O’lonera is rapidly becoming a Caulfield specialist, winning his third race in four starts at the Heath, the last three in succession.

He immediately bounced to the lead at the start, dictating from the outset, and was never headed at any stage thereafter.

There were no apparent signs that he has had enough, he pulled up as fresh as a daisy and could have gone around again.

The gelding who is in rare form, and enjoying it, could be back at Caulfield if there is a race to suit him before he goes for well earned break.

“You can do anything with him a in race, he will position himself anywhere you asked him to, he will go forward or back, Saturday he switched off beautifully, and Nick Hall rides him very well, he is really a lovely racehorse, “ said his trainer Cindy Alderson

Cindy Alderson

Kaniana returned to form with an impressive win in the Legacy 2016 Badge Appeal Handicap, after being an absentee from the winners stall for quite some time.

She was the first leg of a winning double for leading trainer Darren Weir; she has never been far away in any of her recent races, except she is not coming home with a cheque that would be handy.

Punters are a forgiving lot, they sent her out favourite again and this time she did deliver in no uncertain style, if she remains in similar company there is another win around the corner.

Weir is never afraid to experiment with his horses, he does it so well, no two horses are alike, that is now he treats them, that is the key to his success.

He was confident this time he had found the key to Kaniana, she just had that little problem that she was slow away.

“ Michael Dee made sure she was not slow away and got her into the right spot, it got a bit messy on the home turn but she did the job well, we will try and chase some Black Type with her, ” said Weir.

Kaniana ridden by Michael Dee

Great Esteem was sent down from Sydney to Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb, with the original intention to become a jumper, however, that could be on hold now after the gelding led all the way to win over 1600 metres.

Formerly trained in Sydney by Peter and Paul Snowden, the gelding was obviously not trying in his races, the only alternative left was to try him as a jumper, maybe a change of scenery and the fresh environment, something is working well as he led all the way at Caulfield and never looked like being beaten.

Any thoughts about jumping could be on hold for the present as he showed a great turn of foot leading all the way, and there were no signs of him stopping, he looked as if he could have gone around again and wouldn’t have blown a candle out.

‘He jumps terrific, he has taken to it like a duck to water, but we may give him another run or two on the flat while he holds his form,” said Stuart Webb.

The win brought up a double for Nick Hall, he is riding in great form at present after an injury that kept on the sidelines for several weeks, he really excels on a front runner as he is an excellent good judge of pace.

Webb instructed Hall to go forward as the horse’s best form is when he is on the pace or thereabouts, naturally he won’t jump this season but could be a candidate for next year, much will depend on his current form.

Great Esteem returning to scale

Ocean Embers, who started a warm favourite in the Foundation Handicap, gave her backers a few heart flutters when she was so far back in the field, but the frowns were soon erased when her rider, Regan Bayliss, released the brakes, the issue was soon put to rest.

She is a pretty handy mare that is going places, with a good winning strike rate of 50 per cent and certainly will get further than 1100 metres.

“We have been patient with her since the Adelaide trip, she will be back here again in two weeks, she is telling us she races best when fresh,” said Shea Eden.

Unbeaten Sydneysider, Russian Revolution, kept his record intact in winning the Vain Stakes, although the winning margin being much less than would have been anticipated.
The colt is prepared at Randwick in the stable of Peter and Paul Snowden, easing the disappointment of Capitalist missing a place in the San Domenico Stakes in Sydney.

Russian Revolution, a $320,000 yearling by Snitzel, is out of an American bred mare, Ballet D’amour, she won over 1100 metres, all her three foals to race are winners.

The colt was in the care of Jackson Beers, racing manager for the Snowden team, “they keep raising the bar and he keeps jumping it, “said Jackson Beers.

The next assignment for the colt is likely to be the McNeil Stakes over 1200 metres, but still got up for sprinters, at least the race should be of 1400 metres to provide a better guide into the Caulfield Guineas

Russian Revolution winning the Vain Stakes

One ride one win was enough for Steven King, showered and dressed seen leaving the racecourse before the following race was run.

He has scaled down his riding commitments, but he hasn’t lost the will to win as was seen when winning the Quezette Stakes on I Am A Star, trained at Mornington by Shane Nichols.

She is now on course for the Thousand Guineas; if she can pick up that Group 1 you could nearly write your own ticket as to her value.  

The distance of the Guineas should not bother her as sge drew the outside in the Quezette, and whilst the winning margin was a slender one, she was coming home pretty hard.

Her next start is likely to be the Atlantic Jewel Stakes in three weeks at Moonee Valley, run over 1200 metres.

Leotie could be the big improver out of the race, she came home at the rate of knots, her hoof is firmly planted on the till, it is just a matter of when.

I Am A Star ridden by Steven King

Miss Rose De Lago returned to the winning list with a sound performance in winning the Peter Lawrence Stakes, the first weight for age race of the new season.

The win was a welcome break for her trainer Danny O’Brien, who has undergone a harrowing time with the involvement of the cobalt hearing.

It was the first start for Miss Rose De Lago since April when she finished well back in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick.

She has proved a Caulfield specialist, having won four times from five starts at the Heath and has won four times.

The winner, Miss Rose De Lago, will certainly be improved with the outing, so will many of the others as there was a scrimmage at the top of the straight.

The Memsie Stakes might throw more light on several horses as we move further into the Spring.

Miss Rose De Lago winning the Peter Lawrence Stakes