Howden Australian Guineas Day racing recap

Shining Smile continues winning run 

Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes may now have to raise the bar even further with Shining Star after the colt extended his winning streak to four at Flemington. 

Ending his spring campaign with a win at Caulfield, Shining Smile has returned this time in to record three wins at Stakes level. 

After winning a Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Sandown and then the Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington, Shining Smile was dropped in trip before adding the Listed TAB We’re On (1000m) to his record with a strong performance on Saturday. 

Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, Shining Smile ($3.40) scored a three-quarter length win over Prestige Forever ($21) with Marsept ($14) a further 1-¼ lengths away third. 

J D Hayes said the stable may look to head to Sydney with Shining Star as the colt holds a nomination for the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April. 

Shining Smile is not among entries for the Golden Slipper. 

Hayes said it was pleasing to see Shining Smile ridden in a different manner and prevail. 

“He got a bit of cover which was great to see,” Hayes said. 

“It was a beautiful ride by Daniel to get that little bit of wind protection there. He presented to the middle of the straight and was very strong late. 

“That was a very polished performance and it’s a good effort by the horse to win four in a row.” 

Shining Smile returns to Lindsay Park’s Euroa property after he races, and Hayes said jumps jockey Tom Ryan rides the colt in his work. 

Hayes said Shining Smile had a strong constitution and recovers quickly from his races and work. 

“He’s got a great constitution and just licks the bin every time,” Hayes said. 

“Tom Ryan does a lot of work on this horse at home, and he said after his last piece of work that it was as good as he’s ever worked. 

“We were confident going into today and very, very happy to see him coming back in first place.” 

Five in a row for Revalare 

The words of seven-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams are ringing in the ears of trainer Robert Hickmott as he contemplates the future of Revalare. 

Success in the Racing And Sports 2000 was Revalare’s fifth in succession and Hickmott now has the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington on March 29 in mind for the stayer. 

An added bonus attached to the Roy Higgins is the winner is exempt from the ballot for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November. 

“It is four weeks in between this and the Roy Higgins and Lloyd’s (Williams) words are always ringing in my ears that you need a strong mile-and-a-half run going into a 2500 (metre race) here. 

“It is a tough 2500 metres. 

“We’ll way up those options. I’d rather keep him to the big open expanses of Flemington, so cross our fingers that he pulls up well.” 

Hickmott said Revalare could back up in the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) next Saturday or be held back a week for a 2400m race at Caulfield. 

Midwest like a flash VOBIS Gold Comet 

Midwest left his rivals in his wake to claim the VOBIS Gold Comet (1000m) at his first outing down the Flemington straight. 

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained sprinter had trialled on the straight course as a younger horse but had not been produced under race conditions. 

Sam Freedman said you always have your heart in your mouth in the final stages as the gelding looks to be coasting when in front. 

“You're always on edge the last hundred yards,” Freedman said. 

“He had a really good kick there at the furlong, which he had done at Sandown as well when he ran there on the Hillside track and in Sydney, he probably was just left wanting a little bit. 

“Down the straight might suit him. It was his first time down the straight, but if they leave him alone, he can get into a smooth rhythm, and you don't have to overuse him at the start.” 

Pivot City gets bob in 

Luck may finally be going the way of the connections of Pivot City who got his head down at the right time to claim The All-Star Mile Owner Ambassador Trophy (1200m). 

Pivot City was retained by breeders Rob and June Harding after being sold for big money and then after being gelded he has lived up to the potential he showed as a younger horse. 

“He went through the ring for big money, but he kicked out as he went in, but they had to reverse the sale,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said. 

“He was a very promising colt at one stage, but it just got the better of him so as a fresh gelding, I'm really pleased to see him go and win like that first-up. 

“He placed in a Group 2 in Adelaide behind Skybird, and that form reads well. 

“He's certainly a Saturday class horse, he proved that, so hopefully he'll get into Stakes company, and the owners, they've got the family.” 

