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Saturday Post Mortem with Chris Scholtz

by Chris Scholtz , 5 years ago

3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on September 1.

THE STARS

DARREN WEIR: His star studded team bounced out of the blocks on the first day of spring with five wins at Caulfield including Melbourne’s first G1 of the season with top gun Humidor while he also picked up the Group feature of the day in Adelaide. It’s an ominous indicator and suspect it won’t be the last time he enjoys similar results over the carnival.

DAMIEN LANE/DEAN YENDALL: They won six of the nine races at Caulfield including sharing the dead heat on the Weir stablemates Mrs Gardenia and Bellaria in the third race. Lane has to wear his Memsie Stakes suspension but he is in for a big spring getting the plum rides for Weir. Yendall will also get in for his share as the trainer is certain to reward his long time stalwart with some big opportunities in the major races.

CHRIS WALLER: It was also a fine spring starter for Sydney’s champion trainer with his treble at Randwick featuring big Group wins by the top class pair Unforgotten and Comin’ Through. The depth in his team, like Darren Weir in Melbourne, is amazing…..his rivalry with Weir to be the leading G1 trainer this season will be an intriguing contest.

MICHAEL WALKER: When he’s hot he’s hot. In great form to land a big feature double at Randwick.

REDZEL: He’s had his critics in recent times so what better way to put them back their box with a dominant first-up win at Randwick. Team Snowden knows their horse and they have him in great shape…be sure he can win a second Everest!

[JOANNE ARNEILL: It might not have been a Group race at Randwick or Caulfield but I bet producing her 7YO gelding Teosinte to win his first start at Warracknabeal felt just as good!

HIGHLIGHTS

MEMSIE STAKES: Some terrific spring pointers behind Humidor, not the least being Kings Will Dream. No horse is shaping better for the Cups.

UNFORGOTTEN: There’s only one Winx but Chris Waller didn’t hold back his admiration for this mare after her dynamic win in the Chelmsford Stakes.

PURE ELATION: Exactly what the Snowden team were feeling after this fine filly came back from her bleeding ban for a super first-up win in the Furious Stakes at Randwick.

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BALL OF MUSCLE: Sydney trainer Joe Pride picked the perfect Melbourne race for his speedster Ball Of Muscle rather than take on Redzel at Randwick.

ELLICAZOOM: Visually spectacular first-up Caulfield win for Lindsay Park by this former Perth mare. Exciting to watch.

NATIVE SOLDIER: Was in a world of his own at Caulfield. Dominant win that even surprised Darren Weir!

BIRDSVILLE RACES: National TV coverage for the first time gave people a taste of what this iconic race meeting is all about. The star was Adin Thompson, a 17-year-old apprentice riding the winner of the Birdsville Cup.


GIRL POWER: A unique double at Warracknabeal when dual licence holders Linda Meech and Michelle Payne both rode winners they also train. Meech also landed two more winners for other trainers – yet they cannot ride in NSW under archaic restrictions.

LOWLIGHTS

MORE SUNDAYS: Big flop after racing too keenly on the pace without cover, different tactics to his trial win when ridden back. Stable reported he is likely to return to Victoria.

STREETS OF AVALON: Sydney trip was a fizzer. Better suited to the promenades of Melbourne.

MR MOONLIGHT MAGIC: It’s not all roses with the Godolphin imports. While Avilius and Best Of Days are flying this classy arrival was found to be 3/5 lame in the off-foreleg after making his Australian debut at Randwick. Time will tell.

SINGLE GAZE: Fine mare’s racing days must be numbered after she was found to 2/5 lame in the near fore-leg on her debut for the Waller stable. Retirement must be the option?

JAAMEH: Lost lengths from his Flemington win.

CATCHY: Very poor. Cardiac arrhythmia signals early retirement.

RILLITO: Life ban after bleeding for second time.

ARDROSSAN: Dismal. Back to NZ for him!

