3 minute read

The flying horsebox is grounded so this year's Derby Day was spent in the home stable.

It's quite comfortable and we didn't have to get up so early but it's not the same.

Nevertheless we saw some great racing and lots to talk about so here we go.  The first of the 37 races for the Carnival 2020 was a thriller! What a gutsy win from Crosshaven - Aysar did well but the winner was not going to be denied! A quinella for Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes.

Victoria Quay ridden by Jamie Kah won the Wakeful.  The South Australians to the fore here as she's trained by the McEvoys and Jamie rode for them when she was in South Australia.  Victoria Quay isn't going to the Oaks – too immature to cope with the step up in distance in a short time.  But the second and third will – Personal and Tuche Goddess.

Kemalpasa won the TAB Stakes for the second year running with Craig Williams again on board.  It was a great run overhauling most of the field down the straight and at the end he looked like he could go round again.  Off to Perth now we hear – the horse that is, not Craig.

Andreas Wöhler had to do two weeks quarantine in a Sydney hotel and then drive to Melbourne arriving just before midnight on Friday night to be on hand to saddle Ashrun in the Hotham, and his efforts were rewarded when Ahrun won and got into the Melbourne Cup field.

Another thrilling finish in the Empire Rose when Shout The Bar just pipped Odeum on the line.  If you think about it Shout The Bar was getting away with a cheap round as there were so few people there!  Forbidden Love ran a blinder for third so watch out for him in the not too distant future.

The fillies were too good in the Coolmore as September Run gave Craig Williams a second winner and to put Chris Waller on the board.  It was a great run and a great finish as while the winner was clear there was a tight photo for the minors going to another filly Swats That from one of the boys Wild Ruler.  This enabled Williams to overtake Harry White's record of winners in Cup week.

Then it was on to the big one – the Victoria Derby – and what a story!  Successful AFL Coach Denis Pagan has only had a trainer's licence for six months and he gets to saddle a Classic winner and he had an apprentice jockey on board – Lachie King who is the son of Stephen King, a former Derby winning rider or 2 Derbies winning rider.  The horse of course was Johnny Get Angry, named for a famous song.  These are the stories that make racing such a great sport.

And it wasn't all over by any means!  Chris Waller trained his second winner of the day when Yulong Prince won the Cantala with Damian Lane riding.  That was another thrilling finish as the winner was only a head in front of Cascadian.

And then our old friend Hughie Bowman got the last race on Fiesta and that is what the day was – a Fiesta.  Maybe not quite so festive for James McDonald and Damian Lane who incurred the wrath of the stewards and will miss next Saturday's races although they can ride in the Cup on Tuesday.