Part four of our 2012 racing year in review begins on a negative note. It was in September that the Dan Nikolic saga occured at Seymour. It was found proven a few weeks later that Nikolic did say to chief steward Terry Bailey “We all have families c… and we know where yours lives c…” Instead of coverage on the first class racing and all of the major races coming up, the media were all over this story.
The Spring Carnival kicked off at Rosehill with the running of the Golden Rose (1400m). The race lost a couple of stars with Pierro heading in a different direction and Samaready being injured. But there was still plenty of quality in the event, with boom filly Nechita the even money favourite. The pace was right on up front thanks to Your Song, Doubtfilly and Ashokan. Nechita was getting the perfect sit off the pace. Coming to the turn, the filly peeled out and looked as if she was going to blow them away, but at the 200m mark, she folded up and it was left to the Darley pair of Albrecht and Epaulette, with the latter getting home in the last stride to give Tommy Berry his first major in the saddle. Ashokan was third.
The following week saw the first Group l of the new season in Melbourne with the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. 99% of punters expect Manighar to win after his brilliant first up run in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m). However, he raced quite flat and it was left to boom kiwi horse Ocean Park, ridden to perfection by Bossy. Former Italian stayer Voila Ici led and kicked on for second with comeback galloper December Draw in third. Manighar would not race again in the Spring due to injury.
Due to the AFL Grand Final, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day was run on a Sunday. Moment Of Change was the popular pick with punters in the 1400m event and he repaid that faith with a strong win, aided by a great ride from Luke Nolen. We’re Gonna Rock finished second with Queenslander Solzhenitsyn working home well for third.
A good guide to the big three (Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup) is the Turnbull Stakes (2000m). Green Moon, who ran well in his two prior runs and was sent out favourite. But punters would have thrown their ticket when the horse was stuck three wide with no cover yet he somehow had a kick in the locker and fended off stablemate Seville to record a marvellous victory. December Draw was third. This win prompted bookies to have Green Moon as near favourite for the big three.
It was Epsom Day at Randwick and once again, Gai Waterhouse dominated on her home track. However, it didn’t look so great early on when boom colt Proisir, at $1.30, got beat in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) by It’s A Dundeel. But most punters will agree that those two produced a wonderful finish to the race, both slogging it out head and head over the final 300m. Personally, James McDonalds ride on It’s A Dundeel was the best of 2012 by a mile.
The Flight Stakes (1600m) was a difficult race to figure out. Longport and Norzita were the two standouts from the traditional lead up race, the Tea Rose Stakes (1500m), while there was the unbeaten Urban Groove plus the class horse, Dear Demi. Norzita lost the Tea Rose on protest to Longport, but there were no protests here, with Norzita thumping her rivals. Longport finished second with Dear Demi a flat third.
Then came the main race, the Epsom Handicap (1600m). Fat Al had started odds on his two prior runs and got beat on both occasions, but punters stuck with him and they got the rewards when he led and found plenty under pressure to give Tommy Berry his second major when he proved too good for Ambidexter and Rolling Pin.
40 minutes later, Berry and Gai were at it again when imported stayer Glencadam Gold made a mess of his rivals in the Metropolitan (2400m). Berry controlled the race from the front and never ever looked like getting beat. Kelinni was second with Reuben Percival, stablemate of the winner, sticking on for third.
The focus now was on Caulfield for their Carnival. The first of the majors on Caulfield Guineas Day was the Caulfield Stakes (2000m). Ocean Park started $1.50 in betting. He settled in a handy spot before being cut loose at the top of the straight and winning well again. Some said the horse raced flat. In hindsight, Bossy was saving the petrol for later on. Veteran stayer Alcopop finished second with Sincero back in third.
The downward spiral of Gai and Nash started in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) with More Joyous. She had toyed with her rivals in two Sydney runs before coming to Melbourne. In the Toorak, she had barrier four…yet was four wide and working big time on the first turn and up the hill. She was left a sitting shot…cue Solzhenitsyn, who was on the minimum and rock hard fit. He swooped on them near the line to beat Spirit Song and a luckless Yosei. It was Corey Brown’s first Group l win in nearly 18 months.
It then went from bad to worse for Nash and Gai when Pierro’s unbeaten streak was ended in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) as a $1.20 favourite by All Too Hard, somewhat of a ‘cat’ before this famous win. Why Pierro got beat? Because Nash made the wrong call. He could have eased and slotted in midfield, but instead sat four/five wide and working up the hill. He was very brave in defeat. Epaulette was third.
The following morning, Fairfax media had an exclusive story that champion hoop Damien Oliver had placed a $10,000 bet on a rival horse (Miss Octopussy) to beat a horse he was riding (Europa Point) at Moonee Valley in 2010. Oliver later admitted to this allegation and was banned from riding for 10 months. Debate on whether he should have been allowed to ride during the Carnival still goes on today.
One week later it was the first of the big three, the Caulfield Cup (2400m). Glencadam Gold was sent out favourite for the race and after setting a reasonable tempo in front, he was gone at the 600m and it was left for someone else to take out the prize and that someone was 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, although for a brief moment Alcopop looked the winner, but on the line, Dunaden won and won with something in reserve. Lights Of Heaven stuck on strongly for third ahead of Americain, who was again slaughtered by Gerald Mosse.
In a new concept made by Racing Victoria, Cox Plate Eve would be Manikato Stakes night at Moonee Valley. Queensland bulldog Buffering was all the rage after two very impressive wins. But punters did their money cold thanks to first up specialist Sea Siren, given a perfect ride by Jim Cassidy, proved too good for Mental and We’re Gonna Rock. Buffering led, but was the first horse beat on the home turn.
Less than 24 hours later saw the running of the weight-for-age champion of Australasia, the Cox Plate (2040m). Green Moon and Pierro fought out favourtism, but there was a slight leaning towards Green Moon. However, he sat wide and dropped out badly to finish near last. Instead, it was kiwi superstar Ocean Park who proved to be the best when outgunning All Too Hard in an outstanding finish. Pierro was once again brave in third. Trainer Gary Hennessy probably didn’t get the recognition he deserved. For a horse to have four starts in a preparation, all in tough Group l company, and win them all…outstanding achievement.
