Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow, forgive from Blue Diamond day at Caulfield

Gilbert Gardiner has reviewed the Blue Diamond meeting at Caulfield to find which horses to follow and forgive.

Vow And Declare and Campionessa are among Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow from Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over Blue Diamond Stakes day at Caulfield.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

PETER YOUNG STAKES TRIFECTA

New Zealand raider CAMPIONESSA (1st) toughed out strong win – her first in Melbourne after placing sixth in the Group 1 Australian Cup last year – from Melbourne Cup winner VOW AND DECLARE (2nd). He put in an absolute blinder first-up, the 2019 Cup winner and war horse. Not to be outdone, 2022 Melbourne Cup champion GOLD TRIP (3rd) flashed late to grab third. Bring on the Australian Cup next month at Flemington.

Campionessa JUST holds onto the Peter Young Stakes! 🤏

What a return from the Cup winners Vow And Declare & Gold Trip. @TeAkauRacingpic.twitter.com/crxcKbprVf

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 24, 2024

IMMEDIACY (1st, Race 5)

How could you not? Three for three and done it on raw ability alone. Far from the furnished product. Blinkers on first time and went whoosh in the Group 2 Autumn Classic. Godolphin gelding Pericles won the race last year and was only just beaten in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at his next start. Immediacy is headed in the same direction with the Australian Derby the ultimate goal.

CHAIN OF LIGHTNING (12th, Race 9)

Strong to and through the line despite racing in restricted room in the straight. A very good first-up run under the circumstances. Beaten for early speed, expected in a high pressure Oakleigh Plate (1100m), but found a rhythm late under jockey Carleen Hefel. Chain Of Lightning to get back on a rain-affected track. Is a Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 16 an option?

QUEMAN FIGHTS IT OUT IN THE OAKLEIGH PLATE! 😱

SHANE AND CASSIE OXLADE CLAIM THEIR FIRST GROUP 1!@HTCoffeypic.twitter.com/oxaC7RCHFw

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 24, 2024

RUE DE ROYALE (10th, Race 8)

Entitled to finish closer with a kinder draw, absolutely. Dropped back to last from barrier 15 and spotted the leaders the best part of 10 lengths. Widest in the straight and went through his gears nicely to run 10th beaten bang on three lengths. The Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 9, a race won by Tony and Calvin McEvoy last year with Veight, could be just the confidence boost Rue De Royale needs before potential Group 1 targets in Sydney.

AUTUMN ANGEL (6th, Race 3)

Under the odds really, Oaks-type filly first-up in Group 2 at 1400m. Beaten for early speed in the Angus Armanasco as expected and then struck traffic in the straight. Not helped by the moderate tempo either – race run 2½ lengths slower than standard comparison time. Autumn Angel got going late, once clear, and should benefit from the run.

FORGIVE

ATTRITION (8th, Race 7)

Ridden positively first-up in the small field, third inside DOM TO SHOOT with bold on-pacer BUFFALO RIVER way out in front, but travelled outside his comfort zone and weakened to finish last. Worth a shot trying to find an edge on champion MR BRIGHTSIDE but missed the mark in hindsight. The Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner is a much better horse than that, expect big improvement second-up with a more economical steer.

HIGH OCTANE (9th, Race 8) and COLEMAN (13th)

Better than what they delivered under the Blue Diamond furnace. High Octane was there to win but failed to fire a shot late, while Coleman had a hard time racing between horses in a big field through the early and middle stages. Stick with them, if not now, certainly as spring three-year-olds.

QUEENS! 👸

Jamie Kah wins the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes aboard Hayasugi for @cmcdonaldracing ❤️ pic.twitter.com/lfRyw5yEbs

— Racing.com (@Racing) February 24, 2024

KING’S GAMBIT (8th, Race 9)

No option but to hold a position behind the speed from barrier one but the temperamental three-year-old colt wasn’t comfortable inside other runners. Not beaten far – 2¼ lengths – and has won second-up previously. Could he bob up with a light weight in a Newmarket Handicap at Flemington?

Lady Of Camelot (yellow) ran a brave race in the Blue Diamond. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

TRACK TALK

“She was brilliant. I would have liked to have led and dictated the race, we weren’t able to do that, but she copped her medicine and found a good rhythm and gave a good … she’ll be very competitive heading towards the Slipper.”

- Jockey ADAM HYERONIMUS on Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up LADY OF CAMELOT.

“We tried something different, but it’s not the way to ride him. He was out of his comfort zone the whole way.”

- Jockey BEN MELHAM on ATTRITION being ridden closer to the speed in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes.

“She just completely missed the start. She was a bit anxious in the gates which didn’t help … there was a few horses around us that were doing the same thing.”

- Jockey MITCHELL AITKEN on ASFOORA after the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

“She deserves a crack at a decent race now, she’s earnt the right to be there, her ratings are up nice and high and she’ll be competitive.”

- Trainer PETER SNOWDEN has Group 1 Coolmore Classic aspirations for REVOLUTIONARY MISS.

Sghirripa had little luck in the Oakleigh Plate but produced some quick sectionals. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

CRUNCH TIME

SGHIRRIPA (Race 9) rattled off slick closing sectionals to at least get into the prizemoney distribution after being shuffled back to last from the start.

Sghirripa got a squeeze out of the barriers and then copped another check from ASFOORA as they worked towards the rail from wide draws.

Despite the luckless circumstances, Sghirripa clocked the fastest last 1000m (54.53sec), 800m (43.91sec), 600m (33.30sec) and 400m (22.17sec) sectionals on the card.

The last 200m (11.29sec) was third fastest last Saturday at Caulfield.

HANCHI (Race 2) recorded the fastest last 200m sectional, while VON HAUKE (Race 2) posted the second quickest last 600m (33.44sec) and (22.24sec).

STEWARDS SAY

Jockeys BILLY EGAN and MICHAEL DEE were suspended for whip indiscretions in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m).

Egan received an eight-meeting ban and $1500 fine, while Dee copped a seven day sanction and a combined $5000 penalty for the breach, which included consecutive strikes before the last 100m.

Stewards also questioned Egan about an earlier ride on the card, aboard favourite AUTUMN ANGEL, in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco.

Autumn Angel was slow to begin and settled last, beaten for early speed, only to then be held up near the 300m when Egan elected to shift inside PURE PARADISE instead of going around the filly.

In the opinion of stewards, Egan erred and should have remained behind Pure Paradise from the 400m and looked to move wider rounding the home turn to secure clear running.

Originally published as Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow, forgive from Blue Diamond day at Caulfield