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Saturday Post Mortem with Chris Scholtz

by Chris Scholtz 7 years ago 3 minute read

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Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on November 4.

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on November 4.

THE STARS

DAVID PAYNE/ACE HIGH: The former South African trainer had a plan and stuck to it, confident that he was doing the right thing giving Ace High 28 days between races going into a Derby. The dominant Ace High, now a back to back G1 winner, left his rivals with no excuses after racing four deep for the last 800m. He and runner-up Sully came straight from the Champion Stakes in Sydney and shot holes in the Melbourne 3YO form.

TYE ANGLAND: And he thought he had blown the Derby when he was trapped four wide for the last 1000m! What a way to celebrate his first ever win in Melbourne and third G1 win for the spring.

UDYTA CLARKE/PATRICK MOLONEY: The 70-year-old Cranbourne trainer of star sprinter Rich Charm was the toast of Flemington with her unbridled joy, honesty and obvious love for her horses. It was also obvious what a win on Derby Day meant for young jockey Patrick Moloney, who copped a $500 fine for his whip celebarations.

KATHY O’HARA: With all the usual suspects in action in Melbourne she made the most of her opportunities at Rosehill with a winning treble. Sure to be full of confidence when she heads to Flemington on Tuesday for her first Melbourne Cup ride on Single Gaze!

CHRIS WALLER: Earns his regular weekly spot for another notable day that featured five winners at Rosehill, a Group One quinella at Flemington and yet another Doomben win for his satellite stable in Queensland.

JOHN SARGENT: The likeable Kiwi has certainly made his mark in Australia with his fillies. He has now won three of the past five Wakeful Stakes and has won three Oaks with Quintessential (2012 Queensland Oaks), Kirramosa (2013 VRC Oaks) and Gust Of Wind (2015 ATC Oaks). Can Luvaluva make it four this week?

DEAN YENDALL: Has never ridden better. The natural lightweight is becoming a go to jockey for big races, landing plum rides on horses other jockeys have to reject because of their weight issues.

MICHAEL DEE: Grabbed the chance to ride for Chris Waller by landing his second G1 win of the spring with a super confident ride on Shillelagh. His spring success should lead to many more opportunities for top stables.

TALKING POINTS

MELBOURNE CUP: Oh, how things have changed! It’s some 25 years since the Melbourne Cup went international and gave rise to the doomsayers lamenting how the raiders would hijack our great race! Now it’s accepted that we wouldn’t have a race worthy of its great traditions if we didn’t have the imports – regardless of whether they are trained here or overseas - making up the majority of the field. Such is the decline in the quality of our home grown staying products, underscored by the demise of the once formidable New Zealand influence, that we should be ever thankful the imports now make the race a truly global event.

THEY SAID IT

• "Not usually does a plan come together but this has been planned for about six months and it all just fell into place.” - David Payne’s relief after Ace High wins the Victoria Derby.

• “If I hadn't ridden him that day, I wouldn't be standing here now.”- Tye Angland explains after his Derby win why he missed his brother’s wedding on October 7 to ride Ace High in the Spring Champion Stakes.

• "It's my first ever winner in Victoria and it's an unbelievable feeling. I thought when I got flushed wide it was over but the last 100 metres were enjoyable - I can't describe the different emotions I felt that last little bit." – Angland after the Derby.

• "I've looked after him like he's my child”." – 70-year-old Cranbourne trainer Udyta Clarke and her love for her star sprinter Rich Charm.

• “I don't know how Chris Waller copes - my stomach is churning. Every other race I've coped but it's really got to me today - I nearly put him on the truck and took him home, I really did. I looked at all the other horses and I thought 'they're so big and they're so strong' - look at my horse, he's like a little pony.”- refreshing honesty from Udyta Clarke.

• “He's a freak. He's got some untapped ability. He had no right to win. To spot them a good eight lengths as they hit the course proper, and he gobbled them up. I eased him across two heels and said 'it's up to you now big boy' and he said 'see ya'.” - Patrick Moloney’s praise for Rich Charm.

• "I thought if he's good enough to ride for Lloyd Williams then he's good enough for me." Chris Waller explains why he booked Michael Dee for G1 winner Shillelagh.

• "She just tugged me everywhere I wanted to go, she was too good." Michael Dee sums up his ride on Shillelagh.

• "I came to Caulfield with a job to do and obviously winning Group Ones was part of that. It wasn't guaranteed it was going to happen. If things hadn't have gone the way they have, I would have been at home at Warrnambool cheering Ciaron's horses home and would've been happy for him." – Merchant Navy’s trainer Aaron Purcell on his thrust into the spotlight after taking charge of the stable of the suspended Ciaron Maher.

• “He was a special colt from the day he was born. Not only was he well-bred and a great looker, he just had this unbelievable demeanour. He was everything I look for in a horse,” – Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O Brien on his first impressions of Merchant Navy.

• "They're only little, I'm only little... I blend into them. They barely know I'm on top of them." - Natural lightweight Dean Yendall after Shoals gave him his second successive win on a lightly weighted filly in the Myer Classic.

• “We switched races - one thing our stable does really well is set realistic targets for our horses that are achievable." – Peter Gelagotis, the trainer of Carbine Club Stakes winner Levendi.

• "I was out the back and she just caught my eye. I didn't look at the pedigree or anything, I just loved the way she moved and bought her for a couple of thousand bucks." - trainer Darren Weir explains why he paid $2000 for Lyuba, a six-time winner of $436,000, at a yearling sale in 2014.

• “If you give a trainer the ride I gave him last week you probably wouldn't get another ride. I'm thankful Les is very forgiving." – an honest Blaike McDougall thanks trainer Les Bridge after his wining ride on Slow Burn at Rosehill, making up for a poor ride on a stablemate last week.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

• "There's a bloke somewhere in the world with curly hair and I hope he's proud as punch.”- a big shout out to suspended trainer Ciaraon Maher by part-owner Darren Thomas after Merchant Navy’s win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Toss of the coin between Blake Shinn (Luvaluva) and Mark Zahra (Merchant Navy) for their daring navigation at Flemington. AT Rosehill Kathy O’Hara pulled out all stops to lift Black On Gold and Carzoff to narrow wins.

XXXX

BLACKBOOK

PRINCE CHERI: Starting to find his old form.

REALING: Hard to miss his big first-up second. Highway special.

BEAU GESTE: Should have gone close. Can win a good race.

INVINCIBLE STAR: Proved she was up with the best of her age group.

ECKSTEIN: Ready to win after he fine effort in the Myer Classic.

SULLY: Expect good things from him next prep.
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PRINCE CHERI REALING BEAU GESTE INVINCIBLE STAR ECKSTEIN SULLY

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