19/10/20 Saturday Racing Review at Caulfield

Ride Of The Day 

MARK ZAHRA

Put on a riding masterclass in the Caulfield Cup on top of Verry Elleegant.

He’s unquestionably one of the best jockeys in the land and over the past few years, he’s taken his game to another level.

His winning moves in the Caulfield Cup were getting off the fence at the 1600m mark and then steering Verry Elleegant to the outside with 600 metres to go.

 

Melbourne Cup watch

VERRY ELLEEGANT

She was challenged by Anthony Van Dyck in the closing stages, before shrugging the foreign raider off.

The mare was also very strong after the line, surging away from that galloper.

She’s a star who has now won six Group One races and the 3200m will suit.

 

ANTHONY VAN DYCK

He’ll be better suited by Flemington and over the two miles, and will only improve after his Australian debut.

He’s right in Melbourne Cup calculations.

 

PRINCE OF ARRAN

He’s on track for another podium finish in the Melbourne Cup.

He recorded the 11^th fastest last 200 metres and the best in the Caulfield Cup, getting home for fourth in the time of 11.92 seconds.

 

Horses to follow

HIT THE SHOT

That was a great Victoria Derby trial.

He finished on strongly for third in the Caulfield Classic, in a manner which suggests he'll relish the 2500 metres of the Derby.

 

ALBARADO

Don’t under-estimate his win in terms of a Victoria Derby.

He surged hard late to win over the 2000m and he ran seven metres further than the runner-up, Let’s Karaka Deal, and six metres further than Hit The Shot.

 

FIFTY STARS

He’s on track for Flemington and Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes will have him primed for both the Cantala Stakes and the Mackinnon Stakes.

He sat wide in the 1400 metres Moonga Stakes, but fought on strongly for third.

He covered 8 metres more than the winner, Wild Planet.

 

Forgive File

SKIDDAW

Didn’t have the best of runs and stewards noted that in the straight, he was held up for a run between the 350m and 200m mark.

He also covered three more metres than the winner Power Scheme.

Probably wants 2000 metres.

 

AVILIUS

He should have finished in the placings in the Caulfield Cup.

It will be interesting to see what James Cummings does next with him.

If they are willing to wait for the Mackinnon Stakes, he’ll be a great chance.

 

 

Sectional Stars 

MADAME ROUGE

Recorded the fastest last 200m for the day getting home in 11.17 seconds to win the final race, which had been run at a dawdle.

 

What the jockeys said

CAULFIELD CUP

Mark Zahra on Verry Elleegant (1st):

“I had to give her a razzle up on the turn but, like they say, she was very tough.”

 

Hugh Bowman on Anthony Van Dyck (2nd): 

“Great run, superb effort. We had a beautiful run in transit and I got going when it suited me. I thought I had the race at my mercy at the 300 (metres) but all credit to the winner. She’s so tough.”

 

Daniel Stackhouse on The Chosen One (3rd): 

“He ran absolutely super. We probably got the gap a little bit late, but he stuck to his guns. Full credit to the trainer and owners.”

 

Jamie Kah on Prince Of Arran (4th): 

“Absolutely super. He didn’t go early at all to get across, so I had to cop and go back on him. But god he was a big run from the rear of the field.”

 

Damian Lane on Finche (5th): 

“Really good run. The mid-race slacken really went against him, because I had to get going on him too early into the race because he’s not a sit-and-sprint horse. He was so honest. Ran well.”

 

John Allen on Avilius (6th): 

“He’s going super. Had a beautiful run to the home straight and just needed a gap at the top of the straight and it didn’t open.”

 

Ben Melham on Buckhurst (7th): 

“I thought he ran well.”

 

Craig Williams on Master Of Wine (10th): 

“He got into a lovely position. He might’ve been doing it a little bit keen where he was. I thought we came under fire at the 600 (metre mark), a bit too early for his ability but he made himself feel a bit vulnerable where he was today.”

 

Luke Currie on Warning (12th): 

“They were just a bit sharp for him around Caulfield. He’ll be better on the bigger, flat track at Flemington.”

 

Damien Oliver on Vow And Declare (15th): 

“He’s just not quickening now. He’s very one-paced. I think we have to ride him a bit more forward to see if he can keep grinding away that way, because he’s just not showing any change of speed.”

 

CAULFIELD CLASSIC

Mark Zahra on Albarado (1st):

“He’s a Derby hope for sure. He jumped well but I just wanted to have him back and switched off, be strong late and be really relaxed. It took me a while to get him to switch off. I just Alvarado kept him going through his gears.”

“He’s green. I hit the front at the 200 (metre mark) and Redwood Shadow came and challenged him and he found.”

“I think with the blinkers, when he saw the horse coming down the outside, he dug in. At the furlong it could have gone either way.”

 

John Allen on Let’s Karaka Deel (2nd): 

“He ran well. He’s still a bit green - a bit to learn. Probably got a bit lost in front. He’ll learn a lot from that. Hopefully there’s still improvement in him. He wasn’t disappointing but just quite green.”

 

Fred Kersley on third-placed Hit The Shot (3rd): 

“Great run. Couldn’t be happier. Just a shame that we weren’t at Flemington today. He’ll be a much better horse at Flemington.”

 

Jye McNeil on Redwood Shadow (4th): 

“Great effort. Joined in and he looked a challenger there at one stage, but he peaked on his run a little bit so there's improvement to come.”

 

Jamie Kah on Cetshwayo (6th): 

“It was a horrible tempo but he ran Ok. I think we’re still pushing on to the Derby but the race today just didn’t suit him.”

 

(Quotes supplied by Racing Victoria)