2---- 10 ---- 16

Madeenaty made short work of her opposition in first two year old race of the season, the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.

She had them off the bit from the time the field jumped away, it was obvious she had been well educated and never put a foot wrong in running.

It was an impressive win as you would wish to see, she had trialled well in private, although she drifted slightly in the market.

David Hayes is yet to decide whether to have another run here, or go straight to the Magic Millions in January with his $775,000 purchase, or have another run up the straight at Flemington.

Madeenaty

Patience has been the key to the success of Inside Agent in the listed Poseidon Stakes, the colt has had just the one previous start, he has been saved up until he was a three year old, and it is already paying dividends, the manner in which he put the field away shows there is more to come.

“He is very new and very green but there is a lot untapped potential there, we will take him along quietly, we are not in a hurry,” said Nigel Blakiston.

The Flemington trainer has exercised plenty of patience that is his style, he is never in a hurry, he still gets results and horses generally train on for him.

Once Inside Agent found his way out into the open he sprinted quickly and soon had the leading division in his sight, his mission is the Carbine Stakes on Derby Day and the Guineas in the Autumn.

Inside Agent

Wine Bush could be Derby material, he went into the Listed UCI Stakes over 1800 metres as a maiden and came out a winner.

At least he has the best credentials, he has won over 1800 metres at Flemington, most of his contemporaries haven’t won beyond 1100 metres, it is nothing more than catering for speedy squibs to satisfy totalisator turnover.

Wine Bush has done the hard yards, he comes into the Derby at least with six runs under his belt covering 8,750 metres, at least he has had a decent preparation to run out the Derby trip of 2,400 metres.

Chris Waller is a great trainer, in this instance he puts the work into his staying horses that is where he gets the results.

High Lad could be an improver, he has won twice in New Zealand and is bred to get the Derby trip, prepared by the training partnership of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

Wine Bush (on the outside)

The Quarterback is back, he stamped his authority on the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes with a brilliant win, he was never off the bit at any stage of the race, he is becoming a Flemington specialist, he had the race won at every stage of the trip.

He was merely coasting on the inside of the two leaders, until it was time to get on with the job when called upon.

The gelding was well ridden by Matthew Allen, he used discretion, there was no point in being dragged into a dog fight when it wasn’t necessary.

Robbie Griffiths said,” the horse is going well in his trials, we expected him to run well, he will be improved greatly by this outing, he loves Flemington and that is where he will wind up his spring program,” he added.

“We had an original plan for just the three runs the Gilgai Stakes, Manikato Stakes and the Darley, we are a third of the way now and all is well,” he said.

The Quarterback (on the outside)

Almandin has served notice that he is a serious Melbourne Cup contender after an authoritative win in the The Bart Cummings.

He has put together two wins in impressive fashion over staying trips and looks to be a genuine fair dinkum staying prospect.

There is still a fair way to go, a lot can happen in a month, at this stage he is the best Cup prospect, excluding the overseas contingent.

Since his win on Saturday he has received a penalty of 1kg, he will now have to carry 51 kg, which is neither here nor there.

At his stage Lloyd Williams is likely to have Almandin, Gallante, Bondi Beach and The United States, running for him in the Melbourne Cup.

Almandin has the pedigree to win a Melbourne Cup, his sire, Monsun, has already sired two Cup winners of the race, Protectionist and Fiorente.

Almandin

Serenely Discreet, who blitzed her rivals coming from last to win the Edward Manifold Stakes, could have a busy schedule ahead of her over the Spring.

Her trainer, Phillip Stokes, announced she will run in the Thousand Guineas on Saturday at Caulfield, then the Wakeful Stakes, then the Spring swan song for fillies, the Oaks.

She came from dead set last to win the Manifold, a massive performance, easily the best run of the day, but possibly overshadowed by the performance of Hartnell, but let’s not forget Serenely Discreet is still a three year old.

Serenely Discreet

Hartnell left the opposition to quiver in his wake, rounding off a stunning win in the Turnbull Stakes, taking his stake earnings beyond $2 million.

