3 minute read
A look at some of the races on the Thousand Guineas meeting at Caulfield.
Photo worth the wait
As time ticked by after Brazen Style and Miraval Rose hit the line in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m), the result was likely to be a dead-heat.
But the judge was able to separate the pair with Brazen Style getting a slight advantage over the white snip on the nose of Miraval Rose which was deemed to be just short of the finishing line.
The connections of Miraval Rose and jockey Jordan Childs looked at the photo before correct weight was declared and accepted the judge's decision.
Winning jockey Craig Newitt was unsure who had won on the line but was naturally delighted to have held on by the barest possible margin of a nose, as was trainer Shane Nichols.
"I went over and spoke to Grahame Begg (trainer of Miraval Rose) and said 'I thought it favoured you', watching it on the line and then we watched it together," Nichols said.
"(It's a) big thrill to win a stakes race with a filly at her third start. She was $250,000 (purchase) out of (Inglis) Easter. She's out of a Group 1 winner and it probably makes her very expensive.
"There'll be a gentleman in Sydney pretty happy and there'll be two boys in Adelaide very happy."
Hypothetical lands deserving win
The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable made the right decision in electing to bypass a Group 3 race for mares with Hypothetical and switch to a sprint against 'the boys'.
Hypothetical took out the Listed Village Stakes (1100m) instead of contesting the Group 3 How Now Stakes on Saturday's program.
Sam Freedman said Hypothetical was deserving of breaking through for her maiden win at Stakes level.
"We've been trying for the Stakes win for a while and she's had some narrow defeats," Freedman said.
"Michael's (Freedman) mare came down during Cup Week and spoiled us last time and I watched Michael's mare (Queen Of The Ball) work on Tuesday and she had us covered, so we decided to go to this race.
"She'll be off to stud next season, but I think we can raise the bar now.
"We could look at a race like the Sangster and run in the first three or something like that.
"She's got a great pedigree and now with a nice CV on the track she'll be a lovely broodmare."
Dry track suits Rose Quartz
Rose Quartz completed a training double for Grahame Begg when she took out the Group 3 How Now Stakes following Magic Time's win in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Begg said the track that was upgraded to a Good 3 during the afternoon was beneficial for the mare.
"The difference today was the dry ground and she's just got to be able to go through her gears and kick for home and bust them open," Begg said.
"She's been tinkering around the outskirts, been placed a few times but to be able to seal the deal with that Group win on the board makes for everything and she's a well-related mare and she tries very hard.
"It's great to be able to do it and a great day for the stable. She's been frustrating over a period of time but to get the job done."
Reilly makes Caulfield return
Gemma Reilly was back at Caulfield for the first time with one of her horses since the track closed two years ago as a training centre.
In taking out the Victorian Country Cups Final (2000m), Claidheamh Mor provided Reilly with her biggest success.
"This is great to come back here to Caulfield," Reilly said.
"I think I brought Joe Pride's horse Mariamia here, but I haven't brought my own horse here since we left training and to win a big one where I started training, oh."
Reilly described Claidheamh Mor as quirky and must be kept to a routine which has seen the horse line up 11 times for the preparation.
She said Saturday's victory means a lot for her stable.
"I never wanted a big stable, but I do want to buy better quality horses," Reilly said.
"He was only $55,000 and the horses I'm working with are $20,000 to $60,000. I'd love to go and buy a nice $200,000 and see what I can do with it."
Ballarat Cup next for Let'srollthedice
Trainer Danny O'Brien and the connections of Let'Srollthedice did not expect to be leading in the Sharp EIT Handicap (1800m).
O'Brien and jockey Michael Dee expected to be racing outside the leader, but the horse they thought would lead was dragged back to the tail.
"So, he was left there, and Michael rated the horse right and upped the tempo at the right time, too," O'Brien said.
"He had them chasing and the horse was fit and well."
With the Listed $500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) scheduled on December 9, O'Brien suggested that was potentially the next step for Let'srollthedice.
"He could potentially go to the Ballarat Cup," O'Brien said.
"That is in three weeks' time and 2000 metres is the right step for him."
Quote of the day
"I had no idea" - Craig Newitt after his filly Brazen Style was awarded the Thoroughbred Club Stakes by the barest possible margin after the judge seemed to take an eternity in declaring a winner.
