A fantastic day’s racing with the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne, City Tattersalls Club Cup at Royal Randwick and world champion Frankel’s swansong at Ascot.

We’ll concentrate on Caulfield today looking forward to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, affectionally called by some ‘the goat track’, next week, then the Victoria Derby in a fortnight’s time, followed by the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.

However, in the Tatts Cup in Sydney is possibly Bart Cummings’ baker’s dozen of Melbourne Cup winners if Dare To Dream can salute the judge in first place and earn a penalty, propelling him in to favouritism for the big ‘un. 11.30am start to the 10 race Caulfield meeting.

Race 1 – Snowhite Maintenance Plate over 1400m for 3yo fillies was taken out by the Peter Moody/Luke Nolen trained and ridden filly A Time For Julia, who is now an exciting breeding proposition as her dam, Procrastinate, also foaled South African champion Laisserfaire.

Race 2 – D’Urban Gothic Stakes over 1400m for 3yo colts and geldings was won by the Maktoum owned Al Aneed, ridden by Glen Boss. This fellow’s dam is a half-sister to French Oaks winner Rafha.

Race 3 – G3 Norman Robinson Stakes over 2000m for 3yo, a true and tested lead-up to the Victoria Derby was taken out by the Fastnet Rock colt Hvasstan, another for Bossy, however the runner-up, after protest upheld, Honorius, by former Aidan O’Brien trained Holy Roman Emperor, looks more likely for the Derby.

Race 4 – NZ Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes for 3yo fillies, named for Ethereal who won the Caulfield/Melbourne double in 2001, run over 2000m was won by the David Hayes trained maiden Alzora at her 9th start in a race. This filly ran 3rd to Samaready at her first start and now she has cracked it for a win could go on to the VRC Oaks.

Race 5 – G3 Sportingbet Moonga Stakes over 1400m for 4yo upwards was won by the Queenslander Whateverwhenever, the Choisir mare given a masterly ride by international jockey Craig Williams.

Race 6 – G2 Perri Cutten Caulfield Sprint over 1100m was taken out by Sydneysider Howmuchdoyouloveme, his record now 5 wins and 1 second from 6 starts. Follow this fellow over the rest of the Victorian carnival.

Race 7 – G3 David Jones Cup over 2000m was won by the John O’Shea trained, Craig Williams ridden Lightinthenite, who had run a good 4th in the Epsom at Randwick two weeks ago. This Galileo 5yo will be set for next year’s Caulfield Cup.

Race 8 – the G1 $1,500,000 to the winner Caulfield Cup, over 2400m looked like it was going to be won by the 8yo Alcopop, from Victor Harbour in South Australia, that is until Hyperion’s tip Dunaden, ridden by maestro Craig Williams swooped from the tail of the field to get up by half a length. Trainer Mikel Delzangles listened to the awesome win over the phone at his training establishment in Chantilly, France. What came out of the race regarding the Melbourne Cup? Obviously the winner, 4th placed Americain, a dyed in the wool two miler, 5th placed (My) Quest For Peace, 9th home, beaten less than 5 lengths, American horse, Winchester, and you’ve guessed it, the 10th place-getter Sanagas, trained by Bart Cummings.

Race 9 – G2 Yellowglen Tristarc Stakes for 4yo and upwards mares over 1400m was taken out by the classy Streama, leading most of the way, trained in Sydney by Guy Walter and ridden by top Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman. The Chris Waller trained third placed Red Tracer was unlucky as she was held up for a run in the straight.

Race 10 – Carlton Draught Alinghi Stakes over 1100m, named for the good Lee Freedman trained mare who went on to big race success in USA, was won by Mrs Onassis just holding off Serene Star, giving jockey Brenton Avdulla a double, having won race 6.

Hope you had a winning day like Hyperion did and, for me, Dare To Dream disappointed at Randwick, running 7th after missing the kick. However, don’t give up on him yet as he will contest the Lexus Stakes on Derby day at Flemington.

World champion Frankel took his record to 14 out of 14 after winning the GI Champion Stakes at Ascot and taking his prize-money to petty cash short of £3million. The son of Galileo has now been retired to stand at stud s let’s hope Black Caviar remains unbeaten after her Autumn campaign as we’d all love to see these two in the breeding barn – you couldn’t put a price on the offspring!

Next week Hyperion will join me, Carbine, at Moonee Valley for Cox Plate Day.

Andrew Beattie