Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day Review

Griffiths colt Bound for Coolmore 

Melbourne’s wet weather will keep Legacy Bound to a sprinting campaign for the spring after the colt maintained his unbeaten record with a first-up win in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m). 

Legacy Bound won at Ballarat and in Stakes company at Morphettville in his first campaign and trainer Robbie Griffiths had plans of stepping the colt out in trip as a three-year-old. 

But only having access to tracks with give in them made it hard for Griffiths to get the colt fit and for that reason he will keep Legacy Bound to races up the straight at Flemington. 

Next on the agenda will be the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) on October 4 followed by the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) four weeks later. 

“He hates the wet and he won't prepare well on it,” Griffiths said. 

“He won't let down on it hence his trials are okay, but they're not exciting like his race day form. 

“We thought he's a big horse, he hasn't fully matured, so we'll keep it simple, run him in the sprints, and we can stretch him in the autumn.” 

Vinrock bounces back 

A Group 1 assignment in Sydney is back on the agenda for Vinrock after he returned to winning form in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m). 

The Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 27 is likely to be the next assignment for Vinrock who won the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in the autumn on a previous trip to Sydney. 

That race will then allow Vinrock to return to Melbourne for a tilt at the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11. 

Vinrock was outsped when resuming at Caulfield a fortnight ago, but jockey Mark Zahra pressed forward on Saturday, and the colt showed grit in landing his fourth win from five starts. 

“I think he's a pretty tough horse,” trainer Matt Laurie said. 

“You put it to him, he tries pretty hard, so I think when the going gets tough he'll give his best. 

“I was hoping we'd be going to a Golden Rose third-up. I still think we should be looking at that path, but we'll have a good chat about that tomorrow.” 

My Gladiola on course to tackle the colts 

Trainer John McArdle will look to test My Gladiola against the boys after her victory in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m). 

The Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on October 4 will be the next race on the agenda for the filly after she returned to winning form. 

My Gladiola was beaten into second place in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago. 

“She was unlucky in the Quezette,” McArdle said. 

“She's won here today, so the plan will be to take the colts on in the Danehill. 

“That's why she came here, to get a look down the straight, and then if she acquits herself well enough against the colts, we'll head to the Coolmore.” 

Longer term, McArdle thinks the filly will stretch out in trip, but for the spring My Gladiola will be kept to sprinting. 

“I think maybe in the autumn she'll be a 1400-metre horse, but at the moment, myself, Luke Wilkinson from Kia Ora, Paul Johnson and Brent Clayton, we’ve all sat down and worked out a plan with her and so far, so good.” 

Big plans for Cafe Millenium 

Cafe Millenium has been a mainstay over the winter months and continued his excellent form with a typically fast finishing win in the Listed Tontonan Stakes (1400m). 

Ridden by Celine Gaudray, who also partnered the five-year-old to victory in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville last start, Cafe Millennium scored narrowly to land his third victory since joining the Lindsay Park team. 

“To be honest, he came down a great product,” JD Hayes said. 

“John O’Shea and Tom Charlton did a great job with him, just a little bit of a change in environment, I think he's found his rhythm here. 

“He's been very consistent for us, and he's just getting better with age. So that was a terrific win that gave us a big thrill.” 

A rich prize could be the target for Cafe Millenium, with a Group 3 race in Melbourne pencilled in for his next start before a possible trip interstate. 

“The Sandown Stakes on (AFL) Grand Final day. My team's knocked out, so I'll be there, but then Cafe Millenium could possibly be a Big Dance horse as well, so we'll just see how the dust settles,” Hayes said 

The co-trainer hinted that the Dubbo Cup on September 28 could be the Big Dance qualifier Cafe Millenium targets. 

Arkansaw goes back-to-back in Bobbie Lewis 

Arkansaw Kid has gone back-to-back in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) with the potential Group 1 race to follow. 

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday is a potential next outing for the Lindsay Park-trained galloper. 

“We might consider backing him up in the Sir Rupert Clarke,” co-trainer J D Hayes said. 

“We have never backed him up before and he might be a terrific back-up horse the way that he travels. 

“He might travel that little bit kinder and the little gear change today, the winkers, helped. 

“It got his mind on the job, and he put the race to bed which was good.” 

Hayes said if the stable elects to send Arkansaw Kid to the Sir Rupert Clarke the extra distance should not pose a problem with the gelding beaten narrowly in The Supernova at Pakenham last December. 

Melbourne Cup berth booked 

Melbourne Cup winning trainer Robert Hickmott can breathe easier in the knowledge that Revelare is safely in the Cup field after his win in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m). 

Saturday’s win in the Archer Stakes provides Revelare with a ballot exemption into this year’s Cup. 

Hickmott shared in Melbourne Cup glory with Lloyd Williams in 2012 with Green Moon and in 2016 with Almandin. 

With weights due to be released on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup, Hickmott said he may have to talk Williams about the best way for Revelare to get to the Cup. 

“One of his biggest adages was trying to beat the handicapper,” Hickmott said. 

“We could cop another Group 3 win if he happened to win the Bart Cummings, but the next one's a tricky one. 

“I'm not saying he couldn’t win a Caulfield Cup but if he did and cop a two-kilo penalty, that’s something that would have to come into consideration. 

“I’ll have a good chat with everyone and see which way we go.” 

Third straight Makybe Diva for Mr Brightside 

Mr Brightside is the first male horse to win three successive Group 1’s at Flemington with his all-the-way victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes and in the process land a tenth win at the highest level. 

The Lindsay Park-trained gelding notched his third straight win in the weight-for-age contest over 1600m and in the process joins four mares who each won three Group 1 races back-to-back. 

Makybe Diva won three Melbourne Cups during the 2000’s with Black Caviar claiming three Lightning Stakes while Tranquil Star and Wakeful each won three Mackinnon Stakes earlier last century before Group 1 racing was recognised in the late1970’s. 

Mr Brightside has been the mainstay of the Ben, Will and J D Hayes Lindsay Park stableand Ben Hayes said he and his brothers, along with the entire Lindsay Park team, was thrilled with Mr Brightside’s effort in becoming a three-time Makybe Diva winner. 

Hayes said the race could not have panned out better for the eight-year-old who resumed in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes finishing second at Caulfield on August 30. 

“It was a 10-out-of-10 ride,” Hayes said. 

“Tactically he got an easy time early and because he got an easy time, they couldn’t catch him, a champion like him. 

“To win three Makybe Diva’s and make it 10 Group 1’s, he’s an amazing horse and we’re so lucky to have him.” 

Lazzura too tough in Let’s Elope 

Chris Waller and James McDonald weren’t going back to Sydney without a win having been turned over with Via Sistina in the Makybe Diva Stakes, landing the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) with favourite Lazzura. 

Heavily supported in betting, Lazzura tracked the speed for McDonald but had to dig deep late as eventual placegetters Oh Too Good and Abounding ($9.50) surged late. 

Waller praised the four-year-old’s toughness, giving weight to key rivals and finding when challenged. 

“She's tough,” Waller said. 

“She puts herself in the race, James gave her a lovely ride. She was good over the concluding stages. She's building a good resume.” 

Now a dual Group 2 winner, Waller is keeping Lazzura’s options open, with numerous races, including the Group 1 Empire Rose (1600m), potential targets. 

“She’s still in the mix for an Epsom, also a Toorak, then you’ve got the Golden Eagle as well, and obviously Group 1’s you want to put on the CV as well,” Waller said. 

“The mile will certainly suit, so it’s a good problem to have and there’s a lot to think about.”