Brutal shows he’s in shape for a Golden spring
Long John went on to win the Caulfield Guineas while Shamus Award, of course, was to beat all comers in the Cox Plate.
That modest launching pad was the Listed Mitchell McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley. The 2018 edition was run last Saturday and, while it would be drawing a very long bow to suggest a Group 1 form repeat of 2013, I fancy this year’s renewal will throw up a major race winner or two.
The much spruiked Brutal showed some grit to complement his natural speed in winning narrowly from Tavisan, who was very good at just his second run for the Mick Price stable. Third placed Leonardo Da Hinchi had been unbeaten and trainer Darren Weir has declared publicly how highly he regards this son of Hinchinbrook.
Marcel From Madrid finished fourth after working wide on the track, which was not the place to be. He’d also been unbeaten. Ocean Knight came from last to finish fifth in a race-quickest final 200 metres, which is always a good sign in a solidly run race.
Each of the five, who put a significant gap on their remaining rivals, looks well above average in my opinion. Each holds a $2 million Caulfield Guineas nomination – to be run October 13 – and all bar Marcel From Madrid, the one gelding among the quintet, are also entered for the September 22 $1 million Golden Rose.
Brutal and last Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes winner Graff, by Star Witness, head the current betting for the Golden Rose and on pedigree you might well argue the 1400 metres of the Sydney feature might be more suitable than the 1600 metres of the Caulfield Guineas.
Graff is expected to go to the Group 2 $200,000 Run To The Rose at Rosehill on September 8, which would also be the likely path for Brutal if connections take the Golden Rose option.
The Run To The Rose was the winning path to the Golden Rose for five straight years before Trapeze Artist bucked the trend last year. Interestingly, each of those previous five Golden Rose winners had resumed in the Run To The Rose, so much more might unfold on September 8.
Marcel From Madrid and Ocean Knight look well equipped to cope with a Guineas mile based on pedigree and racing style while I wouldn’t be dismissing Tavisan, whose second dam is a half-sister to Super Impose – one of the best milers we’ve seen.
New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) will be happy if the McKenzie Stakes from holds up as I expect. Brutal (NZ$220,000); Tavisan (NZ$135,000) and Ocean Knight (NZ$115,000) are graduates of the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
Marcel From Madrid was astutely snapped up for $58,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and Leonardo Da HInchi made $100,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, while Graff was offered by Widden Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast and sold to Alan Bell Racing for $200,000.
Last Saturday’s three-year-old fillies winner at Moonee Valley was Sweet Rockette, who provided Michelle Payne with her first city winner as trainer and jockey. Her performance is a little harder to asses. The fillies did paddle home, albeit off a quick pace, and it was a blanket finish.
On the other hand, you could argue that she was impressive tracking wide on the speed to beat odds-on favourite Multaja and the $185,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions purchase certainly has an interesting and sound sprint pedigree. Her South African-bred dam, Sweet Sanette, was Group 1-placed at Royal Ascot in the King’s Stand Stakes and was stakes-placed in three different countries.
Four of the past five winners of this early season fillies race have gone on to win again during the spring with two, Gregers and Afleet Esprit, later winning the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (Tranquil Star Stakes – 1400m).
The precedents are not as encouraging for Carlyon Stakes winner Faatinah as not one of the past five Carlyon winners won again during the spring.
While the jury may be out on the Valley form overall – given the on-pace bias – I am prepared to bet (and will) that the three-year-old male form around the McKenzie Stakes will well and truly hold up.