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Saturday Post Mortem with Chris Scholtz

by Chris Scholtz 6 years ago 3 minute read

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Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on March 31.

THE STARS

ALMANDIN/LIAM HOWLEY: Great to see this top class 8YO become the fifth Melbourne Cup winner to also win the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill and in the process give Lloyd Williams’ new private trainer his first G1 win after just four months in the job. Howley was penalised $1000 after he upset stewards by not advising that Almandin would be ridden closer to the lead but Williams will happily pay the fine!

PATRICK PAYNE: Amid several notable training achievements on Saturday Payne’s results at Oakbank and Caulfield were hard to beat as he trained first and second in the Great Eastern Steeplechase for his fourth win in the iconic Oakbank race and also won the G3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield with the super honest Widgee Turf.

STEVE PATEMAN/ERIC MUSGROVE: They are the kings of Oakbank. Nobody rides Oakbank better than Pateman, Zed Em giving him his fifth win in the Great Eastern. Outdoing them all was master jumps trainer Eric Musgrove winning the Classic Hurdle for the ninth time!

MICK PRICE/MICHAEL DEE: Another fine training effort by Mick Price to win his 33rd G1 race with Hiyaam in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill thanks to a dashing front-running ride from grateful jockey Michael Dee. The filly gave Dee his third win in a G1 race.

GARY FRAZER: A great result for this astute Hawkesbury trainer to produce his good mare Spright for an impressive first-up win in the G3 Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill off a break of 161 days.

TEAM GELAGOTIS: The brothers celebrated in Dubai after Levendi won the G2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill before Illustrious Lad did them proud with a game run in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Saturday night.

SAAB HASAN/SHOREHAM: It was a blow out for punters but nobody would begrudge the emotional win for this 9YO’s devoted trainer in the Easter Cup at Caulfield. It was the third time Shoreham had started in the race after two previous attempts in 2014 and 2015.


BILLY EGAN/WIDGEE TURF: A dashing last to first ride gave a jockey more familiar with riding at bush meetings his first Group win in the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. Egan has ridden the gelding in seven of his eight wins including five since December.

JEFF LLOYD: A double at Doomben brought up 100 Queensland wins for the third successive season for the veteran jockey – yet he maintains he will retire at some stage this year. Stay tuned!

BOUQUETS AND BRICKBATS

DOOMBEN AND ROSEHILL: Both tracks showed they were suffering from their recent heavy schedules. There’s relief for Rosehill but action is needed to give Doomben some respite before the Brisbane carnival hits top gear (see Talking Points).

LIAM RIORDAN: The 20-year-old apprentice landed his first city win on a Saturday aboard Runson at Caulfield for his 85th career win.

CELLARMAN: No horse – bar Winx - has raced better in Sydney this year, recording his fourth win from his last five starts in the Doncaster Prelude at Rosehill. He’s been up since September and his belated improvement has been a revelation for Chris Waller as he didn’t regard him as good enough to nominate him for the Doncaster.

GAI WATERHOUSE/ADRIAN BOTT: Enjoyed another rewarding day with a Group double at Rosehill with Prompt Response and Arbeitsam and a Melbourne win at Caulfield from Han Xin.

TEAM HAWKES: They do have the knack with 2YOs….from the Golden Slipper one week to a juvenile double in Sydney and Melbourne the next.

BRENTON AVDULLA: Golden Slipper winner and premiership leader continued his fine carnival with a double at Rosehill for Chris Waller and Godolphin. Both wins were fine examples of how to ride the Rosehill track from inside gates when the ground near the rail is off.

KRIS LEES: A first and third in the Newcastle heat with Princess Posh and Kool Vinnie gives the trainer six qualifiers for the Provincial Championship at Randwick on April 14.

RIDES OF THE DAY

For sheer brilliance and daring BILLY EGAN’s last to first display on Widgee Turf to win the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield was breathtaking but for tactical nous it was hard to beat the mid race move by COREY BROWN that paved the way for his victory on Irukandji in the first at Rosehill. Brown’s decision to press forward and take up the lead after he was caught three deep won him the race and is the type of initiative often lacking among riders who get tied down by their instructions.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

• "A lot of people thought I was crazy to run him but the horse deserved it. I'm just so happy, irrespective of prize money, as he's been out in the wilderness. The horse doesn’t know what a $100 note is - they know what love is.” – Trainer Saab Hasan’s love for Easter Cup winner Shoreham.

• “I backed him so I could pay some bills. Whoever I owe, just ring me up.” – more from Saab Hasan.

THEY SAID IT

• “Most expected him to be further back. It is an important rule for the integrity of racing, particularly in this state with speed maps … it does change the dynamics of the race.” – chief steward Mark Van Gestel sums up why Almandin’s trainer Liam Howley was fined $1000 for not notifying a change of tactics.

• “We're looking forward to getting to Randwick - it's fantastic to see the blue and white in Sydney.” – Almandin’s part-owner Nick Williams and their Sydney Cup plans.

• “They’ve got him in great shape - it’s good to see him bounce back at the top level. He’s moving very well, he was full of beans throughout the run.” - Kerrin McEvoy on his reunion with Almandin.

• "It's always been the goal for her to get to the Oaks and today is a cherry on top. She’s not a big filly but she has got a great heart and lungs.” – Mick Price’s stable manager Luke Wilkinson talks about Vinery winner Hiyaam.

• “It’s my third Group One but my favourite one winning for my old boss and master Mick Price. He’s given me a lot of support since I came over here so big thanks to him.” – Hiyaam’s jockey Michael Dee.

• “He was just a midweek horse when nominations for the Doncaster closed. He has been a surprise packet - he is a happy horse and has improved with racing.” – Cellarman’s trainer Chris Waller.

• “It’s nice to come up here and get a winner. To do the travel and get the results is great - she was a nice pick up for me. It would be nice to see her win a Group One.” - Prompt Return’s rider Damien Oliver.

• “She's a very honest mare. She's a quality mare down to her tippy toes and at this level she is incredibly hard to beat." – Prompt Return’s co-trainer Gai Waterhouse.

• "There was nothing physically wrong with her, she just didn't come up. Sometimes they do that to you, especially mares.” – Gary Frazer explains the return to form by Spright.

• “Last prep was a bit of a right off, she never came up. It’s good to see the old Spright letting loose like she can.” – Spright’s jockey Jay Ford.

• “I've been with Troy now for four years. I've had a few indiscretions along the way and without Troy I wouldn't have a job." – apprentice Liam Riordan thanks his master Troy Corstens.

• "You've got to go out to ride and own it.” – Billy Egan on that ride on Widgee Turf.

• “It’s always good to ride a winner. It’s a tough time of year to get good rides but to get an opportunity for the leading stables and make the most of it is good.” –Brenton Avdulla.

BLACKBOOK

ARISTOCRATIC MISS: Good filly. Will be even better next preparation.

BELFAST: Classic type. Stable is very good with staying 3YOs.

UNFORGOTTEN: Excellent Oaks trial.

BEAU GESTE: Ready for return to his own age group.

FOX SWIFT: Luckless. Sure to be a sharp improver.

STEEL FROST: Building nicely for the Adelaide carnival.

YOGI: Strong return by a good stayer.


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ARISTOCRATIC MISS BELFAST UNFORGOTTEN BEAU GESTE FOX SWIFT STEEL FROST YOGI

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