Watch for a number of winners out of the Moonee Valley programs last week to make their presence felt during the upcoming Flemington carnival.
The Cox Plate and Manikato Stakes were the showpiece events during the Moonee Valley programs on Friday and Saturday however the features were well supported with a host of other stakes races throughout the weekend.
Six other Group races outside of the Cox Plate were held at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
A couple of races in particular look set to be key form references heading into the feature events through the Flemington carnival.
Hooked was a convincing winner of the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m).
The Casino Prince four-year-old is now owned by Ultra Tune’s Executive Chairman Sean Buckley who acquired the galloper at last month’s Patinack Farm dispersal sale.
Buckley bid $600,000 for Hooked and the purchase is looking increasingly astute after his latest performance.
From all reports, Hooked was lost around the tight turning Moonee Valley at trackwork earlier in the week.
He obviously took valuable experience from the hit-out as the four-year-old was a cut above his rivals in the Group 2 Crystal Mile.
Settled outside early pacesetter Havana Rey, Craig Williams was forced to take up the lead earlier than expected as the King Cugat gelding folded up at the 400m.
Williams from there was aggressive on Hooked and the pair kicked to a decisive break around the bend.
While getting tired late, Hooked claimed the Crystal Mile with 1 ¾ lengths up his sleeve.
Bull Point and Desert Jeuney filled the minor placings.
Hooked is in career best form this campaign which is reflected by a new master Timeform rating of 121 yielded for last Saturday’s victory.
It exceeds his prior master figure yielded when placing in the 2014 Group 1 Australian Derby behind Criterion.
The performance came in three pounds above the prior five year winning average of the Crystal Mile.
He will now head to the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on the final day of their carnival.
The last horse to claim the Crystal Mile – Emirates Stakes double was Dazzling Duke in 1985.
Moonovermanhattan confirmed himself as a key runner in Saturday’s Victoria Derby by taking out the Moonee Valley Vase (2040m).
It was a clinical win by the son of Manhattan Rain who settled just behind leader Zululand before edging ahead around the home turn.
The Mick Price-trained colt held a two length margin on straightening and maintained it to the line.
Atmosphere ran second with Go Indy Go third.
It was a career best performance by the colt, returning a Timeform rating of 117.
This figure comes in a pound above the prior five year winning average.
Moonovermanhattan will now head to the Group 1 Victoria Derby.
The Mick Price-trained colt comes out of the right race heading to the Derby with seven of the past 12 Derby winners having used the Moonee Valley Vase as their lead up.
Of those 12 Derby winners, three claimed the Moonee Valley Vase – Victoria Derby double.
The last was the Lloyd Williams-raced grey Efficient in 2006.
Three-year-olds stepping up to 2500m in the Victoria Derby, there must always be queries on their ability to see out the staying trip based on pedigree.
Early signs are encouraging for stallion Manhattan Rain though whose best performed runners to date have shown promise over a mile and beyond.
As well as Moonovermanhattan winning the Moonee Valley Vase, fellow Manhattan Rain progeny Crafty and Light Up Manhattan are other members of his first crop to be hitting the line well over a trip.
Other notable Group wins at Moonee Valley over the weekend included Cup winner Prince Of Penzance, Fillies Classic winner Lumosty and Chandler Macleod Crockett Stakes winner Tawteen.
One of only two non black type races conducted at Moonee Valley on Saturday was the Inglis Banner.
Fontiton coasted away for a clinical 6.5 length success.
The performance returned a Timeform rating of 113, the highest figure returned by a two-year-old so far this season.
