‘Overlooked’ Quintessa eyes Cup Week Group 1 after first-up win in Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield

Quintessa was the only Group 1 winner in the Cockram Stakes field but got under punters’ guards when she scored first-up.

Quintessa won the Cockram Stakes at Caulfield to improve her first-up record. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Te Akau Racing’s Melbourne representative Ben Gleeson says Quintessa got under punters’ guards when she posted a first-up win in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.

Gleeson may have a point.

Quintessa went around at $11 despite being the only Group 1 winner in the race.

The Mark Walker-trained Quintessa won the Group 1 Levin Classic over 1600m in New Zealand in January and had not raced since her solid fourth in the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in April.

However, Quintessa had a strong first-up record of two wins from three fresh runs, which she improved when prevailing over Extratwo and La Danseuse Rouge despite giving the minor placegetters 4kg.

“If you actually look at her form, I think she’s been completely overlooked,” Gleeson said. “First up, three runs she’s been placed and then three goes at 1200 (metres) she’s been in the finish every time.

“Her form was on the board and everyone sort of overlooked it.”

Quintessa finds a gear and wins first up! 🔥@DanielStack33 for Mark Walker pic.twitter.com/pOHOcRCZvS

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 31, 2024

While Walker tested Quintessa as a staying three-year-old in the autumn, Gleeson said the leading Kiwi trainer could keep training the four-year-old for shorter targets in the spring.

Gleeson said the Melbourne spring program was perfect for a mare like Quintessa, who could find herself in a Group 1 race at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.

“There’s a lovely program for these fillies and mares,” Gleeson said.

“She’ll go two weeks to the Let’s Elope, and ideally we’re getting her to Flemington, (Melbourne) Cup Week and running in the Empire Rose, that’s probably the perfect race for her.”

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CAULFIELD WRAP

CRAIG COULD TAKE FLIGHT TO EAGLE

A $10m dream remains alive for Craig’s owners after the import impressed first-up at Caulfield.

Craig ($3.40) emerged as a three-year-old talent during the winter before comfortably beating older horses in the Stow Robotics Handicap (1400m).

Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young had the $10m Golden Eagle as their dream goal for Craig in the spring and had no reason to change their minds after the gelding’s win under jockey Luke Currie.

“We’re a long, long way away from that but he’s a four-year-old, there’s a Golden Eagle, 10 million reasons to dream,” Busuttin said.

“We were keen to have a look at 1400 today because if he couldn’t win this sort of with everything against him, which it didn’t pan out that way, he’s no chance (in the Golden Eagle).

Craig storms in front and holds on!

Luke Currie with an early double✌️ pic.twitter.com/hkprUmiV4e

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 31, 2024

WERTHER STAYING YOUNG AT HEART

Young Werther earned himself a third crack at the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington after his gritty first-up win under 61.5kg.

The hefty impost and brave front runner Duke De Sessa ($3.60) forced the $4.40 second favourite to dig deep for jockey Blake Shinn before he prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Danny O’Brien immediately flagged the Turnbull Stakes as Young Werther’s next start.

The now seven-year-old ran second in the 2021 Turnbull Stakes and third in 2022.

“I think we’ll run him in the Turnbull Stakes,” O’Brien said.

“He’s run second in it and third in it as a younger horse and (at) set weights and penalties, he doesn’t get the penalty so he’s got a great record at Flemington over the 2000 (metres).

“We’ll use that to see where he goes to from there.”

A great battle with Young Werther toughing it out 💪@[e-mail]/6Vy5uOqJF7

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 31, 2024

CAULFIELD HAT-TRICK FOR RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation staked his claim as the dominant Caulfield sprinter of the early part of the season with his third straight win at The Heath in the Group 3 Vale Black Caviar (1100m).

Recommendation won the Monash and Bletchingly Stakes at his first two runs this time in and again relished the course in the race named after the recently deceased legend.

Jockey Blake Shinn controlled the race from the front on Recommendation ($1.95 fav) before he outsprinted the resuming Godolphin speedster Kallos ($2.60) to score by three-quarters of a length.

“Blake rode the horse very confidently,” winning trainer Ciaron Maher said.

“He’s just found his sweet spot here, Caulfield 1100 (metres). We knew Kallos would be very hard to beat, he’s got a great fresh record and he (Shinn) executed it perfectly.”

Recommendation proves too strong to make it three wins on the trot this prep! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NVjXEHVzk3

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 31, 2024

DAWN RISES OFF THE CANVAS

Co-trainer Ben Hayes admitted he was with many punters that wrote off Rise At Dawn with 300m to run in the Heatherlie Stakes.

The four-year-old had worked, leading into the breeze to the home turn, and was looking a spent force as challengers lined up to get past the chestnut.

However, race fitness combined with a bit of bravery, enabled Rise At Dawn to somehow get off the canvas to score, to the relief of the $2.60 favourite’s backers.

“I’ve got to put my hand up here, I thought he was gone too and started watching (stablemate) Que Tempesta who was a bit unlucky,” Hayes, who trains Rise At Dawn in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, said.

“I quickly switched back when I saw he was still in front, incredible.”

The Hayes brothers could test Rise At Dawn at Group 1 level in the Toorak Handicap or Epsom Handicap in the coming weeks.

Originally published as ‘Overlooked’ Quintessa eyes Cup Week Group 1 after first-up win in Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield