Dunaden Defies History In Caulfield Cup

Saturday, 20 October 2012 07:16

Dunaden Wins From AlcopopA new legend for Australia, a new piece of racing history for France, a champion for a desert sheikh, a horse of the world.

Dunaden, the 2011 Melbourne Cup winner, and now the 2012 Caulfield Cup champion, transcended international boundaries and claimed a place in racing folklore with a breathtaking victory unparalleled in the Cup's 135-year history.

In a race that has been won by some of the greats of the Australian turf, Dunaden did what had never been done before.

And he did it with courage, determination and class.

Dunaden's half-length win made him the first original topweight in Caulfield Cup history to be successful.

He is also the first horse to win from wider than barrier 15, and on the day, that was what made it more remarkable.

Dunaden started from the outside gate in the 18-horse field and had to give every runner a start.

Dunaden and Craig WilliamsWith 800 metres to run he had only a couple behind him as Craig Williams angled to get onto the back of another French runner, Americain.

For the next 400 metres Williams got to work on the horse he described as "the people's champion" and as they straightened he was widest of all and running.

He then plucked off his rivals with every stride, finding the front 60 metres out and was the only horse still accelerating on the line.

"He is just an amazing horse," said Williams.

"When I ask him he gives me whatever I want.

"He is as good as I've ever ridden, I can't believe I've had the privilege."

An easing $14 chance, Dunaden reeled in the veteran stayer Alcopop ($16) to score by a half length.

Lights Of Heaven ($11) weaved through the field late to finish third, another three-quarters of a length away.

Dunaden with StrapperAmericain finished fourth and the Luca Cumani-trained My Quest For Peace was fifth, giving overseas-prepared horses three of the first five placings in the $2.5 million race.

The favourite Glencadam Gold finished 15th after leading, second favourite December Draw was 17th after racing behind the leader and Voila Ici who also raced on the pace ran last.

Neither Dunaden's French trainer Mikel Delzangles nor owner Sheikh Fahad al Thani of Qatar was at Caulfield.

They will no doubt regret it.

"Mikel came here during the week to see the horse and as soon as he did he wished he was staying," said stable representative Geoffrey Faber.

"And I know Sheikh Fahad loved it when he was here for the Melbourne Cup, he'll certainly be here in a couple of weeks."

For Williams the win went a large part of the way to compensating him for missing the winning ride on Dunaden in last year's Melbourne Cup through suspension.

The champion rider made some amends when he won on Dunaden in Hong Kong last December.

But the missed Melbourne Cup can only be made up for by another one in a little over two weeks.

"I know history says he can't do it," Williams said.

"But there's nothing this horse can't do."

Williams suggested Dunaden still had improvement to make.

As good as he is, he will probably need a lot of it after the handicapper penalises him for his Caulfield win.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin, Quentin Lang

Hvasstan Wins After Trainer's Tragic Week

Saturday, 20 October 2012 03:16

HvasstanJust days after his father died, Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis posted his greatest triumph in racing when his colt Hvasstan took out the Group Three Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

Gelagotis was in tears as he hugged jockey Glen Boss and part-owners, who include former Carlton AFL stars Greg Williams and Fraser Brown.

Hvasstan, situated mid-field for much of the race, unleashed a burst of speed over the closing 100 metres to snatch the win by a short half-head.

Honorius, ridden by Corey Brown, was awarded second place on protest, after claiming interference near the line by Nick Hall aboard Electric Fusion.

Gelagotis said he was devastated that his father Michael, who died on Wednesday, would not see his horse run in the Victoria Derby.

"It's been an emotional week," Gelagotis said.

"I just wish Dad had hung on for the next couple of weeks to see us get to the Derby, regardless of the result.

Peter Gelagotis"He was a passionate racing man and I've never seen a man prouder on this earth - he left home (in Greece) with nothing and made a go of life and he's given us the biggest start you could ever wish for."

Hvasstan has been the most expensive purchase by Gelagotis's 20-horse stable - bought for $260,000 - which was started by his father.

"It's been my biggest win," he said. "I've won some Group races in the past interstate.

"Probably the Tassie Derby would be the highlight of my training career to date but winning at carnival time in Melbourne, it's a dream come true."

