Follow Files: Golden Rose winner ready for Cox Plate tilt
Last Saturday featured one of the best race days on the Australian racing calendar, with both Caulfield Guineas Day and Everest Day taking centre stage at Caulfield and Randwick. For the Follow Files this week, we have focussed on the massive day of racing at Caulfield and found three runners that appear close to a win at their next start after strong performances.
Caulfield
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 5: Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) | Time: 1:03.82
- Horse to follow: Curran (5th)
With most people focussing on Asfoora and Uncommon James in the Schillaci Stakes, a lot would have missed the run of the Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor-trained Curran, who ran on strong from the back of the field to finish fifth. The son of Night Of Thunder recorded the fastest last 400m and 200m sectionals of the entire meeting, even though he was first-up going into Saturday. He may have been beaten by four lengths, but considering the class of his rivals and the fact that he was fresh, Curran’s run shouldn’t be underrated.
When to bet: Last spring Tolson & Proctor used the Village Stakes (7th) before pushing onto the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes where he finished seventh – beaten over two lengths. However, after his impressive performance last Saturday, he brings much better form in the race this year if they choose to go to the Rising Fast on Derby Day at Flemington on November 4.
Asfoora is a beauty!@HDwyerRacing's mare put the rest of the field to the sword in the Schillaci Stakes 💥@AitkenMitch pic.twitter.com/j0aBViEtV4
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 14, 2023
Race 9: Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) | Time: 1:37.97
- Horse to follow: Militarize (5th)
Militarize from the Chris Waller yard was sent out as a well backed favourite for the Caulfield Guineas, but he unfortunately got too far back and ran on super on the final 400m. The distance that he was beaten by may have been slightly improved due to the interference that the leader caused, but the son of Dundeel still rattled home in the fast sectionals for the race in every 200m split from the 1400m mark onwards. Clearly with a more positive ride, Militarize would have finished much closer than the official margin of 4.25 lengths.
When to bet: Chris Waller has confirmed that Militarize will go to the Group 1 Cox Plate and tackle the best Weight For Age race in the country. Being a son of Dundeel, this three-year-old colt should love stretching out to 2040m for the first time and is expected to run well with a very light weight.
Griff becomes the first horse in 15 years to do the Stutt Stakes & Caulfield Guineas double 👏@cmaherracing @BMelham pic.twitter.com/cKRUC5NHxN
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 14, 2023
Race 10: Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) | Time: 1:36.47
- Horse to follow: Bankers Choice (3rd)
The Group 1 Toorak Handicap wasn’t dominated by the race favourite Amelia’s Jewel, but one runner who settled further back than her and ran straight past most of his rivals was that of Bankers Choice from the Mike Moroney stable. This son of Mongolian Khan settled second last in the 1600m contest, and even though he was slightly inconvenienced on the home turn, he still ran home in the fastest 200m sectionals of the race. He also recorded the fast last 1400m sectional of the entire meeting, when running home into third place behind Attrition and Antino.
When to bet: After running 10th in the Toorak last year, Moroney and his team chose the Group 2 Crystal Mile as his next run, where Bankers Choice finished second – beaten by 1.5 lengths. If the stable choose to the same route for this six-year-old gelding this spring, expect him to run a massive race and fight out the finish.
Amazing scenes 🙌
Attrition delivers @Freedmanmitch & @beau_mertens their first G1 victories 💥 pic.twitter.com/IxUxDuF21P
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 14, 2023