A clash is now eminent with the two weight for age stars, Hartnell and Winx, meeting in the Cox Plate, but first things first, the mare will run in the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday.

Whilst Jameka was well beaten by Hartnell, the margin 3.1/4 lengths, she defeated the rest of the field by the same margin.

Jameka was not disgraced by any means, she will take a ton of tossing in the Caulfield Cup, she is a good genuine honest mare that is sure to run the trip out.

Tarzino raced closer to the pace than previously, but was found wanting when the chips were down, he is proving a concern for connections.

Preferment battled on fairly, but in hind sight the field was completely taken over by the presence of Hartnell, his Sydney form had been excellent, he started a warm favourite.

Hartnell

French Emotion gave Chris Waller a double, except he was not there to see it, by the time the race was run he had left the course to fly back to Sydney.

Joanne Taylor, standing in for Chris Waller, said, “the mare was better suited getting back in the field, at her previous start at Caulfield, where she led, she was found wanting, this time she came from behind which suited her better, “she said.

She will race throughout the carnival now she has a struck purple patch, she can easily win again.

French Emotion

Ulmann raced closer to the pace this time than when he ran previously at Flemington, he was right there at the business end of the job in the Paris Lane Handicap.

The gelding won three weeks ago at Flemington, he seems to enjoy the long straight where it gives every horse a chance, and he is one in particular.

“ We could look at some better races now, during the spring there is a mile Group 2 on Cox Plate day, we will have a look at that provided he does well, he toughed it out today, he is a pretty good horse on his day, I am very happy the way he went about the race,” said Darren Weir.

Ulmann started favourite, his price never shifted from the opening quote, he was really popular in the market place.

Ulmann

       24---9 --- 16

David Hayes, aided by his son Ben, a first year trainer, is running a successful shuttle racing service between Melbourne and Adelaide.

Horses that are racing below par begin to lose confidence, and the will to win, they lose interest being beaten constantly.

Ben is doing the job with amazing success, winning races with horses that have lost interest for racing, or out of form, has now rekindled in Adelaide.

That was a good example at Caulfield when Portion Control defeated his stable mate, Kifaah, in the Inglis Cup, both had Adelaide form to their credit.

“The arrangement works very well, there are some nice races around 2000 metres during the Flemington carnival,” said David Hayes.

Nothing outside of the first two horses impressed, it could be said that the stake money of $ 250,000 warranted a better field

Portion Control defeating his stable mate Kifaah

Lightly raced Legless Veuve turned in an excellent performance to record her first stakes win, the Thousand Guineas Prelude, she sat on the pace for most of the trip, finally drawing away to win by a half length.

She is an on pace runner, hence it very much depends on the draw, a good barrier position, she is going to be in the Thousand Guineas for a long way.

“She got a little bit lost at her first start at Flemington, the Valley run was a beauty, and she has since won at Sale,” said Stuart Webb.

“Her winter coat is still there and she is going to improve greatly on this run, she is a nice filly with a great future,” he added.

Punters again sent out Whispering Brook as favourite, she drew the outside and had to be bustled up to get to the front, which may not have suited her style of racing, however, she was very disappointing on both occasions here, and the races are not going to get any easier.

She was well beaten before the turn into the straight, there seems little chance of going on with her at this stage.

Legless Veuve winning the Guineas Prelude

New Zealand bred three year old, Sacred Elixir,has thrown his hat into the ring as a definite chance in the Caulfield Guineas after his win in the Prelude.

The additional two hundred metres should not bother him unduly; he was doing his best work when the post was reached.

The gelding is trained by Tony Pike at Cambridge in New Zealand, he has been campaigning recently in Brisbane where he won the J J Atkins Stakes, his latest win takes his stake earnings beyond half a million dollars.

The Prelude was almost a first up run for the gelding as he had not raced since early June, he is sure to strip fitter next time.

