A look back at TAB Australian Cup Day

Maher masterstroke in Australian Cup  

Trainer Ciaron Maher has praised the efforts of the two horses who fought out a thrilling finish to the Australian Cup at Flemington. 

Maher prepared the quinella of the Group 1 2000m contest when Light Infantry Man had his nose in front on the line from crowd favourite Pride Of Jenni on Saturday. 

Pride Of Jenni took up her customary role in front and looked in trouble when the $2.50 favourite ambled up to her with 400m to run. 

No sooner was he being hailed the winner, Pride Of Jenni had fought back to reassume control of the race until Light Infantry Man emerged on the scene. 

In a thrilling last 100m, Light Infantry Man ($21) under Harry Coffey got his nose down on the line to score by a nose from Pride Of Jenni ($11) with Apulia ($13) a length away third. 

Birdman weakened in the run home to finish fifth, three lengths from the winner. 

Trainer Ciaron Maher said Light Infantry Man was a unique horse that needs to be ridden in a certain fashion. 

He said regular rider Ethan Brown, currently sidelined through suspension, understands how to ride the gelding and was called upon to give Coffey that insight. 

“This horse, he’s a unique horse, in the way he has to be ridden,” Maher said. 

“Browny understands him well and I asked him to pass on some of that information last start and Harry didn’t really get it until he had finished the race. 

“He rode him perfect today. The start is very important for him. He blasted him straight out of the gates. 

“I don’t know who I’m more proud of, the winner or the second horse.” 

Maher had considered a trip to Sydney for the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, but reasoned with Pride Of Jenni in the Australian Cup it would be a truly run contest. 

Pride Of Jenni set a strong pace in last year’s Australian Cup which suited Light Infantry Man, as it did again on Saturday. 

Golden ticket for Whisky On The Hill 

Whisky On The Hill has gained a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup with his victory in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m). 

The victory takes the pressure of trainer Glen Thompson who has seen Whisky On The Hill balloted from the past two Melbourne Cups. 

Thompson said it had not been a smooth preparation for Whisky On The Hill to get to Saturday’s race after missing a run early in the preparation. 

He was then forced to play catch up in his bid to have the gelding fit for a tough 2600m on soft ground. 

“It was not terrible but when you’re trying to get out to these races, everything needs to go perfect and they need to be spot on,” Thompson said. 

“We were on the back foot a little bit and it has been very stressful. 

“Damian (Lane) rides the horse so well and he gets on so well with him. He’s one of the best jockeys in the world. To have him on board makes life a little easier.” 

Thompson said consideration would be given to tackling the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11. 

“The Melbourne Cup is still a long way away and a lot of water can go under the bridge between now and then,” Thompson said. 

“We’ll see how he pulls up and then make a decision.” 

Thanks for the win Gorgeous 

 Thanks Gorgeous has lived up to her consistent form with a last stride victory in a Stakes race at Flemington. 

The Mark and Levi Kavanagh-trained filly took out the Listed VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) on Saturday to provide the filly with her third win of the preparation. 

Under the urgings of Craig Williams, Thanks Gorgeous ($19) dived late to grab Tycoon Star ($9.50) to score by a nose with Bacash ($$31) a short-head away third. 

Thanks Gorgeous had shown good form at her first campaign, which included a placing in Group company at Caulfield last August, however it took until Mornington on New Year’s Day for the filly to finally shed her maiden tag. 

Since then, Thanks Gorgeous has been successful over 1100m up the straight at Flemington, has placed over the same course and trip and again been successful on Saturday. 

Satono Glow registers easy Flemington win 

Appreciating the wet conditions underfoot, Sydney visitor Satono Glow has staged an impressive win at Flemington. 

The Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) on Saturday was expected to be a two-horse race between the heavily backed $2.10 favourite Gin Twist and Jadzia ($3.10). 

Both fillies had previous experience down the Flemington straight which invariably holds them in good stead when it comes to racing down the straight again. 

But the unknown was the heavy track following rain overnight and again on race morning. 

It proved decisive as Satono Glow ($4.20) raced to a three-length win under Jamie Melham from Salann ($41) with Gin Twist a nose away third. 

After sharing the lead with Gin Twist, Jadzia weakened to finish fifth, eight lengths from the winner. 

Melham entered Saturday’s race confident Satono Glow could upset her more fancied rivals because of her liking for soft ground which was shown in her debut win at Warwick Farm on March 11. 

“I was confident but with fillies down the straight for the first time, you don’t want to leave it too late because they can promise the world and then get lost,” Melham said

Cartwright finally rewarded on Pop Award 

Luke Cartwright has waited nearly his whole career to be reunited with TAB We’re On (1100m) winner Pop Award. 

The only time the apprentice had ridden the mare prior to Saturday’s success was at the mare’s debut at Sale in August 2024 despite Pop Award being trained by Cartwright’s mother Leonie Proctor and grandmother Lyn Tolson. 

Even Cartwright’s brother Matthew, on a return trip from New Zealand last winter-early spring, was legged aboard the mare in four starts, including two wins at Caulfield. 

“I’ve probably waited nearly my whole career to get back on her,” Cartwright said. 

“Today, mum used the claim effectively. She had the weight in the race, but she was the class mare. 

“She’s a stakes winner and she showed that today. It was a tough performance and she is really good second-up. 

“I’m very rapt with that one.” 

Proctor said the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on April 18 was the likely next stop for Pop Award with a potential trip to Adelaide for the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville to follow. 

Trip north for Exit 

Trainer Ciaron Maher will look north to Queensland after Exit returned to winning form in the York Plate (1400m). 

Maher said the stable had always held Exit in high esteem and wants to get some ‘Black Type’ on the filly’s pedigree page before the end of her three-year-old year. 

“You can see she’s grown a hell of a lot since the early days,” Maher said. 

“We tried her at the mile, and she didn’t quite see it out and we thought it was the right time to put the shades on her and give her that bit of focus. 

“I think that was the key. 

“She’s run fourth at stakes level twice in Group 2’s so we’ll be aiming to improve on that.” 

Weather to determine where Corniche heads 

Trainer Shawn Mathrick will be hoping for the wet weather to continue following the win of Corniche in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m). 

The $500,000 Country Discovery (1200m) at Ballarat on Friday is on the cards after Mathrick produced the quinella in Saturday’s race with Corniche leading home Unflinching. 

A former Godolphin galloper, Corniche has bad knees and bad feet and needs soft ground to produce his best. 

“When I first got him, I thought I’m really going to struggle and that I’d done my money,” Mathrick said. 

“There’s so much work that has gone into him and we’ve changed a few things up with a lot of beach work and the horse has thrived on it. 

“We bought him for a Goodwood (in Adelaide) or a Wangoom (at Warrnambool), and it looks like that could be on the cards.” 

Mathrick indicated Unflinching may back up into the Country Discovery, saying the sprinter handles any type of going.”

Riding honours were shared by Jamie Melham, Craig Williams and Damian Lane who all rode doubles while Ciaron Maher also trained a pair of winners.

Racing returns to Flemington for the traditional Anzac Day card on April 25 featuring the St Leger Stakes over 2800m.