Wild Rain made a one act affair of the Mitty’s McEwen Stakes, leading from barrier to box with little fear of her being run down at any stage of the race.

She bounced cleanly out of the gate and was always travelling as if she was enjoying it, while the favourite, Heatherly, was never in hunt at any stage, she is racing well below the form shown by her in the autumn when she started favourite in the Oakleigh Plate.

She was even struggling to win the Carlyon Stakes, and was fractious in the McEwen refusing to go into line, and she baulked when coming out of the gate

Fortunately the stewards cleared the starter of any fault, and rightly so, as Heatherly was in no mood to give of her best.

Whereas Wild Rain increased her value as a potential brood mare, winning a Group 2 race will do her no harm.

She is now likely to go into the Moir Stakes, whilst she may be stepping up a bit in class, she warrants plenty of respect.

The win was a welcome change of luck for Mark Kavanagh, without elaborating on the issues at hand, he was due for a brake.

Wild Rain wins the Mittys McEwen Stakes

Punters were prepared to support the Perth filly Whispering Brook in the Mitchelton Wines Atlantic Jewel Stakes, her form line was faultless, it looked a case of just put in and take out.

She was certainly the best two year old in Perth by a mile, unbeaten in five starts including the Karrakatta Plate and the W A Sires Produce Stakes.

After drawing near the outside she was away in a flash and was on the fence thereafter, Athena Lass was on her outside but the W A filly was doing much better, looking as if she would draw away when called upon, until Merriest appeared on the scene.

Under strong riding from Damian Oliver, Merriest finally won the day by the barest of margins, being it only by short half head.

I Am A Star was a surprise scratching electing to go to Randwick, with the risk of a heavy track she was in the firing line for much of the journey, before fading away to finish fifth.

Merriest returns to scale

Awesome Rock earned his ticket into the Cox Plate after an awesome performance in winning the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Group 2 level.

The post parade was as busy as we have seen since the Cox Plate of last year, the good horses were there, it brought back into racing the excitement that has been missing during the cold winter months.

It was the first glimpse we have seen of the Japanese import, Tosen Stardom, prepared by Darren Weir, there is a lot to like about the import.

First impression, he ticks all the boxes at this stage, he paraded well, he carries his head low, which is a characteristic of most good stayers, conserving all his energy for the task ahead.

Awesome Rock with Stephen Baster up

When John Allen mounted up there was plenty of spark there, the signs were there, he is no doubt a good type of horse.

You could say that Awesome Rock deserved his win, some compensation for losing the Australian Cup on protest to Preferment.

This could well be the best season for the handsome bay entire by Fastnet Rock; he has won three of his 21 starts.

Fresh from a win on Wild Rain in the McEwen Stakes, Stephen Baster was seen at his best with a masterful ride in winning on Awesome Rock, he rode the rails as if he was born there.

It was an authoritative win by Awesome Rock, this could be his best season, a Group 1 win could see him as a definite stud prospect.

Real Love came from the rear of the field with a wide sweeping run, she is right on the threshold of winning a decent race, while stable mates, Set Square and Jameka, were running on at the end of the race.

As expected The Cleaner ran his honest race, he led the field up until the home turn and hung on pretty well, however, he may be getting out of his depth from herein.

The United States turned in a solid performance, he will be better for the run; a win is eminent on that performance.

Tosen Stardom was working into the race when the post was reached, he is certain to be improved by the outing, he has lost no admirers as far as the Melbourne Cup is concerned, he was working home nicely, Flemington is sure to suit him better.

As for Darren Weir’s two other representatives, Mahuta and Signoff, both finished along side of each other.

Mahuta was on the pace from the outset, he looked a chance on the turn but was nowhere to be found in the straight after h finishing near last.

Signgnoff was clearly the pick of the yard, but didn’t show it in the race, he laboured all the way.

Awesome Rock winning the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes

Flemington or Randwick, that’s the decision Henry Dwyer has to make for promising filly Leotie, as to where she will race next.

The state of the track will be the deciding factor, Dwyer does not want to run the filly on a bog track, naturally the big wet at Randwick is causing problems and it may not be abating just yet.