Hvasstan's victory means he has emerged as outright second favourite to the unbeaten It's A Dundeel in the Victoria Derby at Flemington on November 3.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin

Howmuchdoyouloveme A Star In The Making

Saturday, 20 October 2012 05:00

HowmuchdoyoulovemeAnother star in the making stepped into the spring sprinting ranks depleted by the absence of Black Caviar when Howmuchdoyouloveme sped to an impressive victory in the Group Two Caulfield Stakes.

Howmuchdoyouloveme burst from the gates, cruised through the first 600m and then dashed home to register his fifth win from six starts and convince his trainer Con Karakatsanis he has something special.

"I don't know how good he is," Karakatsanis said.

"He's untapped."

Howmuchdoyouloveme ($3.50) justified his favouritism when he scored by two lengths from the Darwin sprinter Canali ($10) with Latin News ($26) a long neck away in third place.

A $5,000 purchase from the Inglis Classic sale, Howmuchdoyouloveme almost doubled his lifetime earning with Saturday's $132,000 prize and has the chance to double it again at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.

HowmuchdoyoulovemeKarakatsanis plans to run the horse in the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) on Derby day and back-up in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) on the final day of the carnival.

"There's a lot of improvement in him," he said,.

"We had him where we wanted him today, but there's plenty to come."

For winning rider Brenton Avdulla, the win maintained a perfect five-from-five record on Howmuchdoyouloveme.

"He's a pretty special horse, he has so much raw ability," Avdulla said.

"I was never really worried, I just thought I'd see how good he is, see if they could catch me."

Photos: Quentin Lang Fiona Tomlin

Al Aneed Repays Boss Faith In Gothic

Saturday, 20 October 2012 02:16

Al Aneed Beats Crystal WebTalented colt Al Aneed bounced back from a midweek defeat to confirm his black-type potential in Saturday's Listed Gothic Stakes at Caulfield.

Al Aneed ($12) will now be aimed at the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington in two weeks and the Group Two Sandown Guineas after powering home along the inside to win Saturday's 1400m event by three-quarters of a length.

"He's a really nice horse, stakes-class," winning jockey Glen Boss said.

"I'm glad he got the opportunity to show that today because I told everyone he was a stakes-class horse from his maiden win but then he went awful last start (at Mornington).

"Today was the real horse."

Trainer Mick Price decided to apply a tongue tie and blinkers and instructed Boss to ride the horse in quieter fashion.

Al AneedIt worked as the colt came from well back in the field to defeat Crystal Web ($16) with Limes ($5) a nose away third.

Al Aneed's victory in the second race came after premier Melbourne jockey Luke Nolen started Caulfield Cup day the same way he had for the previous three years, with a victory.

Nolen partnered the Peter Moody-trained filly A Time For Julia to win the Snowhite Maintenance Plate (1400m).

"I can't wait to see her in the autumn with the benefit of some good spring weather on her back," Nolen said.

Photos: Quentin Lang, Fiona Tomlin

Williams Impressed With Whateverwhenever

Saturday, 20 October 2012 04:31

Whateverwhenever Gets Level With King's RoseTop jockey Craig Williams is adamant Whateverwhenever should be tried in better company after the Queensland mare defeated Group One winner King's Rose at Caulfield on Saturday.

The Liam Birchley-trained mare finished strongly from midfield to upset favourite King's Rose ($2.15) in the Group Three Moonga Stakes (1400m), raising the prospect of the five-year-old being given her chance in the Group One Myer Classic (1600m).

The victory convinced Williams Whateverwhenever ($17) could be competitive if Birchley decided to chase better races.

"I was really happy with her today. They've got a lot of options with a mare going the way she is," Williams said.

Whateverwhenever is one of two horses Brisbane-based Birchley has in Melbourne but the trainer stayed home on Saturday to oversee his Queensland team.

WhateverwheneverForeman Brad Berwick said Birchley might have to "raise the bar" for the mare's next start but thought the Myer Classic might still be aiming high.

"But if it happened to rain during the Flemington carnival she could be competitive in anything because she's a good wet tracker, so Liam might head that way," he said.

King's Rose, who made a run around her rivals from back in the field, finished a neck behind the winner with leader McClintock ($15) holding on to finish three-quarters of a length away third.

King's Rose will have her next start in the Myer Classic in two weeks.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin, Quentin Lang

Oliver Bid For Riding Fee Undecided

Saturday, 20 October 2012 01:31

Damien OliverDamien Oliver's bid to claim the jockey's percentage of any prizemoney won by My Quest For Peace in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups will have to be decided in court.

Chief steward Terry Bailey said the matter was beyond the jurisdiction of him and his panel.

