Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow from CF Orr Stakes Day at Caulfield

Here are Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from CF Orr Stakes Day at Caulfield.

High Octane was luckless in the Blue Diamond Prelude. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Here are Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from CF Orr Stakes Day at Caulfield.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

HIGH OCTANE (5th, Race 6)

Is he out yet? Tough, tough watch in the Blue Diamond Prelude for connections and punters alike as favourite High Octane went to the line under a throttle hold. Travelled sweetly behind the speed but afforded no luck and ultimately trapped on the rail. Good thing licked? Not sure, the winner and stablemate BODYGUARD was mighty impressive too. What we do know is High Octane was entitled to finish a lot closer.

Three wide, no worries.

Bodyguard is a serious colt ⭐️ @[e-mail]/GSm94ItLDS

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 10, 2024

ATISHU (8th, Race 9)

Run off her legs in a hotly contested Group 1 C.F Orr Stakes (1400m) but the Chris Waller-trained mare, who won the Champions Stakes (2000m) last spring, did her best work late. Atishu clocked the fastest last sectional (11.82sec) in the CF Orr – the 22nd best last 200m on the card. All-Star Mile into Australian Cup? Yes, please.

MR BRIGHTSIDE WINS THE C.F. ORR STAKES 🏆

5x GROUP 1 WINNER, WHAT A HORSE.@[e-mail]/AkH1vABpAT

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 10, 2024

VERIFIER (4th, Race 3)

In a different postcode to the winner ANOTHER WIL, what a beauty and absolutely follow him wherever he goes to next, but Verifier worked through the line nicely second-up. Last on bend and got the runs along the rail to work into fourth place. Only second up and could be effective at 2000m next start.

Another Wil absolutely rolls them! 😲@[e-mail]/Acf7FMxQnD

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 10, 2024

IN HER EYES (7th, Race 7)

More ground and a softer draw next start could be profitable. In Her Eyes never threatened in the Blue Diamond Prelude – fillies – but she caught the eye late. Forced to go back from barrier 17 and straightened next to last but responded to the urging of Michael Dee. Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained MATISSE (3rd) equally impressive from the back.

The @cmcdonaldracing-trained Royal Meeting filly Hayasugi wins the first two legs of the Blue Diamond series for fillies, adding the Gr2 Prelude to her Gr3 Preview win!@LenevaP@FairhillFarmNsw@shanemcgrath78@JamesBester4@BrianByrnes16@Aleung8377@joolsalexander@ma_josiahpic.twitter.com/hhffjG9mNg

— Black Type Racing (@BreedingRacing) February 10, 2024

HYPOTHETICAL (4th, Race 8)

Entitled to get weary late, having led and set the pace first-up but stuck to her task well late under pressure to hold fourth. No match for KALLOS (1st), who swept past ASFOORA (2nd), but consistent Hypothetical should only improve next start with the residual fitness. The Listed-winner, placed three times in Group 3 races, is primed to build on her stakes’ record in the autumn.

Kallos storms home on the outside and claims the Rubiton Stakes 💪 @blake_shinn brings up a double at Caulfield 👏 @godolphinpic.twitter.com/yIzthfQwMU

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 10, 2024

Blake Shinn riding Kallos (left) defeated Asfoora (black cap), Zapateo (red cap) and Hypothetical (yellow stripe sleeves) in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

FORGIVE

ASFOORA (2nd, Race 8)

Punters left their money in the bag as the favourite loomed to win only to peak on the run, as KALLOS (1st) zoomed past, but the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate is the 1100m race at Caulfield trainer Henry Dwyer and connections so desperately want to win with the mare. Nice return, especially with an international campaign a possibility on the horizon.

BERMADEZ (6th, Race 1)

Box seated in the run and given every opportunity behind a moderate early tempo, despite the cushy sectionals Bermadez was first under pressure as the field quickened approaching the home bend. A post-race veterinary examination showed a degree of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), which may have affected the performance.

YOUNG WERTHER (3rd, Race 5)

Travelled nicely behind the speed and popped out at the top of the straight but could not reel in YONCE and FOXY CLEOPATRA, going down by under a length first-up from a break. Stewards reported the Group 1-placed middle distance galloper pulled up lame in the right foreleg.

BOLD BASTILLE (6th, Race 7)

Led and dictated the Blue Diamond Prelude – fillies – but knocked up late. A post-race veterinary inspection found the filly lame in the right foreleg.

Estriella powered to victory under Blake Shinn. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

TRACK TALK

“Well, that was the first statement that race, I’m mindful of her, just trying to manage her action, I won’t be buttering her up too quick, I think she’ll just continue to get better, I think she’s got a really bright future so yeah, I’ll have to sit down and have a look after that.” — Trainer Ciaron Maher will plot an autumn path for dominant Group 3-winner ESTRIELLA.

“Super run. Absolutely super. She was a bit fresh today over the 1400m but to dig deep and go so close, not beaten far, massive. I think top of the straight I thought she was going to start to tire a bit but she’s just so tough and has such an engine she can put out more. That should hopefully kick off a really good prep” — Jockey Declan Bates on PRIDE OF JENNI after running second in the Group 1 C.F Orr Stakes.

“Hard luck story by a long way was High Octane, goodness me, he never got out of three quarter pace, he never got a crack at them but hopefully he’ll keep for another day.”

Trainer Peter Snowden lamented the run of HIGH OCTANE in the Blue Diamond Prelude.

“We hope he’ll get 2000 metres, why wouldn’t he, a big strong, clean winded, sound horse, the race worked out beautifully, the pace was on, how good’s Mark Zahra? He can go enjoy the NFL on Monday.” — Trainer Michael Kent Jr after SNOW PATROL won the Group 2 Autumn Stakes.

CRUNCH TIME

KALLOS (1st, Race 8)

The Godolphin sprinter completed a clean sweep of sectionals with the fastest last 1000m (54.71sec), 800m (43.88sec), 600m (33.18sec), 400m (22.10sec) and 200m (11.34sec) of the entire meeting last Saturday.

MATISSE (3rd, Race 7)

Sustained a strong gallop to charge into third in the Blue Diamond Prelude – fillies – with the second fastest last 600m (33.60sec) and 400m (22.25sec).

STEWARDS SAY

Jockey DANIEL STACKHOUSE copped a 10-meeting careless riding suspension for allowing STAY FOCUSED to shift out when not sufficiently clear of UNTAPPED in the Blue Diamond Prelude – colts and geldings. Stackhouse is eligible to ride again from February 21.

Apprentice jockey CELINE GAUDRAY received an eight-meeting ban for a whip breach. Gaudray used the persuader eight times – three more than permitted – on BUFFALO RIVER prior to the last 100m in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes. Gaudray, fined $2000 for the indiscretion, is eligible to ride from February 19.