Craig Kerry
Front-running eight-year-old marvel Mazu put his hand up for another Everest slot with an upset win in the $1 million The Shorts on Saturday at Randwick, even if trainer Joe Pride is not that interested.
All eyes were on the likes of Joliestar and Headwall as the battle for places in the $20 million Everest on October 17 heats up, but it was Mazu, first-up as a $19 shot, that stole the show.
Mazu and jockey Rachel King took advantage of a fast track and a lack of challengers for the lead to take out the 1100m Everest lead-up, holding out Joliestar by a neck, with Pride-trained King’s Secret a nose away in third.
Third in the 2022 Everest, 11th in 2023, and ninth last year as late replacement for Yulong’s slot following injury to Private Harry, Mazu showed he was going as well as ever, but Pride was looking to lesser targets with the Triple Crown Syndications horse.
“It’s not my call, really. It’s the owner’s call,” Pride said of a slot-holder calling.
“I want to go where I can win.
“He’s had a few goes in the Everest and it’s not really his race. On a day when it’s wet, he will probably be in the contest, but other than that, running a nice sixth or seventh doesn’t interest me a lot.”
Mazu, formerly with Peter Snowden, had won just the Hall Mark Stakes – three times – while with Pride, and the Warwick Farm trainer was glad to break through in a $1 million race with the “cranky” gelding, which was again difficult to get to the barriers.
“Sometimes he’ll stop two or three times on the way to the gates. He’s going to get me sooner or later,” said Pride, who won the 2023 Everest with Think About It.
“He’s funny, isn’t he? He’s so reluctant to get there but then so quick to get home.
“He’s a terrific old horse. He really is. Super proud of both my horses here today. They weren’t particularly in the market, but they both ran well above their place in the market and King’s Secret is on track for a really big spring, as is this old horse.
“They could both end up in the Premiere, but I think maybe with King’s Secret, he’ll find a bit more improvement off that run than some of the others. Either the Premiere here or the Gilgai down in Melbourne. The Sydney Stakes is a likely race for them both and maybe the Russell Balding as well.”
Defending champion Ka Ying Rising and Michael Freedman-trained Ninja, which was two lengths away in ninth in the Shorts, remained the only confirmed runners for the Everest.
King said Mazu, after a bit of reversing going to the gates, was forgotten about up front in the run.
“They should never forget about him, he’s so honest,” King said.
“The whole preparation last prep, he was so honest. I know he only tends to win that one race a year, he’s just rewritten that now, so he deserves another good one because he is just a model of consistency.”
Joliestar, seemingly on course to gain trainer Chris Waller’s Everest slot, showed she was on track in her first run back from her UK trip.
Matt Smith-trained Headwall, runner-up in the Concorde Stakes last start, still has Everest claims after finishing well on the leaders’ track for fifth, just a length away.
Autumn Glow shines again as Waller celebrates group 1 double at Caulfield
Premier trainer Chris Waller won both group 1s at Caulfield on Saturday, but much like when his legendary mare Winx was on her 33-race winning streak, he was in Sydney to watch his “No.1 seed”.
And she didn’t disappoint.
Autumn Glow, taking up the unusual role of leader, showed her class again, taking out the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) for a 13th win in 14 starts and now $9.7 million prizemoney.
The five-year-old mare had scared off many of her rivals, but the four runners who did take up the challenge gave her a test.
James McDonald, who earlier won on Night Agent and Declichy Boulevard, took up the lead ahead of Gringotts before the challengers came on the turn. Autumn Glow, a $1.16 favourite, then lifted late to win by a length and a quarter from stablemate Aeliana, with Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf third.
“It’s a lot easier to watch than the likes of Winx,” Waller said.
“I shouldn’t compare the two horses, but with Winx you were going back to last, finding cover, she didn’t have to go back to last either, but she did.
“You get your heart in your mouth every time she went around, but with this horse, she can just put herself anywhere. She’s a real special horse.
“She can put herself there or can go back, she just has a great turn of foot. I know she was the short-priced favourite, but the horses in this race are all handy horses. There was a sprint from the 500m when it got serious, so it was good to see her lift and draw clear in the end.
“I’m pretty happy where she is at. There is some improvement to come, we haven’t screwed her down yet. We will just look after her and she will do the rest.”
Autumn Glow will be a short-priced favourite again in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Everest day, October 17.
Either side of the group 2 win at Randwick, Birdman (Underwood Stakes) and Angel Capital (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes) gave Waller and jockey Ben Melham a group 1 double at Caulfield. It was an overdue group 1 win for Yulong stallion prospect Angel Capital, which could run again in the Everest. Birdman looks on track for a shot at the Cox Plate.
Earlier, Waller said he was eyeing the October 9 Port Macquarie Cup to qualify Declichy Boulevard for the Big Dance after she cruised to a two and a quarter-length win in the 1600m benchmark 88.
Meanwhile, Waller will have a strong hand in next Saturday’s group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) but he revealed Champagne Stakes winner Fireball will not be among his runners.
He said St Gotthard, Central Europe, Tron Bolt, Campione D’Italia and Stormy Marco were on track for the race, but Fireball had been spelled for the spring after he finished last in the Run To The Rose following an early preparation virus.
Night Agent shines bright for Lees
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was potentially raising his sights with Night Agent after an effortless two and a quarter-length win in the 1400m benchmark 78.
James McDonald put the four-year-old just off leader Castlejohn from gate 10 before he put away his rivals with ease late for a first Saturday city win and fourth overall in eight career starts.
Lees said the long-term plan was to target the Provincial-Midway Championship series, which has a five-win maximum entry, next year, but he may now look to the Silver Eagle on October 17.
Ible sets sights on 2000m again
Kembla trainer Joe Ible was keen to test bargain buy Barrengarry again at 2000m after he overcame another tough run to win a third Midway benchmark 72 handicap.
A $1.65 favourite, the $10,000 buy made it four wins in seven starts, beating All Star by three-quarters of a length, despite a three-wide trip carrying 60.5 kilograms.
“Hopefully he draws a barrier one day, he won’t know himself,” Ible quipped.
Barrengarry, fifth when stepping up to the 2000m Frank Packer Plate in April, will go next to a 2000m benchmark 88 at Rosehill in three weeks before tackling the group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
Collings takes It’s Me approach to Kosciuszko
Goulburn trainer Scott Collings, already with Tickleberry ($26) in the $2 million Kosciuszko, was pushing to get the last slot in the October 17 race with Cruizingthestars after it won first-up in the 1000m class 3 Highway.
One spot remains in the richest race for country horses after Rod Northam’s Inazuma Boy withdrew with injury, and Cruizingthestars laid claim to it, chasing down Oh Arthur on Saturday.
“We did have a plan to try and get her in, but we felt she needed to be in the paddock longer, so we left our run a bit short, but I knew [Brett] Cavanough used this race with [2020 Kosciuszko winner] It’s Me, so I thought let’s have a crack,” Collings said.