A brief look at some of the action from Feehan Stakes Day at Moonee Valley.
Golden Rose on the agenda for Stone
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable will chase successive victories in The Golden Rose after the win of Charm Stone in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m).
Jacquinot took out the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill for Price and Kent last year and the stable had indicated it was the race that appealed for Charm Stone, provided her form warranted it.
Charm Stone is now unbeaten in two starts this campaign, resuming to claim the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19 ahead of Saturday's success.
"She's got a turn of foot, she can sustain her run, she's got stamina and a lot of class," Kent Jnr said.
"She can sit handy, she's versatile, a lot of good attributes to be a Group One filly hopefully, so bring on the Golden Rose.
"We've got two weeks now to the Golden Rose, we'll have a left eye on the Run To The Rose in Sydney today, as there's some nice colts there."
Recommendation bounces back
After a luckless first-up run at The Valley, Recommendation led throughout to claim the Drummond Golf Handicap (1200m).
Apprentice Carleen Hefel took luck out of the equation by going to the lead, and coupled with a big weight drop, was able to dictate the race.
Recommendation dropped 7kg from his first-up run when second to Maximillius on August 12.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable expect Recommendation to go to bigger heights than his win in Saturday's open handicap.
"He'll be better with a bit of give in the ground," Eustace said.
"It's quick today, and he wouldn't have been in love with that so there's definitely more to come.
"There's room for him to run in one more open handicap, there is an 1100 (metre) at Caulfield we could go back to but then hopefully he's able to end up in a nice race towards the back end of Caulfield, maybe even Flemington.
"We might have a little look at the straight."
Young Werther goes back-to-back
After a debut win at Geelong in September 2020, it took Young Werther until start number 23 to register his second victory.
But the confidence gained from that second success, at Flemington in July, saw Young Werther back in the winner's stall at start number 24, taking out the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap (2040m).
Since that debut victory, the Danny O'Brien-trained galloper has raced predominantly in 'Black Type' company but has relished the drop in grade in his last two starts.
He has also clicked with jockey Billy Egan who has been aboard in those two wins.
"It's great for the owners," O'Brien's assistant-trainer Jack Howard said.
"They were really patient from the maiden victory to the last start win there at Flemington and for him to go back-to-back is great for them and for the stable as well.
"I think Billy (Egan) might be the winning factor, two from two on him so good luck getting him off."
Derby perhaps for Fistsoffury
Wayne Hawkes says he would love to see Fistsoffury on a bigger track after he crabbed his way to success in the Inglis Ready2Race Sale 10 Oct Handicap (1500m).
"I'd love to see him at Flemington over a mile because he half-crabbed it around the corner again today," Hawkes said.
"He did it the other day as well. That's nothing against the track, he's just such a big, massive striding horse, I'd love to see him on a bigger track."
Hawkes said Fistsoffury was shaping as a stayer and may progress to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in November.
"Winning any race on a Saturday is good so it's onwards and upwards from here," Hawkes said.
"To be honest with these sorts of horses you're actually hoping they can run 2000 (metres), then you're maybe hoping they can run a touch further because there's a race called the Derby.
"I don't know whether he'll run the Derby distance, but it sounds good to be heading towards a Derby anyway."
Blinkers work on Place Of Gold
A set of blinkers has helped Place Of Gold land his third career win after a polished ride by jockey Ben Allen in the PFD Food Services Handicap (1600m).
Trainer Cliff Brown said the blinkers added to Place Of Gold's gear was in a bid to overcome a flat spot he had been having in previous races.
"We were trying to eliminate that, and the other thing was he'd won two races in however many starts he'd had, so we had to try something different," Brown said.
"If you keep doing the same thing you're probably as stupid as stupid could be."
While only scoring by a long neck, Allen said if Place Of Gold had something to chase he would have won easier.
"He was good to the line, but I feel if he had something to go with, he would've hit the line a lot better because blinkers first time, he was a little bit lost in front, but he was too good.," Allen said.
Quote of the day
"He's very light framed, he's different to me, he just needs a bit of time between runs" - trainer Cliff Brown after Place Of Gold took out the PFD Food Services Handicap.
