Monday Rewind: State-by-state expert analysis on who to circle and who to bin

MICK Price was the standout performer at the weekend after his magnificent training performance to quinella the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield. Race 7. The Blue Diamond Stakes over 1200 metres. Extreme Choice ridden by Craig Newitt and trained by Mick Price after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes . Pic: Michael Klein.

MICK Price was the standout performer at the weekend after his magnificent training performance to quinella the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

Always a difficult feat whatever the grade, but to do it in Victoria’s premier two-year-old race is a stunning achievement.

What is even more exciting for Price is that his two youngsters Extreme Choice and Flying Artie appear destined to head north and have a significant say in the outcome of the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill — the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.

His loyal lieutenant in the saddle shared in the glory, with Craig Newitt piloting Extreme Choice to a thoroughly dominant victory.

Now they must plot a course for victory in the north and know that stablemate and Blue Diamond runner-up Flying Artie will be a far stronger proposition next time around.

For Mick, it’s a good place to be.

Welcome to another edition of Monday Rewind where we disclose the goodies and the baddies from another huge weekend at the track.

Michael Manley (Herald Sun)

Caulfield

Craig Newitt and Extreme Choice take out the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

BLIZTED

Mick Price has been one of Victoria’s top trainers for many years but might be about to go to another level after his magnificent training performance to quinella the Blue Diamond Stakes with Extreme Choice and Flying Artie.

Racing fans were thrilled to see Craig Newitt make the most of his opportunity to win the Blue Diamond Stakes. Newitt has had Saturdays recently where he’s had a couple of rides. This should propel him back to the forefront of trainer’s minds when they are looking for a jockey.

The John O’Shea team were to the fore with a running double scoring with Tally and Bow Creek.

BLUNDERED

Trainer Phillip Stokes showing scars after being kicked by one of his two-year-olds earlier in the week. Picture: Michael Klein

Usually when Phillip Stokes crosses the border he returns plenished. This time he drove over with broken ribs anhad to watch Hucklebuck take charge of his rider in the Futurity Stakes. His next two starters Samara Dancer and Ea Clair Choice also raced below expectations.

Same mainstays of our turf in recent years in Boban and Fawkner. Boban bled for a second time and is now retired while Fawkner was awful in the Peter Young Stakes finishing 11th.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Azkadellia only just got there but it was against the pattern of racing for her to get up and win. Stick with her.

Assign’s win was a win of a horse whose going to win some big races.

Great effort by Fell Swoop to just miss in the Oakleigh Plate. He’s a genuine Group 1 galloper.

HOT

Godolphin trainer John O’Shea.

NOT

Boban and Fawkner.

Nathan Exelby (The Courier Mail)

Doomben

Nick Hall had his rivals chasing a long way from home in the opening race at Caulfield. Picture: Michael Klein

BLITZED

Nick Hall probably had the advantage of being on the best horse when aboard Assign at Caulfield, but still showed great initiative to pinch the race before the turn and have rivals chasing a long way out.

BACK

Red Handle (Doomben) has run two good races off wide gates to start her career. Clearly talented and has a bright future.

Our Ivanhowe is still seeking his first win in Australia, but it should come this preparation. Had no luck at any stage at Caulfield and can make a case to say he should have won.

Hauraki (Randwick) will presumably now take a different path to Winx after two rippers to start the campaign. Ranvet/BMW look winnable targets.

SACK

Stay With Me ran OK again at Randwick, but never threatened the lightly raced winner. Hard to see where she’s going to find the right race now.

Mongolian Khan’s first run back since a colic attack at Randwick wasn’t encouraging, with many other similar staying types producing superior efforts.

The wheels have completely fallen off Aussies Love Sport (Doomben) since the encouraging first-up run. Nothing more than nuisance value here.

Another quality performance by Australia’s best racehorse, Winx, in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes. Picture: Simon BullardBowman.

