Empire Rose Stakes (Group 1)

THE James Cummings-trained Godolphin mare Colette, the Golden Eagle winner on this day last year, won her second Group 1 with an impressive victory in the Empire Rose Stakes over 1,600 metres at Flemington.

From near the tail of the field, Damien Oliver waited patiently till the field fanned out. Hugging the rail, Colette got the ‘saloon passage’ as a split presented between the leaders at the 100-metre mark.

Not needing to be asked twice, the 2020 Australian Oaks winner darted through to take the win at the generous price of $13. The Needs Further mare Mystic Journey was a head away in second, with the 2021 Australian Oaks winner Hungry Heart, by Frankel, third.

“That’s just about the ride of the season for mine – Damien Oliver on Colette there. She’s a proper racehorse, isn’t she,” said James Cummings. “She had ‘follow me over a mile’ written all over her and a good track was no problem for her today and she weaved through them beautifully. Let down like a serious Group 1 horse and I think she deserves all the accolades she gets.

“Placement is a beautiful thing. I talked to Domenic Beirne about the race and we agreed that there was plenty of pace in it and that is going to suit a horse that is capable of winning over a mile-and-a-half like she was as a three-year-old filly in the Oaks.”

Cummings will now keep open the prospect of running in today’s Group 1 MacKinnon Stakes, the seven-day back-up having been deployed successfully when Colette won the Adrian Knox Stakes and Australian Oaks.

Superstorm for Oliver double

Cantala Stakes (Group 1)

SUPERSTORM, seemingly from nowhere with 300 metres to run, charged through the middle of the field to land the Cantala Stakes over 1,600 metres to complete a Group 1-winning double for Damien Oliver at Flemington on Derby Day.

Trained by Danny O’Brien for the Perth-based Bob Peters, the Sebring gelding had run consecutive thirds in Group 1 races before prevailing in the photo finish as a length separated the first six.

Renowned for his strength in a tight finish Oliver got Superstorm home by the barest of margins from the Sacred Falls mare Icebath as she edged out the New Approach gelding Cascadian by a nose.

“It was nice to get a narrow victory,” said Oliver. “There were horses everywhere, typical of a big mile handicap.”