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Observer Victorian Sport
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 4, 2015 - Page 51
Showbiz Extra
Melbourne
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Australian Guineas open ■ The Australian Guineas to be run at Flemington this Saturday in my opinion is one of the most in recent years. Bookies and betting agencies have the Chris Waller-trained Kermadec, favourite, at just over each way odds, after a great run behind Hallowed Crown in the Group Two, Hobartville Stakes Rosehill. Coming from a fair way back he battled out with the likes of Hallowed Crown, Sweynesse, and Shooting to Win, in a four horse tussle from the 200 metres. The stable has a big opinion of the son of Teofilo, and is in with a big chance. Another with a strong show is the ultra- consistent, Disposition, prepared by Victorian trainer, Wes Hunter. The former Western Australian hasn't been with Wes Hunter for very long, but is a strong type and the 1600 metre trip is right down his alley. He battled it out with the Sydneysider, Wandjina, who battled on to beat him in the C.S.Hayes Stakes at Flemington, over 1400 metres. Damien Oliver had the sit on Wandjina prepared by Gai Waterhouse and is a big rap for his chances over the extra 200 metres. Both are just under double figure odds for the Guineas. Of the others Caulfield Guineas winner, Shooting To Win, is out to $ 11, after what I thought was a disappointing run behind Hallowed Crown, although first up, he was there but failed to run the place, but will improve. Sweynesse ran a great trial for the Guineas beaten by a very good three year-old Hallowed Crown prepared by Bart and James Cummings, but is not in the Guineas. He is being kept for the Randwick Guineas later on. Of the others Stratum Star is racing well, and you have to give Lucky Liberty another chance as the saddle slipped, pinching the horses neck causing him to pig root, and was beaten soon after in the C.S.Hayes. Then you have the
Ted Ryan
● Kermadec Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
David Hayes Petrology and Chivalry, who ran on in the C.S.Hayes. You are on your own; it's a particularly hard race to pick.
Super Saturday ■ Flemington's feature raceday, billed as Super Saturday, with the popular March 14 meeting shaping as just that after first acceptances for its two showpiece Group One races, were taken. The $1 million Group One Lexus Newmarket Handicap up the straight 1200 metres at Flemington is shaping as the sprint showdown of the year. With the world's three highest rated sprinters, Lightning Stakes winner, Lankan Rupee, Darley Classic winner, Terra Vista and Rubiton Stakes winner, Chautauquaamong the first acceptances. Undefeated three year-old, Sistonic, is
another exciting name among the first acceptors, but does appear to way out of her depth at her age. Sistonic is a threequarter sister to the champion Black Caviar, who beat a top field in the Newmarket back in 2011. Deep Fieldwho suffered his first defeat in the Lightning will be kept for other major sprint races. While the top three-year old, Rich Enuff, suffered a setback recently, and the Keyes stable will take their time with the prize colt. Another star entry is the Coolmore Stakes winner, Brazen Beau, a good second to Lankan Rupee in the Lightning Stakes. Among those not nominated are; Golden Slipper winner, Mossfun, top Western Australian, Magnifioso, and the 2013 Newmarketwinner, Moment of Change, who is recovering from colic surgery. The Australian Cup on the same day March 14, has at-
tracted a top class field of stayers over the 2000 metre trip. German star, Protectionist, who blitzed them in last year's Melbourne Cup returns to racing after a good track gallop in Sydney. After winning the Cup he was transferred to leading Sydney trainer, Kris Lees, will be striving to emulate greats Fiorente who won the 2013 Melbourne Cup, and the Australian Cup, the following year. The great Makybe Diva, who is the only horse to win three Melbourne Cups, won the Australian Cup back in 2005, after winning her second Melbourne Cup. While another
● Wandjina Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
● Lucky Liberty Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 great mare, Let's Elope won the Melbourne Cup-Aus- ■ Brilliant Victorian tralian Cups double in colt, Head Water, made the Sydney1991-92. Protectionist will siders sit up and take be joined in this year's notice with his great Australian Cup, by first-up run in Sydney the top international running the reverse galloper, Red Cad- way, with a scintillateaux, three times run- ing win in the Silver ner-up in the Mel- Slipper Stakes over 1100 metres at bourne Cup. They will be joined Rosehill. Jumping beautiby highly rated fully from barrier 4, he Godolphin imports, Hartnell and Con- was quickly into stride tibuter, the latter an and his rider, Blake took him to the impressive last start Shinn, front, winner of the Group 2 coasted. where he Apollo Stakes over to the event 1400 metres at thePrior locals felt that their Randwick. runners up against Nine three-year him, like Ottoman, the olds remain in conten- early favourite for the tion, including the Wes Golden Slipper, Hunter trained Dispo- Paceman, and Voilier, sition, Darren Weir's would be too good. Stratum Star and the All three won their top Sydney colt, first starts, while Head Sweynesse. Water blitzed them at South Australian Moonee Valley at his Happy Trails, Tasma- first start. nian evergreen, The Conor Phelanfrom Cleaner, Perth Cup Vinery Stud, which winner, Real Love, are part owners of the and New Zealand colt told me he was Derby winner, good and had settled Puccini, are among win well in Sydney the hopefuls who re- and will be hard to main. beat in the big one. Notable absentees He is definitely the include Melbourne one to keep out come Cup Placegetter, Who Golden Slipper time. Shot Thebarman, the One of John O'Shea's Gai Waterhouse top team, Holler, trained French Im- missed the Silver Slipport, Pornichet, and per, after evidently Victorian Derby win- running into a fence ner, Preferment.
Impresses
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Sulky Snippets
■ Melton trainer Adam Kelly and stable reinsman Gavin Lang snared The Toffs Weekend Pace for C1 class at Yarra Valley with smart Modern Art/ Discordia 4-Y-0 mare Fon Design. In what was a typical Gavin Lang drive, Fon Design after starting from gate three possied three back in the moving line through the middle stages, before going forward three wide in the final circuit. Dropping in one/one for a breather approaching the final bend, Fon Design when eased three wide on the point on the home turn, finished strongly to score a 2.1 metre victory over Blue Seelster along the sprint lane after trailing the weakening leader Jean Babtiste, with Sketch Me flying home late for third. The mile rate 1-57.8. More Harness Racing on Page 52