Super Saturday racing review

Tom Kitten rules in All-Star Mile

Godolphin galloper Tom Kitten has finally delivered on the big stage taking out the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington. 

Tom Kitten showed his potential as two-year-old winning the Listed Fernhill Stakes (1600m) two autumn’s ago, while the following spring, as a three-year-old, he came out to win the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. 

But Tom Kitten went winless through his three-year-old autumn campaign and the decision was made to geld him at the end of that preparation. 

Tom Kitten returned to win first-up last spring, and while he competed at a high level, he was unable to score again until he landed the prize at Flemington on Saturday. 

“He was obviously very unlucky the other day at Caulfield,” jockey Ben Melham said.

“In another hop he probably beats Mr Brightside. He had the cheaper run, and he has probably bounced out of it better. 

“I was confident he could come here and beat Brightside today. He’s really genuine now. I know he’s got a bit of a bad rap, but he’s run a lot of good races, and he’s run into stiff competition, so for him to put another big one on the mantlepiece is a great effort by the horse and the stable.” 

Joliestar takes out 152^nd Yulong Newmarket Handicap

Master trainer Chris Waller has landed a second win in the Yulong Newmarket Handicap at Flemington after a change of plans with two of his sprinters. 

Waller switched Joliestar from Sydney to his Melbourne base 10 days before the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday while he sent Switzerland back to Sydney for the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick. 

Joliestar registered her second win at the highest level with a brilliant display to give Waller his second Newmarket win after Brazen Beau scored in 2015. 

Joliestar scored by 1-¼ lengths from Headwall with Stretan Angel a further 1-½ lengths away third. 

Part of Waller’s planning with Joliestar was to trial the mare down the Flemington straight eight days before Saturday’s success. 

Charlie Duckworth, representing the stable, said Waller’s planning with his horses was responsible in landing another Group 1 win. 

“With a Group 1 handicap we were always trying to protect Switzerland’s value being a colt and this mare, in particular, she has already won Group 1s,” Duckworth said. 

“She is a very good sprinter, and it looked like a Newmarket where she might not be crippled with the weights.”

 VRC Oaks victor give Laurie another Moment to Treasure

Mornington-based Matt Laurie openly admitted to nerves before his stable pin-up girl Treasurethe Moment stepped out in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) but any hesitation was put to rest as the 2024 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner returned to Flemington to stamp her class once again.

With now three wins in as many starts at Flemington, Treasurethe Moment now looks to Sydney with the hope of snaring their Oaks version at Randwick over 2400-metres on April 12 but before that a visit to Rosehill awaits for the Group 1 Vinery Stakes (2000m) on March 30.

This is clearly the best horse I’ve had, and the stable has had a few handy ones over the years but she’s next level,” Laurie said. 

“A mile at Flemington really suited but I was a little bit nervous before the race.

“The writing was on the wall that this could be a great race for her second-up but Damian was able to slot her in perfectly and the way she travelled up, she just takes herself there and you know she’s got so much under the bonnet.”

It was also another significant win for Yulong Stud and one of extra impact for the value of this three-year-old Australian bred filly.

“Yulong have been great to me,” Laurie added.

“I got a few discards early and I tried to win a race with them. We got enough that they kept sending some back.”

Vinrock gives Laurie earlier success in Sires’

Laurie will look north to Sydney for the remainder of the autumn after Vinrock also registered an impressive win. 

Jumping straight from a maiden win over 1200m at Pakenham on February 20, Vinrock led throughout to claim the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

Sent out the $3.40 race favourite under Mark Zahra, Vinrock scored a two-length victory over Brave Design with Onavuitton (a further 2-¼ lengths away third. 

Laurie said Vinrock was one of his early two-year-old triallers, but realised the colt would appreciate a trip of 1400 metres. 

“He’s a very tough horse and when he was placed under pressure at his first start, he really responded well and went to another level today,” Laurie said.

Hard work pays off for Stockdale 

Trackwork, trials and then race day are like chalk and cheese as the Ciaron Maher stable can attest. 

Maher had been quietly confident on the ability Military Tycoon had shown in the lead up to her debut in the spring that she would produce a good showing. 

The stable was left disappointed, but Military Tycoon returned a different filly for the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m), with result never in doubt. 

Jockey Thomas Stockdale had done a lot of the work behind the scenes in getting the filly ready for Saturday’s return and earned high praise from Maher. 

“He’s a good horseman,” Maher said. 

“There are good jockeys and then there’s good horsemen as well. They are happy to assist in the training and feedback is crucial. 

“Tom certainly is one of them. His feedback in the morning is very beneficial and he’s obviously screwed down, he’s fit and well and has a heap of ability. 

“He is heading in the right direction.” 

Stockdale said the result was pleasing for the work that went into getting the filly ready. 

“I’ve put a lot of effort into working her at home,” Stockdale said. 

“She’s not an easy ride. She’s very hot and she wants to do a few things wrong, but throughout her trials I’ve learnt a lot about her, and I was able to implement that today. 

“I felt like a winner a furlong after the gates. She is going well.” 

Maher said Military Tycoon may be Sydney bound where she is entered for the Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 22 and the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 12. 

Three on the trot at Flemington for Is It Me 

Warrnambool trained Is It Me registered his third successive win at Flemington over 1400m with victory in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap on Saturday being his most impressive. 

While dropping from 57.5kg and 60kg respectively from his previous two wins to 54kg on Saturday, Is It Me sprinted quickly in the straight to score a widening 3-¾ length victory. 

Trainer Dan Bowman said he had worked out the formula with Is It Me, keeping the gelding fresh. 

“Three or four weeks between runs and getting on a nice, big track,” Bowman said. 

“Billy Egan was positive. He said before the race what he’d do and that is how it panned out. He said it might look a bit ugly early but to bear with him. 

“The horse was very immature mentally and it has taken time to work out his craft. It really has been a blessing to link up with Billy. 

“We just needed a bit of luck, and now the horse is in a good vein of form.” 

Middle Earth lands prize at Australian debut 

After a successful career in the UK, Middle Earth made an immediate statement for the Ciaron Maher stable when taking out the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m). 

Middle Earth was placed at the Royal Ascot meeting in June last year before having his last start in the UK when down the track at Group 1 level at Ascot the following month. 

It had been planned to bring Middle Earth to Australia in time for last year’s spring carnival, but instead it was decided to geld Middle Earth and leave him with Harry Eustace. 

Maher said Middle Earth had been given a steady build up towards his return run and could represent the stable in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 29. 

“It is great when these really well-credentialled horses come over” Maher said. 

“He’s only going to improve. He’s still furnishing. 

“He looks like he liked Flemington and I’m sure the horse will improve as that was first-up over ten-furlongs 

“It has been a good effort by the team.” 

Jennilala strikes first-up and again at Flemington

It turned out that the Flemington 1600-metres was all to Jennilala’s liking as the mare now trained by Gavin Bedggood impressed with a half-length win in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m).

“I wanted to go the a 1400-metre race today but Tony (Ottobre) gave me a nudge to go to this race,” Bedggood said.

“I really wanted to draw a low gate with her where she’d get that third or fourth (spot) sort of run. There didn’t look to be a lot of speed on paper and I thought she may find herself outside the leader.

“It worked out perfectly. Craig (Newitt) rode her great and it was a great watch.