Cleveland enters Melbourne Cup reckoning
The Kris Lees-trained Cleveland (Camelot) landed his first race since arriving on Australian shores and also advertised his credentials for next month’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) with a victory in last night’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2500m).
Ridden by James McDonald, the six-year-old raced in midfield for the early part of the contest, before making his move as the field bunched up approaching the turn.
Showing a smart turn of foot, the entire scampered away to beat a reinvigorated Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War), winner of the 2019 edition of the Melbourne Cup, by three-quarters of a length. Last-start Bart Cummings (Gr 3, 2510m) winner Future History (Showcasing) was close up behind in third.
Raced by leviathan owner Lloyd Williams, who will be chasing an eighth win should the colt take his place in the race at Flemington on November 7, Cleveland began his career with Aidan O’Brien in the ownership of the Coolmore partners, for whom he won twice, including last year’s Chester Cup (2m 2.5f).
He then moved to O’Brien’s son Joseph, having four starts, following his change of ownership, including when fifth in last year’s Tancred Stakes (Gr 1, 2400m) on his Australian debut and down the field in the Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) before joining Lees.
Yesterday was his fifth start for the trainer, having been most recently sighted posting his best performance for his new stable when running second in the St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick on October 14.
“He got a lovely ride; just chimed in at the right time,” Lees told Racing.com. “He’s just taken a little improvement out of every run. We decided to take the blinkers off today, and I thought he reacted well.
“He’s got a few little quirks, but he’s a lovely horse, and I’m really honoured to be training him in these colours and great to get a result for them.
“He’ll come on again. I think he’s found a bit of form, and I think he’ll hold it now.
“I’ve been mates with Nick for a very long time. I’m very fortunate he’s given us an opportunity to take some nice horses and I repaid him with one today.”
Explaining the decision to send Cleveland to Kris Lees, Nick Williams said: “We have been mates for probably 30 years, so once we decided to stop doing Macedon Lodge, we went up and had a look at Newcastle at his facilities.
“He’s got a fantastic facility, and I thought he’s the logical guy to give some horses to; it’s been a very enjoyable experience.”
“I’m sure David Hegan [Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper] is probably watching tonight… probably not a very good race this, I’m sure the 51 and a half [kilograms] he’s got there is enough, not any more.”
Williams said they will wait to see how the gelding comes out of the Group 2 before making any decisions about the Melbourne Cup.
“We’ll see how he pulls up and make a decision on Saturday or Sunday, but obviously, you’d think we would head in that direction, but we’ll see.
“It’s been a great race, it’s wonderful being here in this cauldron, we’re not going to have it for much longer in this format so it’s wonderful to be here and win some races, it’s great.”
Bred by Coolmore, Cleveland (6 h Camelot – Venus de Milo by Duke of Marmalade) is out of Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed mare Venus De Milo (Duke Of Marmalade), herself a half-sister to the Group 3-placed What A Home (Lope De Vega).
In winning yesterday’s Group 2, Cleveland became individual stakes winner number 59 for Camelot (Montjeu), who shuttled to Australia for one season in 2014. The stallion is represented in the country by his dual Group 1-winning sire son Russian Camelot, who stands at Widden Stud in Victoria.
Street Boss mare Dances to Chautauqua Stakes victory
Peter Moody and Linda Meech combined for their 300th career victory as a pair when they landed yesterday evening’s Chautauqua Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Moonee Valley with She Dances (Street Boss).
The four-year-old daughter of Street Boss (Street Cry) tracked the early leader Semillion (Shalaa) before taking control on straightening, eventually beating that rival by a length and a half. Ranges (Shooting To Win) was another half a length away in third.
Meech began riding for Moody, who now trains with Katherine Coleman, as soon as he started over 20 years ago in Brisbane and she was quick to heap praise on the trainer and his family after yesterday’s triumph.
“That was my 300th winner for Moods and his lovely wife Sarah, and his daughters Celine and Cara are here tonight. They’re like my family, they’re my Australian family and I love them to bits, it’s like riding a Group 1 winner,” an emotional Meech told Racing.com.
