THE PETLEY REPORT: STARS SHINE IN A DAY OF BIG WINS BY BIG PLAYERS ... AND THEY ARE JUST WARMING UP

By Jack Petley | Sunday, September 13, 2020

What a day of racing in Australia … and didn't some of the stars really shine. Those that come to mind first … Mo'unga, Rothfire, The Chosen One, Fierce Impact, Russian Camelot, Doubtland Zautori, Tofane.

What a win by Mo'unga. He didn't have the best of luck gaining a run early in the straight for James McDonald, but when he did, in a flash, he was in the clear and a brilliant winner of the Dulcify. Such was the win, his third, that he is now $2.70 favourite for the Spring Champion Stakes and has firmed for both the Golden Rose and the Caulfield Guineas. But I see Chris Waller may not use him too much this spring. "Don't want to rush him too early, he could be anything in the autumn." said Waller.

The brilliant Rothfire gave his slot holders much joy heading to the $15 Everest when he blitzed his rivals in the Run to the Rose after Farnan had set a torrid pace out in front and faded badly in the run home. Stewards were not happy with the tearaway tactics on the hot shot. They had Hugh Bowman in the "room" questioned him over the ride and adjourned the matter to review betting records on the race. Rothfire has firmed for the Everest. Farnan has drifted out. Next run for the gelding, the $1m Golden Rose.

Murray Baker has had so much success over the years in Australia and he and co-partner Andrew Forsman gathered another major, the $125,000 Winning Edge … and in fine style with The Chosen One, another Savabeel star. What I liked about the win was the manner in which the Kiwi came away from his rivals over the final stages for Kiwi Michael Dee. His odds have been slashed for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. He is an oustandjng stayer.

Doubtland was impressive in winning the Danehill Stakes for William Pike and Team Hawkes. This was his third win from four starts and he has had his odds clashed for the Caulfield Guineas.

Tofane may have only run only third in the Bobbie Lewis but she was in a blanket finish with Zoutori who just claiming the win by a whisker. I thought Tofane may win 50m out but she just peaked on her run. She will be all the better for the outing and Big Mike Moroney is hopeful of gaining an Everest slot.

That was a super win by Fierce Impact in the Makybe Diva at Flemington downing Russian Camelot, but I was impressed with the runner up. He looked "gone" inside the last 150 metres but rallied gamely and was coming back at the winner, that after being back and then racing wide. "Very happy," said Danny O'Brien of the young stayer (remember he is not yet four). He is now outright favourite for the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup and joint favourite with NZ bred Surprise Baby in the Melbourne Cup.

That was also a solid win at Rosehill by the John Thompson mare Fituese in the hands of Rachael King. I gather Thompson had plans to send her south for fillies and mares race and also to Perth but may now keep her in Sydney. The Deep Field mare is the winner of 6 from 9 and Thompson says she is a genuine Everest candidate. "I will keep her here and give her a chance for the big one," he said.

Looking at other winners in Sydney … that was a top ride from Jason Collett to get Amy's Shadow home in the TAB Highway putting the mare in a good spot, balancing her, and then getting her home in a driving finish. Not that long afterwards sister Alysha won a race at Kembla for Anthony Cummings.

Watching international racing today, especially with the running of the Prix Foy and with Stradivarius the favourite, but also looking at the O'Brien trained Anthony Van Dyke one of his likely runners in Australia. Said O'Brien, "He is very well He has a lot of races in Australia so it is possible he will be going for races like the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate."

This weekend of racing in Europe, especially France and Ireland, I gather will decide which stayers will then be on the plane into Melbourne. I will be watching with great interest as will most Oz punters with the Cups and Cox Plate looming.

Meantime, in Ireland, the O'Brien mare Magical got the better of Ghaiyyath in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. O'Brien is now working out where the mare runs next. She is in the Arc but O’Brien also has star filly Love in the big one. "She has the choice of the Arc or a fillies and mares race on the same day," said the champion Irish trainer. "The Breeders Cup may also suit."

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