Scales Of Justice shakes off injuries to push case for tilt at Cox Plate
Written off as a Group 1 contender after being sidelined for long periods with a host of chronic injuries, rejuvenated Scales Of Justice is suddenly in Cox Plate reckoning after winning the Memsie Stakes.
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Written off as a Group 1 contender after being sidelined for long periods with a host of chronic injuries, rejuvenated Scales Of Justice is suddenly in Cox Plate reckoning.
Moments after the battle-scarred seven-year-old laid waste to a decorated group of Memsie Stakes (1400m) rivals, jubilant jockey Dean Yendall dared to dream of a Cox Plate tilt on October 26.
Revealing he had ridden the 2016 Railway Stakes winner for weeks before finding out who the horse actually was, Yendall has forged a potent partnership with the gelding known as “Chopper.”
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The lightweight’s trackwork toil was recognised by trainer Lindsey Smith and Yendall now hopes Scales Of Justice ($3.70) is given a chance at even higher honours after resisting So Si Bon ($21) and luckless Alizee ($2.70).
“Onwards and upwards,” Yendall said after paying emotional tribute to Mikaela Claridge.
“Words can’t describe how I feel at the moment.
“He’s proven over a bit of trip so maybe the Cox Plate come late October.”
As critics took aim at Damien Oliver on Alizee, Yendall was lauded for a copybook ride on Scales Of Justice.
“Chopper is just a lovely horse to ride, he can be a bit tricky, a bit lazy but I probably blame myself a little bit for the Adelaide defeat (last start) for not doing enough on him, work-wise.
“But I knew back at home, he had that run under his belt that would top him off for today.
“He had a superior run through the race. They went at a good, solid tempo.
“I sort of produced him early like I did first-up here (in the Bletchingly Stakes), let him rip and he just took off on him.
It took a leap of faith for the @LSmithRacing stable to move to Victoria, but it was worth it! pic.twitter.com/93DtRegleE
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 31, 2019
“I was thinking ‘I hope these buggers don’t get near me at the 100m, they were sort of closing in but he fought them off really easily.”
Addressing the huge amount of unheralded trackwork and trials he rides, Yendall said: “If you do the work, you do get rewarded.”
Smith, who has taken over disqualified trainer Darren Weir’s Warrnambool complex, traced victory to a visit to Victoria a few years back.
“A couple of years ago when I stayed here with the guys, I was excited by that,” he said.
“When all the things (Weir’s outing) happened, I thought ‘I’ve got the best stable in the world’ and as I’ve said ‘built it and they’ll all come.”
Smith has thrived since setting up the stable, paying tribute to Yendall’s work ethic.
“He is an angry little man, when he gets upset I wouldn’t want to fight him but he’s a good rider,” Smith said of Yendall. “When I first came over he was the first to give me a hand.”
Alizee swept home from 12th on the turn to be touched out of second by Lindsay Park’s So Si Bon.
“Off a strong pace we weren’t surprised to see her a long way back so that was OK, but ‘Ollie’ just would have loved to have had something bring him into the race a little bit more,” trainer James Cummings said. “But that wasn’t the case as we were around Material Man and Black Heart Bart.”
Hartnell is likely to target the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in two weeks after finishing fourth.
CAULFIELD REVIEW
IN A NUTSHELL
Anthony Freedman plans to test exciting three-year-old Dundeel colt Super Seth at Flemington in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) before deciding on either the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas or stallion-making Coolmore Stakes on Derby Day at Headquarters.
Super Seth settled closer to the speed yesterday than Freedman expected but still had enough in store to run over the top of stablemate King Of Hastings.
“He’ll probably be better with more speed in his races, which will happen as the races get better,” Freedman said. “That’s (Coolmore) at the back of our mind, I want him to have a run up the straight before that.”
Magic Millions purchase King Of Hastings could be set for the Gold Coast carnival in January.
.@FreedmanRacing quinella the McNeil Stakes with Super Seth and King of Hastings!
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 31, 2019
https://t.co/ceRQtVtt1B pic.twitter.com/dvhkgyxfDF
■ Cups prospect Super Titus put a super smile on legendary trainer David Hayes’s face yesterday winning the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) in emphatic fashion.
A former European galloper bought last year with the
Cups in mind, Super Titus sat wide for the trip yet had enough petrol to hold his rivals at bay.
“That’s a big win, a big win,” Hayes said. “This horse did a great job because he raced without cover the whole race, travelled with class into it and, second up, had enough stamina to hold on and win a good race. I think he’ll just get better as the races get longer.”