“His wife and his family and all his staff over the years have become like my family, so it’s amazing like Trumby [Luke Nolen] and all the rest of them, can’t thank them enough. He’s just a gun trainer and he’s so genuine and he’s so loyal and a man of his word.”
Coleman was trackside at The Valley last night, and was quick to heap praise on Meech and the impact she has had on the team.
“It’s fantastic; Linda’s been a part of the team for so long, much longer than I’ve been around for,” Coleman said.
“For her to get this win tonight, three hundred, it’s so special and Sarah Moody and a couple of Pete’s daughters, Celine and Cara, are here as well. It’s just so special, she’s a massive part of the team, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.
“She well and truly earned that faith, and she gels so well with this horse.”
Purchased by John Foote Bloodstock from the Blue Gum Farm draft for $180,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, She Dances (4 m ex Charleston Dancer by Lonhro) is out of the winning Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Charleston Dancer, herself a daughter of Group 2 winner Innovation Girl (Rubiton). Innovation Girl is also the dam of Listed scorers Ideas Man (Brazen Beau) and Chloe In Paris (Exceed And Excel).
Charleston Dancer produced fillies by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) in 2021 and 2022 and was once again covered by Street Boss last November.
She Dances is one of 20 individual stakes winners for Darley’s Street Boss in Australia and New Zealand, while the stallion’s global haul stands at 66. The mare is one of 12 winners from 16 runners and four stakes winners bred on the Street Boss / Lonhro cross, which fires at a stakes–to–winners strike–rate of 25 per cent.
Street Boss is standing at Darley’s Northwood Park base for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST).
Comeback kid Ain’tnodeeldun lands JRA Cup
Injury-plagued Ain’tnodeeldun (Dundeel) continued his remarkable comeback when he scored the most high–profile success of his career in yesterday evening’s JRA Cup (Gr 3, 2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Billy Egan, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Dundeel (High Chaparral) showed bravery in spades, swooping on the leaders in the final stages to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, beating Red Sun Sensation (Awesome Rock) by a nose. Forgot You (Savabeel) came home another half a length further back in third.
Three years ago Ain’tnodeeldun was one of the favourites for the VRC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m), but the Freedman stable elected to target the TAB Trophy (Listed, 1800m) for three-year-olds on Oaks Day, which he won.
He then suffered a broken pelvis in his box at home, which sidelined him for 16 months.
Yesterday’s win was the gelding’s third in succession and Steve Adams, the Flemington foreman for the Freedman father-and-son training operation, said the owners should be applauded for the patience they have shown while the team worked on Ain’tnodeeldun to get him back at the races.
“We didn’t run him in the Victoria Derby because we wanted to look after him,” Adams said. “We were thinking of the Group 1s in Sydney, the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas with him, but then he had that mishap in the box.
“He had to spend a year in the box and then had to undergo a massive rehab. Just for the horse to be alive and now winning, it’s just unbelievable.”
Adams said it was unlikely the bar would be raised too high, too soon, although the stable would like to see Ain’tnodeeldun back in better grade at some stage.
“We’ll just keep raising the bar as his rating is going to go up again today,” Adams said.
“I think there’s a Benchmark 84 over 2000 metres at Flemington on February 18 that should suit, so we can give him an easy week, get him back to the beach and I would say that will be his target.”
Bred by Glentree Pastoral, Ain’tnodeeldun (6 g Dundeel – Ain’tnofallenstar by Starcraft) fetched $240,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2019 when purchased by Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland of Blue Sky Bloodstock from Mike Fleming’s Bhima Thoroughbreds draft.
The gelding is out of the four-time winner Ain’tnofallenstar (Starcraft), who is a daughter of multiple Listed scorer Ain’t Seen Nothin’ (Nothin’ Leica Dane), the dam of Group 3 winner Bachman (All American) and Singapore champion Stepitup (Hussonet), while she is also the granddam of Hong Kong Group 1 winner Stronger (Not A Single Doubt).
Ain’tnofallenstar has an unraced two-year-old filly named Star Croupier (Dundeel), a yearling filly by Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) and was covered again by the Vinery Stud resident last September.
Ain’tnodeeldun is one of 25 individual stakes winners for Dundeel, who is standing at Arrowfield for a fee of $247,500 (inc GST).