3 minute read
A brief look at some of the races on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley.
Lindsay Park's dream Banner result
The perfect result for Lindsay Park in Saturday's $500,000 Inglis Banner would have been having the first two over the line, but none of the Hayes brothers were complaining with first and fifth.
Bold Bastille picked up the $300,000 winner's purse with a dominant win, while Blue Allure landed a $215,000 payday despite missing a place.
A $110,000 Inglis Premier purchase, Blue Allure picked up $12,500 for finishing fifth, but also earned a $200,000 prize for being the first horse home that has at least 75% female ownership with both Ben and J D Hayes' partners both involved in the ownership.
"She's paid for herself in one running coming fifth," Ben Hayes said.
"It's a good way to get in the good books."
It is the second year in a row Lindsay Park has collected the Inglis Pink Bonus after winning last year's Inglis Banner with Arkansaw Kid, a son of Harry Angel.
Bold Bastille, a $270,000 Inglis Premier son of Brazen Beau, jumped straight to the front and had the race won on the turn, being eased down by jockey Mark Zahra to score by three lengths in a time of 58.33 seconds.
"I'd been cuddling her a bit at the trials, but I just thought that there wasn't a heap there. I was wrong," Zahra said.
Three on the trot for Wishlor Lass
Wishlor Lass added the Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) to her record with a comfortable all-way the win under Damian Lane.
Bill Wilde, representing son, and trainer, Symon, said Wishlor Lass had a great physique for a racehorse.
The Wilde family owns the dam Lorna's Lass and has a more of her progeny coming through, while earlier horses from the mare had been too big, and too heavy.
"A lot of those really good mares, they keep on producing so maybe there is one who'll be as good as her," Wilde said.
"She's got a great physique. A couple of good ones we had earlier were too big and too heavy. They broke down and had little issues but were very talented.
"This one is just a perfect shape. She's big, athletic and has got a lovely stayer's (build). She'll run in a couple of weeks' time at Flemington."
The Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival is where the Warrnambool-trained mare is likely to head instead of the Group 1 Empire Stakes (1600m) at Flemington next Saturday.
Gumdrops survives late charge
Damian Lane has had luck with the ownership group of Gumdrops over the years and said it was good to reward them with a Stakes race victory.
That win came in the Listed William Crockett Stakes (1200m) when Gumdrops held off the chasing pack to record a narrow victory.
Lane said the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly was raw and can continue to develop.
"She's so green off the bridle still," Lane said.
"I've always loved her from the first time I rode her back in the autumn in her trial and she was just nowhere near the finished product under pressure.
"She really loses her action at times but did enough to win again today but she's going to be a lovely filly in another prep's time."
Price said Gumdrops was likely to head to the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 9.
Gumdrops registered her maiden win at Ballarat on October 2 before heading straight to Stakes grade on Saturday.
"I would think from Ballarat to here, she has definitely improved physically and hopefully she improves a little bit again," Price said.
"We'll just keep her ticking and I think the Red Roses down the straight will be a nice little race for her.
"She's on the way up."
Luckless Antino
The luckless Melbourne campaign of Antino has continued with the gelding a narrowly beaten favourite in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m).
Sent out the $2.50 top elect, Antino was beaten a short neck by New Zealand mare Prowess.
Antino started his current campaign finishing fourth at Flemington before going to Sandown for a narrow victory.
The Tony Gollan-trained galloper backed that effort up finishing second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield before another luckless effort on Saturday.
Gollan said he would now consider whether Antino stays in Melbourne for the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 11 or heads to Sydney for the Five Diamonds.
"I'm very proud of him," Gollan said.
"He's a really good horse, but he's been a bit luckless here in Melbourne and today was a bit of the same, really.
"Bankers Choice came around us at a crucial time and we couldn't get out of that spot. Blake (Shinn) waited and we were almost the winner again.
"I think he is as good as we can get him, so it is a matter holding him for a couple of weeks.
"He'll either run in the Champions Mile or head to the Five Diamonds."
Skybird maintains unbeaten record
After wins on the provincial circuits of Ballarat and Bendigo to commence her career, Skybird continued her winning streak on her maiden trip to the city.
The Mitchell Freedman-trained filly took out the Group 2 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic (1600m) under an inspired ride by Beau Mertens .
Skybird was locked away on the fence near the rear as the field approached the hometurn, but as the fillies fanned, Mertens was able to weave a passage through.
"He had to be patient but before the race I said to him that we're going to leave it all up to you," Freedman said.
"If you go inside them and try and get it done that way, so be it. She's pretty tractable and knows how to get through them,
"I thought Craig Williams (Broadcaster) and Mick Dee (Carina Queen) were the horses to try and get on the back of and pick our way that way.
"It turned out they were right in from of him.
"How good to get a winner on Cox Plate Day. We did it four years ago and how good to do it again."
Nugent back in winner's circle
Jockey Teo Nugent secured his first win since a fall at Moonee Valley six months ago.
Nugent fractured his neck in the fall on March 18, returning to race riding on October 6 and was having his 32nd ride when partnering Ashford Street to victory in the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap (1000m).
Ashford Street has been a provider of winners for Nugent with the sprinter also giving the jockey his first victory when joining senior ranks as a jockey.
"It is great to be back," Nugent said.
"I've been riding now for a touch over two weeks. I've had four seconds, gone close, but couldn't find a winner, so it's great to be back here in the winners' stall especially on a horse like Ashford Street.
"He's been so surreal to my career and coming out of my apprenticeship he was my first winner as a senior.
"He had to carry the weight today, but he was tough in the end of it."
Quote of the day
"Symon is at home. He's very shy. He's doing a Paddy Payne. He likes to stay home" - Bill Wilde on his trainer son Symon after Wishlor Lass won the Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m).
