On a pro rata basis it is hard to go past this event as the best provider of 3yo talent all season.
The Spring Stks sets up perfectly for the 3yos. A long run to the first turn on a great track provides trainers with the chance to decide if they have a miler aimed at a George Main Stks or go toward the Spring Champion and VRC Derby. Even Melbourne Cup form has come out of the event.
• 2005 – HOTEL GRAND 3c (Grand Lodge x Terrestial) ($12)
Jockey: Jay Ford, Trainer: Anthony Cummings
Barrier: 7, Weight: 55.0kg
Gross Time: 1:36.34, 600m Sectional: 35.22
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good, Starters: 10
2nd: Manton (55.0kg), 3rd: Flora Danica (53.0kg)
Timeform Rating: 116
Hotel Grand won as an inexperienced colt Photo by Racing and Sports Being an uncut half brother to a G1 winner (Outback Prince) he was valuable already. However winning quality races would exponentially lift his importance. He'd only had two runs before Broadmeadow but over the sprints he wasn't able to get into a comfort zone, rolling in front. Things changed over the mile. Jay Ford was beginning his Takeover Target journey and connections thought the luck might rub off. Well he led most of the way until a late burst from Manton, the superbly bred full brother to a Derby winner Blackfriars and an Oaks winner Larrocha. It was close but Hotel Grand did the job. He did claim that critical G1 after that in the Spring Champion then again in the Randwick Guineas so should set himself up for life at stud.
• 2006 – MEARAS 3c (Redoute's Choice x Eldarin) ($3.50)
Jockey: Darren Beadman, Trainer: John Hawkes
Barrier: 1, Weight: 55.5kg
Gross Time: 1:36.07, 600m Sectional: 34.96
Margin: 1.8L, Track: Good, Starters: 8
2nd: Magic Jet (55.5kg), 3rd: Teranaba (55.5kg)
Timeform Rating: 114
Mearas scored in a weird edition Photo by Racing and Sports This was designed as a coronation. But not for the winner but Excites who was going to be the next good horse to win this then go onto bigger success in Sydney or Melbourne. Well literally five strides out of the gates, Excites thought it best to turn left, stop and walk to the outside fence. Not what punters, owners, trainer, jockey and prospective breeders wanted to see from a valuable stallion prospect. However that was the vanquished, but another blueblood won in Mearas who was good enough to win second start in the Ming Dynasty. Beadman settled him near the rear of the field. With several keen to lead, Beadman bided time and simply waited for them to get tired. He rounded them up and spat them out. However in the Spring Champion he'd be the one to race without luck while Teranaba who was beaten at Newcastle won at big odds in the G1.
2nd: Rhyno Chaser (56.5kg), 3rd: Back Off (56.5kg)
Timeform Rating: 114
Sousa turned into Peter Snowden's first G1 winner for the new owners Photo by Racing and Sports This race was notable for the first 25m and last 25m but more on that later. Sousa was beautifully bred colt. Galileo was beginning to make his mark and Peter Snowden must have thought all along they had a lovely middle distance horse. The on track performances weren't indicative of what was to come. While he jumped well in the race, Rhyno Chaser missed the kick and was last most of the way. Turning for home and Corey didn't want to want to risk a pocket so he got rid of a few slowcoaches. He powered away but in doing so basically let Rhyno Chaser out who had tried to follow him through. Sousa just got the bob in and scored a win which would be replicated four fold in the Spring Champion Stks. That win G1 would be the first for Snowden as head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed in Australia.
Lovemelikearock was one of the few filly winners Photo by Racing and Sports This big filly was tried as a 2yo and aimed at the Slipper but it may have come too soon for her. While running well in those events she looked then like she was looking for further. A good spell and time to grow occurred and she came back with a win on the Kenso track, a third to Melito in the Furious when running home hard before getting to the mile for the first time. Anthony Cummings had trained the winner of this before and knew what to target it with. There was decent pace early then slowed but favourite Hus Der Lieften found a good spot. Coming to the turn Schofield took off to get around them while these other chances got shuffled back. With the field stretched across the track at the 400m anything could win but he filly out sprinted Viking Legend who came again. She emulated Lotteria in winning this for the gals but has really only since gone onto run fifth in the Spring Champion behind Monaco Consul.
• 2010 – ILOVETHISCITY 3c (Magic Albert x Kensington Rose) ($2.62 fav)
Jockey: Glen Boss, Trainer: Grahame Begg
Barrier: 14, Weight: 56.5kg
Gross Time: 1:37.01, 600m Sectional: 34.80
Margin: 1L, Track: Good, Starters: 15
2nd: Giresun (56.5kg), 3rd: Heartsareforlove (54.5kg)
Timeform Rating: 112
Ilovethiscity circled them to win Photo by Racing and Sports Yet again this race provided a top form line for the highly graded 3yo races through their classic generation. This complete field in of itself wasn't considered the best recorded but in the end the winner would run equal fav in the Caulfield Guineas. Even the third filly would be runner up in the 1000 Guineas. To the running where the pace was fair but it meant Begg's charge had to make a long run for home. Glen Boss pulled him widest and he swept upon them, showing excellent turn of foot. Despite being eight wide on the bend, he held the length margin over the last 200m and scored his first stakes win. Without luck at Caulfield he would come back in the Autumn taking the Hobartville and G1 Randwick Guineas before creditable fifths in the Ryder and Doncaster.
RACE PREVIEW
o Extraordinary number of G1 wins emanate from this race – nearly 30 individual G1 winners.
o Not a good recent record for favourites until Ilovethiscity.
o Lotteria was the only filly to ever win this race before Lovemelikearock.
o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <5-8> - 4 times
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – $6.30
o Breakdown of winners – 1 gelding, 6 colts & 2 fillies
o Last 10 Years Ming Dynasty / Spring Stks double – Mearas ('06)
o Last 10 Years Peter Pan Stks / Spring Stks double – Magic Albert ('01)
SUMMARY & SELECTIONS
This is always one of the best 3yo guides through the season. Plenty of good ones go into this and many come out of it.
Ambidexter brings quality form Photo by Racing and Sports
While the numbers are small this year it is high on very nice quality potential stayers.
Could see Boys On Tour and Just The Tonic as the potential leaders albeit anything could happen. The pace might not very strong because of that.
More than happy to stick with Ambidexter after his strong Ming Dynasty win. He looked like a real 2000m horse and while this is a mile, the big straight is only in his favour.
The stable (or incantations thereof) have had a great run in this race as a vital lead up to the Randwick features. He should get a perfect run in behind them.
Of those from the Rosehill lead up race, I think Just The Tonic can bring that form north. He seems perfectly suited to the mile and beyond and the drier the track the better for him.
Gai also has won this before and is looking forward to a big Spring.
Darci Be Good went from 1000m to a mile within a fortnight onto a heavy track and won the Fernhill Hcp. That might be a good sign for the upcoming races.
Scoring first up he then had to give them all extra weight in the Ming Dynasty. This time he meets them on level weights and can't be dismissed easily.
