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Young Guns Blaze A Trail into the future

Published by charl on February 8, 2010

THE big guns made the big headlines but two juvenile stars of the future arguably stole the show at Melbourne’s Caulfield track on Saturday, writes JEFF ZERBST.

We were two weeks out from the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes for juveniles over 1200m and it was time to check out potential winners in the lead-up events - the Blue Diamond Prelude for Fillies and the Prelude for Colts & Geldings.

Both Gr. 3 races produced a potential superstar.

In the fillies’ event, punters opted for Sweet Cheeks (Damien Oliver, 2-1), the early Blue Diamond favourite, but this one-time winner showed nothing in the straight and finished a well-beaten sixth.

Victory went to a debutante who produced a jaw-dropping effort.

First-timer Psychologist (11-2), a $120,000 daughter of Choisir (AUS), was taken straight to the front by jockey Mark Zahra and that was the end of the race.

Tony Vasil’s charge travelled comfortably on the bridle until 400m out when jockey Zahra shook her up. She quickly opened up a big gap on her rivals and didn’t need the right-handed whip Zahra produced approaching the 100m mark.

The jock put the whip away inside the final 50m and Psychologist eased down to win by 4 ¼ lengths from She’s Got Gears (9-2).

“I rode her in work on Tuesday and went ‘Wow’,” said trainer Vasil. “She’s very laid back and she’ll cope with the big feature in a fortnight.”

Psychologist’s time of 62.67 sec was a class record and bookies quickly installed her favourite for the Blue Diamond. She wasn’t favourite for long - the Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) produced another star who ran the race in 62.45 secs.

Darley Stud’s colt Secession, rested after a debut win, was 5-2 favourite, but this one was destined to finish well back in fourth.

As the runners turned, 7-2 chance Beneteau (apprentice Darren Ganderton) was balked on the fence and looking hopeless. But when a small gap opened, Ganderton angled outwards and drove Beneteau forward to grab the lead 150m out.

Beneteau was off like a fox with hounds up his arse, and he won as he liked by 2 ½ lengths from 5-1 chance General Truce in an awesome display.

It was a terrific win for young trainer Paul Messara, son of Arrowfield Stud’s John Messara. Arrowfield sponsors the Blue Diamond Stakes and the family’s money could be returning to familiar coffers.

Beneteau is a colt by Arrowfield’s leading stallion Redoute’s Choice.

“We are taking things one run at a time,” said Paul Messara. “He won well on his Sydney debut and we thought he was up to this. After the Blue Diamond we will look at the Golden Slipper.”

Bookies are offering 28-10 on Beneteau and 33-10 on Psychologist for the Blue Diamond, with promising filly Crystal Lily at 7-1. The latter won the 1000m Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for trainer Matthew Ellerton in the class-record time of 56.84 sec in late January.

Back to the established stars and let’s start with Typhoon Tracy. Peter Moody’s Red Ransom (US) mare started 4-10 favourite for the Gr. 1 C.F. Orr Stakes over 1400m at WFA, and she justified that price in her first race since October.

Jockey Luke Nolen raced her outsider the pacemaker, and she took over in the straight to win comfortably by 1 ¾ lengths from two-time Gr. 1 winner Heart of Dreams (11-2). Bart Cummings-trained Sirmione (80-1), returning after a year off, finished a close third.

Amongst those further back were recent Melbourne Cup winners, Viewed (sixth) and Shocking (eighth).

Typhoon Tracy’s trainer, Peter Moody, said she would probably stay in Australia after running in the Futurity Stakes in three weeks’ time.

“Hong Kong is an option but there are plenty of nice races in Sydney for her, so our preferred option is to keep her at home.”

Starting even shorter than Typhoon Tracy was Sheikh Mohammed’s star 3yo colt Denman. The son of Lonhro was sent off 3-10 favourite for the Listed Wellington Stakes (1400m) and he led his field a merry dance

Stable rider Kerrin McEvoy pushed Denman across from an outside draw to control affairs and the colt gave nothing a look-in. He cruised home won by 3 ¼ lengths from 4-1 chance Carrara under a hands-and-heels ride.

“Horses like him make their own luck,” said trainer Peter Snowden, whose charge is now 18-10 favourite for the Australian Guineas.

Denman has won eight of his 10 starts and $1.1 million.

It has taken a while for mining investor Nathan “the Whale” Tinkler to achieve sustained success with his $150 million Patinack Farm racing and breeding operation. Now things are starting to look sweet.

Patinack had two winners at Newcastle on Saturday along with one win apiece at Rosehill, Caulfield and Doomben.

“The wheels are starting to turn,” said the operation’s head trainer, John Thompson.

Former SA rider Glyn Schofield had a winner on a heavy track at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, scoring aboard 23-10 shot Griffon for trainer Bart Cummings in the 1100m eighth race.