Super Titus will chase a Cups golden ticket, targeting either the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) on September 21 or The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 5.
“With no weight, when he draws a barrier he can box seat,” Hayes said. “That’s (Cups) what he was bought for... this time last year, and I think he’s looking really good.”
DID YOU SEE/HEAR ...
Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle stamped her Cox Plate credentials on Saturday, winning the first New Zealand Group 1 of the 2019-20 season, the Tarzino Trophy. Melody Belle — a $26 Cox Plate chance with TAB and lock for NZ Horse of the Year after winning five Group 1s last season — looped a big field from near last to win softly at Hastings over 1400m first up.
■ What better way to see off the last day of winter than omen bet Another Coldie going from last to first on the turn and throttling rivals over 2400m to win eased down.
■ “Cup trial”.These two little words you will hear a lot in punting circles over the next eight weeks ahead of the spring features. Well, on Saturday at Caulfield, one of Lindsay Park’s eight Melbourne Cup entrants, Alfarris, caught the eye eating up the 2400m behind Another Coldie. Alfarris made up good ground to finish third after a quiet ride from Luke Nolen.
EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Etymology: Buried on the fence and ended up second-widest when a charging second behind Super Titus.
Shotmaker: Struck the front of the barriers before being vetted. The colt was beaten 2.5 lengths by Super Seth.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
STEEL PRINCE
4th HEATHERLIE STAKES
Motored home from the tail of the field to finish fourth, recording the fastest time in six of the seven splits from the 1400m. Not punished by Damien Oliver when it became apparent victory was out of the question.
TARGET: Melbourne Cup
SEBRAKATE
3rd McNEIL STAKES
Untested from the 400m as Craig Williams searched valiantly for runs before getting out to finish third, only 1.35 lengths behind talented Super Seth. Should definitely have finished at least second.
TARGET: Caulfield Guineas
GYTRASH
2nd THE EVEREST SERIES
Rocketed to the line after missing the start before unleashing race-best sectionals from the 1000m. Bursting to win a top race.
TARGET: VRC Sprint
ALIZEE
3rd MEMSIE STAKES
Always destined to get back but had no realistic chance of winning from 12th at the 400m with nothing to tow her into the race. Unwound blistering late sectionals to go under by under a length.
Target: The Everest
NIGHT’S WATCH
4th LADBROKES HANDICAP
Ridden for luck and found none behind the impressive Age Of Chivalry. Simply had nowhere to go in the straight.
TARGET: Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate.
TAB BETTING BREAKDOWN
RACE ONE
Another Coldie had good specking to suggest it would run a good race in the Symo’s 50th Handicap over 2400 metres. TAB went up $10 on Wednesday for the Symon Wilde-trained galloper and today, he hovered around the $6-$6.50 mark for most of the betting before jumping at the latter quote. Sprinting sharply on the home bend, jockey Dean Yendall took the son of Snitzel to the front early in the straight and the pair raced away for a good win. Exemplar ($4.20) went around as favourite and battled hard for second after sitting fourth in the run. Alfarris ($4.40-$5) was third.
BETS: Exemplar $1,000 @ $4.20 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE TWO
Dawn Dawn attracted good money to take out the Nitto Denko Handicap (1200 metres). The Team Hawkes runner was the second best supported runner in terms of money held, with only race favourite Diamond Effort ($3.50) holding more. Dwayne Dunn timed his run to perfection on the daughter of All Too Hard, sweeping to the lead inside the final 200 metres to beat the well-tried leader Sam’s Image ($13-$7) and I’m Telling Ya ($23-$18). Favourite backers left it in the bag with Diamond Effort going around with just under half the market.
BETS: Dawn Dawn $1,000 @ $6 TWICE, Diamond Effort $4,000 @ $3.50
RACE THREE
All the big bets were paid when My Pendant was successful in the Clanbrooke Racing Handicap (1400 metres). Going around as a $2.20 favourite, My Pendant held nearly 60 per cent of the total investment but was nearly three times as popular as the second elect in the market in Music Bay ($4-$4.40-$3.80). Damien Oliver rode a patient race back in the field and last on the rails, coming a few horses wider in the straight and finding a gap with the daughter Pins doing the rest. Camelle ($126) added spice to the exotics in second while Music Bay wound up third.
