Phelan Ready taking out the 2009 $3.5M Golden Slipper.

Maldivian continues to put a horror 2007 campaign behind him.  After being a late scratching in the Caulfield Cup as favouraite, Big Mal returned in 2008 to take out the Cox Plate and has backed up the return to top honours taking out the G1 Orr Stakes over 1400m.  This was Maldivians first win running first up, having been placed at the previous 5 attempts. In what was a swoopers track, Alamosa who was ridden well back just failing coming home strong in front of Theseo.

A little early but an important race for the 2009 to see how some of the Novemeber hopefuls fare after their summer break.  Of note, Master O’rielly who finished 4th to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup doing enough, both Sirmione and Baughurst ran on well let postnig 34.34 and 34.47 for the last 600m respectively.

Orr Stakes 1400m Caulfield

Scenic Blast ($19) from Western Australia took out the G1 Lightening Stakes upsetting the BIG TWO of Weekend Hussler and Apache Cat who won this race last year. Weekend Hussler running for the first time over 1000m was ridden poorly outside of Apache Cat and never looked in the race.

Scenic Blast sat just off the pace coming to the outside 200m from the post and burst past for an impressive win in front of Typhoon Zed and ($13) and Grand Duels ($26). The 1000 metre sprint was run in 56.94 seconds with the last 600 run in 33.20 seconds. Scenic Blast’s last 600 was run in a scintillating 32.44 seconds, narrowly ahead of Swick’s 32.53 seconds who loomed on the outside and was finding the line well.

The big questions from this race are, well many. After last years debacle in attempting to make Weekend Hussler a distance horse, did he do enough? Was it just a poor ride, or has last year’s experiment stuffed it all up completely? Is Apache Cat through as a sprinter and will now need 1400m – 1800m? While the odds will be slashed, should we all be backing up on Scenic Blast in the Oakleigh Plate?

Coolmore Lightening Stakes

Interesting post over at racenet.com.au on comments from the beaten Jockey’s

“I’m sorry guys I’ll talk to you later, not now,” a tearful Corey Brown after being denied a Melbourne Cup by the narrowest of margins on Bauer.

Not even a consoling hug and words of praise from managing owner Simon O’Donnell, could ease Brown’s disappointment.

“We had no luck getting out at the right time, he ran terrific, maybe he should have won, I don’t know,” Brett Prebble, rider of C’est la Guerre (3rd).

“We got held up in patches but once he got a clear run, he charged home, a very good effort,” Vlad Duric, rider of Master O’Reilly (4th).

“She might have felt the ground a bit and it might have come a bit early for her, she’ll be much better next year,” Glen Boss, rider of Profound Beauty (5th).

“He actually pulled a bit early so we found ourselves closer to the speed than I wanted to be, he ran great but he set it up for the winner,” Clare Lindop, rider of Moatize (6th).

“I’m not completely sure he stayed the trip,” Damien Oliver, rider of Mad Rush (7th).

“Not bad but the ground may been a bit hard for him,” Jeff Lloyd rider of Nom du Jeu (8th).

“He ran well, maybe should have finished a touch closer but not disgraced,” Danny Nikolic, rider of Zipping (9th).

“He ran about up to what he can do, a pleasing effort,” Chris Symons, rider of Newport (10th).

“Just not good enough today,” Michael Rodd, rider of Ice Chariot (11th).

“He ran okay, that was about as good as he could have went,” Craig Newitt, rider of Guyno (12th).

“I don’t know about two miles for him,” Steven King, rider of Littorio (13th).

“About her level,” Craig Williams, rider of Varevees (14th).

“Every chance, didn’t get the trip,” Greg Childs, rider of Boundless (15th).

“He did his best but maybe he’ll be better next year,” Nick Hall, rider of Red Lord (16th).

“Outclassed,” Mark Sweeney, rider of Prize Lady (17th)

“Maybe we brought the wrong horse, he was out of it as soon as we turned for home, no real excuses,” Johnny Murtagh, rider of Septimus (18th).

“Didn’t stay,” Steven Baster, rider of Barbaricus (19th).

Wayne Lordan, the rider of the 20th placegetter Alessandro Volta, could only offer a smug little smile to the waiting media as he sauntered past the scales.

Perhaps his smug grin is an indication that he was satisfied with the job he did on Alessandro Volta for his employers.

“We went from travelling well to struggling in two strides,” Colm O’Donoghue, rider of Honolulu (21st).

“He couldn’t breathe at the 1000 so I had to pull him up,” James Winks, rider of Gallopin who failed to finish the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup 2008 race replay. I am not sure how many readers are going to watch this given the upset result and I am sure that the folks on Bauer don’t really want to re-live the horror over and over again. I however will keep watching it again and again just to see Septimus fall flat on it’s face.

Enjoy