Effort and Reward
February 22nd 2009 05:16
The feature racing in Melbourne this weekend saw a mixture of surprise, and fulfilment of expectation.
It was expected that the Gai Waterhouse trained Theseo would win the Group Two St George Stakes (1800m) - although the ridiculous ease of his all-the-way victory and 3.8 length win says as much about the depth of this race as it does the quality of the winner. With the injury to Maldivian (out till the Spring) this race was robbed of the prospect of two on-the-speed horses going head to head to the line. Instead the talented handicapper and stayer Baughurst was table to raise the only (half) serious challenge. Caulfield Cup winner Master O’Reilly was strong over the unsuitable short trip and is ready to strike when he gets out to 2000m and beyond. Last year’s Group One Australian Cup winner - Sirmione - was an inglorious last - but all is not well with him:
Arnold (Sirmione) reported that near the 1000 metres his mount did make some contact with Fiumicino (NZ), which was racing to its inside, and then became unbalanced. He could offer no further explanation for the performance of the gelding. A veterinary examination of Sirmione subsequent to the race revealed the gelding to be displaying some sensitivity to the back on palpitation, an unusually low heart rate and was awkward in its action at a trot, however, this could not be defined as being lame. Mr R Fleming representing Trainer Mr J B Cummings, advised Stewards that Sirmione would undergo an endoscopic examination and full veterinary inspection this afternoon and they would notify Stewards of the results. A post race sample was taken for analysis. Mr R Fleming has since advised that the endoscopic examination of Sirmione proved to be clear. - MRC Stewards report.
Two favourites in a row were successful in Group Two races when talented Falbrav colt Fravashi found winning form in the 1400m Autumn Stakes for 3 year olds. It had appeared that the race was over when the equally talented Nicconi - brother to Group One winner Niconero - accelerated after turning. But the Falbrav colt kept to the task under the guidance of blinkers (for the first time) and was able to find a strong rhythm and catch Nicconi right on the line.
In third position was Heart Of Dreams (one of my selections for horses to follow in 2009) who was ridden against usual style when he drew wide, and found himself back in the field until the straight where he would unleash the best finishing burst for the day. The 2009 crop of three-year-olds is blessed with depth and great talent.
The Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) produced the first surprise. Swiss Ace from Queensland overcame the outside barrier to clear the field and lead - to be passed and surely beaten - then fight back to gain a narrow victory. Runner-up Lucky Secret could not find the line in the last 50 metres after sweeping to a seemingly unbeatable lead. Perhaps Lucky Secret feeling his legs more than tiring - his career is fraught with injury. The Lightning Stakes winner - and Oakleigh Plate favourite - Scenic Blast would finish gamely for 5th placing. But he featured in a steward’s report in a race where Hugh Bowman (aboard 3rd placed Typhoon Zed) would cause interference to several runners and incur the wrath of stewards and be suspended for 18 meetings.
Swiss Ace cost only $6,000 as a yearling and became the cheapest Group One winner in Australia in the past 12 months - easily eclipsing (or under bidding) the $15,000 that was the purchase price of Group One Turnbull Stake winner (Caulfield Cup beaten favourite) Littorio.
(note: Swiss Ace became progressively cheaper as he aged. As a weanling he was sold for $8,500 at Magic Millions 2005 National Sale - before subsequently being sold again for just $6,000 to current owners at the 2006 Brisbane Bloodstock Yearling Sale. Don’t hold your breath for this pattern to repeat).
The final surprise came in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes when outsider @ $21.60 Reward For Effort would prove too strong after a masterful ride from Luke Nolen. I must admit that this win was not unexpected as he and runner-up Real Saga had the best recent speedfigures for this classic event. A strong case can be made that Real Saga was unlucky - but clearly they were the best two horses on the day. Earlier this week I wrote about the impending gear changes to be made for this race.
The very talented (Peter Moody trained) Exceed And Excel colt, Reward For Effort, gets winkers for his third race start. A big winner on debut in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, he then chased home Real Saga in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude last start. Inexperienced and in his first campaign, he could significantly benefit from such an addition.
In the case of four of these five horses the gear change gives room for some expectation - and hope for an upset. It can be expected that either (one of) Come Hither, Irish Lights, or Reward For Effort, would come into contention - given their natural ability and already impressive records. - RacingWrite: Blinkered eyes on a Diamond prize.
Pre-race favourite Rostova disappointed her many fans, although there may also be reasons associated with her defeat - and the inglorious performance from Come Hither:
A veterinary examination of Come Hither subsequent to the race revealed the filly to be lame in the off foreleg. A veterinary certificate of fitness is required prior to Come Hither racing again. A veterinary examination of Rostova subsequent to the race revealed the filly had an elevated heart rate and slow recovery rate. Trainer S Richards advised Stewards that Rostova would undergo an endoscopic examination, as in his view Rostova returned to the mounting yard making an abnormal breathing sound, and he would notify Stewards of the results. A post race sample was taken for analysis. - MRC Stewards report.
