Shining Smile and Tentyris dead-heat in Talindert Stakes after protest dismissed
Shining Smile and Tentyris shared the spoils in the Talindert Stakes after an unsuccessful protest as their trainers consider backing up in next week’s Blue Diamond.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Shining Smile and Tentyris shared the spoils in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
Stewards confirmed the result after Shining Smile trainer Will Hayes and jockey Daniel Stackhouse lodged a protest for interference inside the last 50m.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Godolphin colt Tentyris shifted in on Shining Smile over the concluding stages and appeared to brush saddle cloths at the very least.
Stewards were satisfied the negligible, if any, contact had no bearing on the result.
“We thought we’d try and have a throw at the stumps,” Hayes said after the protest was dismissed.
“Even though the interference was insignificant, we weren’t disputing a margin.
“I believe that if ‘Stacky’ was able to use the whip we do probably get the bob of the head but at the end of the day the two horses have run great races.
“They’re in the same boat as we are right now as to what they do next week.”
It's a dead heat in the Talindert! 😱
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) February 15, 2025
Shining Smile and Tentyris could not be split! @lindsayparkrace@godolphin@FreedmanRacing@DanielStack33pic.twitter.com/EA7rdbHpQ2
Hayes said the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Caulfield remained an option but Shining Smile would certainly now be aimed at the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) in Sydney.
Sam Freedman echoed the sentiment around Tentyris potentially backing up next Saturday.
“We’ll let the dust settle and see how he pulls up,” Freedman said.
“It’s a very different dynamic here down the straight where they amble up there, to go to a high pressure 1200 is a challenge but we’ll have a chat to the team and work it out.”
Star Witness completed the rare Talindert-Blue Diamond Stakes double in 2010.
Only three horses achieved the feat the past four decades.
Godolphin-owned Ingratiating won the Talindert in 2021 and placed in the Blue Diamond.
ALL-STAR MILE BOUND
Rise At Dawn booked a ticket to the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington next month with a tough first-up win on Saturday in the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m).
Rise At Dawn settled third in the run about five lengths off bold on-pacer Buffalo River and quickly reeled in the tiring leader in the straight.
Rise At Dawn is a horse on the rise! 📈
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) February 15, 2025
He's won a spot in the $2.5 million All-Star Mile! âï¸@lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/zilmucbkmd
WA raider Aztec Ruler and Just Folk ran on for second and third respectively.
Trainer Will Hayes welcomed the result.
“He’s gone unbelievable today,” Hayes said.
“To resume at open level, 1400 at Flemington, there’s a lot of credit to that victory today.
“It’s pretty exciting, if everything goes to plan there’ll be two sets of (Lindsay Park) silks there.”
Champion Mr Brightside is favourite for the All-Star Mile.
IS HE A MELBOURNE CUP HORSE?
Revelare has at the very least allowed dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Robert Hickmott to ponder what could become of the emerging stayer, victorious in a Benchmark 78 at Flemington.
Revelare defied a slow tempo on Saturday and awkward placement behind horses on the rail to swing off heels and win quite softly at the finish under jockey Ryan Hurdle.
"Here comes the favourite!"
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) February 15, 2025
A few nervous moments for Revelare but he was too good for them! 💪@HickmottRobert@Ryanhurdle9pic.twitter.com/qX2gIApvtv
“You always have hopes of a Melbourne Cup horse, don’t you?” Hickmott said.
“Looking at his breeding suggests that he’s a chance of getting it (3200m). You don’t know until you do give them a crack at it.
“This is only benchmark racing, although he’s still winning there is a long, long way to go.”
Hickmott won the Cup twice with Lloyd Williams-owned stayers Green Moon (2012) and Almandin (2016).
Meanwhile, Hurdle received a 10-meeting suspension for careless riding on the winner at the 200m.
Hurdle allowed Revelare to shift out when not sufficiently clear of Kapakiri.
ALL SHE WROTE
Wrote To Arataki lapped up the rain-affected ground at Flemington to win the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m).
The Matthew Williams-trained mare travelled outside unplaced Fancify in the run and quickly put paid to the favourite.
Wrote To Arataki relishes the conditions to win the Frances Tressady Stakes! @mwracing3638pic.twitter.com/Urdm3e0zyJ
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) February 15, 2025
Molly Bloom and Miraval Rose rounded out the top three but could not trouble the winner.
Jockey Dean Yendall said the wet track advantaged Wrote To Arataki.
“I thought that’d put her in it right up to her eyeballs and she’s much happier in that situation on that going,” Yendall said.
“Fancify just had to do a little bit of work, not a heap, to hold the lead … when the wind was pushing hard across I thought ideally just to sit off the wind of the leader and try and get cover off that … and in the straight I just let her loose.”
Originally published as Shining Smile and Tentyris dead-heat in Talindert Stakes after protest dismissed
Fangirl shows she’s still got it with second Apollo win
It was billed as a clash between Via Sistina and Ceolwulf but Fangirl had other ideas as she stormed home to make it back-to-back wins in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick.
Lady Shenandoah all class in arrogant return win
Lady Shenandoah is now an odds-on favourite for the Group 1 Surround Stakes after her brilliant first-up win despite the possible presence of unbeaten stablemate Autumn Glow.