CLOSE FINISHES, THRILLING RACING A FEATURE OF SATURDAY'S GROUP 1 CLASHES

By Scott Gooley | Monday, October 14, 2019

BY THE BAREST OF MARGINS:

Super Seth rocketed his value as a stallion prospect by producing a big finish to win the Caulfield Guineas.

The race looked to be Alligator Blood’s for the taking after the David Vandyke trained-galloper booted clear inside the final furlong, however, Super Seth, a son of Dundeel who was partnered by Mark Zahra, rattled home down the centre of the track from a mid-field position to arrive right on the line.

“Super Seth has always shown he had that sort of ability and the winkers obviously worked really well for him today,” a delighted trainer Anthony Freedman said after the race.

“It’s a great thrill – he’s obviously a stallion now.”

Previous winners of the Caulfield Guineas to have gone on to a successful stud career include All Too Hard, Starspangledbanner, Lonhro, Show A Heart, and of course, Redoute’s Choice.

FLIT NOSES OUT HER RIVALS:

It was again the smallest of margins that decided the Fillies edition, the Thousand Guineas, with race favourite Flit leaving it to the last hop before getting her head in front.

Settling midfield on the fence, it took Flit, piloted by Hugh Bowman, time for find clear running in the straight and then to chase down leader, Southbank.

Along with Missile Mantra, the trio hit the line with Flit in the middle, nosing out her rivals.

With Flit still among the 35 remaining entries for the W.S. Cox Plate, trainer James Cummings admitted he and the Godolphin team, have some thinking to do.

“We can let the dust settle on today,” Cummings said.

“We have to enjoy the win and a target that has well and truly been pulled off.”

FIERCE IMPACT DOMINANT IN THE TOORAK:

Fierce Impact’s dominant win in the Toorak Handicap delivered his Warwick Farm based trainer Matthew Smith his second Group 1 victory after Hurtle Myrtle won the G1 Myer Classic in 2011.

“We’d always planned for this race and then maybe to the Cantala or the Mackinnon depending on what happens in the Cox Plate,” Smith declared post-race.

“He was awesome.” Winning Jockey Craig Williams stated

“They had a capacity field and there were 12 horses that could have won it so it just puts more merit on the horse’s dominance today.”

Fierce Impact’s winning margin was 1.75 lengths over Night’s Watch in second with a further 0.75 lengths back to the third placed to Age Of Chivalry.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE SHADES BLACK HEART BART IN A THRILLER:

Cape Of Good Hope’s win in the Ladbrokes Stakes, which was part of a Group 1 double on the day for jockey Mark Zahra, continued this spring’s theme of throwing up surprise winner’s in WFA race.

Cape Of Good Hope shaded Black Heart Bart, who had won the G1 Underwood Stakes last start at 100/1, in the run to the line. Cape Of Good Hope won at a starting price of 20/1.

“We kept him really lightly trained at Werribee,” said co trainer David Hayes from the winner’s stall.

“If he didn’t run well he could improve by stepping the work up, but I don’t think I’ll be stepping the work up.” He continued with a broad smile.

“I’ll keep it exactly the same going into the Cox Plate.”

Short-priced Avilius was unplaced after settling back in the field, and failing to make an impression when extracted to the centre of the track in the straight.

SHADOW HERO GETS THE JOB DONE:

In Sydney, the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and the newly created race, the Silver Eagle, were features of a robust program.

Lining up an odds-on favourite in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, everyone was expecting Shadow Hero to get the job done and, whilst there were some heart palpitations for his supporters, he eventually did just that.

Settling in a beautiful position during the run, Shadow Hero took some time to gather in Just Thinkin’ who had kicked at the top of the straight giving Shadow Hero and second favourite Castelvecchio, plenty to chase.

“I was just hoping that the real strength he’s shown in all his races would kick in,” winning trainer Mark Newnham said of the final 100m of the race when it was clear the finish would be tight.

“The other day (Gloaming Stakes) everything went right for him and (this Saturday) it has been hard to make up ground but his superior staying qualities kicked in.”

THE INEVITABLE MAKES IT EIGHT WINS FROM TEN STARTS:

“I spent the first 12 months of having him in my life, whinging about him,” Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton confessed after watching his galloper, The Inevitable, winning the inaugural running of the Silver Eagle.

“He’s a great walker, great mover,” Brunton continued.

“Just shows you, it doesn’t matter what shape or size they come in, if they move right and look well they can run,” Brunton said of The Inevitable’s smaller frame.

The above comment was reiterated by winning Jockey Nash Rawiller’s assessment of the horse.

“For his size, his stride is twice as long as you expect it to be.”

“He just covers the ground.”

It was The Inevitable’s eight career win from only ten starts and guarantees that the son of Dundeel will start one of the leading fancies in the $7.5 Golden Eagle in three weeks’ time.