MARKETS

AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS

Flemington, Saturday

$4.20 Xtravagant

$4.50 Palentino

$7.50 Mahuta, Tarzino

$8.50 Press Statement

$9.50 Perfect Reflection

$12 Risque, Tivaci

$13 Tulsa

$18 Sailing By

$20 River Wild

$21+ Others

QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES

Royal Randwick, April 9

$2.25 Winx

$8 Isla Bonita

$10 First Seal

$12 Tosen Stardom, Criterion

$15 Bow Creek, Mongolian Khan, Press Statement

$17 Preferment

$19 Kermadec

$21 Tarzino

$26+ Others

Odds: UBET

THIS WEEK

Tuesday: Newcastle, Bendigo, Lismore

Wednesday: Doomben, Warwick Farm, Sandown, Murray Bridge, Geraldton

Thursday: Rockhampton, Wyong, Pakenham, Stawell, Coonamble, Albany

Friday: Ipswich, Moruya, Cranbourne, Albury, Swan Hill, Port Lincoln, Darwin

Saturday: Doomben, Randwick, Flemington, Morphettville, Ascot, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Gosford, Colac, Cowra, Esperance

Sunday: Sunshine Coast, Grafton, Canberra, Wangaratta, Hobart, Clare, Bunbury

THE QUOTE

“She lost the plot before the race.”

— Mark Zahra on Oakleigh Plate disappointment Bounding.

THE TALKING POINT

Damien Oliver going the wrong way in the Blue Diamond. In the short term, it seems Oliver made the wrong call, but long term, he may have the last laugh. Flying Artie looms as a huge Golden Slipper hope if they pay a late entry fee and shapes like an exciting three-year-old too.

Shayne O’Cass (The Daily Telegraph)

Royal Randwick

BLITZED

In a word? Winx. She had them covered at the 800m, the 600m and everywhere else that mattered.

BLUNDERED

Storm The Stars came here with some of the best form imaginable but he’s fair dinkum looked like a Class 1 horse in his trials. He was by no means terrible behind Winx (beaten 5.1-lens) but he’d wanna start showing us what he’s made of soon.

HOT

Luke Pepper. This young Canberra trainer travelled the world as Takeover Target’s trackwork rider and has shown himself to a very astute conditioner. He hasn’t got the big and sexy string of some others but he works brilliantly with what he has — Highway winner Appoint Percy a case in point (no pun intended).

NOT

Another Cocktail. Had enough of him for a while thanks.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

There are many this week; (in race order) Ghisoni (the best 3YO filly 1200-1600m we’ve got), Grand Marshal (trust me, he’s building up nicely), Generalife (how far it) and the Waller pair Kool Kompany and Weary.

Ben Scadden (The Advertiser)

Morphettville

BLITZED

Apprentice jockeys dominated the program at Morphettville on Saturday, claiming six of the eight races. The ride of Caitlin Jones on Nisos was perhaps the best of the lot, saving every inch of ground on the rail before nabbing Capodecina in the shadows of the post. Jones is enjoying a great run of success and sits second on the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership with 27 wins, just two shy of leader Jason Holder.

BLUNDERED

There’s no doubting Darren Weir is among the hottest trainers in Australia — but he’s really struggling to break through in Adelaide. He had three runners at Morphettville on Saturday, including strongly supported two-year-old Dalradian, but none ran a place.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Beluga Blue is a quality three-year-old filly and she got to the line nicely to finish fourth at Morphettville on Saturday at her first run in fourth months. She’s effective over more ground and looks primed for a good campaign.

Excites Zelady was another smart performer resuming on Saturday. He made good ground to finish second to Redeem Bounty. Watch for him to give some cheek against the interstate invaders during the Adelaide Racing Carnival.

I Am Gypsy is a high-speed mare who resumed and burnt to the lead before being run down late on Saturday. She is yet to win first-up from six attempts — but her second-up record is much stronger. She’ll take catching in whatever she contests next time around.