The quality of Saturday racing is on the way up again. The horse racing bookmakers will be doing plenty of business with the quality horses in action. Big Spring Carnival races are just around the corner so here’s a breakdown of the important action from the afternoon.
Concorde Stakes is a thriller
Less than a quarter of a length separated I Am Me and Bella Nipotina at the line. The winner had strong form of 22344 when she took on Group 1 company last season but could not find a way to break through. Even though the Concorde Stakes is officially a Group 3, it was a Group 1 quality field.
Ciaron Maher’s mare is 10/22 in her career, boosting her exceptional first-up record in the process. She beat her stablemate who was (unsurprisingly) doing all of her best work late. Bella Nipotina is one of the hardiest mares anywhere, going one place better than she did in the 2023 Concorde.
2022 Everest winner Giga Kick was where most eyes were. He was beaten three lengths into fifth but he hit the line hard over 1000m. He should do better for seeing action for the first time in a year as well as stepping up in distance next time out. While it was not a winning return, it was positive enough to think that ability remains.
Moir produces a glorious win for Bedggood
Mornington Glory produced a bit of a surprise when saluting in the Moir Stakes. He was yet to show himself as a Group 1 performer but the front is often the place to be at Moonee Valley and the fractions that Ethan Brown set on the front end were perfection.
The one thing that Mornington Glory did have in his favour was his record at the track. His win made it 4/4 over 1000m around The Valley so connections will have this race pencilled in for 2025 already. He was the first Group 1 winner for trainer Gavin Bedggood.
Estriella was unable to get over from a wide barrier to take the front and she flattened out late on after briefly looking a threat 200m from home. Brown left plenty in the tank on the winner to hold off the closers down the outside.
I Wish I Win was one of those who was doing some good work late on. 1000m around this track was never going to be ideal for him but he produced a strong run in fifth, beaten just over a length at the line.
Has Amelia lost her shine?
After her win in the Group 2 Stocks at Moonee Valley last September, Amelia’s Jewel looked to have the world at her feet. Nine wins from 11 career starts, she was on the cusp of being one of the biggest stars. She has failed to win any of her six starts since.
Saturday was her debut for the Annabel Neasham team, coming in with four wins in five first-up starts. She was far from disgraced in second, the third time that she has filled that spot on this losing streak.
She was unable to give a kilo to $16 roughie Royal Patronage who hadn’t raced since June 2023. The third was Kovalica who is on a 12-race losing streak himself, giving her two kilos and only beaten 0.3l by her. It all leaves her with a bit to prove now
Both the Valley and Randwick treated us to some great action on Saturday afternoon. The big races all failed to give the result that those on the betting sites were looking for. That just adds a little more intrigue to the Spring Carnival, however.
