Flemington beckons for weekend winners

Melbourne victors eyeing further glory

Duke De Sessa (IRE)

Ciaron Maher’s Duke De Sessa has improved every run this preparation and the market suggested a career-best performance was on the cards when he dominated the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). Maher has had another twelve months to work the horse out, have him acclimatise and was gelded earlier this year, all factors that have contributed to horse’s improved performances.

Flemington prospects: With Duke De Sessa not entered in the Lexus Melbourne Cup field, attention turns to a drop back in distance to 2000 metres, and  a chance at another Group 1 in the TAB Champions Stakes (2000m). He ran third behind Muramasa in the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on the same day last year, and will be an intriguing prospect back to 2000 metres at Flemington. He was not disgraced in his last effort at Flemington over the same distance in the Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m), finishing two lengths behind Via Sistina after leading throughout.

Kingofwallstreet

A crawling tempo was a concern for trainer Matt Cumani but when the pressure came on at the 600-metre mark, his tough colt was in for the fight, in a thrilling victory in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m). Kingofwallstreet got the better of current Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m) favourite Keeneland and is now firmly on the Derby path.

Flemington prospects: Kingofwallstreet’s sire, Dundeel, finished seventh in the 2012 Victoria Derby behind, Fiveandahalfstar. Dundeel’s sire produced Victoria Derby winners; Monaco Consul (2009) and Ace High (2017) so he has the pedigree and characteristics of a strong Derby prospect.

Lofty Arch

The $200,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase led in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1200m) as he had at his previous two career starts, and was raced beautifully in front by Ethan Brown, holding off the fast-finishing filly Lovelycut, who we could see over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Flemington prospects: Cranbourne trainer Alex Rae is setting the bar high for the son of Snitzel’s next start, with the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes firmly on the agenda. A win in the noted ‘stallion-making’ race, which again looks set to be jam-packed with the nation’s top three-year-olds, would greatly enhance his potential as a stallion post-racing. 

Estriella

Speedy mare bounced back to winning form with a thrilling victory in the Group 2 Millennium Sprint (1000m). Bursting from the inside barrier to claim the lead comfortably, Jockey Ben Melham was able to give the mare a mid-race breather before pouring the speed on once again and kicking on strongly to hold off the favourite, the fast-finishing Rey Magnerio.

Flemington prospects: Trainer Ciaron Maher is eyeing off the Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) with the mare on TAB Champions Stakes Day. She won both her starts at Flemington in the Autumn, the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m) and the Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m).

Too Darn Discreet

This Too Darn Hot filly backed up her strong Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington with a third win in succession in the Group 2 Schweppes Ethereal Stakes (2000m). Settling just behind the speed, she travelled into the straight strongly and relatively untouched, but began hanging in the straight. She was still too good, holding off the efforts of Jenni’s Meadow.

Flemington prospects: Too Darn Discreet is currently a strong second favourite in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) and could line up in the traditional lead-up, the Group 2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m). Trainer Dan O’Sullivan is strongly considering an Oaks tilt but will monitor her recovery from the Group 2 win. Too Darn Discreet’s dam Maybe Discreet won the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. Since the Ethereal Stakes was first run in 2000, Set Square (2014) and Pinot (2017) are the only fillies to complete the Ethereal Stakes-Crown Oaks double.

Too Darn Lizzie

Another Too Darn Hot filly with obvious talent, Too Darn Lizzie, broke through for a well-deserved win in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m). Leading from pillar to post, Tim Clark had the filly in great rhythm and pinched a winning break on the turn, staying on late to win well.

Flemington prospects: Part-owned by English composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse quipped that the owners may have to switch their plans to attend this year’s Breeder’s Cup at Del Mar in California and head to Flemington with potential options being either Group 3 The TAB Vanity (1400m) or the Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), both on Penfolds Victoria Derby Day.

Lady In Pink

Consistent mare added a fifth career win and a first stakes victory, claiming the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m). She tracked multiple Group 2-winning mare, Revolutionary Miss, before surging up the inside to beat her in the run to the line.

Flemington prospects: It was a first Group 2 win as a trainer for Will Larkin, who now trains in partnership with Leon & Troy Corstens. Now the co-trainers are chasing Group 1 glory at Flemington, with the Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) the target.

Getafix

The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Sydneysider, showcased his immense talent with a strong win in the Lamaro’s Hotel Plate (1400m) at Caulfield at his first start in Victoria. An impressively patient ride from international superstar jockey, Joao Moreira, plotting a course through the field from his settling position three back along the rail. The grey handled the soft track well and showed a good turn of foot when the runs opened up to win very impressively.

Flemington prospects: Getafix looks a strong contender for the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, where the mile distance should suit him perfectly.

Sydney stars ready to shine

Ceowulf (NZ)

The Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf produced a barnstorming finish to get over the top of tough mare Pride Of Jenni to claim the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. The gelding has been sent for a well-deserved break after Pride conceded the New Zealand-bred gelding had had a tough spring campaign.

Flemington prospects: With Ceowulf heading for a spell attention turns to the autumn for the son of Blamey Stakes winner, Tavistock. Pride is keeping his options open, ear-marking the newly minted Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m), set to be run at Flemington on Super Saturday in 2025, as a potential destination.

Bella Nipotina

This tough mare made history by becoming the first female to win Group 1 The Everest (1200m). Her trademark toughness was on full display, holding off the late challenge from former winner, Giga Kick and handing Craig Williams his second win in the race.

Flemington prospects: She is current equal-favourite for the Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) and looks likely to run into Giga Kick again. Last year, she chased home fellow star sprinting mare, Imperatriz, finishing fifth beaten just over two lengths.

Athabascan (FR)

A solid tempo was set in the Group 3 St Leger Stakes (2600m) by Military Mission, and Athabascan was afforded the perfect run behind the speed. He hit the lead on straightening and was challenged strongly by Wyclif, but dug in and held on narrowly.

Flemington prospects: This European import has had a couple of years to acclimatise and was in Lexus Melbourne Cup conversations last year, narrowly missing a golden ticket into the race when finishing second to Kalapour in the Lexus Archer Stakes on Derby Day. John O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, said the Lexus Melbourne Cup was always the target and is very happy with his ‘genuine two-miler’ who drops to 52kg for this year’s race.

Overpass

The 2022 Inglis Sprint (1200m) winner Overpass added the Group 3 Sydney Stakes, leading all of the way for jockey Josh Parr. He was resuming from a spell and the gelding claimed his first Group 1 win in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth last preparation.

Flemington prospects: Overpass looks likely to target the Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) and has a Flemington straight win under his belt thanks to his performance in the 2022 Inglis Sprint.

Lekvarte (NZ)

Josh Parr combined with Joe Pride to land the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m). The grey mare was dragged back to last from her outside barrier and was still seeing all before her on straightening. She took a gap early as she topped the rise at Randwick produced a booming finish to come over the top of them and score very impressively.

Flemington prospects: She looks perfectly placed for the Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) a race Joe Pride has previously won with Sacred Choice in 2010.

Aeliana (NZ)

James McDonald found the perfect position midfield from the inside barrier in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m). She looked to have plenty on offer on straightening and McDonald kept at the filly before taking a run to the inside and staying on strongly to score her second win from four starts.

Flemington prospects: Aeliana would being rising sharply in grade to take on the Group 1 fillies and mares in the TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), so as a three-year-old she may go to the Group 3 The TAB Vanity (1400m). Star jockey James McDonald and champion trainer Chris Waller is a combination that’s well accustomed to producing big race wins at Flemington, especially during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.