Racing
Caulfield Cup Day undercard in review
A wrap of the action on the undercard on Caulfield Cup Day
Brisbane mare Bounds to deserved win
Robert Heathcote's trips to Melbourne to watch Abounding had been nothing but frustrating until Caulfield Cup Day, but with the popular trainer absent, the classy mare hit back with a deserved win in the Tristarc Stakes.
The daughter of Rich Enuff landed a maiden Group 2 win in the $300,000 event over 1400m.
It followed hard-luck stories in the Stocks Stakes, Let's Elope Stakes – both Group 2 events – and the Group 3 Cockram Stakes earlier in the campaign and with Heathcote in Sydney to watch Rothfire win the $2 million Sydney Stakes, she returned to her best.
Blake Shinn found clear air at the top of the straight and Abounding ($2.80) finished strongest to score a one length win over Splash Back ($5.50), with Bossy Nic ($18) three-quarters-of-a-length back third.
"It's been a great day, delighted to win on this horse for First Light Racing, Rob Heathcote and his team," Shinn said after his third win for the day.
"You wouldn't get a more consistent and honest mare to ride, she just tries her best," Shinn said.
"Her last two runs put the writing on the wall for today and I'm just pleased to get the result for the connections on a great day of racing."
Although the Tristarc Stakes was Abounding's first at Group level, she won last year's $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and has now banked a tick over $2.75m in career earnings.
The five-year-old was a $75,000 purchase for First Light Racing and Heathcote out of Book 2 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Rey magnificent in Herald Sun Sprint
Trainer Robbie Griffiths said Rey Magnerio would have been a tragedy beaten in the Group 2 Herald Sun Sprint (1000m) had he not overcome a bumping duel in the straight.
Lumping 59kg, Rey Magnerio rallied in the straight after being blocked in the early part of the home running to score by a long neck.
Rey Magnerio was narrowly beaten in last year's edition by Estriella, when carrying 53kg, and the rise in weight on Saturday was no concern.
"So much of the straight, I'm thinking 'oh no, oh no'," Griffiths said.
"I don't know how he did it, when he got clear with 59 (kilos) on his back, it looked like he had 49 (kilos) on his back the way he motored home.
"He's incredible. He comes up every preparation. Reid Balfour strapped him today, rides him in his work, and he thought he'd come up better than ever.
"He was right."
Long overdue win for Angel
Stretan Angel registered her first win in over two years when she took out the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m).
The last time Stretan Angel had seen the winner's enclosure was in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington in October 2023.
While she had not tasted success in the two years and three weeks since, Stretan Angel had registered placings at Group 1 level in The Goodwood at Morphettville, the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap at Flemington while also finishing on the placegetter's heels in the Champions Sprint and William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley
Trainer Phillip Stokes said Stretan Angel needed everything to fall her way,
"She's a funny horse. She just needs tempo, ride her quiet, get her to the outside, and it just worked out today," Stokes said.
"She got in well at the weights. I'm rapt for Lachie (Neindorf) to. He's riding very well for us."
Private Eye shows a class edge
Jockey Nash Rawiller said he could have seen Private Eye running well in The Everest instead of being at Caulfield winning the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m).
Rawiller had watched Hong Kong visitor Ka Ying Rising just 10 minutes earlier take out The Everest (1200m) at Randwick.
"I could've seen him running very well in The Everest, I really could've," Rawiller said.
"He's loving his racing, he's having a few easy kills, and Joe (Walter) will win another good race with him, don't worry about that.
"He's a beautiful old fella, and I feel unfortunate I wasn't able to ride him more earlier in his career but at the same time I'm very fortunate to have had a lot to do with him late in his career.
"He never lets us down. He's just an old marvel."
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