Saturday Post Mortem with Chris Scholtz

3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on September 22.

THE STARS

THE AUTUMN SUN: We knew he was good but now he’s a superstar, according to his trainer Chris Waller, after his powerful win over a high class field in the Golden Rose. Just where he heads for the rest of the season will be an interesting journey, given the belief by his connections that he is a Derby horse, but whatever eventuates they will bank millions when a stud deal is done for the son of Redoute’s Choice.

CHARLIE APPLEBY/JUNGLE CAT: How good is this UK trainer? Jungle Cat proves he can bring any type of horse to Australia and win over any distance – he is re-writing the manual for overseas trainers who can be lured to our big carnivals. This was his first Group One in Melbourne but for the record he has now won nine feature races in Australia from just 22 starters over the past three years – and five have been able to win straight out of quarantine.

JAMES DOYLE: The Pommie jockey was faultless on Jungle Cat. It’s a big call but have we seen a better rider come from overseas and prove himself under Australian conditions. The stint he spent in Sydney, in his own words, has been the making of him as a jockey and that was evident in this high pressure sprint. Copped a short suspension….but what the heck when you have won your first G1 in Australia!

TIM CLARK: Took the spotlight at Rosehill with a winning treble including a feature double for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and one for veteran Les Bridge, his biggest supporter since he came to Sydney as an apprentice. He works hard for both stables and gets the results.

HIGHLIGHTS

WRITTEN TYCOON: Always good to see a top class juvenile come back and go on with it as a 3YO. Sure to be well-handled by Grahame Begg.

NIGHT'S WATCH: Fights his way into the Caulfield Cup field with his tough win in the Foundation Cup at Caulfield but leaves the Darren Weir stable with concerns after he was found to be lame in the off hind leg.

MOSS ‘N’ DALE/JACK MARTIN: Model of consistency picks up a feature win in the Tokyo City Cup in Adelaide and may now head to Sydney for the Craven Plate on Everest day. Victorian apprentice Jack Martin wins his first black type race with a confident ride.

TOBY EDMONDS/RYAN MALONEY: Leading Gold Coast trainer and former Victorian jockey Ryan Maloney hit Melbourne with Winter Bride at Caulfield. Edmonds also had the exciting From Within win again at the Sunshine Coast while Maloney has never been in a better place since his move to Queensland.

DYLAN DUNN/JASON BENBOW: Lifted the Tatura meeting above the norm with their comeback wins after long breaks out of the saddle. Dunn was having just his fourth ride back since the former champion apprentice called time on his career after a series of health issues in 2017 while Benbow was successful at only his second ride since resuming from a six-month layoff after fracturing his T6 vertebrae in a trackwork fall at Caulfield.

GAI WATERHOUSE: You have to love her enthusiasm when she wins big races. She brightened the day with her celebrations after Thinkin’ Big and Shumookh won at Rosehill.

ADAM TRINDER/ANTHONY DARMANIN: Happy days at Caulfield for Tasmanian trainer/jockey team with Mystic Journey. It was only the second Melbourne training success for former champion jumps rider Trinder and his ninth black type success as a trainer.

JOSEPH IBLE: Young Canberra trainer makes his mark at Rosehill with a Highway win with Seeblume.

MISS ADMIRATION/JAY FORD: Jay Ford has landed the ride on the Melbourne mare in the G1 Metropolitan after riding her to victory in the JRA Trophy at Rosehill, a smart move to head north by the Mick Price when she was drawn as an emergency at Caulfield.

THE LORD MAYOR: Chris Waller wins the last race at Rosehill with the favourite, keeping the nine week sequence of the favourite wining the last race in Sydney on a Saturday. Waller has trained five of those nine winners.

LOWLIGHTS

BRETT PREBBLE: Improper riding suspension (20 meetings) hardly the best way to start the spring.

RAQUEL CLARK: Poor judgement on Debt Collector. Copped a suspension as well.

DOMINATION: Hammered in the betting. His backers were hammered when he didn’t fire a shot. Scope examination and certificate of fitness required by stewards as he was making abnormal respiratory noise.

FOLKSWOOD: Not all plain sailing for Charlie Appleby. Spring plans in doubt after his failure, lame in near fore.

DAYSEE DOOM: Hasn’t come up. Spell.

TAVIRUN: Should be on the first bus back to Melbourne.

SEABROOK: Thumps. Has the seat booked next to Tavirun.

WHYPEEO: Soured the day for Toby Edmonds when he was lame in found to be lame in both forelegs.

ASSERTIVE PLAY: Reported to have suffered serious leg injury, taken to vet clinic.

GLOBAL GLAMOUR: Lame in off hind, spring clouds?

QUACKERJACK: Tactics change put him reverse.

ABDON: Didn’t put in. Doubt that he’s genuine.

DAL CIELO: Up to his old tricks at the start.

RIDE OF THE DAY

JASON COLLETT: Plenty of candidates this week but his effort on Gem Song at Rosehill had it all as it required quick thinking, skill and daring when it could have turned ugly for the favourite at the vital stage.

