3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing at Caulfield and Randwick on October 20.

CAULFIELD - THE STARS

BEST SOLUTION/SAEED BIN SUROOR: Best Solution carries the topweight and overcame a tough wide run to give the Godolphin trainer his second Caulfield Cup win 10 years apart. After winning two G1 races at Caulfield in seven days all he wants now is that coveted Melbourne Cup win that has eluded him for 20 years.

PAT COSGRAVE: The Irish jockey has taken the carnival by storm with two G1 wins in seven days for Godolphin on Benbatl and Best Solution but he paid a penalty with a careless riding suspension. He admitted it wasn’t a pretty ride after the topweight endured a tough run when he couldn’t get cover.

SARAH ZSCHOKE: A former Tasmanian apprentice rider who has been training a small team for six years stood tall with her stable star Eduardo on one of racing’s biggest days. She has only six horses in work at Cranbourne and has won 12 races from just 70 starters. This was her first Group win with a horse who only won his maiden in June, made even better as he was ridden by her partner Brian Park.

BRIAN PARK: Completed the ultimate comeback with a Group win aboard Eduardo as he only returned to riding this year after more than three years out of the saddle.

GAI WATERHOUSE/ADRIAN BOTT: A classy double for the Sydney stable with Thinkin' Big and Shumookh. The impressive Thinkin' Big is now a firm Derby favourite and Gai says he is so much like Nothin’ Leica Dane that he is still in the Melbourne Cup. A local 3YO in the Cup – bring it on!

HIGHLIGHTS

TOBY EDMONDS: The Gold Coast trainer's spring campaign in Melbourne just keeps getting better with the speedster From Within giving him a third Caulfield carnival win after the recent Group double by stablemate Winter Bride. Edmonds has been a punters pal as he has had six horses start shorter than $5 in Victoria for four wins.

TIM CLARK: Gave Melbourne a taste of his talent with two perfectly judged front running rides on the Waterhouse/Bott stablemates Thinkin’ Big and Shumookh.

VERRY ELLEEGANT: Former Kiwi filly produces the best Oaks trial of the spring with her classy win in the Ethereal Stakes.

LOWLIGHTS

DARREN WEIR: Verry Elleegant was the one bright spot on a big day the champion trainer would rather forget after let downs with other favoured runners, especially a luckless Kings Will Dream in the Caulfield Cup who finished with lacerations and requires a vet clearance. Cannot say the same for his plainly disappointing stablemates Extra Brut and Peaceful State.

YOUNGSTAR: A post race veterinary examination revealed the mare to have a slow recovery. She lost her off fore plate and sustained a lacerations to the off hind heel. Forgive!

PROMPT RESPONSE: Concerns as Damien Oliver reported that the mare felt amiss. A veterinary examination revealed the mare to have pharyngitis and will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.

TOM MELBOURNE: Seriously, how many chances can one horse get?

GREYSFUL GLAMOUR: Left struggling a long way from home.

MUSIC MAGNATE: He’s really lost form. Real concerns after his rider reported he lost his action when put under pressure.

RANDWICK – THE STARS

DIPLOMATICO: Jumps from a midweek maiden to a black type win. He’s a raw talent with a big future.

RACHEL KING: She was the star of the day with three winning rides earning her many plaudits. She is clearly the leading female rider in Sydney at present.

HIGHLIGHTS

KOBY JENNINGS: He was Sydney’s top apprentice but has been more of a provincial rider in recent times. His ride on Diplomatico was a reminder that he can deliver when given the opportunities.

TOMMY BERRY: Landed a double on Exoteric and Mahalangur for the Waller and Hawkes stables. Note he was allowed to ride his second winner Mahalangur 1kg overweight.

KATHY O’HARA: Didn’t let Rachel King have all the fun, getting in for her share of the spoils with a determined win aboard Noble Joey.

TIME TO REIGN: Gary Portelli and the same syndicate of owners are already dreaming about another Golden Slipper after She Will Reign’s half brother makes an impact with a strong debut win in the heavy ground.

THE LION: Claimed his second Highway but actually it was his third! He was stripped of his second Highway win in June after a positive post-race drug test, costing his trainer Michele Fleming an $8000 fine. The test was positive to a relaxant Fleming used to keep him calm while his coat was clipped.

TONY GOLLAN: He was in Sydney saddling up Ef Troop at Randwick while back home in Brisbane his team won four races at Doomben.

LOWLIGHTS

HIGH BRIDGE: Stewards had plenty of questions for the Waller stable when he performed poorly as an easing favourite behind his heavily backed stablemate Exoteric in the City Tatts Cup. The stewards noted that High Bridge was a big lay on Betfair and ran accordingly. They are making further inquiries while stable rep Charles Duckworth advised that in all likelihood High Bridge would be spelled.