Scillato keeps winning run going 

Having spent three years in the wilderness courtesy of a cobalt ban, Lee and Shannon Hope were back in the winner’s circle at Flemington courtesy of unbeaten filly Scillato in the Good Friday Appeal Plate (1100m). 

Scillato scored on debut at Seymour and then at Bendigo and had to dig deep to land victory under Caulfield Cup winning rider Cory Parish. 

“She's quite easy to train,” Shannon Hope said. 

“She doesn't take a lot of work, and today was just the next step after the maiden and the 64, beating the open horses. 

“It's hard to get Blake (Shinn) home (to ride work). He's flying and we probably don't have enough horses for him, but Cory does a lot of work behind the scenes. 

“He’s a dual Group 1 winning rider and to be honest that was a 12 out of 10 ride. 

“I'd like to thank Kilmore and Benalla Race Club, as the Seymour track is under renovation at the moment, and we've been traveling around using the grass facilities, so we’re very grateful.” 

Hope said a Stakes race could be on the agenda for Scillato depending on how she pulls up from her third start for as many wins. 

Enxuto arrives in time 

Trainer Robbie Griffiths said Enxuto was finally starting to race up to his good looks after completing a winning hat-trick in the Schweppes Plate (1400m). 

Enxuto followed successive wins at Sandown with a late dive to claim victory over 1400m, having raced to success at 1600m in his two previous outings. 

“He's a great-looking horse, and he's finally developed a good winning culture, and it's great to see,” Griffiths said. 

“He's always showed the talent. He did win at his second run, and he beat Warmonger and horses like that, so he had a lot of form around him, but he's just taken a while to click in the gear. 

“We actually thought he'd struggle at a mile and when he won his last two, we thought maybe it's a good thing coming back to 1400 (metres) 

“It proved well and we're happy.” 

Marble Arch lands All-Star Mile berth 

Lindsay Park could have a third starter in the Group 1 All-Star Mile after the victory of Marble Arch at Flemington. 

Trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes already have Mr Brightside and Rise At Dawn booked for the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington next Saturday and all Marble Arch requires is a good week to join that pair. 

Success in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) on Saturday gave Marble Arch automatic entry into the All-Star Mile. 

Ridden by Michael Dee, Marble Arch ($5.50) raced to a two-length victory from Attrition ($12) with Zardozi ($6) a short-neck away third. 

“If she pulls up well it won't be a hard decision, she's a mare in form,” Ben Hayes said. 

“She won that quite well and she was impressive, so we'll definitely be considering it, we've just got to see how she pulls up but if she pulls up well, I think it'll be an easy vote to run.” 

Hayes said he believes Marble Arch has the constitution to be back at Flemington next Saturday searching for a Group 1 win. 

He said when mares are in form, it is hard to not keep them racing. 

“She's really fit,” Hayes said. 

“I think that's her tenth run for the prep and she's just been super consistent and when a mare is in form, that's the best time to have them. 

“So as long as she's 100% and we're happy with her, she will hopefully be lining up.” 

Even if Marble Arch does not make next week’s line-up, Hayes said Saturday’s win was an important victory for the mare. 

“She got a great run today, a great ride from Michael,” Hayes said. 

“There was good speed there and we ended up in the absolute perfect position with no weight and she really deserved that. 

“She's been the bridesmaid a couple of times in Stakes races this prep and to win a Group 2 is just huge for her and her residual value going forward.” 

Feroce gives Sutton maiden Group 1 win 

It has been a whirlwind 11 months in the training career of Dominic Sutton who landed his first Group 1 winner when Feroce took out the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. 

Sutton commenced his training career at Pakenham last year and had his first runner, followed by his first winner, at that track last March. 

He registered his first metropolitan win at Caulfield the following month, just as he was moving his training base to Ballarat, while earlier this year Sutton also established a stable at Flemington. 

Along the journey Sutton watched in agony as Feroche was denied victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last spring, a defeat that was a bitter pill to swallow. 