There were a couple of good runs behind the winner, Wazzenme, he ran a great race and is sure to appreciate the further distance, while So Si Bon could be a Derby chance he was running on well and will be better off at Flemington.

Sacred Elixir returning to scale

Bon Aurum, a last start winner at Flemington, continued on his winning way taking out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in the very last stride.

The logical now would be the Toorak Handicap, a Group One over 1600 metres, Ciaron Maher surely won’t let that one slip under his guard.

Two Group One’s might wet the appetite of John North, of Bowness Stud at Young, who stands the sire of Bon Aurum, Bon Hoffa.

There was plenty of money about for Counterattack, he was the pronounced favourite, he was handy on the side of the course, once Craig Williams pulled him out to get a crack at the leaders, he failed to run on, he was disappointing, failing to run on.

As for Xtranagant you cannot go on making excuses, any thoughts of him going to stud are slipping away as his race form continues to deteriorate.

He was a delayed entry into the mounting yard after his antics at Flemington two weeks ago, although he was much more tractable on Saturday, he led at one stage but ultimately finishing second last

Bon Aurum winning the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Black Heart Bart is prepared, and ready to lay the gauntlet down to Winx, in the clash of the decade, in the proposed Caulfield Stakes at weight for age over 2000 metres.

He was very dominant, he played the rest of the field on a break, it was just a matter of where or when Brad Rawiller would release the brakes, and the show would be over.

The place getters proved on the day they were form horses in the race and filled the placings accordingly.

Awesome Rock left his form behind after winning at Moonee Valley, his position didn’t alter at any stage of the race, he was running fifth all the way.

Leon Corstens, joint trainer with his son Troy, was disappointed and could not offer any excuses for the run.

The Derby winner, Tarzino, is the query, he has had three runs this time in and has done very little, Mick Price maybe looking at him more as a Melbourne Cup proposition. 

Black Heart Bart winning the Underwood Stakes

Missing the start, which is becoming a bit of a habit for Chase The Horizon, however, he soon gathered in the leaders and was not far off the pace when the home turn was reached.

If he can reach another level, and that is possible, he needs to nip that fault in the bud, as missing the start can ultimately become costly.

Trainer Henry Dwyer said, “we will have to have a look at that, as we go through the grades we may use a set of winkers, he is quite genuine for a four year old colt.”

“I have had him for just the one preparation, I think we might freshen him up now and look for something over the Melbourne Cup carnival, he has a terrific temperament, I think he could get 1400 metres, or even a mile,” said Henry.

Chase The Horizon by Stratum

Exocet looks a definite Thousand Guineas possibility after her convincing win over 1400 metres at Caulfield.

Lightly raced, with just the two runs under her belt, both at Geelong, whether she can win the Thousand Guineas, on just the one preparation, could be doubtful.

She may be exceptional, as she certainly looked good coming from near last to score running away.

The pedigree suggests she should get the trip, her half brother, Reward For Victory, now a sire at Sun Stud, was placed in the Caulfield Guineas.

Lee Freedman was pleased with the win saying, “she has improved a lot in the last month, they were not the best, yet she did it well, we may go to the Guineas, or the Manifold, she is a bit sharp of foot as she showed in her Maiden win, “he added

Exocet a half brother to Reward For Victory

This time last year Alaskan Rose was being touted as a Thousand Guineas prospect, but that never eventuated.

Ironically the mare won at the same corresponding meeting last year, this was her third win from 14 starts.

Mare’s races, over the spring carnival, look to be her best options that would suit her, around 1400 metres, really now she should be able to get a mile.

Her win completed a training double for Flemington trainer, Michael Moroney, as he won earlier in the day with Barthelona.

Moroney believes travelling helps horses grow up a bit, and Alaskan Rose has had her share, her last four starts have been interstate, twice in Sydney and twice in Brisbane.

“I have never doubted her class but she has never had much luck in some of her races, I was impressed with her turn of foot that she has and she used it today.”

“She is a lot stronger, and while her form may look a bit ordinary, now that she has struck form again there is a race over 1600 metres that could suit at Flemington, on the last day of the carnival,” he added.

