The boom mare De Bon Coeur, winner of 8 of 9 hurdle races going into the G3 Prix Juigne, went to the post a 2-5 chance. Her only failure came in the G1 Prix Alain du Breil when looking the winner, she bit the dust. (The film starts about a minute in.)
Run in Sydney today. G1 Canterbury Stakes 1300m. The seven year old Happy Clapper took his prize money to AU$3,875,800. He's a good, honest horse. He's in the all blue.
Also in Sydney, the G2 Challenge Stakes over the 1000m trip. Redzel went in as a 2-5 chance and did the business. He's now earned AU$8,221,750. He's in the red.
In Melbourne there was a major boil over in the G1 Australian Cup over 2000m at Flemington. Harlem got the perfect run behind the leaders and was ridden a treat by Kiwi jock Micheal Walker.
Here's a possible Royal Ascot visitor. UK powers have had serious chats with the connections, and his second win in the G1 Newmarket has the trainer and owners thinking about the trip. Redkirk Warrior in the blue and white with red cap leads the grandstand side. He's drawn the 15 gate.
It's nice to see the great Bold Eagle return to the winner's list. Here he is in the G1 Grand Criterium de Nice Matin. No 1 in the red, black arm band and yellow cap.
After taking out the G1 Australian Cup aboard Harlem at cricket score odds last Saturday, crack Kiwi jockey Michael Walker pulled out a similar ride on Fanatic to win the G2, 3200m Adelaide Cup yesterday. In the Australian Cup, he produced a rails hugging ride to snatch the goodies, he did so again yesterday. The difference between winning and running second, was the inside run. Where Walker sat on the fence, his main opposition Craig Williams on Ormito pulled wide to make his run on the bend. Walker is in serious form. Fanatic is in the white with green sash, black sleeves and cap, and is mid field on the fence. Ormito is just in front of him in blue with black & white check sleeves and cap.
G1 Santa Margarita Stakes. Restricted to fillies and mares. 9 furlongs. No 10, Fault in the black and green.
G2 Blamey Stakes 1600m Flemington. Humidor took his career earnings to AU$2,604,415 with this win. No2, two tone green, settles last.
This Saturday at Warrnambool in Victoria, a steeplechase called the Grand Annual will be run. With 33 obstacles spaced out over 5500m, on a figure eight course, it takes some getting. Saturday will mark year 141 of the event. Last year's winner Regina Coeli proved extremely popular. She'd already won in 1015. 2017 race. The caller gets a bit excited as the race nears it's climax.
Next Saturday in Sydney, Winx will out to run her winning streak to 24 on the trot. Her mission is the AU$1,000,000 G1 George Ryder Stakes over the 1500m trip at Rosehill Gardens. If she manages to win, she'll eclipse the great USA champion John Henry as the most prolific G1 winner. One punter has stepped up and dropped AU$114,000 on the mare to win AU$11,000. Crazy stuff. This is the fifth time that a 100 big ones has been placed on the horse to win bugger all. Last Saturday's impressive Guineas winner Kementari just might put the frighteners on Winx supporters. He's a fair sort of animal. Obviously bookies don't overly rate his chances. He's a 13-2 second favourite. What ever the outcome, the George Ryder will be another white knuckle ride for Winx fans.
Melbourne's Moonee Valley racecourse is quite a unique place. There's no another major track in Auatralia that's anything like. I'ts a small track with a circumference of 1805m and a straight of less then a furlong. But there is something about the place that draws you in. There's a sort of magic about it. Flemington is the major attraction, but the Valley on a big race day is where the blood really starts pumping for patrons. The Valley only has four G1 races per year, the W.S. Cox Plate, the Manikato Stakes, the A.J Moir Stakes and the William Reid Stakes. The latter will be run tonight. The 1200m, time honoured event had been won by some of the best sprinters this country has ever produced, including Black Caviar who won it twice. But only one horse has stamped the William Reid as his own, the mighty Manikato. For five straight years Manikato ran his opposition of their legs. He was a brute of an animal with massive size and outstanding speed. Coupled with his great heart, he was a force of nature. There will be Manikato's in tonight's William Reid, but it will still be one hell of an event. Race 7 tonight. I wish they would **** off with the music in the clip below and concentrate on the horse.
Ryan Moore produced a smashing ride to get the John Size trained colt Ping Hai Star home on the G1 BMW Hong Kong Derby over the 2000m trip. The winner is No 3 and settles a long last.
Chad Schofield's head clock worked to perfection when he rode Southern Legend to victory in the Rapper Dragon Handicap. Straight to the front and catch me if you can.
I see Fiorente has at last had his first winner. As he didn't run as a 2yo I suppose you wouldn't expect him to get many 6f 2yo winners.
