Saturday’s meeting looked like a big moving day for a lot of the runners who are aiming up at the first of the two Group 1 races, The Sangster & The Oaks in a fortnight’s time. Here is a look across the key lead up races and where some of these runners may stand.
Race 7 – Listed Redelva Stakes
While it may not have been the major race on the program it is a race that we need to keep a close eye on as it was the race that kicked off the SA campaign of last year’s Goodwood winner Reserve Bank. That looks likely to be a similar path that winner of this year’s race Regeneration will take having kicked off his campaign here and now looking likely to take the next step towards The Tobin Bronze. Tycoon Star in 2nd was green in the straight, which may have proved costly in the end, perhaps the next step for him could be to target the G3 John Hawkes over the 1200m trip before tackling a Goodwood, as 3YOs previously have had a good record in the Group 1. Signature Scent ran well into 3rd and perhaps off that strong performance will have a crack at The Sangster now.
Race 8 – Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes
This race was taken out by WA mare Super Smink in what looked like an ominous warning to rivals heading towards the 1200m Sangster. Super Smink is a clearly talented mare who was expected to be hitting the line strongly here and potentially improve 2nd up given her 2nd up record reads (5:2-2-0) but she blew rivals away here and if there is a level of improvement to come, she looks a hot chance in the Group 1. 2nd place getter Watchme Win was solid in his resuming run, you would assume off this performance his path looks likely to be through a Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes towards a Goodwood, potentially.
Race 9 – Group 3 Auraria Stakes
Always the traditional lead up towards The Oaks and this was convincingly taken out by Mating Call who has been a filly that has always showed talent but we hadn’t seen the best of her so far this prep. With some gear changes and a rise in trip she clearly thrived to win this well and will now likely come up as the top seed for the Group 1. In behind her though, I thought there was merit in the runs of Freedom Flame, who did a lot of work up on speed, and Kazaru who came into the race fresh but was hitting the line strongly late and will likely appreciate a rise in trip again in the Group 1.
Results from the Caulfield races
Matt Cumani’s 3YO gelding, Single Choice, took out The Galilee Series Final over the 2400m. In the post race interview Cumani suggested that the next target would be the SA Derby, and this race has been one of the major form lines heading into that Group 1 previously.
Tom Dabernig’s impressive gelding, Oliveanotherday, put in another strong performance to take out the 3YO handicap over the 1200m and has now won his last 3 runs by a combined 10L. Post race, Dabernig suggested that they would target the Group 2 Tobin Bronze over the 1200m and re-assess after that performance if The Goodwood is an achievable goal.
Other notable Adelaide performances
Mcwoody took out the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas over the 1800m, this race could prove a lead up into a Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes over the 2000m and potentially then on towards the Derby a week later.
