to avoid the heels of Hallowell Belle and as a result caused crowding to Grand Britannia which again had to be checked. Stewards were satisfied that L Nolen made the necessary effort to try and avoid the incident therefore no further action was taken.
Rounding the home turn, Holdontoyahorses shifted out abruptly, forcing Envious and Masthead wider on the track.
After passing the 300m, Spectrolite was crowded for room between Delago's Lad and Envious, which layed in away from Masthead.
Approaching the 200m, Arctic Command shifted in under pressure, hampering Helping Hand, which got unbalanced when it was weakening and this caused some inconvenience to Grand Britannia.
C Newitt, rider of Atomic, which was disappointing, advised that the colt travelled well to the home turn but then failed to respond to his riding. A veterinary examination of Atomic revealed a slower than normal recovery rate.
RACE 8: Carlton Draught St George Stakes 1800m $200,000
Winner - Heart Of Dreams
Mick Price – Trainer
“He's been Group 1-placed three or four times chasing the good horses so he's had a good prep and today was his course and distance. Certainly he's got to go to the Australian Cup now, on that.
On him leading today: “Bad gate causes those awkward rides and it's not the way you want to see him racing, especially if you want to go to Flemington, but when he does draw a gate, he does get cover and he settles beautifully.
“What do you do from those bad gates? He's not a get-back horse and if he draws a gate and gets cover he's relaxed and beautiful. D Oliver made his own decision, as the good jocks do, and gets the money.
Price's thoughts during the run: “He's a tough horse, he's fit, he's a reasonably good weight-for-age horse and they're hard to run down these sort of horses.
“I just thought he was going too hard within himself. Not that he was running hard sectionals, but certainly he was going too hard within himself.
“It was a good hard run (that will) toughen him up for the Australian Cup.
On the prospect of getting 2000m at Flemington: “Bit vulnerable but it doesn't matter. He's a more mature horse now and he'll be thereabouts. He'll be hard fit and if he draws a gate and he's well ridden he'll be there.”
Damien Oliver – Jockey
“He can be a bit grubby away from the start so I just made sure he began well and put him there and just when I went to come off the leader, because I'd stoked him a bit early and set him alight he didn't want to come back and relax.
“But we weren't going quick and I thought it was better off to take it up and just rate him and have him going comfortably in his own rhythm than be fighting him to take a sit.
“He's that kind of going horse. He's a bit of a rubberneck and down the side he relaxed well, got into a nice rhythm and I thought I might have got going a touch soon but I didn't want to interrupt that rhythm.
“Just keep him going and consequently he might have got a bit tired late, but he was enjoying a nice run and I just wanted to keep him going smoothly.
Will he get 2000m in an Australian Cup?: “That's the little query at 2000 but he's never far away. He's such a consistent horse, he's best run have been here at Caulfield but he's never run bad at Flemington.
“We haven't got So You Think to chase at the moment so why not have a crack.”
STEWARDS REPORT
Near the 1500m, Linton was checked when tightened for room by Hanks, which was placed in restricted room by Shocking. Stewards, in evaluating the incident, had some doubt as to whether C Brown, rider of Shocking, was fully responsible for the incident, therefore he was given the benefit of the doubt but nonetheless was issued with a severe reprimand.
Heart Of Dreams over-raced in the early and middle stages.
Rebel Soldier raced wide without cover.
Passing the 400m, Shocking shifted out to improve, forcing Rebel Soldier wider on the track.
Near the 400m, Linton got unbalanced when being steadied off the heels of Rebel Soldier, which was giving ground.
Over the concluding stages, Moudre, which was making ground, had to be steadied when disappointed for clear running.
C Brown (Shocking) was of the view that his mount may not have been suited by today's firmer track conditions.
RACE 9: TBV Mannerism Stakes 1400m $125,000
Winner - Red Flair
Mathew Ellerton – Trainer
“Much deserved black type and she's a Group winner finally. She's always been thereabouts but it was a much deserved win.
“That's her style, up on the speed, she did a lot of work at Mornington 10 days ago and I in the back of my mind she had a pretty hard, tough run there on a hot day and felt the pinch but she's very resilient and good enough to butter up today.
“Back to mares today, 1400 at Caulfield, which she always performed well, she got it done.”
Chris Symons – Jockey
“She had a really hard run at Mornington last start and that concerned me today, but obviously Matty knew she was spot on. She had a pretty easy run from an awkward barrier but there wasn't much pace in the race, so the plan was always to go forward.
“She's got a nice kick and she's a nice free-rolling horse when she gets to the front, she's hard to run down.
On being challenged by Simply Put late: “She keeps fighting under pressure and she (Simply Put) actually got to my head and she fought her off no worries.”
STEWARDS REPORT
Mr R Douglas, representing trainer Mr J Conlan, was notified of the requirement to have their respective runners on course by the prescribed time. This was in respect of Perfect Hostess not being on-course by the required time today. A post-race veterinary examination of Perfect Hostess revealed a slower than normal recovery rate.
Approaching the course proper near the 1300m, Perfect Hostess shifted out abruptly to avoid the heels of Status Symbol and in doing so, made heavy contact with Mont Fleuri, forcing that horse wider on the track.
Near the 1200m, Culminate (NZ) got its head up when being restrained. This resulted in Counterpane, which was following, having to be eased. A short distance afterwards, Culminate (NZ) again got its head up when being restrained. This caused interference to So Anyway, which got its head up when being restrained and Counterpane, which was following, again had to be eased.
When the tempo of the race slowed passing the 1000m, Status Symbol had to be checked off the heels of Culminate (NZ). This resulted in a number of runners which were following being checked, the main sufferers being Counterpane, My Emotion, Perfect Hostess and Windarra Place.
Near the 200m, Windarra Place, which was making ground, was checked when disappointed for a run between Status Symbol and Counterpane, then shifted in to obtain a clear run.
ABOVE COPY COURTESY OF RACING VICTORIA MEDIA CENTRE and RVL STEWARDS
