Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on May 5.
THE STARS
What a fairytale result! claims his first GROUP 1 aboard SOPRESSA in the Schweppes Oaks.
— Racing.com May 5, 2018
RESULTS: https://t.co/S8bgxekcTQ pic.twitter.com/rvUXfLKzdJ
DARREN WEIR: Darren Weir gets his eighth Group One win of the season (personal best) with Sopressa to be just two behind Chris Waller in their race to be leading G1 trainer. Weir’s 29th G1 win of his career wrapped up a huge week for his stable with 12 wins at the Warrnambool carnival and a treble at Flemington on Saturday.
SHOALS/ANTHONY FREEDMAN: How good is she! And what a great job Anthony Freedman has done with his priceless filly to win three G1 races this season from 1200m to 1600m. Now it’s Royal Ascot or The Everest for the filly – tough choice!SHOALS absolutely dominates her opposition in the Sangster as she becomes a three-time Group 1 winner.
MORPHETTVILLE: https://t.co/S8bgxekcTQ pic.twitter.com/Z3IAsibr3s— Racing.com May 5, 2018
THE NEW WAVE: Notice something about the list of winning riders at Flemington on Saturday – Jake Noonan, Lachlan King, Jye McNeil, Jordan Childs, Fred Kersley, Daniel Moor, Daniel Stackhouse, Ethan Brown….the new wave has definitely arrived.
HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTSPAUL HAMMERSLEY/JOSH PARR: A sad day for Hammersley as an illness forced the Queensland jockey to give up two winning rides on Denbern and Sesar on the big day at the Gold Coast. Likewise injured Josh Parr lost a Silk Stocking win on Anatola to Robbie Fradd.
RICHARD LITT: The ups and downs of racing for a trainer with a small team. A week after the tragedy of new acquisition Mackintosh breaking down at Hawkesbury he is back winning at Rosehill with Sedition.ROBERT THOMPSON: The evergreen champion always makes the most of his rare city appearances these days. Unlucky not to land a double at Rosehill.
CHRIS PARNHAM: Picked a god time to announce he is relocating to Melbourne from Perth after landing the G2 Euclase Stakes at Morphettville on the $151 bolter I’ll Have A Bit at Morphettville.NATURE STRIP: Please, no more talk about him being the next big thing in the sprint ranks.
BIG DAY FOR THE RAIDERS: Not much joy for the locals on Oaks day with six of the eight races including all the big ones going interstate. Not jmuch better at the Gold Coast with the four big features all going to the southern raiders.NON WINNERS: Perennial losers Zonk, Oink and Tom Melbourne drew plenty of reaction from punters. Alward, Primitivo and Aloft have joined the club!
RIDE OF THE DAYHARRY COFFEY: Hard to imagine the pressure he must have been feeling riding Sopressa in the Oaks at Morphettville but was faultless, giving the filly the run of the race and lifting her late when the challengers arrived.
QUOTE OF THE DAY"I had my finger on the button ready to call it off.” - chief steward Terry Bailey’s reaction to the fall of Corey Parish in the home straight soon after the start of the 2800m staying race at Flemington.
THEY SAID IT• "For Harry to even be riding and for me to give him his first Group One winner is great. The Coffey family has been unbelievable to me all through my career. Obviously I've known Harry ever since he was born and followed his illness as well.” – Darren Weir’s connection with Harry Coffey.
• "It's a relief and to do it for Darren Weir - he's known me all my life. He probably wondered if I'd be able to deliver on the day with what I've been through. I can remember as a little kid him visiting me in hospital.” – Harry Coffey thanks Darren Weir for his Oaks win on Sopressa.• “She is an outstanding filly - she has won three Group Ones from 10 starts. Not many can do that. She has gone up a couple of levels.” – Anthony Freedman reflects on his achievements with Shoals.
• "It's a funny game. Sometimes you have a bit of luck at someone else's expense," - Tim Clark after picking up the winning ride on Shoals from a heavy Mark Zahra.• “They live like they do in Lloyds - they get very spoiled and have lots of paddocks. They have adjusted to our ways very easily - I really appreciate Lloyd tipping us into these two.” – Kim Waugh thanks Lloyd Williams for her recent winners Our Century and Goathland.
• “Before the last international meeting it was 24 years ago that I was there - that’s a bit scary isn’t it?” – Robbie Fradd on his pending return to Mauritius for just the second time in 25 years.• “We thought this would be too short and sharp. We were probably a little bit negative - we weren't trying to mislead anyone, we're just trying to give anyone an honest opinion." – Chris Waller’s stable manager Charles Duckworth explains the surprise first-up win of importy Solo Mission.
• "It was an enormous win. To see him have a turn of foot shows what class he must have. He has obviously got plenty in the locker." – more from Duckworth on Solo Mission.• "The vets will have to find something because I couldn’t.” – Roosevelt’s rider Tye Angland. Indeed, the vets did find the youngster to be 3/5 lame.
• "She's hard not to love. She's got a great attitude and a great racing pattern.” – Champagne Cuddles’ trainer Bjorn Baker.• "I love this horse. If you are going to be in a fight he is one you would like on your side - he never gives in.” – Dreams Aplenty’s trainer John Zielke.
• "As I crossed the line you can probably see by the look on my face - I was pretty happy with myself. It was important that I got it for Lloyd Williams, to get the ball rolling and get my name out there,” Lachlan King after his first Flemington win on the Williams-owned Sherlock Holmes.• "This is a springboard for her to better races. She has a terrific attitude and has black type written all over her, we just need to find the right race.” – Epidemic’s trainer James Cummings.
BLACKBOOKSUPER CASH: No guide first-up. Never got a crack.
SANTA ANA LANE: Low flying finish. On song.SATONO RASEN: Sound effort from Japanese import.
BASTIA: Wide run cost him a win.NOTONYOURLIFE: Genuine mare certain to be fitter.
MY NORDIC HERO: Past problems look behind him.