TAB Epsom (Group 1)

CHRIS Waller’s stable had the one-two in the Group 1 Epsom with Rediener and Kovalica, as well as providing the fifth-placed Democracy Manifest from their six starters in the 20-horse field at Randwick.

Last year’s Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile was attempting to lead all the way over the 1,600 metres and looked to have the race won 100 metres out.

Fading so slightly, the Astern colt was overwhelmed by Rediener with Kathy O’Hara up, who in turn was almost overwhelmed by the Queensland Derby winner Kovalica under the distinctive style of Joao Moreira who nabbed second.

Rediener came into the race off the back of a Group 3 Bill Ritchie Stakes win and becomes the 40th individual Group 1 winner for Redoute’s Choice, having been given a textbook ride by O’Hara who stalked the leader before making her move.

“He’s just a really nice horse and it’s only up from here I think for him. It’s not the ceiling for him so who knows,” said O’Hara who is married to Charlie Duckworth, Chris Waller’s racing manager.

“It’s great, Kathy is just an amazing toiler,” said Chris Waller.

“Sydney racing is 52 weeks a year, she just gives it her best, amazing horse person. Gives you great feedback, she lives on a horse.”

James Squire Metropolitan (Group 1)

THE Irish-bred Just Fine has incurred a half-kilo Melbourne Cup penalty following his Group 1 Metropolitan win at Randwick on Saturday, taking him to 53 kgs and a guaranteed start in the Cup.

A narrow winner, the Sea The Stars gelding defeated the British-bred Nathaniel gelding Spirit Ridge in track-record time with five-lengths to the Irish-bred pair of Kalapour and Military Mission.

Ridden by Rachel King for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Just Fine is unbeaten in three Australian starts and is now second favourite for the Melbourne Cup behind Vauban.

“I think we might have to, it’s hard to deny it after that,” said Adrian Bott when asked about contesting the Melbourne Cup. “He just continues to improve and go the right way for us and he opened up more options for him today staying that trip.” Rachel King’s winning ride made it a Group 1 double for the women after Kathy O’Hara’s Epsom win 40 minutes earlier.

Very special

“It was very special, Kathy was the first person to come up next to me and give me a fist pump and I couldn’t have been happier to see her win the Epsom,” said King. “Kath’s been someone I’ve looked up to from the minute I’ve been in Australia, so to follow her today after she won her Group 1 first and I got to get mine next. Girls are taking over.”

Flight Stakes (Group 1)

ADAM Hyeronimus produced possibly the ride of the day at Randwick to claim the Group 1 Flight Stakes for three-year-old fillies aboard Tropical Squall for longtime supporters Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who under the banner of Tulloch Lodge have now won 24 editions of the race.

Gai’s late father Tommy Smith won the Flight Stakes 13 times, and Gai, nine under her own name, and three in partnership with Adrian Bott.

The Prized Icon filly who won her maiden on debut in June had a length in hand over the Brave Smash filly Kimochi with The Autumn Sun filly Tutta La Vita third.

“I think he’s obviously a great front-running rider,” said Bott of Hyeronimus. “He’s been keen on this filly for a long time. He’s had plenty of good opportunities all the way through and he said there’s a lot of things he would give up to stick with the filly.” Tropical Squall has now won three from four with Adam Hyeronimus aboard each time.

“The (Victoria) Oaks was always the original plan,” added Bott. “She was originally going to go down to Melbourne a bit sooner on that path but she has actually shown us a bit more brilliance so we could keep her here for the Flight Stakes and then decide.”

Arrowfield Stud Plate (Group 1)

CO. Tipperary-born Joe Doyle franked his ascension to the top of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership with victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate.

Though the Premiership is in its early stages, Doyle with 30 winners, landed an early double at Hastings before completing his treble in the 1,600 metre feature aboard the Andrew Forsman-trained Mustang Valley.

Coasting up to the leading trio on the final bend, Mustang Valley had all the answers in the run to the line defeating the Adelaide mare Malt Time by over a length as the Atlante gelding Callsign Mav claimed third.

“We were three-wide halfway, but I was happy with where I was, they weren’t going crazy in front,” said Doyle.

“She got going at the 600 (metres) and it was game over.” The Vanbrugh mare has now won six from 26 starts. Second in this race last year she will now head to the Group 1 Livamol Classic which she won last year.

Competitive

“At a mile today, we expected her to be competitive at weight-for-age on rain-affected ground. But I think getting up to 2,000 metres now will really suit her. Everything’s gone to plan so far in this campaign, so hopefully that continues,” said trainer Andrew Forsman.

The flop of the race was Sharp ‘N’ Smart, the New Zealand Derby winner was tailed off 20 lengths last with subsequent tests revealing a viral infection scuppering the plans connections had for a Melbourne Cup tilt.

“He is out of the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. He is certainly a good horse, but he has got his life ahead of him, and we have got to put the horse first, that’s the main thing. He has been inoculated for Hong Kong, but we will see what happens,” said trainer Graeme Rogerson.

Moir Stakes (Group 1)

THE Mark Walker-trained Imperatriz has broken her own Moonee Valley 1,000 metre track record, winning the Group 1 Moir Stakes in 56.47 seconds last Friday night. Ridden by Opie Bosson, the five-year-old I Am Invincible mare came from third last on the bend to sweep up to the leaders, winning by over a length from the Flying Artie mare Asfoora and the Cable Bay gelding Uncommon James.

“She just gives you an amazing feeling when she lets down,” said Bosson. “I was a little bit worried today, she was a bit fresh, she tried to buck me off going to the start but onwards and upwards.

“All credit to the team at Te Akau and Mark Walker and David Ellis who buy some amazing horses that I’m just privileged to ride.”

Walker reaffirmed his position not to chase the Everest on October 14th, instead setting her for the Manikato Stakes on Cox Plate Day and the Champions Sprint on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. “She’s so happy here I don’t see any sense in putting her on a float.”

Amelia’s Cox Path

The Cox Plate is a live option for the West Australian filly Amelia’s Jewel following her win in the Group 2 Stock Stakes at Moonee Valley the previous Friday night. Winning by a length over the Pride Of Dubai mare Pride Of Jenni, Amelia’s Jewel broke the 1,600 metre track record off the back of a scorching pace to stay unbeaten in Melbourne from two starts.

Having lowered her colours just twice in 11 starts, the Simon Miller-trained Siyouni filly is now second favourite for the Cox Plate, with her next target the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.

FIRST acceptances were taken on Tuesday for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Just five internationals remain in the Melbourne Cup, the Willie Mullins pair of Absurde and Vauban, the Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained Breakup, all of whom are guaranteed a start, while the Joseph O’Brien pair of Valiant King and Okita Soushi must climb up with the order of entry placing them 31st and 32nd respectively for the 24-horse field. Joseph O’Brien’s pair are in the acceptances for the Caulfield Cup, along with and the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained West Wind Blows who is 24th in the order of entry.

West Wind Blows will race at Flemington today in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes alongside the favourite Romantic Warrior, trained by Hong Kong’s Danny Shum. Splitting the pair in the early betting is the Frankel gelding Soulcombe. Though Aidan O’Brien’s name was missing from the Cup acceptances Victoria Road will represent the stable in the Cox Plate.

“He’s hardly lost any weight, he takes it all in his stride,” said TJ Comerford. “He has to travel good coming here because it’s a long haul.” Victoria Road will race in the livery of an Ozzie Kheir syndicate with a deal struck that will see the horse transferred to Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace afterwards.