Reward For Effort (without winkers)
It was expected that the Gai Waterhouse trained Theseo would win the Group Two St George Stakes (1800m) - although the ridiculous ease of his all-the-way victory and 3.8 length win says as much about the depth of this race as it does the quality of the winner. With the injury to Maldivian (out till the Spring) this race was robbed of the prospect of two on-the-speed horses going head to head to the line. Instead the talented handicapper and stayer Baughurst was table to raise the only (half) serious challenge. Caulfield Cup winner Master O’Reilly was strong over the unsuitable short trip and is ready to strike when he gets out to 2000m and beyond. Last year’s Group One Australian Cup winner - Sirmione - was an inglorious last - but all is not well with him:
Arnold (Sirmione) reported that near the 1000 metres his mount did make some contact with Fiumicino (NZ), which was racing to its inside, and then became unbalanced. He could offer no further explanation for the performance of the gelding. A veterinary examination of Sirmione subsequent to the race revealed the gelding to be displaying some sensitivity to the back on palpitation, an unusually low heart rate and was awkward in its action at a trot, however, this could not be defined as being lame. Mr R Fleming representing Trainer Mr J B Cummings, advised Stewards that Sirmione would undergo an endoscopic examination and full veterinary inspection this afternoon and they would notify Stewards of the results. A post race sample was taken for analysis. Mr R Fleming has since advised that the endoscopic examination of Sirmione proved to be clear. - MRC Stewards report.
Two favourites in a row were successful in Group Two races when talented Falbrav colt Fravashi found winning form in the 1400m Autumn Stakes for 3 year olds. It had appeared that the race was over when the equally talented Nicconi - brother to Group One winner Niconero - accelerated after turning. But the Falbrav colt kept to the task under the guidance of blinkers (for the first time) and was able to find a strong rhythm and catch Nicconi right on the line.
In third position was Heart Of Dreams (one of my selections for horses to follow in 2009) who was ridden against usual style when he drew wide, and found himself back in the field until the straight where he would unleash the best finishing burst for the day. The 2009 crop of three-year-olds is blessed with depth and great talent.
The Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) produced the first surprise. Swiss Ace from Queensland overcame the outside barrier to clear the field and lead - to be passed and surely beaten - then fight back to gain a narrow victory. Runner-up Lucky Secret could not find the line in the last 50 metres after sweeping to a seemingly unbeatable lead. Perhaps Lucky Secret feeling his legs more than tiring - his career is fraught with injury. The Lightning Stakes winner - and Oakleigh Plate favourite - Scenic Blast would finish gamely for 5th placing. But he featured in a steward’s report in a race where Hugh Bowman (aboard 3rd placed Typhoon Zed) would cause interference to several runners and incur the wrath of stewards and be suspended for 18 meetings.
Swiss Ace cost only $6,000 as a yearling and became the cheapest Group One winner in Australia in the past 12 months - easily eclipsing (or under bidding) the $15,000 that was the purchase price of Group One Turnbull Stake winner (Caulfield Cup beaten favourite) Littorio.
(note: Swiss Ace became progressively cheaper as he aged. As a weanling he was sold for $8,500 at Magic Millions 2005 National Sale - before subsequently being sold again for just $6,000 to current owners at the 2006 Brisbane Bloodstock Yearling Sale. Don’t hold your breath for this pattern to repeat).
The final surprise came in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes when outsider @ $21.60 Reward For Effort would prove too strong after a masterful ride from Luke Nolen. I must admit that this win was not unexpected as he and runner-up Real Saga had the best recent speedfigures for this classic event. A strong case can be made that Real Saga was unlucky - but clearly they were the best two horses on the day. Earlier this week I wrote about the impending gear changes to be made for this race.
The very talented (Peter Moody trained) Exceed And Excel colt, Reward For Effort, gets winkers for his third race start. A big winner on debut in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, he then chased home Real Saga in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude last start. Inexperienced and in his first campaign, he could significantly benefit from such an addition.
In the case of four of these five horses the gear change gives room for some expectation - and hope for an upset. It can be expected that either (one of) Come Hither, Irish Lights, or Reward For Effort, would come into contention - given their natural ability and already impressive records. - RacingWrite: Blinkered eyes on a Diamond prize.
Pre-race favourite Rostova disappointed her many fans, although there may also be reasons associated with her defeat - and the inglorious performance from Come Hither:
A veterinary examination of Come Hither subsequent to the race revealed the filly to be lame in the off foreleg. A veterinary certificate of fitness is required prior to Come Hither racing again. A veterinary examination of Rostova subsequent to the race revealed the filly had an elevated heart rate and slow recovery rate. Trainer S Richards advised Stewards that Rostova would undergo an endoscopic examination, as in his view Rostova returned to the mounting yard making an abnormal breathing sound, and he would notify Stewards of the results. A post race sample was taken for analysis. - MRC Stewards report.
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