World focus… Flemington

THE halfway mark has been passed in the world’s greatest racing carnival and it is again proving an outstanding year.
The BMW Caulfield Cup Carnival was a top-class opening chapter for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival which culminates in the 57th running of the Group 2 $351,000 Sportingbet Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday, November 16, to be run this year at Caulfield, due to the $3.2 million upgrade of Sportingbet Park, Sandown.
The International Quarantine Centre at Werribee has been bursting at the seams with the largest influx of international performers seeking a share of the riches on offer, especially for the 153rd Melbourne Cup and prize money for that race of $6 million plus $200,000 in trophies.
More than ever they are here not for just the Melbourne Cup but also many of the support events. Prize money in Australia is on a par with the best in the world and exceeds what is mostly available in Europe. Willie Mullins, the Irish trainer of the visiting Simenon, who ran a slashing first-up third in the Herbert Power Handicap at Caulfield on October 12, is best known as a jumps trainer and has disclosed that he is considering bringing horses for our jumping season.
Last Wednesday the former international visitor, Ibicenco, who has been trained here now for 12 months, became the fourth successive international to win the Group 3 $315,000 Geelong Cup (2400m). Gatewood won last year, Americain was successful in 2010 and then Dunaden followed up in 2011 and both subsequently won the Melbourne Cup. Remembering that Media Puzzle won in 2002 before his Melbourne Cup win and in 2008 Bauer won the Geelong Cup before being narrowly beaten by Viewed at Flemington. Ibicenco’s win will greatly enhance his chances of a start in the Melbourne Cup.
At the weekend, Moonee Valley took their turn with the running of the Cox Plate and this week the attention turns to Flemington.
This Saturday is considered by racing purists as the finest day of racing on the Australasian calendar and one of the major international days. The program features four Group 1’s, two Group 2’s and three at Group 3 level and a perfect opening to the most important racing and social week of the year.
Feature of the day is the 159th running of the Group 1 $1,510,000 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) and the Cranbourne trained, Polanski, is an interesting runner and a definite chance. Unlike some of the others that will be in the field Polanski was bought for just $4000 as a yearling which displays the great lottery that racing can be. The Jacob Park Thoroughbreds Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 19 has always been a good guide to the Victoria Derby and the winner Polanski was impressive in winning.
The powerful Peter Snowden stable does look to have the best chances with Complacent, who ran second at the first two of his five starts and is unbeaten since including wins in the Group 3 Hill Stakes (1800m) and the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at his last two.
Stablemate San Diego, who has done all his racing in Victoria was a fast finishing second to Polanski at Caulfield. Another from the stable, Tupac Amaru, ran a good second in Wednesday’s Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) and whilst this will be much tougher he will be running on.
Other chances are Criterion and Savvy Nature, both placegetters behind Complacent in the Spring Champion Stakes and Drago from the Anthony Cummings stable, who won last year’s race with Fiveandahalfstar.
Saturday also features the Group 1 weight-for-age $1,002,500 Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), which will see many having their final start before the Melbourne Cup.
The day will attract a massive crowd to Flemington that, with the next three days, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday week, will be sure to draw a total of around 400,000 patrons.