Amid bleats regarding Melbourne Cup hopes coming down like nine pins, Derby Day at Flemington reigns supreme despite millions being flourished like confetti at Rosehill Gardens.
While Sydney leads to prizemoney tally and has been stronger than Melbourne so far this spring it lags today, with five benchmark races plus a Highway and Midway which hardly rates with Flemington.
Never the less it’s a strong race but not worth a cent over $5 million. Flash invaders, horses like Lazzat, from France, and Japan’s Ascoli Piceno and Corazon Beat don’t stimulate like the locals.
The prizemoney return for Lazzat’s six out of six in her home territory is only $580,096, hardly comparable to Ascoli Piceno’s $2,798,268.
Ascoli Piceno launches out wide, drew 17, so Joao Moreira will have to wave his magic wand. My preference is for local Joliestar, under Kerrin McEvoy. Joliestar hit the line strong in The Everest, a 1200 metre speed test but will be better suited by today’s 1500 metres.
Of course the bad barrier is a problem for El Castello (18) in the Victoria Derby, worth a trifling $2 million but riddled with tradition if not greats. Since 1994 the worst gate to win was Rebel Raider (15), heading Lion Tamer and Arena from 14.
The charge to the first turn is crucial and fortunately, El Castello, superbly conditioned by Anthony Cummings, has the services of Josh Parr, under-rated but an able tactician.
El Castello is the form horse, but as well as the start query has to back up after his courageous Spring Champion success at Randwick last Saturday. The $3.80 about him yesterday was not encouraging. Odds are the difference between a good gamble and the lay of the day.
A smooth passage over the 2500 metres can be essential and King Of Trumps under James McDonald, fresh from his century of Group ones last Saturday, should be sitting pretty from the rails gate.
Also the JMac factor will come into play on Switzerland in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, worth only a measly $2 million, but the best race of the day.
Switzerland takes on other tremendous talents including Growing Empire, Traffic Warden, Lady Of Camelot and the improving Bellatrix Star.
Two starts back Switzerland was prone to coltish behaviour but had his mind on the racing job scoring at Rosehill last start.
Behaviour, too, beat Traffic Warden, down and pulled out at the gates before The Everest, but a remarkable and still untaped talent.
Traffic Warden is prepared by James Cummings, son of Anthony and grandson of The Master, Bart, who will attempt a family ploy with Melbourne Cup hope Zardozi. James has received special dispensation from Racing Victoria to start Zardozi in the Empire Rose over 1600 metres. The Master often used the Mackinnon Stakes then run on the Saturday prior to be Big One for the final tuning process. Zardozi will undergo a vet test by Racing Victoria after Saturday to get a clearance for Tuesday.
Reports indicate Aidan O’Brien, the genius Irish horseman, was furious that his charge, Jan Bruegel, failed the test as did Brayden Star and Muramasa. Others could follow.
Which isn’t the case with Too Darn Lizzie, part-owned by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and a strong chance in the Vanity.
Lord Lloyd Webber can’t make Flemington due to Sunset Boulevard on Broadway, but co-trainer Gai Waterhouse is enthusiastic about Too Darn Lizzie’s prospects. It’s been suggested down here that his Lordships should consider a new venture: “Gai The Musical”. Hard to cast, according to Lady Gai. But Hugh Jackman has gone into dance training to play Robbie Waterhouse.
Away from the glitz and glamour keep a cheer for Stylish Secret in the Carbine Club. Stylish Secret was picked up in New Zealand for a penny dreadful price by author and racing enthusiast Helen Thomas, my sparring partner on the ABC’s “Hoof On The Till”. She retained a hair of his tail. Thomas wrote about Saintly, a Carbine Club winner, just another chapter in what makes Derby Day at Flemington so good.
3 Responses
Society, great commentary. I suppose for plenty of us, Derby Day remains the key day of Australian racing. Not quite the day it was with the Practice Stakes and the Last Chance Handicap along with the Maribynong, Wakeful, Derby itself and the open straight six etc. But still, in it’s current and lesser form….better offerings than the $ laden but still cheap (to my view) pretence in Sydney.
To play Gai, my suggestion is Kristin Scott Thomas
I was thinking more Madonna.