Welcome to the inaugural Great Game Wrap for The Daily Punt. Saturday delivered the first real taste of the Spring Racing Carnival, with several horses putting their hands up as genuine spring contenders.
Cavalry Girl smokes them at Caulfield Heath
Rising sprint star Cavalry Girl absolutely smoked her rivals with another dominant performance. Trainer Tom Dabernig and connections are now considering a short freshen before targeting the sprint races down the Flemington straight during Melbourne Cup week. On what we saw, she looks a serious talent with a big spring ahead.
Ninja turns the tables in the Missile
The feature of the day was the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick, where Ninja turned the tables on dominant favourite Angel Capital. Angel Capital was clearly considered the class horse heading in, but Ninja's win has thrown that wide open. He was brilliant under a positive ride from Tommy Berry, and trainer Michael Freedman can now afford to aim high. The Winx Stakes in a fortnight, where he could meet superstar Autumn Glow, shapes as his likely next assignment, and connections have indicated an Everest path could be considered if a slot came their way.
A $5,000 buy delivers Hewitt his first Group 3
At Morphettville, the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes produced one of the stories of the day as Sir Now delivered trainer Darryl Hewitt his first Group 3 victory. Hewitt picked the horse up for just $5,000 after identifying his breeding as exceptional value at that price. Sir Now could now be freshened for the Wylie Handicap in early September, with an ambitious trip west to Kalgoorlie for the $1 million Golden Saddle slot race on October 3 also on the table.
First Chorus repays the faith
Back at Caulfield Heath, heavily backed favourite First Chorus justified the confidence of punters in the Travis Harrison Cup, starting odds-on and getting the job done. Trainer Lindsey Smith watched from Bali, where he is celebrating a mate's 50th. The win earns First Chorus a shot at the Heatherlie Stakes on Memsie Stakes Day in three weeks.
Changing Colours closes out the day
In the final race at Caulfield Heath, Changing Colours rounded out a terrific day for punters with a strong victory. Trained by partners in life and on the track, Blake Shinn and Lucy Yeomans, the promising mare recorded the biggest win of her career. Shinn was forced to sweep wide around the Caulfield turn to find clear running, but once balanced up she let down impressively to charge home. Yeomans said the mare has earned her chance at black-type company, with her next target to be decided once the dust settles.
The first real signs of spring are here β and Cavalry Girl, Changing Colours and Ninja in particular look like three we'll be hearing plenty more about.
18+, and only bet what you can afford to lose.
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
Betting should be fun, not a way to make money. Chances are youβre about to lose. Set a deposit limit, and for free, confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