Honourable mentions to James Doyle (Jungle Cat); Tim Clark (Tip Top); James McDonald (The Lord Mayor); Kerrin McEvoy (The Autumn Sun); Regan Bayliss (Spending To Win); Anthony Darmanin (Mystic Journey) and Ryan Maloney (Winter Bride).

QUOTE OF THE DAY

CHRIS WALLER (The Autumn Run) "I’d be pushing not to rush into a spring Derby because it’s a long way for a young horse. I just think it is more proven to not rush your horses. People talk up Golden Slippers, which are fantastic, but looking after your horses, as Bart Cummings used to say, patience is the least expensive but the least often used thing."

THEY SAID IT…..!

CHARLIE APPLEBY (Jungle Cat): "He's danced every dance back in Europe at Group One level. He’s not one for lying down, the Old Cat as we call him. The conditions were always going to suit him here - he loves to hear his feet rattling. This was always the plan to come here and it's nice when it comes off."

JAMES DOYLE (Jungle Cat): "Coming here I felt a couple of years ago has done wonders for my career. It really sharpened me up and made me a better jockey, it took my riding to a new level and the results show that.”

JAMES DOYLE (sharing his love for Charlie Appleby): “Charlie is a great trainer, one of the best and the sweetest guy's you could ever meet. I’m lucky enough to ride for him - he’s a super fellow.”

CHRIS WALLER (The Autumn Run): “He’s a superstar. He is a Derby horse and the owners are hell bent on winning a Derby and that comes first and foremost. His value has fortunately skyrocketed. He’ll have a price tag now and maybe he can tick the box of winning a Derby.”

KERRIN McEVOY (The Autumn Run): “He’s a special colt. He’s taken all before him - what a powerful engine he’s got. To do that in what I really think is below his best trip shows how classy he is.”

DAMIAN LANE (Night’s Watch): “He was such a handful when he first came into Forest Lodge but they've really ironed out those problems and turned him into a winning machine. He got a bit lost but good horses find a way to win."

DARREN WEIR (Night’s Watch): "He's getting better this horse. He showed a lot of potential early days but his manners weren't right. If he runs well in the Caulfield Stakes, he can back-up in the Caulfield Cup the following week. But if it's not this year, it'll be next year."

GRAHAME BEGG (Written Tycoon): “It's always in the back of your mind that they don't come back so it's a big relief. Over the years so many people have made the mistake of bringing them back too early trying to chase those early riches in the spring. He's about 35 kilograms heavier than he was on Slipper Day - he’s gone from a boy to a man. “

PETER GELAGOTIS (Moss ‘N’ Dale): “I’ve always said he is my favourite horse. I’ve had better horses than him but I’ve never seen a horse with a better work ethic, he’s a serious horse.

GAI WATERHOUSE (Shumookh): "I just loved the way she dug deep and came again, she's just showed she's made the quantum leap. As they used to say about Dad's horses, all bone and muscle.”

GAI WATERHOUSE (praising Tim Clark): "Tim understands our horses. He puts the hard yakka in, he really does.”

GAI WATERHOUSE (Thinkin’ Big):. "He is nominated for the Melbourne Cup. He reminds me so much of Nothin' Leica Dane, he is also in his family."

TIM CLARK (Thinkin’ Big): "He is a really nice, imposing young colt. He's got the presence about him and has a very bright future. He's got a great attitude, a good cruising speed. If something had been good enough to challenge him, he still had a fair bit there."

ADAM TRINDER (Mystic Journey): "We came here with guarded confidence. Days like this are definitely red letter days.”

ANTHONY DARMANIN (Mystic Journey): “I’m just a battler. I’m glad they stuck with me and gave me the opportunity.”

MICK PRICE (Miss Admiration): "We knew early in the week that we'd struggle to get a run in the Naturalism and then my daughter Kelly pointed out the race in Sydney, so we went from there.”

PAT KEARNEY (Mick Price stable – Miss Admiration): “It was a great ride, perfect 10 out of 10 for what she needed to do. She was jumping up from 1600m to 2400m, she’s come a long way and done a good job.”

BRYAN GUY (Volkoff): “I hope we can keep her for another 12 months and win more races but 12 months is a long time in racing.”

LES ROSS (Defence Missile): “We almost had him sold for $350,000 to Hong Kong clients during the week but he didn’t meet the weight requirements. He’s a tiny horse and didn’t make the 500kg weight requirement.”

BLACKBOOKERS

BONS AWAY: Excellent first-up effort after chances were negated by wide draw.

PLATINUM ANGEL: Classy mare set for profitable campaign.

SPANISH WHISPER: Game effort after working wide. Going well.

OUR VENICE BEACH: Forced to cover far too much ground. Good stayer.

ROYAL CELEBRATION: Had to do it tough first-up. Sure to benefit.

SAVACOOL: Sure to get better as her distances increases.