JEAN VAN OVERMIRE: Suspended for two weeks after he returned to scale 0.5kg over his declared weight on Top Striker. Given the beaten margin was a pimple Top Striker’s backers will claim it is a lenient penalty. Note his offence is a different scenario to rider’s declaring in advance they are riding overweight prior to a race.

CHRIS O’BRIEN: Gets few city opportunities and lost a big chance when illness due to wasting cost him the ride on The Lion, giving Rachel King a late pick up.

EGYPTIAN SYMBOL: She’s struggling. Pulled up 1/5 lame in the near hind leg.

PECANS: She was a big first-up go in early betting but punters who got the generous early odds were left with a refund after her late scratching at the barrier after she was kicked by another horse. Question must be will she attract the same support when next produced?

RIGHT OR WRONG: Noted to be stepping short after losing its off-fore and near fore plates. Future plans to be advised.

ROOSEVELT: Not the horse we saw at Warwick Farm.

DON'T GIVE A DAMN: He’s had some testing races but let’s be hones - he’s not quite as good as some believe.

RIDE OF THE DAY

JOHN ALLEN is riding with great confidence and that was evident with his display on the hot favourite VERRY ELEEGANT. His skill to extricate the filly from an awkward position midfield on the rails at the 600m and get her into clear air made the difference between a win and a costly loss. At Randwick all the winning riders deserved credit in the difficult conditions but the pick had to be KATHY O’HARA’s never say die effort to lift NOBLE JOEY over the line in a desperate finish.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

SARAH ZSCHOKE (Eduardo): “I thought I'd go to the sales, buy a horse and thought who better to train it than myself.”

THEY SAID IT…!!!

PAT COSGRAVE (Best Solution): “I’ve got to give all credit to the horse. He should have got beaten because he had such a bad trip and everything went wrong for me. He was there to be beaten but he won and good horses know how to win."

PAT COSGRAVE: "Caulfield is just a great place - I'm in dreamland now, it's just crazy. Coming across the world and winning a $5 million race, there's nothing wrong with that."

SARAH ZSCHOKE (Eduardo): "I can believe it but then again I can't believe it, it's just so wonderful, he's just a super horse.”

BRIAN PARK (Eduardo): "I've had a lot of ups and downs - mostly downs - but I've worked hard to be here and to ride a horse like him is an absolute privilege, he’s a little bulldog.”

JOHN ALLEN (Verry Elleegant): “She’s still very raw and green – she was really looking around in the straight but in the last 50 yards she really put them away. She’s not very big, but she’s got a big engine!”

DARREN WEIR (Verry Elleegant): “Maybe we might hold our breath and go straight to the Oaks off that. She got the 2000 metres alright but the extra 500 metres, you don't know until they do it.”

GAI WATERHOUSE (Thinkin’ Big): “We have a few options. He's in the Cox Plate, he's in the Derby, he's in the Melbourne Cup. We brought him down for the Derby but we're just going to let the dust settle.”

TIM CLARK (Thinkin’ Big/Shumookh): "It's been awesome. Gai and Adrian have been great supporters and it's great to ride a couple of winners for them. Hopefully it opens up a few more opportunities over the carnival."

TOBY EDMONDS (From Within): "She's a credit to herself. I'm a bit emotional because it was a big call to bring her down - thanks to the guys who let me do it - to come out of Class 3 grade and win that race, it's a great effort."

JAMES CUMMINGS (Ranier): "I don't mind the idea of biting off the small fish and the low hanging fruit for now. He might be a horse for the Australian Guineas in March."

CHARLES DUCKWORTH (Exoteric): “Tommy (Berry) knows him well, he executed the race perfectly. It was a staying contest and I was surprised when the punters came for him and not our other horse (High Bridge).”

GARY PORTELLI (Time To Reign): “When you’ve got a potential stallion on your hands who is a half-brother to a Golden Slipper winner you don’t like to see them get beat at their first start. If we can get him qualified for the Slipper, my god, look out!”

RACHEL KING (Time To Reign): “H stopped and waited for the others. He saw the big screen and watched himself all the way down the straight.”

MICHAEL HAWKES (Diplomatico): “He has a few grades to jump, it's all up to him. We'll just take it step by step but I can say he'll be some horse in the autumn.

KOBY JENNINGS (Diplomatico): "The Hawkes team are my biggest supporters and I can't thank them enough."

RACHEL KING (Resin): "She is the toughest little horse, there is not much of her but she has the biggest heart. She just pins her ears back and wants to get stuck in, she has the best attitude.”

JOSH PARR (Marsupial): "He travelled like the winner, let down like the winner - but didn't win."

BLACKBOOKERS

ALOISIA: Positive signs. We know she’s good when on song.

EAWASE: Did her best work late. Getting close.

ZOUTORI: Impeded by riderless horse. Cost him a place.

STAR MISSILE: Looks capable over more ground.

NEW UNIVERSE: Sound first-up effort.

PELETHRONIUS: Worth following with this run under his belt.