The achievement of Jigsaw was clouded by the autumn of much content set to continue on Saturday at Morphettville and Eagle Farm with the stand-alone at Hawkesbury hardly in the shade.
Perhaps Sheza Alibi over the carnival took the honours but progeny of The Autumn Sun, Autumn Glow and Autumn Son were contributors and now After Summer, also by the stallion, has strong credentials in an enthralling South Australian Derby at Morphettville.
But while Sheza Alibi, a three-year-old, dazzled in the Doncaster and the remarkable import Sir Delius demoralised the previously unbeaten Autumn Glow, a seven-year-old gelding, Jigsaw, from Cranbourne, was putting together seven straight successes extending from Perth to New Zealand.
From TopRate Data, Dan O’Sullivan in “Inside Running” itemised what he described as “an uncommon streak that includes a Group One win”.
Highlighting the style of the feat Jigsaw led in all seven, crossing from barriers 10 to 13 in four of his last five at a tempo that gave rivals every chance to run him down.
The only other sprinter to take the sequence into a seventh season, described as “exclusive territory” by O’Sullivan, was the champion Winx.
“Under the care of Cindy Anderson his resurgence as a seven-year-old stands out as one of the more remarkable training performances we’ve seen in modern times,” O’Sullivan maintained.
Normally the Group One SA Derby does not stimulate like other classics but this year, with the possibility of first reserve Accidental Bid making the field, it has more appeal.
Bred in Great Britain, foaled on April 5,2023, Accidental Bid has only had four races, with his two wins being in Australia, the last by nearly eight lengths at Pakenham.
Accidental Bid is one of the Ciaron Maher army, accumulated from near and far. Previously Maher produced the exceptional Russian Camelot, an Irish bred who came out of a Pakenham benchmark to take the Adelaide classic at his fourth start with the saddle services of John Allen, engaged for Accidental Bid.
From the two gate Accidental Bid, should he make the field, the young colt is likely to get a sweet passage while After Summer, a top fancy, drew a problematical 18.
After Summer, with a foaling date of August 29, 2022, has an edge in maturity on the import and excellent recent Sydney efforts: a close third in the ATC Oaks that followed a second in the Vinery at Rosehill in which she struck trouble.
Both were Group Ones, much advanced compared to the Pakenham benchmark notched by Accidental Bid. Just how good is Accidental Bid and to what degree will the barrier effect After Summer, under the navigation of Billy Egan, who notched the SA Derby two years back on Dunkeel. Two three-year-olds have won the 2500 metre staying test in the last 20 years from 16 – Kidnapper (2010) and Testifiable (2006).
Again barrier positions could play a role at Eagle Farm in the gripping Victory Stakes with presence of Private Harry and Lady Of Camelot, classy and resuming after spells.
Developed by Nathan Doyle at Broadmeadow, Private Harry looked top class, winning his first five starts, but last campaign failed twice and was switched to Chris Waller.
Like Lady Of Camelot, Private Harry’s recent barrier trials have been satisfactory more than impressive.
Surprising for a Waller horse, the stallion was pressured to the line by James McDonald. Usually, Waller trialers are cuddled. Being an entire though Waller reasoned Private Harry would benefit best from sterner treatment.
However, Tulloch Lodge, with the Gai Waterhouse influence, likes to send charges along in heats and Lady Of Camelot, set for Royal Ascot, did so recently but was not flash.
Lady Of Camelot has not won since the Golden Slipper in 2024 but strung together a sequence of impressive placings, one behind Sir Harry at the Gold Coast last year.
Both have drawn to advantage while another chance, In Flight, launches from 12 with Jake Bayliss in the hot seat.
In Flight is not as good as the other pair but fit and firing. Maybe she is a five-year-old but trainer Joe Pride is renowned for improving seasoned types.
Since the corporate bookmakers from abroad came into play here, winners big and small, have been barred, unAustralian, but the reason given for the local Steve Fletcher getting what I would describe as an accolade from the TAB, for being so good, was “outrageous”, according to bookmaker Rob Waterhouse.
Fletcher cannot bet through pubs, clubs and TAB or online with the bleat “continued dealings with him (as a customer) was outside its risk appetite”.
It would appear the TAB only has a taste for mug money.
Hi Max,
A few years back, it was instructive to attend the court when Steve Fletcher defended — at substantial cost — charges of unfairly recruiting ‘bowlers’ to bet, on his behalf, with bookmakers. Bookmakers who had lost their appetite for the risk he posed to them. I am a bit amused to consider how the TAB will enforce a ‘bowler’ ban when bets can be placed with cash by, as with cricket, a ‘runner’ substituted for a disabled batsman. More generally, it is high time that corporate bookmakers were also obliged to bet the odds, to a limited loss, from all comers.
Peter,
I agree.
Cheers
Max P