From Newmarket’s juvenile Group 1s to the first major spring clashes in Australia, the weekend gave racing fans plenty to take into the months ahead. Sun Goddess strengthened her claim as Europe’s leading two-year-old filly, Warwoven announced himself in Sydney, and Jimmysstar produced the finish of the weekend at Caulfield. South Africa’s Durbanville meeting also offered an early look at contenders for the Cape summer.
At Newmarket, Sun Goddess made it three Group 1 wins for the season in the Cheveley Park Stakes. Just 13 days after winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs on soft ground, Aidan O’Brien’s filly dropped back to six on a much quicker surface and still proved too strong. Ryan Moore brought her through to beat Libertango, with Alwaysanangel third. The result gave O’Brien a record seventh win in the race.
The Middle Park Stakes provided a sharp change of fortune for Orthodox. Clive Cox’s Norfolk Stakes winner had struggled on soft ground in the Prix Morny, but looked at home again on Newmarket’s fast turf. Rossa Ryan produced him late to catch Force Noir by a neck, while Hell Of A Spin finished third. Both Newmarket winners now head into the closing weeks of the European juvenile season with their reputations enhanced.
Sydney’s Golden Rose belonged to Warwoven. Rachel King settled the Bjorn Baker-trained colt before asking him to go after the leaders at Rosehill, and he swept clear to beat St Gotthard by three and a quarter lengths, with Under Focus third. It was a commanding Group 1 follow-up to his Run To The Rose victory. The Caulfield Guineas is among the options being considered, though his next target has yet to be settled.
At Caulfield on Sunday, Jimmysstar saved his best for the Manikato Stakes. Ethan Brown took his time at the rear, brought him wide into the straight and let him run down Extragalactic in the closing stages. Charm Stone was close behind in third. The last-to-first win returned the Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter to Group 1 form at an important point in the Australian spring.
Maher had another familiar star to celebrate in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes. Pride Of Jenni, now nine, resumed with the bold front-running display that has made her such a draw. Declan Bates let her stride, and she held off Treasurethe Moment by a length and a half to win the Feehan for the third year running. The race was at Caulfield this time, but the change of venue did little to alter the result.
There was no Group 1 on South Africa’s Durbanville card, but its two Grade 3 races carried plenty of interest for the season ahead. Four-time Group 1 winner Double Grand Slam returned with an emphatic victory over Babelicious in the Diana Stakes for Justin Snaith and Keagan de Melo. Jet Force then took the Matchem Stakes for Des McLachlan and Grant van Niekerk, edging Legal Counsel in a close finish.
Newmarket supplied two young stars, Sydney produced a decisive Golden Rose winner, and Caulfield showed that Jimmysstar and Pride Of Jenni remain forces to reckon with. At Durbanville, the focus is already turning towards the Cape summer.
By Scott Bailey