Alaskan Rose by Encosta de Lago

Secret Agenda, whose last three starts have been interstate, returned to Caulfield on Saturday where she won brilliantly.

Damian Oliver gave her the run of the race, he didn’t ask her for an effort until the top of the straight, she quickly obliged from there on.

She opened up equal favourite with Miss Promiscuity; however, the money came late in betting that saw her start a pronounced favourite.

Trained by Mick Price she has improved from her last start in May, where she was just out of a place at Morphettville, in the Euclase Stakes.

Secret Agenda trained by Mick Price

Jameka has worked her way into favouritism for the Caulfield Cup after an outstanding performance in winning the Naturalism Stakes.

Whilst she has incurred a penalty of 0.5 kg, that is neither here nor there, she can easily overcome that.

She has a lot in her favour having won the Oaks Stakes over 2400 metres, and she can take a forward position in a race, as was seen in winning the Naturalism Stakes.

Her trainer, Ciaron Maher, was pleased to see her back in the winner’s stall, she was able to relax in the running and had the race well under control long before the straight was entered, and Nick Hall gave her a great ride.

Maher always considered her a forward type, and that is how she generally races on the speed.

She will have another run before the Caulfield Cup, she will be entered for the JRA Cup and the Turnball Stakes, and then work out which one is the better option.

Sydney Cup winner, Gallante, was on the pace for most of the way, to his credit he didn’t give in, he will gain benefit from the run as he was first up since early April.

Set Square, a stable mate of Jameka, was running on in fourth place but looks to be over shadowed by the winner.

Jameka - Favourite for the Caulfield Cup

Tom Melbourne would need to be ridden more quietly if he is going to get the trip of the Cup distance, 2400 metres.

Sydney trained Kentucky Miss, scored an impressive win on her second visit to Melbourne in winning the Cap ‘Antibes Stakes.  

After drawing the outside gate, Damien Oliver steered her to a passage down the centre of the course, and that is where she stayed.

She had finished out of a place to the promising Derryn six weeks ago at Caulfield; she has been mixing it with the colts and after running a creditable third in the San Domenico Stakes her trainer, Joe Pride, decided to give her another roll of the dice.

The Flemington straight track can be daunting for a first timer; however, she didn’t put a foot wrong and would not have needed to, as Beyond The Dream, having her first race start, was closing quickly when the line was reached.

There is a race on Oaks day that could suit Kentucky Miss; she is not a big filly, what she lacks in size she makes up for in strength.

“She has been in work a fair while now, we will get her back to Sydney and take it from there, we are in no hurry, “said Joe Pride.

Kentucky Miss winning with Damian Oliver

That man, Murray Baker, is back in town, fit and fresh after a trip to Europe, with his thoughts firmly planted on the Caulfield Guineas.

After the Danehill Stakes success with Saracino, the colt is in there with a real live chance, the next port of call is the Guineas Prelude.

Saracino came to Flemington with winning form, he had won at his last start, the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate over 1200 metres, at Trentham New Zealand.

“Murray Baker thought it was a brave effort, he was in front a long way out, we wanted to have ridden off the pace, he jumped well and made his own luck, and kept on running, “ said Baker.

Last start Caulfield success Defcon, turned in a shocker, he drew the rails, yet every horse in the field ran down the centre of the track, it looked as if he was completing lost.

The winner is by Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry, who won the sire’s premiership in Australia, and unfortunately died earlier this year.

Saracino - A double for Damian Oliver

Faatinah had his rivals well off the bit a long way from home, and never looked like being beaten in the race named in honour of one of our greatest jockeys, Bobbie Lewis.

The gelding was never far away when Kinglike surrendered, he was there to pick it up, turning the race into a one act affair over the concluding stages, winning as he liked.

David Hayes was impressed with the win commenting, “I would like to take him to Dubai at some time and show him up there. “

Again Xtravagent let his supporters down; coming in 15 lengths behind the second last horse, the only excuse tendered, his gait was not right.

