SATURDAY POST MORTEM – March 25

3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on March 25.

ROSEHILL - March 25

THE STARS

JAMEKA: Proved she is world class – maybe the one to provide Winx with some serious opposition in the Queen Elizabeth.

KEVIN FORRESTER: Back in the big time at 55 years of age. Perseverance brings its rewards.

BEAU MERTENS: The rising star of Victorian racing commanded the spotlight on Mornington Cup day with four wins. No wonder he is getting the support of all the top stables.

LINDSAY PARK: The Hayes/Dabernig team racked up 200 wins for the season with a treble at Mornington, stealing the thunder from Darren Weir who made it 300 wins for the season on Sunday. Both stables are flying.

STEVE O’DEA: Deserved the plaudits for training his first metropolitan treble at Doomben, upstaging Jeff Lloyd’s remarkable feat to equal Chris Munce’s Brisbane riding record with four months of the season remaining.

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“I have had that horse in my stable for 10 days and improved it out of sight.” - A tongue in cheek remark from Bjorn Baker after his father’s horse Jon Snow won the Tulloch Stakes.

"If it was left to me, we wouldn't be here." - Leon Corstens admitting he bowed to his son Troy’s decision to run Montoya’s Secret on the heavy track at Rosehill.

"For a fleeting moment around the 700-metre mark I could feel John's hands going around my neck.” - Corey Brown’s thoughts about trainer John O’Shea when he had a wall of horses in front on him on the favourite Spectroscope in the Doncaster Prelude.

“She’s got a beautiful action… that’s probably why she’s so good, she can cover the ground pretty effortlessly.” - Ciaron Maher praises his super mare Jameka.

"It's a great conundrum to have." - Maher again on the international options that lie ahead for Jameka.

"Wouldn't it be reasonable for a jockey to look to the outside when shifting out several horses?" chief steward Marc van Gestel to jockey Noel Callow before he was penalised for reckless riding on Montoya Secret.

“I kept telling people he was the best wet tracker in Australia.” - mudlark Jungle Edge’s trainer Mick Bell.

SIN BIN

JASON COLLET: Took the wrong option at the most vital time on beaten favourite Astronomos.

TRY FOUR: Heavily backed abject failure at Mornington.

LA BELLA DIOSA: Sydney campaign has gone backwards.

RIDES OF THE DAY

COREY BROWN: Fearless ride on Spectrescope.

HUGH BOWMAN: Perfect tactics change on Zanbagh to ride her closer to the pace.

BEAU MERTENS: Rode the biased on pace Mornington track to perfection.

TALKING POINTS

WHIP PROTESTS: Or lack of them! Certainly a talking point at Rosehill after Ben Melham’s suspension for his winning ride Assign for overuse of the whip. John Thompson (trainer of second horse Astronomos) admitted he would have protested if he had realised Melham had used the whip 15 times more than permitted. Stewards considered a protest on his behalf but do they not have an obligation to advise connections of a beaten horse that they have grounds? Or maybe stewards want to avoid the certain controversy?

MARK VAN GESTEL: The Ben Melham suspension and Noel Callow’s one month ban and losing his entire winning percentage for his Group One in on Montoya’s Secret is a big red alert to jockeys from Sydney’s tough chief steward heading into the rich Championship races at Randwick over the next two weeks. Van Gestel has put his stamp on Sydney racing with his no nonsense, hardline style since he took over from Ray Murrihy.

MOONEE VALLEY STEWARDS: Another no protest issue after the William Reid Stakes where there was obvious interference involving the first two horses over the line with only a nose separating them and a subsequent suspension for the winning rider Katelyn Mallyon. Surely there were grounds to take it to the room?

SYDNEY 3YO FORM: New Zealander Jon Snow torpedoes the colts in the Tulloch Stakes a week after the Rosehill Guineas win by another Kiwi Gingernuts while the Victorian pair Montoya’s Secret and Nurse Kitchen shoot holes in the Sydney fillies form in the Vinery Stakes. Can the locals turn it around in the Derby and the Oaks?

MORNINGTON FORM: No winner came from further back than fifth on a hot on pace track. Be wary of the form going forward.

MONEY TALKS

JUNGLE EDGE ($11 to $$2.90): Some punters got $15 in 'all in' betting and $11 after the field was declared on Wednesday. The time they got to Saturday he was a huge liability for the layers.

JON SNOW: Only one they wanted. Firmed up pre post as Kiwi punters cleaned up again.

JAMEKA: ($4.20 to $3): She was smashed. TAB reported she was four times as popular as any other runner with punters.

SCHISM: ($6 to $3) Ciaron Maher punters got their bank for Jameka when this one landed the plunge of the day at Mornington.

IN THE BAG

DAWN WALL ($6-$4.60): Waller punters zeroed in on this one against stablemate and favourite Foxplay but were off the mark.

DAYSEE DOOM ($4.40-$3.20): Clearly the best go in the Emancipation Stakes.

XEBEC ($13-$7.50): Strong support for this import on Australian debut. Forgiving run.

BLACKBOOK

SINGLE GAZE: Positive return to form by a very good mare.

NURSE KITCHEN: Will lap up the 2400m of the Oaks on a soft track.

DIXIE BLOSSOMS: Another big effort. Just needs to get a favourable ride.

FIRST SEAL: Top mare building nicely into her prep.

ROCK MAGIC: The unlucky one in the William Reid.

JAPONISME: Valley is not his track. Be with him back in Sydney.

SMOOTH LANDING: There’s a race for him after the carnival.

WELL SPRUNG: One of the best efforts against the pattern at Mornington.