22 – 10 – 16

Azazel is a highly promising colt, as was shown when he cruised away to an effortless win, taking out the thick end of the prize in listed Inglis Banner.

When the Sydney colt, Luiza, trained by Chris Waller, bounded from the starting gate putting a space in the field, it looked a case of all over red rover.

He had the form on the board after winning the Kirkham Stakes at Randwick, but once he was collared by the winner, Azazel, he gave up as if he had been shot.

Tony M cEvoy has a high opinion of his colt, a $310,000 purchase by the brilliant Snitzel, he has earned almost half of his purchase already, if he wins the Maribyrnong Plate he will have squared the ledger.

McEvoy purchased well at the various yearling sales earlier in the year, he already has a number of nice young horses coming through the system.

Luke Currie was rewarded with the winning ride, having educated the colt, doing a lot work with him.

Peter Moody was seen in a new role, representing his wife, Sarah, as the stand in owner of Nurse Kitchen, an impressive winner of the Group 2 Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley.

The three year old filly had previously won at Geelong after a break, showed very little at Caulfield, finishing near last.

A step up in distance to 1600 metres, she showed her true worth, coming from mid field to score by a half length, she was very strong on the line.

The filly is trained by David Brideoake, he was playing it cool saying, “she is going to make a pretty fair mare, not only on the race track but also as a potential brood mare”

Peter left the talking to David, he obviously has a big opinion of her, “she came off a fast pace, it was a big effort at her third start,” said David.

Finally Peter had a word to say “she is a nice filly, we bred her from one of our own mares, “he added.

She went into the race having won $11,800 in stakes, and increased her earnings by an additional $120,000.

The United States received the seal of approval in winning the Schweppes Crystal Mile; the owners had been looking at the Cox Plate but favoured the mile instead, with no regrets.

It was an authoritative win and will just about set the seal for the Emirates Mile on Saturday week.

Part owner, Nick Williams, described the win, “it was nothing more than a track gallop, he really showed he was there today, that was terrific and all credit to Stacey, she does a wonderful job with the horse and we have to thank Marty Synan, he presented a great track taking into account all the rain leading into the race, “he said.

Depending on how The United States shapes up in the Emirates, surely he must have a great chance as he is in form, a win would just about ensure him of a trip to Hong Kong in December.

Winx‘s phenomenal performance would have be to seen to be believed, almost beyond description, the win was explosive, rarely seen at that level.

When the great mare moved up just before the turn, the crowd of 26,000 plus was awaiting the dogfight, but that never happened, Winx was away like a puff of smoke.

Her winning margin was eight lengths, eclipsing the record set by Dulcify winning by seven lengths in 1979.

Winx had no sooner won the Cox Plate than the poaching began, to try and lure Waller to consider the Emirates Classic $2 million over 2000 metres as her Spring swan song.

Waller made it quite clear long before leaving Sydney it was the Caulfield Stakes and the Cox Plate, nothing else was intended.

Winx will now go for a break, at least a few weeks before she commences her autumn agenda, her main target being the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

She is now rising six, having had 23 starts, 17 wins, with $9,348,489 in stake earnings.

Hugh Bowman with trophy 

Sacred Elixir threw the Caulfield Guineas away due to a temperament problem, however, he was on his best behaviour in The Vase, but there is still a degree of uncertainty about him if he can run the trip.

He is the form horse of the Classic; no doubt he has won two races leading into the race, whether he can get the trip remains to be seen, as it does with every horse in the race at their first try over the distance.

The Robbie Laing trained So Si Bon is coming home, in all his lead up races he gets his chance on Saturday to show if he is a genuine stayer.

Our racing and breeding has changed the stud masters are not interested in standing staying bred stallions, while yearling prices continue to soar breeding will be dominated by the dollar.

Years gone by the Derby winner was among the best weight for age horses when they turned four, that era has long gone, that doesn’t happen today.

Sacred Elixir winning the Vase