Rarely has a red spattered program, with Via Sistina in the spotlight, featured in a major autumn or Championships program like Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Odds-on or short priced favourites dominate and at least once previously, particularly with the Oaks and Queen Elizabeth, the results did not end well for punters.
Ironically it coincides with the Australian Turf Club’s missive on pending interests for stables at 8 High Street, Randwick, Leilana Lodge, the capitol or nerve centre for The Master, Bart Cummings, who churned out Group one successes galore from the establishment.
Following him son, Anthony, and then grandsons James and Eddie, all with Group ones to their credit kept it in the family. The ATC is now going elsewhere.
So why am I getting emotional about real estate when there are four Group ones with strong supports, and one other hotpot, Autumn Glow, a $1.45 in the Arrowfield Sprint?
Fifty years back Leilani, a better mare than Via Sistina, and that’s my no means belittling her, was a $1.50 in the Queen Elizabeth when downed by the Kiwi, Jandell, ridden by Brian Wood.
Possibly the best mare to come out of the Lodge named in her honour, Leilani had the services of Roy Higgins who didn’t have a good day.
Higgins also handled the Cummings-prepared Cap D’Antibes, the $1.36 favourite for the Oaks. Higgins nearly came unstuck on the turn and Cap D’Antibes ended up fifth leaving racegoers irate and booing. In those days we didn’t cop defeat sweet. A slick ride by Ron Quinton on Sufficient contributed to the result.
Only a $1.70 on Friday, Treasurethe Moment, with only 10 races under her girth, will be out to do much better than Cap D’Antibes who had 18 starts before the Oaks (2400 metres) and commenced her preparation by winning the Group one sprints, the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Newmarket (1200m) in Melbourne. Topliners then did not race out of their comfort zone.
Arguably Leilani was superior to Via Sistina, who has been mentioned in the same sentence recently as Winx. Winx was a champion and better than Leilani. Via Sistina could make the “great” category but a “champion”? Surely it cannot be claimed on one race – the Cox Plate success.
In Warwick Hobson’s Racing’s Alltime Greats he lists the final selection for the “Queen Of The Turf” coming from Wakeful, who got the pat, Tranquil Star, Flight, Chicquita, Wenona Girl, Leilani, Maybe Mahal, also prepared by Cummings, and Emancipation. Of course this was before Winx.
Anyway, the wise guys on Wolfden (Racing.com) reckon Via Sistina is a risk at $1.85 in the Queen Elizabeth with Dubai Honour, Vauban, and Buckeroo getting honourable mentions.
At the odds given on Friday they regarded stablemate Fangirl ($2) in the Queen Of The Turf a much better gamble and were also wary about Alalcance, the $2.40 favourite in the Sydney Cup.
In recent starts jockey Tim Clark had been able to tune Alalcance out of in front like a band leader orchestrating a rhapsody, a joy to the eye if not the ear, without the benefit of interruptions.
Wolfden figure, with eight runners, Waller will contribute to her hitting more high notes earlier thus making her and those upfront vulnerable. Bet wide on light weights is their advice.
I’m sticking with Alalcance. Yes she is untried at 3200 metres but takes you for a whirl. Not so sure about Via Sistina, beaten in the corresponding race last year also at $1.85 by the tearaway Pride Of Jenni. It could well have been James McDonald’s worst ride.
Waller would be well advised to instruct McDonald to follow the Damian Lane tactics on the brilliant filly, Aeliana, in the ATC Derby last Saturday: ride her like a good thing. Always in touch from an inside gate and clear running. However has she got much on Dubai Honour, top class and attractive around $6?
Sure, the Brit-bred launches from 12 but assisted by Tom Marquand, with whom I am more comfortable than Ryan Moore. It’s all about odds, Maybe Via Sistina will get out. Red is not my favourite colour.
Beware of the Leilani Lodge connection: Tom Kitten, super fit who should get the run of the race. The gelding has developed under Godolphin’s James Cummings, who learned his trade at the Randwick stable.
James will be attempting to win the Sydney Cup with Zardozi who comes out of a last start third in the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington. Every Sydney Cup winner since 2001 has not scored without contesting a race over a journey longer than 2040 metres. Zardozi is on the light side with this. But Zardozi is Cummings-tuned and the metric two miles a family favourite.
Track regulars maintain the ghost of Bart still prowls Leilani Lodge at 5am every morning howling: “Where’s Anthony?”
