3 minute read
A look at some of the minor races at Caulfield on Saturday.
Uncommon James successful at Melbourne debut
Queensland raider Uncommon James continued his winning run taking out the Group 3 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at his first Melbourne start.
The Cable Bay four-year-old is prepared by Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted at Eagle Farm who have been campaigning a small team of horses in Melbourne in the early part of the spring.
A winner of five of his six starts, Uncommon James streaked away from his rivals on Saturday to record a convincing 2-¼ length win as the $1.75 favourite.
Hoysted said the Group 2 Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on September 3 or the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington the following week were the likely next assignments for Uncommon James.
"That has taken a bit of pressure off," Hoysted said.
"We thought he could measure up down here, but it's good to see him do it. You never really do know, and he had never been around Caulfield before, but he couldn't have been any more impressive.
"We know he's got that dynamic turn of foot and he was able to show that. We don't know what his ceiling is yet and he'll continue to improve."
Quick return for new connections
The new connections of Little Stevie have recouped more than half their outlay after the mare took out the Fierce Impact Breed Elite In 2022.
Sold recently for $140,000, Little Stevie picked up $82,500 in her short-half-head victory over Hellfest and Throntari.
Little Stevie was purchased by Lime Country Thoroughbreds and trainer Simon Zahra said the plan was to send the mare to be served by Maurice during the spring.
What Zahra now hopes to do is pick up a 'stakes win' with the daughter of Dream Ahead which would make her a more valuable broodmare.
"She's been in work since December, so I've kept her in the stable, ticking her over," Zahra said.
"I've just tried to space her runs out. She had a jump-out at Flemington two weeks ago. She's happy and poking along.
"There's a stakes race here in a couple of weeks. It's 1200 metres which is probably hard going as she just fell in.
"She likes a quicker run race than it was today. They walked and she doesn't ping."
O'Brien happy with Vow And Declare's return
Trainer Danny O'Brien was happy with the first-up run of Vow And Declare who had not raced in 11 months following a tendon injury.
The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner finished fifth under Damian Lane behind Jimmy The Bear in the MRC First Renewal Michael Grumley Handicap (1600m), beaten five lengths.
"We wanted to blow some of the cobwebs out today," O'Brien said.
"The 1600 metres is not really his ideal trip, but he (Lane) was happy with the way he felt and in the way he hit the line."
O'Brien said there was a 2500m handicap at Flemington on Makybe Diva Stakes Day, September 10, that was likely to be Vow And Declare's next run.
"Then maybe onto The Bart Cummings (October 1), all being well," O'Brien said.
Tralee Rose well held at first run back
Expectations were not high for Tralee Rose in her first start since last year's Melbourne Cup where the mare was galloped on requiring medical attention an extended stint in recovery.
In her return run, the Symon Wilde-trained mare raced handy to the speed under Mark Zahra before tiring in the run home to finish last, beaten 6-¾ lengths behind Jimmy The Bear in the MRC First Renewal Michael Grumley Handicap (1600m).
"We knew she was probably going to need the run," Wilde said.
"Maybe she was a fraction disappointing, but we've given her the benefit of the doubt.
"Mark was pretty happy. He said her action felt pretty good, her breathing was good, so it was good to get the ball rolling and she should be able to build off that."
Wilde said Tralee Rose had never been heavier and will derive a lot of benefit from the outing.
Providing she pulls up well, Tralee Rose is expected to run in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on August 27.
Quote of the day
"We needed that after last week. That was character building." co-trainer J D Hayes after the win of Barbie's Fox in the Sent Gambling Law Experts Handicap before following up later in the day claiming the feature, the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes. A week earlier at Flemington he and co-trainer Ben Hayes had Pas Malotru bleed from both nostrils and Makram pulled-up with cardiac arrhythmia.
From the Steward room
Billy Egan escaped with a severe reprimand on Jimmy The Beat when Tralee Rose was inconvenienced in an incident near the 1300m mark of the opening race.