This was the second trip across the Tasman for him, and he has failed each time, surely there will not be a third trip.

He does not want to be a race horse any longer, that’s a certainity, his mind is not on the job, he may be a good colt back in New Zealand, however, Melbournians won’t be sorry to see him leave, the second trip across the Tasman has been fouled both times.

When his co-trainer, Stephen Autridge, was asked about the run, he didn’t elaborate much, except to say, “ I am flying home to New Zealand in the morning, the horse is over at Steve Richards stables.”

Kinglike went for a while before petering out; he has not raced since April, and is sure to benefit from the outing

Faatinah ridden by Regan Bayliss

Palentino upstaged his more fancied stable mate, Black Hard Bart, with a barn storming performance to record a brilliant win in the Group1 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes.

Black Hard Bart looked to have the race at his mercy when he broke clear of the pack rounding the home turn.

Palentino was in eighth position with nowhere to go, with a wall of horses facing him he wasn’t going anywhere, and Black Hard Bart was not stopping.

DarrenWeir was not disappointed with the run of Black Hard Bart, he had one run less than Palentino, and will be all the better for it.

A $90,000 yearling, two years ago at the Magic Millions Sales in Tasmania, Palentino is now just short of $30,390 of $ 1 million in stake earnings.

Palentino will more than likely go to stud next season as a five year old, with two Group1 races already to his credit, and possibly more to follow, he will warrant plenty of thought when he goes to stud.

The Derby winner, Tarzino, ran an even race without ever looking like a winner, he will be all the better with two runs now under his belt, he should be just about ready to win next time out if he is going to have bearing on the Cups

Palentino winning the Makybe Diva Stakes

He Or She battled on well without looking a real winner, as did Jacquinot Bay, as for the others nothing really impressed.

Tony Williams, among the most popular and qualified identities involved in the bloodstock breeding industry, has been appointed Managing Director of Goffs UK.

The position was widely advertised throughout Europe, the US and Australia, it was Tony who was finally selected for the prestigious position.

It is the ultimate opportunity, he is widely experienced and has seen the industry change over the past 40 years, he was always resilient, he never accepted defeat.

He will be a success, how could he fail with that wide smile? Anything to do with horses he was there, nothing was ever a trouble to him.

Tony is the complete entrepreneur; he opened his own bloodstock company, selling in competition to the larger companies, conducting his annual yearling sales for quite some years in Melbourne.

He was always there for the battler; he helped a lot of people along the way, he would go out of his way to assist rather than to hinder.

Tony Williams

Tony pulled off the coup of the year, when he arranged a yearling sale at Flemington under the banner of the Victorian Bloodstock Sales, on Sunday February 18, 1996, after the last race was run.

The auction commenced before a large crowd just outside the members entrance, 130 lots were offered, the top being $17,500 for a colt by Umatilla.

Tony is a trend setter, he enjoyed a challenge, he spent nine years at the Magic Millions and the last four years at Newgate, in the Hunter Valley at Scone.

Lots of stories could be told of Tony, one in particular the day in Moonee Ponds while we were having a coffee, he left his keys in the office, he didn’t bat an eye lid, just kept on drinking his coffee.

He took it all in his stride, scaled the fence, onto the roof, down the man hole in record time, breaking Aurie’s Star record.

Commenting on the appointment, Goff’s Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby, said.

“Tony Williams brings a wealth of experience to Goffs U K, and we are confident he will prove a valuable addition to our passionate team.”

Tony leaves Newgate Stud after four productive years, Managing Director, Henry Field, said “we are sad to see him go.”

The Goffs U K sales complex is located at Doncaster, the home of the St Leger in Yorkshire, with the company’s offices in Hawick, Scotland.

“It’s everything I could imagine rolled into one –Opportunity ,Challenge, Adventure and excitement ,my wife, Sue, is sure to give it her best, she always does,” said Tony.

Best wishes from racingtopics .com.au.