TALKING POINTS

Stewards had some ticklish judgements to make on Saturday. In Perth they threw out a protest by William Pike after he alleged the winner of the Idyllic Prince Stakes Rebel King had benefited from the riding tactics of his stablemate; At the Sunshine Coast the stewards had to rule on whether the last event was a no race after a barrier gate opening prematurely gave one unplaced runner an unfair advantage; and Sydney stewards had to deal with a protest in the Tramway Stakes by third against a first, subsequently dismissed.

On analysis each decision could have gone either way, so be thankful if you backed any or all of the winners of those three races.

RIDE OF THE DAY

HUGH BOWMAN: Gets the nod by a nostril from Damian Lane for yet another Group race pearler with his deft riding of Unforgotten in the Chelmsford Stakes. Honourable mention to Lane for his ride on Humidor in the Memsie Stakes.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

• “She won't be taking on Winx, I can tell you that." – Unforgotten’s trainer Chris Waller.

THEY SAID IT….

• “She is very special, she showed that in the autumn. We'll see where she fits in and where the weights settle." – Unforgotten’s trainer Chris Waller.

• “I had the horse to take me places I wouldn't go on many. The world is her oyster. I wouldn't imagine she would be beating Winx anytime soon but there are plenty of nice races for her." – Unforgotten’s rider Hugh Bowman.

• "He is going as well as he was this time last year. I’m not going to say he is going better because he was pretty good last year.” - Redzel’s trainer Peter Snowden.

• “A few people jumped off him but he didn’t lose me as an admirer. It’s good to have him back in winning form.” – Redzel’s rider Kerrin McEvoy.

• “I don't think he's going any better than last year but he's racing better,” Humidor’s trainer Darren Weir.

• “He flew under the radar. I couldn’t fault him coming into the race and I was surprised at the price,” Comin’ Through’s trainer Chris Waller.

• "It's really special to get the win interstate. I'm very proud of his achievement. He’s probably the quickest horse in Australia….I'm not saying he's the best but over the first 400 metres nothing can keep up with him if he wants to go.” – Ball Of Muscle’s trainer Joe Pride.

• "It does make you nervous, every time they gallop you wonder. It's just a case of keeping her happy and healthy,” Pure Elation’s trainer Peter Snowden on the concerns over her bleeding history.

• “I nearly mucked it up, I just gave her a squeeze and I should have known then she goes from ‘nought to one hundred’ in a stride. She ran up behind them and I was like ‘Oh my gawd!’ ” – Pure Elation’s rider Michael Walker.

• “I didn't see that coming - I thought he'd made a bit of improvement but I didn't think he'd made that much improvement.” – Native Soldier’s trainer Darren Weir.

• “He’s always been a hard one to catch. At times he can be as rough as teak and other times he can be very disinterested.” – Goodfella’s trainer Bjorn Baker.

• "I have been trying to win a QTIS race on a Saturday for 15 years and this is my first. It is hard to describe how happy it has made me.” – Paul Nolan after Spending The Time’s win at the Sunshine Coast.

BLACKBOOK

SANGITA: Forget she went around. Never tested.

PRETTY IN PINK: Quality filly with a big future.

EGG TART: Excellent first-up in a strong form race.

JAKE’S HILL: Ready for something longer.

LIFE LESS ORDINARY: Should have been in the finish.

MISS ADMIRATION: Strong mare

THE AUGUST: In the frame for the Guineas.

RICH CHARM: Pleasing return. Genuine sprinter.


Racing and Sports

tags

Humidor Mrs Gardenia Bellaria Comin’ Through REDZEL UNFORGOTTEN PURE ELATION BALL OF MUSCLE ELLICAZOOM NATIVE SOLDIER MORE SUNDAYS STREETS OF AVALON MR MOONLIGHT MAGIC SINGLE GAZE JAAMEH CATCHY RILLITO ARDROSSAN Rebel King SANGITA PRETTY IN PINK EGG TART

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