Two of note that are currently sitting outside the order of entry that have not passed the first entry clause are Maldivian along with Vision and Power. 58 horses currently have passed but with only 24 starters things are going to get interesting to see just who will get there in the end. And the interest does not get any greater with the upcoming 2009 Caulfield Cup being run on the 17th October. Come late Saturday we should have seen the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner run around or at least have a better understanding of the horses to follow.
Bart Cummings has followed up his 2008 Melbourne Cup win with viewed to take another major Group 1 victory, his 252nd, taking the AJC Australia Deryby with Roman Emperor with Jim Cassidy on board and breaks a 10 year Group 1 Sydney drought for Bart.
Roman Emperor started from the wide gate of 16 and was 3 wide down the straight for the first time before settling in on pace and holding off the late challengers in Harris Tweed and Predetory Pricer who outside of the winner was the run of the race coming from well back and held up for a clear run at the 200m mark.
Cummings indicated that Roman Emperor would head to the paddock for a spell before plotting a run in the 2009 Melbourne Cup. The last horse to win the AJC Derby and Melbourne Cup was Hall Mark in 1993.
On a betting note, the on course market closed at 121%! Never feel sorry for a bookmaker at those percentages!
Fiumicino proved once again to be one of the best mud runners around taking out the $2.5M 2009 BMW over 2400m at Rose Hill 4th April 2009. Fiumicino also won the 2007 AJC Derby under a heavy track. Hindsight is such a sweet, yet, annoying thing, when you think about it, the track was a Heavy 9 and Fiumicino was well overs at $30 and a proven runner in the heavy going. Given that however I guess we can all be excused as this was his first win since the AJC in 2007.
Theseo and Viewed filled the minor placings. Under anything other then heavy, Theseo would have been hard to stop, had the run of the race out in front just the conditions against him, Viewed pulled up sore at the end of the race. Outside of these two I think Master O’Reilly coming home for forth was a great run, sat well off the pace for the most part and was one of a few taking ground hitting the line. Otherwise, it was just good to see Newport NOT throw the jockey off.
Tuesday Joy took out the $300,000 G1 Chipping Norton Stakes 1600m 7th March 2009, Tuesday Joy was a firm favouriate for the race and was ridden well by Brown just off the pace in 3-4th possie before coming out on the straight to win. I think Corey even rated it having said of his ride “I gave her the peach”
Tuesday Joy won in front of Vision & Power and then Gallant Tess for 3rd. Of note was the late run of the 2008 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed for 4th, was coming on strong. Given Tuesday Joy set to head to Dubai, Viewed looks like a good horse to follow for the BMW.
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.
