THE latest edition of Racing Victoria news reports on track gallop organized for Black Caviar at Caulfield in early February.
Crack three-year-old All Too Hard could contest the Orr Stakes and trainer Danny O'Brien is hoping his Flemington luck continues this weekend.
Welcome back Black Caviar
Black Caviar will make her first public appearance since her famous victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, at her home track Caulfield on February 2.
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC), in conjunction with connections of the world's greatest race mare and sprinter, today confirmed Black Caviar will gallop in between races at the Club's National Jockeys' Trust race day.
MRC Chief Executive, Alasdair Robertson, said he was delighted to welcome Black Caviar back to the track for her final campaign and give the public of Melbourne the opportunity to see Black Caviar as she prepares to embark upon her final campaign.
Orr Too Hard?
Crack three-year-old All Too Hard could be a surprise starter in the first Group 1 race of the Melbourne Festival of Racing.
Co-trainer John Hawkes today flagged the weight-for-age $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, 9 February as a possible first-up option for the Caulfield Guineas winner and Cox Plate runner-up.
All Too Hard, who has returned to Team Hawkes' Flemington base after starting his preparation in Sydney, will have a jumpout in “the next week or two” after which a decision on where he will carry the green and white colours of new owner, Vinery Stud, for the first time will be made.
“He'll be ready (to race) at the end of the month, whether that be the Manfred (Stakes) or the Orr, the next couple of weeks will tell,” Hawkes said this morning on RSN.
O’Brien’s shot at more Flemington joy
Danny O'Brien certainly wasn't upset when he saw the races were at Flemington again this Saturday.
Not only because it is his home track, but also due to the outstanding record the top trainer has had at Headquarters since racing resumed after a five-week break following the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
O'Brien has prepared a winner at each of the four meetings Flemington has hosted this summer, including the Group 3 Standish Handicap with Adamantium on New Year's Day.
“We only had a reasonably light muster of Spring horses and when that happens you tend to hold them back for when you think they'll be able to win and that is over summer for most of them,” O'Brien said.
Import to improve at Flemington
Australian Bloodstock is maintaining its faith in French import Brehat, who will make his Victorian debut in Saturday's $100,000 Craftsman Handicap (1720m) at Flemington.
The son of Motivator failed to fire at his first Australian outing, when fourth over 1600m at Morphettville on 5 January, but he had excuses on a sweltering day.
Australian Bloodstock's Luke Murrell said Saturday's race, in which Brehat will start from barrier one, is still short of his best but they are expecting an improved run from the Anthony Freedman-trained galloper.
“Even though it might look a little disappointing on paper, that he's run fourth in a moderate race in Adelaide, it was a 44-degree day and he's probably never seen heat like that,” Murrell said.
Heat brings Monday races forward
Race times for Monday’s Wangaratta race meeting have been brought forward due to predicted extreme weather conditions.
The meeting, which was originally scheduled to commence at 1pm, will now be held from 12 midday, January 21 with the eight-race card scheduled to conclude at 4pm.
Intervals between races have been reduced to ensure the majority of the race card is scheduled to avoid the expected hottest period of the day.
It is the second time in the space of five days a race meeting has been brought forward due to predicted extreme weather.
Racing Victoria’s Racing Operations Manager, Paul Bloodworth, said it was important racing could be flexible and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of horses, jockeys and other participants.
Camperdown set for classic Cup
It is already recognised as one of the biggest social events in Victoria’s Western District but it is set to get bigger with the Camperdown Turf Club bracing for a near-record crowd for Saturday’s Cup meeting.
Camperdown has received record corporate hospitality bookings ahead of their only meeting for the year and club representative Jade Augustine said this year’s meeting was set to be one of the biggest in the club’s long history.
While the meeting acts as an annual reunion for many locals in the region, Augustine said hundreds of visitors from across the state would again make the annual pilgrimage to the picturesque track.
“We’ve received record bookings for our corporate hospitality packages so we’re looking at one of the biggest crowds we’ve ever had,” Augustine said.
OTT show class launched
Racing Victoria (RV) and Victorian Agricultural Shows Ltd are excited to announce a new Off the Track show horse series has been launched at agricultural shows across Victoria.
The Off the Track class is exclusive to retired racehorses and culminates in a final at the Victorian Agricultural Show (VAS) Saddle Horse Championships in Bendigo.
Approximately 110 Off the Track classes will be held at Victorian shows throughout 2013, with the next event on the calendar at Lang Lang show on January 19.
RACING VICTORIA NEWS BULLETIN COMPILED BY SHEENA COFFEY.
