Star mare Verry Elleegant could go on to be all-time great after incredible win in Chipping Norton
Last Saturday’s Chipping Norton Stakes will surely be used to promote racing in Sydney for the next three weeks until we see Verry Elleegant again.
It was the race the Sydney autumn carnival needed.
When was the last time a big Group 1 dished up such a thrilling finish involving genuine stars of the Australian turf?
The first five placegetters were all Group 1 winners and went over the line together with the great mare sticking her head out late.
The race was a throwback to the days of Octagonal having ding-dong battles with the likes of Saintly, Filante, Nothin’ Leica Dane and Juggler.
People still talk about those clashes in the mid-1990s to this day.
Verry Elleegant holds off some class opposition to win the Chipping Norton.Source:Getty Images
Those on track at Randwick last Saturday won’t forget Verry Elleegant’s seventh Group 1 win over Colette, Avilius, Funstar and Kolding for a long time.
Colette looked to have Verry Elleegant’s measure at the 200m then Avilius loomed as a huge threat but James McDonald knew his mare wouldn’t weaken over 1600m.
“I’ve been in those scenarios before with her,” he said.
“She seems to come out on top more times than not. I knew once she was on, that last 100m the tough would get going. I’m very proud of the mare. I have a soft spot for her.”
Colette may have gone down to Verry Elleegant but the runner-up finish proved she wasn’t just a horse that wins big races on wet tracks.
The contrast between Sydney’s Group 1 mile and Melbourne’s, the Australian Guineas, couldn’t be further with $301 pop Lunar Fox reversing a 13-length defeat in the CS Hayes Stakes to win.
Verry Elleegant will next run in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in three weeks before the Tancred Stakes (2400m) then possibly a showdown with Addeybb in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
If Verry Elleegant wins all three it would be four-straight Group 1s and all of a sudden it’s a Hall of Fame career.
Nash Rawiller urges Forbidden Love past the post in the Surround Stakes.Source:Getty Images
Freedman eyes another G1 victory
Michael Freedman won his first Group 1 as a trainer in Australia on Saturday after Forbidden Love’s classy win in the Surround Stakes and he’s eyeing off another one this weekend.
Prime Star will try and upset unbeaten Kiwi Aegon in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Aegon is expected to get even better over the Randwick mile after his Hobartville Stakes triumph where he was given a near-perfect ride by Hugh Bowman.
Prime Star ran a great third in the race to back up his second placing in the Inglis Sprint first-up.
Freedman is realistic about his three-year-old’s chances.
“He’ll go around at 20/1 like he usually does,” Freedman said.
“He’s come through the Hobartville in great order and Jean Van Overmeire will ride him in the Guineas.”
So can he turnaround the two-length defeat to Aegon?
“He looked very good the other day,” Freedman said.
“I wouldn’t go in there expecting to turn the tables, but racing can be a funny game sometimes.
“If Prime Star got a soft run, I’m sure he’ll put himself there somewhere.”
Punters will get to see Golden Slipper second favourite Stay Inside this weekend, too.
“James (McDonald) will ride him in the Todman. It’s nice to be busy at this time of the year,” Freedman said.
Prime Star is ready for a return bout with unbeaten Kiwi Aegon.Source:Getty Images
Canterbury passes test in style
Canterbury night racing finished last Friday night and no doubt the ATC and Racing NSW would’ve breathed a sigh of relief over the past six weeks as the circuit didn’t play on-pace bias.
It did all last season and started to again at the start of this summer, but things got back to normal pretty quickly, which was hugely important for the industry.
Glen Boss also said Randwick was “pure” for racing on Saturday which will give punters plenty of confidence ahead of a bumper carnival.
Mudgee turns on thriller
Old Harbour and Hamogany raced their way into the $500,000 Country Championships Final on April 3 after running first and second at Mudgee’s qualifier on Sunday.
In a thrilling finish to the $150,000 event, Old Harbour held off the fast finishing Dean Mirfin-trained runner in a photo finish.
It was a good training performance by Wellington’s Michael Mulholland who gave Old Harbour a five-week freshen up and a winning trial leading up to the race after he won at Cowra in January.
Healing Hands, the favourite, ran third in what was a huge performance from the back of the field under a big weight.
Meanwhile, James Harron forked out $1.1 million for a Written Tycoon colt at Sunday’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling sales.
The colt was just the second $1 million-plus horse sold in Victorian history.
RUN OF THE DAY
You have to admire the determination and will to win of the star mare Verry Elleegant in notching up her seventh Group 1 victory.
It may have been a bunched finish but she still has more improvement to come and will get even better when she hits 2000m and beyond.
Criaderas produced another big finish on Saturday but didn’t win.Source:Getty Images
FORGET THEY RAN
The golden boy, Criaderas, continues to capture our attention with his big finishes and late sectionals, if only he could take up some sort of position.
There is no doubt he can win a big race but plenty has to go right with his race pattern.
THE BLACK BOOK
Bound To Win was unbelievable in the last with her finishing sprint.
Sitting back last in a slowly run race you don’t need to go looking for sectional times to declare she was outstanding.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Nash Rawiller was back in town with a bang with a professional winning double.
He guided the impressive 2yo filly Four Moves Ahead to victory looking a real Golden Slipper chance while he stayed cool biding his time winning the Group 1 Surround Stakes on the underrated Forbidden Love.
Originally published asWhy autumn carnival is shaping as one of the best ever
Source: Read Full Article