The Golden Rose, with its $1 million stake is attractive, while a suitable race at Flemington is worth much less.

Leotie looks a smart filly, she is lightly raced having had just the four starts, after winning a maiden race at Sale, she really showed up well in the Quezette Stakes running second to Sebrikka, she reversed the placings on Saturday over the extra distance.    

Leotie looks the potential staying filly at this stage, she was really running away on Saturday over 1400 metres, she will get 1600 metres at least, her pedigree suggests that and she is bred to get that trip.

Leotie first city win

Sydney trained Redzel led his rivals a merry dance, leading all the way to win the Group 3 Resimax Stakes over 1100 metres.

He has become a specialist at the distance having now won four races, all at the same trip.

It was a bit of a hit and run trip as he was back on the truck to Sydney that evening, with his stable mate Defcon, who won the following race.

He certainly doesn’t get much further than 1100 metres; he led by three lengths when heads were turned for home, but there was only a long neck in the finish.

Drawing the outside was the decided advantage; he was able to cross the field with a minimum of fuss, with the result he was freewheeling around the turn for home.

The favourite, Under The Louvre, came from second last to get within a long neck of the winner, Peter Snowden described Redzel, “a very genuine horse but purely a sprinter.”

Redzel ridden by Mark Zahra

Defcon was the second leg of a winning double for the Sydney training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden, when the good looking chestnut won the McNeil Stakes.

The colt by Choisir has been off the scene since March after contesting the Golden Slipper Stakes, won by his stable mate Capitalist, this was his second win from five starts after winning the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra.

 Peter Snowden praised Dwayne Dunn, described it as a great ride, “ what we asked of him he did, railed perfectly and showed plenty of dash, we are working him out at present, he is lethal when he unwinds his run, he can improve on that, we are now going into the Danehill in a couple of weeks time.”

Defcon completes a double for the Snowdon team

Defcon settled in behind the scorching pace set by I’m Too Hot, Dwayne Dunn was prepared to bide his time, he was in no hurry, he never left the fence, he didn’t need to, he had a lap of horse underneath him.

On what was seen of Defcon in the McNeil Stakes, it will take a smart colt to lower his colours, he will be improved greatly by the outing.

Peter Snowdon happy with the double

Black Heart Bart is ready to meet all challengers, even Winx is on the short list, but that will have to wait until the Cox Plate.

The Perth raider is among the stars in the strong team under the care of Darren Weir.

He looks to be the major player, and the biggest threat for Winx to retain her current record intact.

Black Heart Bart is bound to improve; he was relatively first up in the Memsie since finishing second to UnderThe Louvre in the Stradbroke Handicap, at Eagle Farm in June.

He is bred to get much further, his sire, Blackfriars by Danehill, won the Derby, yet had to go to Western Australia to gain recognition as a sire, where he has since become a major source of siring winners, while his dam, Sister Theresa is by At Talaq, whose major win was the Melbourne Cup.

Palentino was running on well in the Memsie Stakes, as was Tarzino, both will be greatly improved by the run, they are likely to match up in the Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600 metres at Flemington.

Black Heart Bart wins the Memsie

The jumps can wait for a while, Great Esteem is in a winning mood on the flat, this was his second win in as many starts at Caulfield, where he is trained.

Originally the gelding was sent down to Stuart Webb to be educated for jumping, but that has been put on hold after his two brilliant wins on the flat.

The gelding was given a great ride by Katelyn Mallyon, she excels on a free goer, as she was seen at her best in the time honoured Heatherlie Handicap, at Caulfield.

In all possibility we will see Great Esteem jumping next season, if he can show the same dashing ability over the jumps as he has on the flat, we are in for some exciting times.

Great Esteem under Katelyn Mallyon

Sheikh Mohammed Ibaid had plenty to say at York last week following Postponed’s Juddmonte Internmtional victory, that he expected his trainers to obey his wishes.

Last Autumn the Sheikh famously removed 30 horses, in the care of Luca Cumani at Newmarket, and sent them to Roger Varian.

