High five for Darren Weir at Caulfield after Humidor’s win in the Memsie Stakes

MASTER trainer Darren Weir kicked off the opening day of the spring carnival with five winners at Caulfield, including the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, in a day of domination.

Humidor races past Vega Magic to win the Memsie Stakes. Picture: AAP

MASTER trainer Darren Weir kicked off the opening day of spring in typical ­fashion with a day of domination at Caulfield.

Weir claimed five races, ­including the first Group 1 race of the season, the Memsie Stakes (1400m), with $21 outsider Humidor.

In a menacing warning to his spring rivals, Weir began with High Church’s victory in the opening race, then achieved a career first when ­stablemates Mrs Gardenia and Bellaria dead-heated for first in the third event.

The Ballarat trainer then captured the fourth race with Night’s Watch and the sixth with ­Native Soldier before topping it all with Memsie Stakes glory.

To add further gloss to an already glorious day, he trained the second placegetter in the three races he didn’t win among the first eight events. Only the final race proved a blank for him.

In Weir’s trademark low-key style, he described the day as “a great one” for his stable.

Humidor’s win also continued a red letter day for his jockey Damian Lane with his fourth win of the day. Dean Yendall also rode a treble for the Weir team.

Humidor powers to the line to win the Memsie Stakes with Damien Lane on board. Picture: AAP

Humidor rallied hard over the closing stages to grab Kementari ($5) by a short half-head, with Kings Will Dream ($14), another Weir runner, also coming from well back to finish third.

Vega Magic, the $2.50 favourite, was still in front with 20m to go but weakened to finish a narrow fourth.

Weir said he wasn’t surprised that Humidor was able to win as “he’s a pretty good horse.”

“He’s now won three Group 1s and finished second in a Cox Plate,” Weir said.

Weir said Humidor would be aimed at the Cox Plate and another appointment against Winx, but the trainer doubted he could beat her.

“He had the perfect run last year and couldn’t beat her. I can’t see that changing,” he said.

“He’s a great horse. He’s been a beauty for a long time. I said to Damian when I bunked him on be strong late as he’ll be strong late.”

Weir said Humidor was in the same form as last year.

“He’s racing better but he’s not going any better. Last year he’d race with his head on the side and he’d make things difficult for himself. In two runs this time in he’s done everything right,” Weir said.

“Realistically, the perfect race for him is the Emirates Stakes on the final day of the carnival.”

Trainer Darren Weir bagged five winners at Caulfield. Picture: AAP

Lane said Humidor made a statement that he would be competitive in anything he contested during the spring.

Weir was also thrilled with the run of Kings Will Dream, who came from last, and Black Heat Bart (sixth).

Kings Will Dream firmed from $6 into $4.60 for the Caulfield Cup and Humidor from $34 into $21 with TAB fixed odds.

John Allen, who rode Kings Will Dream, said his mount was unlucky as he got held up by Black Heart Bart for a few strides in the straight.

HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM THE MEMSIE STAKES

HUMIDOR (1st)

He really is one of the stars of the turf winning his third Group 1 yesterday. He looks like he’s ironed out his trait of hanging in which adds to his armoury. He’ll be a factor in anything he contests.

TARGET: Cox Plate.

KEMENTARI (2nd)

Again things didn’t quite work out for him being trapped wide but he surged home to just fail. Surely there’s a spring Group 1 in him.

TARGET: Makybe Diva Stakes

KINGS WILL DREAM (3rd)

A noted scribe suggested he’s on track to start a $2.50 favourite in the Caulfield Cup and who would argue. He’s flying. When he steps up to 1600m at his next start in the Makybe Diva Stakes he’ll take beating.

TARGET: Caulfield Cup

VEGA MAGIC (4th)

Over-raced slightly in the first 600m which didn’t help. Still looked certain to win but tired in the last 20 metres. Damien Oliver summed it up best when he said the rain had dimmed Vega Magic’s brilliance slightly and played into the hands of horses suited by it. You couldn’t sack him as an Everest hope on the back of that.

TARGET: The Everest

OREGON’S DAY (5th)

Nice run from this underrated mare finishing on strongly for fifth. Mick Price can continue along the weight-for-age path with her or he can divert to the Myer Classic at Flemington.

TARGET: Cox Plate/Myer Classic

SUNDAY FIX

IN A NUTSHELL

THERE’S not too many things Darren Weir hasn’t achieved in his stellar training career but he added a new one — a dead heat.

Weir’s mares Mrs Gardenia and Bellaria couldn’t be separated by the judges at the finish of the Hockingstuart Handicap (1400m).

Damian Lane who rode Bellaria felt he won the race and went to the stewards and queried the result.

Even after he had looked at the photo in the stewards room he still felt there could have been a tiny margin in Bellaria’s favour.

“If it wasn’t the same trainer with both horses I might have pressed harder,” Lane said.

Stablemates Bellaria and Mrs Gardenia finished in a dead heat. Picture: AAP

JARROD McLean continued his tongue-in-cheek campaign for his in-form sprinter Bryan to gain an Everest slot after he completed a hat-trick of wins, and back-to-back wins at Caulfield, in the 1200m Benchmark 78.

“Surely I hear from Everest slot holders after that,” McLean said.

“In reality I find it hard to believe that he could win two races in a row at Caulfield.”

Bryan was ridden by Dean Yendall, who said he began better than he expected.

DARREN Weir used his new farm at Maldon to coax High Church back into form according to stable foreman Darryn Murphy.

“He changed his environment and it looks to have worked,” he said.

Murphy also praised Damian Lane’s ride on High Church saying he saved him for one last crack at Midterm who had led throughout at a slow speed.

Between the 2000m and the 1000m Midterm ran 1.07.23min.

IT wasn’t all a one-way street for Weir. He was being interviewed on RSN’s First Word with Greg Miles going through his runners when he said he had to go. Unfortunately one of his two-year-olds had suffered a serious injury and had to be put down.

DID YOU HEAR/SEE

The VRC has made a change to its four-day spring carnival switching its feature two-year-old race the Maribyrnong Plate to Oaks Day in order to strengthen the Oaks Day card.

The race has led a nomadic existence in recent years, having been moved from the opening day of the carnival to the final day.

The 1400m Chatham Handicap, another race which has been shifted over the years, will move from Oaks Day to Stakes Day.

BRYCE Stanaway has again landed himself in hot water and will face the stewards on Monday.

Stanaway had an expansive interview on punters.com.au recently and detailed the origins behind the name of one of his horses, Who Shot Who.

He also has to explain his comments regarding the Bendigo jumps track last month.

EXCUSES, EXCUSES

Damien Oliver said the rain may have cost Vega Magic a win in the Memsie Stakes. He looked home but tired to finish fourth. Oliver said the rain dimmed Vega Magic’s brilliance but also aided the horses which beat him in.

BACK ME

KINGS WILL DREAM — How well is he going?

BRAVE SMASH — He did what Weir said he would do. He was a run short.

VASSILATOR — Did enough to suggest he’s got a nice spring win in him.

SACK ME

FUHRYK — The breeding barn beckons.

QUOTE

“He’s a bit of a weapon.” — Damian Lane describing Night’s Watch.