Oliver asked the stewards on Wednesday for a ruling after he was sacked from My Quest For Peace in the wake of allegations that he had bet on a rival horse in a race in which he was riding.

He also lost the Cox Plate mount on Green Moon as a result of the allegations, but reached a private agreement with owner Lloyd Williams over any fee.

Oliver sought either winning or losing fees in relation to the Caulfield Cup ride.

Bailey said the advice of senior legal counsel was that Oliver and owner Terry Henderson needed to take the contractual issue to a higher authority.

Neither Oliver nor Henderson commented following Saturday's stewards' hearing.

How Much Do You Love My Mum?

Saturday, 20 October 2012 04:21

Howmuchdoyouloveme and Brenton AvdullaFor Bill Cockram's Shadow Glen Stud, Betula Belle has proven a disappointing broodmare until very recently.

A succession of lacklustre sales of her progeny caused her to be dropped from the official stud book but the Written Tycoon colt sold for a bargain $5,000 at the 2010 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is about to change all that.

Purchased by Tony, the father of trainer Con Karakatsanis, the colt named Howmuchdoyouloveme ($3.30-$4.40-$3.50F) had a field of class sprinters off the bit before cruising over the line two lengths clear.

In his wake he left Canali ($9.50-$10) and Latin News ($31-$26), while the Peter Snowden trained Altar was fourth.

Former Melbourne apprentice Brenton Avdulla has partnered Howmuchdoyouloveme in all of his five wins.

“It’s a big thrill to ride him and I’ve been with him every step of the way.”

Howmuchdoyouloveme“From day one when we trialled him I knew he was pretty special and they were thinking of selling him but I’m glad they kept him.”

Avdulla went into today's race concerned about Howmuchdoyouloveme's fitness as he last raced when winning the Ramornie Handicap in early July.

“I was a little bit worried today because he is only 80-85% fit. Con has got him as well as he could to get him here today but I was just a little bit suspect if he’d be on tired legs for the last 100m which he was.”

“We were able to get through the first 600m comfortable enough and just thought on the point of the corner, with the run I’d had that I’d just see how good he is and see if they can get me but he was just too strong.”

Howmuchdoyouloveme ran an 11.12 second sectional from the 400m to the 200m which put the issue beyond doubt.

Avdulla was apprenticed to Caulfield trainer John Moloney before going to Sydney and forging his own reputation.

“Everything started here when I was 15 and I’d never put a head collar on a horse but I left school and John and Gerard (Moloney) have been big supporters of mine and without them I wouldn’t be here today.”

Con KarakatsanisKarakatsanis warned that Howmuchdoyouloveme can only improve on his form for the rest of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

"He was first-up for ten weeks so he is going to have a lot of improvement under his belt."

On his potential: “He just puts himself in the race and he is absolutely bombproof. He has got a big future.”

On his spring targets: “I will just see how he pulls up but at this stage he’ll go to the Salinger (Yellowglen Stakes, Flemington, 1200m) and if he runs well there he will back up in the Patinack Farm (Classic).”

The story of Howmuchdoyouloveme has an affinity with that of Takeover Target, also sold cheaply through the sales before becoming a multiple stakeswinner. Celtic Swing, the sire of Takeover Target is also the damsire of Betula Belle.

"If he is only half as good as Takeover Target I’ll be rapt", said Karakatsanis.

He gave credit for the win to his father and the Moloney stable who have accommodated Howmuchdoyouloveme during his Melbourne visit.

"Dad has done a great job, we work together and it’s great for the stable, great for the team and it’s much appreciated.”

As for Betula Belle, she was served by Written Tycoon in November last year. Its a fair bet that if she produces a live foal this year, Bill Cockram will be agitating to get her reinstated in the Stud Book.

Photos: Quentin Lang, Fiona Tomlin

Moody Says Julia Has To Wait

Saturday, 20 October 2012 01:22

A Time For JuliaLuke Nolen rode the winner of the first race on Caulfield Cup day for the fourth year in succession today when he guided A Time For Julia to a neck victory in the Snowhite Maintenance Plate.

Settling well back in the nine horse field Nolen explained:

"She sprung well but she couldn't have been any closer."

"She switched off lovely which was great."

"When asked she quickened up nicely but she is still working it out."