According to the Sheikh, it wasn’t linked to Postponed having failed to win any of his first three starts for Cumani, who saddled High Rise to win the Derby in 1998.

Postponed landed the money at his start of 2015 in the King George, and then the Prix Foy before a change of yards.

“When I tell a trainer something he has to listen,” said the Sheikh, who also has horses with Simon Crisford and Richard Hughes, when questioned he said,” I asked one thing, to get Postponed ready before the race and he said he can’t.”

“He told me after running Postponed three times, he is not ready that’s a problem.”

“He has to get him ready, I am military if I give someone an order, he has to take my order, I say the same to Simon.”

“If I tell you, you have to run in this race, you have to run, I won’t take excuses,” said the Sheikh.

Race 1 A moderate field contested the opening agenda Black, Tomahawk opened as favourite ahead of his stable mate Au Revoir, who defeated him two weeks ago at Flemington.

It was left to Black Tomahawk who was the pronounced favourite when the field was dispatched, he looked a good thing when he went around Refectory by the school, except Refectory didn’t go away, he came again in the straight to score by three parts of a length, he drifted from $10 to $15.

Richard Laming said, “it was a tough win, he left it up to the rider, Craig Newitt, the gelding enjoys jumping, however, when he makes his debut over the obstacles is not yet known, it may still be some time off, however, we will see which way we go from here, he still has a few tricks up his sleeve, it was a good win.

Refectory

Race 2 Grand Dreamer continued the run of success for trainer, Robert Smerdon, when he won the SKM Recycling Handicap, he was always popular in betting, starting favourite ahead of Miss Denni, she ran just a fair race.

Caprese was friendless in the market, he opened at $6, went to $10, leading until the top of the straight but was gone when turning for home, it was revealed it was his 13^th start this preparation this time in, at last he will go for a spell that he so richly deserves.

Robert Smerdon said, “the gelding has been consistent throughout his career, he came to us after winning at Geelong, he goes along alright, we may give him a break now and bring him back for the summer races“.

“He is not a staying type horse, 1600 metres or maybe a bit further, he is strong at that distance we will work from there.”

Grand Dreamer returns to scale

Race 3 David Hayes spoke in glowing terms about the win of Catch A Fire, a lightly raced mare, having had just 10 starts previously to Saturday, and been in the money six times.

“She has had a reasonable let up since she last appeared, she came off a fast pace and was going away when the post was reached.”

“Her immediate mission now is the Let’s Elope Stakes on the 10^th September, there will then be some decision made.”

“I think 1400 metres would be better for her, there are plenty of races at that distance, we will take it from there,” he added.

Catch A Fire returns to form

Race 6 Cory Parish was a proud young man as he brought Bold Sniper back to scale, not only a winner but in the royal colours of Her Majesty the Queen.

By the time the field reached the school he had Bold Sniper tucked in behind Pin Your Hopes and Rhythm To Spare, it was just a matter of how far.

He just eased the big gelding out, the issue was put away quickly, a good win and a good ride, the margin was three quarters of a length.

The stable was tossing up whether to go to the 2500 metres or stick to the 2040, I guess he could have won either, but the Hayes stable opted for the shorter distance race.

Her Majesty thought his form best was around 2000 metres and David Hayes was pleased with the ultimate result.

David was thrilled with the win, the gelding is not top class, his races are carefully selected and while he is winning there are no complaints.

A proud day for Cory Parish

Race 8 Heatherly was not quite at her brilliant best, yet she was good enough to beat those that opposed her in the Listed Carlyon Stakes, named after a former chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club.

Heatherly was among the stars of the autumn, winning three times, showing speed which warranted a start as a short priced favourite in the Oakleigh Plate, she never got a break on the field at any stage, finished third.

She can be improved after Saturday and will be a much better mare next time, she was a bit fidgety in the gates and hence beaten for pace early, she still won, that is what she was there for.

“I think she will improve with racing, when she got to the front and still won, I am not worried, she will improve,” said joint trainer, Matthew Ellerton.

Heatherly winning the Carlyon Stakes

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