The outcome of this G1 WFA mile was decided after 200m when the winner Mufhasa got over easily to lead and then dictated an even tempo, as not many can lift like him the run home. Regular rider Sam Spratt celebrated deluxe over the line and copped a stewards fine but she was really only showing the crowd and viewing audience that she did not drop the whip this time, after butter fingers in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Mufhasa now an 8yo only had to clock 1:34.88 for the mile and was comfortable at the finish for what was an achievement in itself, his tenth win at G1 level. He has come solid as an older horse or the opposition is getting more inferior and the facts are there to actually back up both arguments. Of his ten G1 wins we find seven of them have come since January 2011 and his most productive seasons have been as a 6yo and in particular as a 7yo, with the latter a career milestone achiever. He only won his first race in Australia as a 7yo at a twelfth attempt too it should be noted and it was a G1 showing perseverance pays off plus that the big horse is ageing well. No real excuses for the beaten brigade today although Xanadu was flying late but she has that racing pattern to always be a traffic, tempo or track bias victim. He’s Remarkable is close to peak but still has to show he is a WFA performer. Fears Nothing puts some perspective on the race result overall as his seventh beaten just over three and a half lengths was simply massive. The 7yo was second up from a spell and caught wide the whole way working in the open, so to box on bravely to the line does not augur well for many others in the field seasoned by racing. He has not won a race since January of 2011 and is a handicapper. Green Supreme and Shez Sinsational are definitely looking for the 2040m of the last leg of the Triple Crown and both were warming to their task the closing stages, with the former in particular. Slight concern that Shez Sinsational in three runs this preparation has not even filled a placing but the mare is a year older and building into 2000m or further from now on. If she fails in the third leg of the Triple Crown at 2040m then this campaign will be in disarray, as four misses in a row for this mare with a career record of winning every third start and placing in half her starts indicates. Justanexcuse was disappointing and Innovation too after both went so big in the first leg of the Triple Crown. However the latter is a 4yo mare with upside so do not give up on her yet.
Previous Winners
Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
JIMMY CHOUX
(NZ)
4H THORN PARK (AUS) - CIERZO (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS) |
J K RIDDELL | 58.5 | JOHN BARY | 9 |
|
WALL STREET
(NZ)
6G MONTJEU (IRE) - VILLA WANDA (GB) GRAND LODGE (USA) |
M T COLEMAN | 59.0 | JEFF LYNDS | 6 |
|
DAFFODIL
(NZ)
4M NO EXCUSE NEEDED (GB) - SPRING (NZ) O'REILLY (NZ) |
H S TINSLEY | 56.5 | KEVIN GRAY | 7 |
|
PRINCESS COUP
(AUS)
5M ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - STONEYFELL ROAD (AUS) SOVEREIGN RED (NZ) |
O P BOSSON | 56.5 | MARK WALKER | 11 |
|
SEACHANGE
(NZ)
5M CAPE CROSS (IRE) - JUST CRUISING (AUS) BROAD REACH (NZ) |
G MCKEON | 56.5 | R R MANNING | 4 |
|
SEACHANGE
(NZ)
4M CAPE CROSS (IRE) - JUST CRUISING (AUS) BROAD REACH (NZ) |
G MCKEON | 56.0 | R R MANNING | 7 |
|
MISS POTENTIAL
(AUS)
7M DOLPHIN STREET (FR) - RICHFIELD ROSE (NZ) CRESTED WAVE (USA) |
B R JONES | 56.0 | BILL BORRIE | 13 |
|
STARCRAFT
(NZ)
4H SOVIET STAR (USA) - FLYING FLOOZIE (NZ) POMPEII COURT (USA) |
G BOSS | 57.0 | GARRY NEWHAM | 6 |
|
IRISH ROVER
(NZ)
6G KENFAIR (NZ) - STERLING LEA (NZ) ONE POUND STERLING (GB) |
DAVID WALKER | 58.5 | E CARSON | 1 |
|
HELLO DOLLY
(NZ)
7M MI PREFERIDO (USA) - DRAMBUIE (NZ) RED TEMPO (NZ) |
A CALDER | 56.0 | B WILLS | 5 |
|
HELLO DOLLY
(NZ)
6M MI PREFERIDO (USA) - DRAMBUIE (NZ) RED TEMPO (NZ) |
H S TINSLEY | 56.0 | B WILLS | 9 |
|
THE MESSAGE
(NZ)
7G GOLD AND IVORY (USA) - MISS MORRINSVILLE (NZ) DESTROYER (SAF) |
L M BALLANTYNE | 58.5 | J RALPH | 2 |