What We Learned From Stakes Races On The Weekend

Mark Smith - Monday September 30

Beginning with Moonee Valley on Friday night, the gorgeous I Am Invincible filly Loving Gaby announced her arrival with a fast-finishing victory in the Group III AMVRC Scarborough Stakes.

She was making her seasonal debut after rounding out her juvenile year with placings in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes and ATC Sires Produce Stakes. (image Grant Courtney)

There was some talk connections were chasing a spot in The Everest and while the older sprinters may be a bit slick for her there, any races up to a mile against her own sex would suit her down to the ground.

A $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Phoenix Thoroughbreds from the Kia Ora Stud draft, Loving Gaby is likely to be aimed at the Group 1 Myer Classic.

Nicconi's son Nature Strip earned a second Group 1 when leading all the way in the Moir Stakes (1000m). Looking to the future there were any number of good runs in the race. (image Grant Courtney)

Despite starting at 30/1 the Shaun Dwyer trained mare Miss Leonidas showed she deserved to be there when narrowing beaten into second place. Another daughter of I Am Invincible Miss Leonidas will find some suitable races in Melbourne this spring.

Third placed Sunlight was a courageous third and she is assured of being among the favourites for The Everest. The $300,000 daughter of Zoustar has missed a place just twice in 18 starts while banking $4,473,950.

In the same race, Faatinah (Nicconi), Bons Away (Bon Hoffa), Meryl (Epaulette), Eduardo (Host) and Trekking (Street Cry) finished less than two lengths from the winner and can be placed to advantage this spring.

A pair of homebred Exceed And Excel 3yo colts highlighted the day's racing on Saturday.

The lightly raced Standout , a full-brother to Golden Slipper winner Overreach and to Widden Stud's young stallion Outreach, kept his record at a perfect three for three when fighting off Cosmic Force in Saturday's Listed Heritage Stakes. (image Steve Hart)

Trainer Gerald Ryan said the flashy chestnut is likely to have just one more start this prep.

The day's feature, the $1 million De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m), went to Godolphin's Bivouac who showed a good deal of grit in fighting off Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) and Exceedance (Exceed And Excel). (image Steve Hart)

This looked a high-class race and a case could be made for the first seven across the line.

There will be plenty of pressure to get Bivouac in to the $14 million The Everest and he would add a great deal of interest.

The 4yo Zoustar mare Mizzy is in career best form. She has now won three Group races on the trot the latest coming in Saturday's Group II ATC Golden Pendant Stakes. (image Steve Hart)

The rich Silver Eagle and Golden Eagle look made to order for the $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Segenhoe Stud draft.

Mark Newnham's 3yo Pierro gelding Shadow Hero scored a jaw-dropping three and a quarter length win in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

He is now favourite for both the Group I VRC Victoria Derby and the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes in two weeks time and it will take a good one to beat him.

Purchased by Sweetbriar Equine for $260,000 out of the Newgate Farm draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Shadow Hero was bred by Greg and Donna Kolivos, who raced his sire Pierro and also raced his dam Sookie after they purchased the daughter of Casino Prince for $700,000 at the 2013 Patinack dispersal just a week after she won the Group III BRC Glenlogan Park Stakes.

On to the Group 1 Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield on Sunday.

There is a battalion of imports currently landing in the country and I doubt connections were overly concerned about what they saw in the Underwood. (image Darryl Sherer)

The old warrior Black Heart Bart scored narrowly from the hot favourite Homesman (USA) who received little favours in the run.

The Guineas Preludes probably threw up more questions than answers although the Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Alligator Blood showed the southerners he was the real deal by keeping his unbeaten record intact. (image Darryl Sherer)

A $55,000 Magic Millions purchase by the Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate from the draft of Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud, Alligator Blood will be on a mission to become All Too Hard's first Group 1 winner in the Caulfield Guineas, a race his sire won a decade ago.

The favourite Dalasan (Dalakhani) ran his usual honest race but he seems to hit a flat spot before lengthening out.

The Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Acting looks a progressive type. (image Darryl Sherer)

From one of Waikato Stud's top families the daughter of Savabeel has won three of her four starts and was dominant on Sunday.

Hard what to make of the Godolphin trio of Lyre, Flit and Tenley who were among the last to leave the barriers.

Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre ran on well while the favourite Flit went to the line untested behind a wall of horses.

The Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) drew a very competitive field and nothing can be taken from the winner Renewal who finished fast to down the speedy Zoustyle and Haunted.