GALLOPERS NEWS

6.10.11 Guneas Day or Derby Day?
 

Black Caviar, highlight of Saturday's Caulfield meeting

.....  VRC Derby Day, the first day of the four day Flemington Spring carnival has long been regarded as the best day of thoroughbred racing Australia has to offer. Group 1 events abound with the Derby, the MacKinnon Stakes, the Ascot Vale Stakes, Group 1 1600m for Mares along with the Wakeful for the fillies, Hotham Handicap or whatever it may be called from year to year, the Carbine Club, the Salinger or whatever it too may be called from year to year. Indeed a plethora of outstanding galloping action that any other meeting in the calendar year would struggle to challenge.

In recent years other major race clubs when hosting a big Group 1 day have attempted to emulate the success of VRC Derby Day by compacting 2,3 or more days into one so called "Super" Saturday or Sunday. Sydney tried this last weekend with Epsom/Metrop Day, Queensland attempted this combining the Stradbroke & Brisbane Cup meetings into one Saturday event. Even Adelaide have opted for a Super Sunday for their major day in May combining several Group 1 races on the same program.

This Saturday punters see the first day of the three day Caulfield Spring carnival which will culminate in next Saturday's running of the Caulfield Cup. Guineas Day has come alive in recent years & Guineas winners read like a whose who of Australian racing & breeding. Starspangledbanner, Whobegotyou, Weekend Hussler, Gods Own, Econsul, Helenus, Lonhro, Show A Heart, Redoutes Choice, Encounter, Our Maizcay, St Covet, & Mahogany all winners of the Guineas in the past 20 years. The best 3yo in the country generally wins the Caulfield Guineas, it is a race that has stood the test of time without changes to the distance & without changes to programming.

The time honoured Caulfield Stakes is one of the best group 1 races on the Australian Turf Calendar. It is a final lead up race for horses heading either to the Caulfield Cup in a week, or the Cox Plate in a fortnight so it always brings together the best WFA gallopers in training. So You Think, Whobegotyou, Maldivian, El Segundo, Mummify, Lonhro (twice), Northerly, Sky Heights, Might & Power, Filante, Danewin, Rough Habit all winners in the last 20 years & that does not include names like Kingston Town (also a dual winner) & Bonecrusher. Only absolutely outstanding horses grace this honour roll.

And then we have the time honoured mile, the Toorak Handicap, a race that is most horses Grand Final for the Spring or a final lead up to either the Caulfield Sup, Cox Plate or the 1600m Group 1 on the final day of the Flemington carnival. Maybe not the honour roll the previous two Group 1 events boast nevertheless a star studded line up including More Joyous, Allez Wonder, Red Dazzler, Show a Heart, Umrum (twice), Poetic King, Cole Diesel in the last 20 years as well as Tobin Bronze, Galilee, Gunsynd, Leilani, & Planet Ruler. The best milers in Australia consistently win this race year in & year out. The race is perfectly scheduled to run after the Sydney spring carnival & prior to Flemington.

These three Group 1 races are three of the best races on the Australian racing calendar & this is proven by the honour rolls of each event.

Throw in the time honoured Herbert Power handicap which is the last chance for horses to qualify for the Caulfield Cup & an opportunity for horses to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. Throw in the Schillaci Stakes which this year will hold more interest than any of the three Group 1s with the appearance of champion mare Black Caviar, a couple of very strong 3yo races & a very strong arguement can be made that Caulfield Guineas day is rivalling big brother VRC Derby Day.

The main factor against Derby Day retaining its number one status is the attrition rate of horses through the spring. Derby Day is another 3 weeks away & it is likely this year will be similar to recent years with many horses falling foul of injury & not making the first day of the Flemington carnival.

Please don't take us the wrong way, we love Derby Day here at Gallopers, nevertheless, Caulfield Guineas Day is fast catching up as a spectacle & betting proposition, if it has already over taken it.

Gallopers 6.10.11