Racing was at CAULFIELD on Saturday. Rail was 6m.
The track started out a SOFT-6 before torrential rain hit at Race 4, they downgraded the track to HEAVY-8 then HEAVY-9.
Once the rain hit, most avoided the inside lanes. Obviously be very careful around times and certainly relative times!
The always popular (well, these days anyway! Can’t find too many of the early baggers showing their heads.. he hee) NATURE STRIP won the popular vote with 41% from AFT CABIN at 34%.
ANAMOE had fans at 16% and BOOGIE DANCER rounded out the poll with 9%.
Let’s start with the G1 and CALLSIGN MAV sat off the strong speed out wide (best going) and despite being under full pressure and still 3-4L off them straightening, kept coming and surged to the lead.
He held off I AM SUPERMAN who charged late (12.38 race-fastest last 200m) and these two edged out fave TUVALU.
TUVALU led early running +2L 1st-600m Vs G1 class average so he certainly didn’t loaf, he was then headed by BUFFALO RIVER and tracked him before taking over early in the straight (maybe there too soon?), he fought hard and went down just .4L.
LAWS OF INDICIES was an every chance/ solid 4th with DALASAN rushing late after losing his spot (didnt quicken !) turn, his 12.42 home ranked 2nd-fastest here with BANKERS CHOICE running home 12.50 (rank 3rd) from way back and wide, he was very good for 1600m.
Time: 1-27.12 on the now Heavy-9 track off 49.36 1st-800m.
That overall time was -2.3L Vs class and +11L Vs all averages.
Race 8 was the G3 How Now for Mares and ZAPATEO proved too classy!
She took sit 3-wide no cover (but in best going) and joined in strongly before going clear.
She ranked 1st for her final 2 x 200m splits and ran 1-13.4 off a moderate 37.36 1st-600m (that early section was -5.4L Vs class ave).
Winner has run a big last 600m (35.62 / +11.8L Vs all averages) and her 11.76 last 200m was the day’s fastest (equal) despite track now a Heavy-9.
LAVISH GIRL led at that moderate tempo and whilst no match for the winner she battled well to keep 2nd from hot fave CHAIN OF LIGHTNING who had every chance up second on this speed, in saying that, I doubt she relished the Heavy-9 track.
ANOTHER AWARD hit the line in day’s (equal) fastest 11.76 here also.
That overall time was +.7L Vs class and +7.5L Vs all averages but they were never going to smash the clock given said tempo.
Race 4 was the G3 Guineas Prelude for the boys and this was the race where it hammered down!
AFT CABIN sat up second on a strong speed before cruising to leader ZAMBORGHINI (who faded) and racing away (home 37.88/ 13.48).
That 1st-800m was 49.76 (+3.6L Vs class) and winner stopped the clock 1-27.84 (-.6L Vs class/ +6.7L Vs all) and won 3.5L over MERIDIUS who was back off midfield and still some 8L away turning, he found the line sweetly again running race-fastest 400m-to-200m then 13.20 last 200m (ranked 2nd) to run a clear second.
AMENABLE was a mile back early and still 10L away on turn before running home 4th-ranked 400m-to-200m, then 12.80 last 200m and clear race-fastest. SIR BAILEY was back/ wide and he too worked home well but was no match for 2nd and 3rd.
Tough race to assess given doubt many of the riders of the back markers could see much ! Winner looked great though and stable said (pre-race) they think he is even better on drier!
Race 5 was Fillies Guineas Prelude, this race is a G2.
Winner BOOGIE DANCER sat back wide with cover off the strong speed then improved very quickly to the turn, all of a sudden she was only 3L off lead straightening then went straight on by!
She relished the Heavy ground and the 1400m here and was clear race-fastest for all three of her final 200m splits. What is also noteworthy is she has run identical time to AFT CABIN in 1-27.84 and that was off a near identical 1st-800m of 49.72 (4/100ths faster to be precise), her last 600m/ 200m here significantly faster than AFT CABIN’s (36.9 / 12.72).
Early speed Vs class was +4.8L and overall time +.9L (obviously - overall time +6.7L Vs all averages was identical to Aft Cabin). Runner-up SUMATRA was back last at 600m and 2L off the winner, she did get left a bit when winner took off but was strong home running 12.80 last 200m (rank 2nd) with SHE’S LICKETYSPLIT holding third despite racing 3-wide no cover nearer that hot speed, with 59kg!
She was very good. Liked the run of PROSCENIUM ARCH for further, she didnt ping but was very strong over the line… SMOKIN' ROMANS won R6 and the Foundation Cup sitting up second on an even tempo then steering well away from the rail, he was flat out straightening but kept kicking using that very good endurance he has and was simply too strong the last 50m or so.
UNCLE BRYN had gun run off him on inside and looked to head him off 200m out but was just no match late, he did hold GOLD TRIP to keep second and GOLD TRIP was certainly every chance given he had winner’s back… in saying that, he had 60kg and gave the quinella 6kg each.
He was only 2nd-up also. CHAPADA is going well, he found the line nicely wider running 12.26 (rank 2nd) last 200m. LUNAR FLARE was the sectional star here, she followed CHAPADA but 600m-to-400m could only manage an 11th ranking before running race-fastest her last 2 x 200m splits (12.12 home). Love the way DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR sticking over for a two mile race…
Not sure he has the class to win a Melb Cup but fancy he is a big fat top-10 hope.
1st-section -2.6L Vs class, overall time: 2-8.80 was +.6L Vs class and +11.2L Vs all averages.
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