But all was forgiven on Saturday when Feroche ($14), under Billy Egan, dug deep to score a three-quarter length win from Savaglee ($11) with Goldrush Guru ($7.50) a length away third. 

“It’s going to take a few days to settle in to be honest,” Sutton said. 

“I've just been having a really tough run of seconds recently, so I was hoping to just get a winner anywhere, so to do it on the biggest stage of all with this horse, he's been the flag bearer for our stable since day one. 

“It took a long time to get over the Caulfield Guineas, I'm not going to lie. 

“A lot of people were congratulating us, but I still felt pretty bitter about it all, thinking that we could have won on that day. 

“We all know how hard it is to win these races and to have a horse good enough and present him in the right order on the day, so, sometimes you think, 'Am I going to be waiting for a long time now until the next one comes along. 

“This horse has just been super. He's just improved, improved, improved. He was probably the third ever horse we bought out of the sales.” 

Sutton originally travelled from the UK for three months to gain experience in the racing industry. 

He said it was never his intention to train, but 10 years later he has set up a successful stable in two locations, is a Group 1 winner with almost 60 horses on his books. 

“I was meant to be here for three months, and here we are 10 years later,” Sutton said. 

“I never had the initial plan to train, I just wanted to come and experience it, (and I) loved it. 

“I obviously found a girl that made me stay, and here we are. It's been a crazy journey, and I just couldn't do it without the people around me.” 

Jockey Billy Egan registered his second Group 1 win, having piloted Dunkel to success in the 2023 South Australian Derby at Morphettville. 

Egan said he got a lot of satisfaction out of Saturday’s success piloting Feroce to victory for Sutton. 

“I'm just really happy for Dom,” Egan said. 

“For a young bloke, having so many horses in his first year of training and also having Group 1 runners in your first year of training, there's a lot of pressure that comes with that. 

“He handles himself really well. It's just great that he can handle himself in such a way and do an amazing job with these horses in his first year.” 

Egan said he went out with a plan to be positive from barrier 11 as Feroce does not have an explosive sprint. 

But what he does have is tenacity which shone through. 

“The race worked out really nice,” Egan said. 

“We had the plan to press forward and be just behind those leaders. We weren't too far away, because he just hasn't got a huge sprint, but he can really hold a good gallop and sometimes things go your way. 

“We had a plan and it’s not often that you get it presented to you like that, but it just worked out a treat today.” 

Interstate invader land Inglis Sprint 

It may not have had Black Type attached to it, but the $550,000 first prize certainly compensated the connections of Brisbane raider El Morzillo in the Inglis Sprint (1200m). 

Eagle Farm-based Kelly Schweida made the trek down from Brisbane for the rich contest, saying he and jockey Craig Williams had picked out the contest some time ago as a suitable target. 

“Being a longtime friend of Craig's, we had this race as a target for a long time. We thought the 1200 (metres) down the straight would suit her, because she's a backmarker and always seems to run into a bit of trouble.” 

Schweida said he would like to see El Morzillo back in Brisbane for the Winter Carnival and target the filly at the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm in June. 

“We'll take her home slowly and give her a little ease up and probably get her ready for the Carnival and maybe the Tatts Tiara,” Schweida said. 

Verdad finally delivers 

Verdad has been a cause of frustration over a long period of time for his connections and trainer Robbie Griffiths. 

A debut maiden winner at Bendigo in September 2023, it took until start number 16 in the Furphy Trophy (1600m) for the gelding to register his second success. 

Along the way, Verdad had racked up seven seconds, including five in succession last spring. 

“It’s easy to say after you've won, but we were really happy with him today,” Griffiths said. 

“We were really happy with him last time, but he hates it when it's a bit soft on top, and it poured rain last time and he just slipped everywhere. 

“We did make some changes today. We took the earmuffs off. We thought they'd done their job, and he raced softly in the key position,. 

“He loomed up without overdoing it, and then he let down like what saw as a young horse.” 

Verdad’s victory completed a winning double for Griffiths after earlier success with Enxuto in the Schweppes Plate.