Expected to win easily after being backed from $4 in early markets, A Time For Julia ($2.05-$2.20F) was hard pressed to score by a neck from the Michael Rodd ridden Ciao ($31-$21) after getting out in plenty of time in the straight. Third was Real Stolle ($26-$31-$21) $ridden by Christian Reith which finished fairly from mid-field to be 1¼ lengths behind Ciao.

Winning trainer Peter Moody took notice of the difficulty that A Time For Julia had in wearing down Ciao in deciding that now might be a good time for her to have a spell.

A Time For Julia"I think everyone expected her to be in front or thereabouts and it probably surprised me how far she was off them but she made a long, sustained run and maintained that through to the line."

"I had it in my mind that I would like to take her to Flemington for a stakes race but just looking at that I think she has just about come to the end of it."

"She is in her first racing prep(aration) and still learning about it and she is still a bit light and weak behind the saddle."

"I don't think it's that she can't put them away but she probably just lacks that strength but she has very nice ability."

Nolen sees a bright future for A Time For Julia.

"She is a nicely talented filly and she's got it all in front of her."

"I can't wait to see her in the Autumn with the benefit of some good spring weather on her back."

A Time For Julia

Moody shared Nolen's view, predicting a black type future for A Time For Julia in 2013.

"I think she is going to be a better mare than she is a filly so in the autumn we will chase black type and then as a four-year-old think she will be a cracking mare and fully mature."

"She is a very late foal and we've taken our time and we're not going to rush her and we're looking forward to the future with her."

"I think on the back of that and the way she went to sleep she will certainly run a nice mile and there are plenty of nice races six furlongs (1200m) to a mile (1600m)."

A Time For Julia is out of four time stakes producer Procrastinate, dam of Foreplay, Laisserfaire, Time Thief and Personify.

She was sold to the bid of Mark Kavanagh at the 2010 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $600,000 but now races in the ownership of John Camilleri.

Photos: Quentin Lang

Alzora Gives Hayes A Spring Carnival Boost

Saturday, 20 October 2012 03:31

AlzoraWinning major spring races used to be fairly routine for trainer David Hayes.

But the slower pace recently adopted by Melbourne's seven-time premier trainer could be starting to pick up thanks to the successes of such horses as Saturday's Ethereal Stakes winner Alzora.

A maiden after her first eight starts, Alzora ($20) produced her true form over the 2000m of the Caulfield race, racing her way into VRC Oaks calculations.

"She'd been very unlucky in a couple of maidens, she really just needed to get out to her correct distance," Hayes said.

The victory turned Alzora from a well-bred maiden into stakes-winning Redoute's Choice filly, and therefore a potentially valuable broodmare.

But Hayes is hoping to increase that value even more at Flemington next month.

Alzora"We're heading for the Oaks and we're very excited," he said.

Alzora is likely to be aimed at the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day before the Oaks five days later.

"If she eats really well we'll go to the Wakeful, but if we feel she's fit we'll go straight to the Oaks."

Alzora found the front a long way from home and held on strongly to beat Summerbliss ($6) with Transonic ($9.50) third, a half length further back.

As promising as Alzora's performance was from an Oaks point of view, it was no better than that of the runner-up whose effort prompted her rider Craig Williams to immediately claim the ride in the Classic.

"That was a super run, I'll be there for the Oaks," he told trainer Mick Kent.

Having only her second start, Summerbliss showed tremendous staying potential and also provided Kent and owner Rick Jamieson with their chance for a Classic after their unbeaten Derby hope Philippi had to be sent for a spell.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin, Quentin Lang

Oliver Wins Thousand Guineas

Wednesday, 17 October 2012 05:00

Damien Oliver has put the controversy of betting scandal aside to pilot Commanding Jewel to a decisive win in the Group One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

Damien Oliver wins on Commanding Jewel

Trainer Leon Corstens and the filly's owners had no hesitation sticking with the champion jockey who is under investigation by stewards over allegations he had a $10,000 bet in a race in 2010.

Commanding Jewel, a half sister to last year's Thousand Guineas winner Atlantic Jewel, was a decisive winner over Dear Demi with Oliver taking control of the race at the top of the straight.

"I had no second thoughts about keeping Damien on," Corstens said.

"Why would I? He's the best in Australia. He knows her and it would have been stupid to change."

Oliver, who has been dumped from rides in the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate since the allegations surfaced, thanked connections for staying with him.

"I can't thank Leon enough and all the owners who stuck by me," he said.

"I've been through a lot worst than this and will come through it."

Photo: Quentin Lang