Turnbull Stakes (Group 1)
SATURDAY was the last time you will see Sir Delius go around at 7/1 for some time. Lining up in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2,000 metres at Flemington, he tore up a quality field to win by two lengths, having powered away in the final 200 metres like a horse ready for further.
Star mare Via Sistina, the 5/4 favourite, rallied late but she could only manage third after Antino was just ahead of her having led around the final bend.
Craig Williams retained the ride for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and was effusive in his praise.
“In Group 1 races, you don’t think you can win like that, but we were very confident he could do it,” said Williams.
“I worked him during the week at Flemington, and he walked out and he owned the track. He owns everything he does and today you saw that attitude.
“He puts the writing on the wall when under pressure against these top horses, and he’s delivering.”
Never tested beyond 2,400 metres, the unknown is the 3,200 of the Melbourne Cup. “I just said you will never have 55.5kg in the Melbourne Cup again,” added Williams.
Favourite
Having finished eighth on the corresponding weekend last year in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Frankel horse is now a 5/2 favourite for the Melbourne Cup ahead of Al Riffa at 5/1, as well as being second favourite for the Cox Plate behind Via Sistina.
“He’s put on condition. He’s relaxed more and whatever he runs in, they’re going to have to beat him,” said co-trainer Gai Waterhouse.
“Any lesser jockey would not have got out (of the pocket), but the waters opened, and he went boom. That was the exciting part, the boom.”
Catching the eye in a fast-finishing fourth was the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours, who is the 5/2 favourite for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup next week.
“It was a real test for him going up to this level against the genuine top horses in this country over 2,000 metres, he was probably looking for the mile and a half,” said Tony McEvoy.
“I can’t wait to dive into the sectionals, and I thought it was an amazing prep run for two weeks’ time.”
TAB Epsom (Group 1)
AUTUMN Glow has remained unbeaten after completing her seventh win with a maiden Group 1 in the Epsom at Randwick on Saturday.
The Autumn Sun filly, trained by Chris Waller, was more than just impressive at her first start over a mile.
Having jumped from widest gate, Kerrin McEvoy glided forward to post one off the fence just off the leader. Stoked up on straightening up, she collared the leading Fully Lit with 200 metres remaining to forge away to a dominant two-length win.
“It means a lot to us, she’s a very talented horse. It’s all about Group 1 racing in my eyes and for the future generations,” said Waller. “So, it was so important to get that box ticked, that was the biggest relief. I think the next run will be fine. I’m not worried about the winning record, it’s almost impossible to keep that intact.
“So, yeah, let her be a horse, and we’re so lucky to be here in Sydney with so many options. I’m just honoured to be training horses like her.
“I’ll speak to (owners) Mr Messara and his team, and the Hermitage up in Hong Kong, and we’ll see what they all want to do, probably one more run. It’s likely either the Golden Eagle (at Randwick) or the Empire Rose at Flemington (both on November 1st).”
Darley Flight Stakes (Group 1)
SYDNEY’S top three-year-old fillies stepped up to Group 1 class with the running of the Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday to complete the Princess Series.
Off the back of wins in the first two legs; the Furious Stakes and Tea Rose Stakes, both Group 2 events, it was no surprise that Apocalyptic was all the rage.
The Extreme Choice filly, trained by Michael Freedman, was in the red at 3/5. With a handful of horse on straightening, Tommy Berry only had to let the handbrake off for Apocalyptic to dart to the lead.
Kept honest by Berry, the margin was just over a length to the Lucky Vega filly Within The Law, who just shaded the Spirit Of Boom filly Karinska.
Lost for words
“What a filly, just saying before, for a filly having a fourth lifetime start, and she’s won two Group 2s and a Group 1. I’m a bit lost for words,” said Michael Freedman.
“You know, as any trainer would attest, you know, you spend a lot of time getting up early and trying to find good horses to train. And when these sort of ones come along, they certainly make it easier to get out of bed in the morning.
“I thought she was our sort of number one seed for the Slipper, but I’ve got no doubt now whatsoever that it was a blessing to be in a position where we had to stop. And I think just giving her that extra time and allowing her to mature physically and mentally was a big, big plus.”
A A$400,000 yearling from Coolmore’s draft at the Magic Millions, Apocalyptic debuted in December last year before missing the Golden Slipper and resuming in September.
Asahi Super Dry Metropolitan (Group 1)
HAVING just lost the Melbourne Cup ride on Knights Choice due to a Strangles outbreak, Robbie Dolan looks to have secured a Cup ride after piloting the Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy to victory in the Group 1 Metropolitan over 2,400 metres at Randwick on Saturday.
“Racing’s a funny game isn’t it,” said Dolan. “Yeah, it’s a real shame about Knight’s Choice, you know that little horse changed all our lives forever, but his welfare is number one and I do believe things happen for a reason.
“He (Royal Supremacy) is probably the strongest horse I’ve ever ridden, my God I was bolting at one stage, I’d say he’s a pretty talented horse because he over-raced pretty much most of the race and ran away from them. If he learns to relax, he’d be a serious weight-for-age horse.”
By Make Believe, and formerly trained by Andrew Balding where he was third in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, Royal Supremacy led in an Irish-bred first four. Second a length away was the Phoenix Of Spain gelding Soul Of Spain ahead of the Belardo gelding Juja Kibo with More Felons, by Churchill in fourth. Royal Supremacy is on the minimum weight for the Melbourne Cup, 51kg. The former Willie Mullins-trained Vauban finished fifth after being short of running room late on.
THE former Joseph O’Brien-trained Valiant King, now in the care of Chris Waller, won his first start in Australia at Flemington on Saturday to secure a ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup.
A 60/1 outsider after nine starts for Chris Waller, the best a third in Group 2 Chairman’s Stakes, Valiant King flew the final furlong of the 2,520 metre Bart Cummings to win the Group 3 by a stylish three lengths.
Second to the Roaring Lion gelding was the Tarzino gelding Torranzino ahead of the race favourite Gilded Water, a Fastnet Rock gelding.
Jye McNeil, who won the 2020 Melbourne Cup on Twilight Payment, is hoping to keep the ride with Valiant King weighted at 51kg for the 3,200 metre Group 1.
“Even when I straightened and he quickened so well, I still thought we were too far off the leader, but he reeled it in really well and it was great to be on him,” said McNeil of the grey six-year-old who was 13th in last year’s Melbourne Cup.