BETS: My Pendant $3,000 @ $2.25, $3,000 @ $2.25, $3,000 @ $2.20, $3,000 @ $2.10, $9,000 @ $2
RACE FOUR
Super Titus was one of the more popular runners in the fourth event from Caulfield. Out of the Euroa stables of Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig, Super Titus ($10-$8-$6) landed some nice bets when producing a good turn of foot down the straight with Jye McNeil in the saddle. Captain Cook ($7) was popular with each way punters and ran on for second while Etymology (16) flashed home to grab third in front of Steel Prince ($4.20-$6). Guizot ($5.50) started favourite and held some big money while the big mover in the race was Valac ($13-$6.50) which wasn’t far off them at the finish.
BETS: Super Titus $4,000 x $5,000 e/w @ $6/$2.30, Guizot $5,000 x $4,000 e/w @ $6/$2.10
RACE FIVE
Super Seth was a losing result for TAB in the H.D.F McNeil Stakes (1200 metres). The Anthony Freedman-trained runner jumped the $3.60 favourite and held 30 per cent of the total investment. Next best supported was stablemate King Of Hastings ($3.90) and punters were spot on as the pair finished one-two. Sebrakate ($11-$9) flashed home to grab third. Of the others, Peidra ($5.50) and Missile Mantra ($5.50) also had good backing in what was a very competitive betting affair.
BETS: Super Seth $4,000 @ $3.60, King Of Hastings $3,000 @ $3.90
RACE SIX
It was one of the despised outsiders that was successful in the MRC Everest Series Heath 1100 Stakes (1100 metres). Crystal Dreamer ($17-$41) only held more money than Streets of Avalon ($34-$81) with most of focus being on Vega Magic and Ball Of Muscle. Vega Magic ($2.10-$1.95-$2.10) held more than double what Ball Of Muscle ($4.20) did and was responsible for a little more than half the total investment. Unfortunately for his backers the Hayes, Hayes & Dabernig runner dropped out of it from the home turn to wind up last. Ball Of Muscle led for most of the trip before being claimed by Crystal Dreamer and Gytrash ($5.50-$4.20) late.
BETS: Vega Magic $5,000 @ $2.10, $4,500 @ $2.10, $3,000 @ $2.10, $2,000 @ $2.10 MULTIPLE TIMES, $3,700 @ $1.95
RACE SEVEN
Pippie did the right thing by favourite backers when leading throughout to win the Moet & Chandon Cockram Stakes (1200 metres). Pippie opened the day at $2.70 and crunched into as low as $2.10 before starting $2.15 clear top pick. On the flip side, Sylvia’s Mother went $3.40 out to as much as $4.20 before a late rally saw it jump $3.90. Punters were in two camps here with the top two betting holding a whopping 70 per cent of the total investment. Jockey Ben Melham rated the John & Chris Meagher-trained runner to perfection out in front, kicking away when challenged to beat Spanish Whisper ($16) and Sylvia’s Mother.
BETS: Pippie $2,200 @ $2.50, $2,000 @ $2.20 MULTIPLE TIMES, $4,000 @ $2.15, $2,000 @ $2.10 MULTIPLE TIMES, Sylvia’s Mother $5,000 @ $4.20, $4,500 x $4,000 e/w @ $4.20/$1.55
RACE EIGHT
The move for Scales Of Justice was on the mark in the Group One New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400 metres). The Lindsey Smith-trained galloper was $5-$3.70 despite the fact the lion’s share of money was with the hot favourite Alizee ($3.40-$2.60). Dean Yendall timed his run perfectly on Scales Of Justice with the pair hitting the front midway down the running, holding off the late bursts of So Si Bon ($19) and Alizee. In terms of money held, Alizee was nearly six times as popular as the winner which was actually the second most popular runner in the race.
BETS: Scales Of Justice $1,000 @ $5 TWICE, $1,000 @ $4 MULTIPLE TIMES, $2,500 @ $3.90, $1,035 @ $3.90, $1,000 @ $3.90, $1,000 @ $3.80 MULTIPLE TIMES, Alizee $5,000 e/w @ $3.30/$1.55, $5,000 x $10,000 e/w @ $3.20/$1.55, $5,000 @ $3.20, $5,000 @ $3.10, $10,000 @ $3, $5,000 @ $3, $3,500 @ $2.90, $2,500 @ $2.90, $2,000 @ $2.90, $3,000 @ $2.80, $2,500 @ $2.70, Hartnell $3,000 @ $8.50, Cliff’s Edge $1,000 @ $11
RACE NINE
N/A
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