Via Sistina the only certainty in open Horse of the Year awards
The only certainty is that Via Sistina will claim Horse of the Year after successive autumn carnival Group 1 wins in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, bringing her tally of big-race wins in 2024-25 to a record-equalling seven.
The champion mare also wins the middle distance category and is a contender for the miler title although she has opposition from Epsom Handicap-King Charles III Stakes winner Ceolwulf, Mr Brightside (Makybe Diva Stakes, Champions Mile) and Fangirl (Queen of the Turf Stakes).
But with 12 Group 1 races left this season – four in Adelaide and eight in Brisbane – the other awards categories are wide open, particularly the three-year-old filly division.
Melbourne's wonder filly Treasurethe Moment won eight races in a row during the season including three at Group 1 level in the VRC Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes and ATC Australian Oaks.
But is that enough to secure champion three-year-old filly honours?
Lady Shenandoah will have her admirers after an unbeaten season that included her Group 1 treble in the Flight Stakes, Surround Stakes and notably her defeat of the mares in the Coolmore Classic.
Aeliana 's absolute dominance of the 'boys' in the ATC Australian Derby puts her into the conversation but unbeaten Autumn Glow 's obvious potential probably isn't enough to earn the fillies title.
The two-year-old award is similarly contentious with four different winners of the juvenile Group 1 races this season.
Marhoona only had three starts culminating with her Golden Slipper win so she has to be among the main contenders.
Unbeaten Vinrock won his three starts and is the first horse since Full On Aces (1981) to win the VRC Sires'-ATC Sires' double, while Team Hawkes won two-year-olds majors with the very impressive Nepotism (Champagne Stakes) and Devil Night (Blue Diamond).
Godolphin's Tempted was the unlucky two-year-old in both the Blue Diamond (seventh) and Golden Slipper (third), but won the Reisling Stakes beating Marhoona in a brilliant 1min 8.49sec and claimed the Percy Sykes Stakes despite enduring a wide run.
But her luckless losses in the majors will most likely cost her the juvenile title, too.
The champion three-year-old colt or gelding is also up for grabs although Godolphin colt Broadsiding has a compelling case as the only male in the age group to win twice at Group 1 level so far this season with success in the Golden Rose and Rosehill Guineas. He was also placed in the Cox Plate.
But Private Harry, unbeaten in five starts, burst on to the scene like a comet this season culminating with wins in The Sunlight and then the Group 1 The Galaxy against older sprinters ensuring he will have plenty of support.
Linebacker did beat Broadsiding in the Randwick Guineas (Aeliana was fourth) but that was his only win for the season so he probably hasn't done enough to claim the three-year-old colt or gelding award.
Jimmysstar became the only dual Group 1-winning sprinter so far this season with his fast-finishing All Aged Stakes triumph last Saturday complementing an Oakleigh Plate win.
But The Everest winner Bella Nipotina is arguably still slight favourite to win the sprinter division although this is a hotly contested award with Briasa (TJ Smith Stakes), Joliestar (Newmarket Handicap), Sunshine In Paris (Champions Sprint) and Overpass (Winterbottom Stakes) all contenders.
Similarly, the champion stayer category is also very open.
The Melbourne Cup winner often has the advantage but Knight's Choice is behind the likes Duke De Sessa (Caulfield Cup) and Arapaho (Sydney Cup).
â– â– â– â– â–
2024-25 HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD CONTENDERS
HORSE OF THE YEAR: Via Sistina
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE: Via Sistina
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
9 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
'Bit of a feel about her': New level Within reach for Baker filly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is quietly confident exciting filly Within The Law can go to another level in the spring as he sets his sights on the upcoming Princess Series. Within The Law is one of several spring contenders set to step out at Tuesday's barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens with the filly set to line up in a 900m heat. 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! The daughter of Lucky Vega is on the third line of betting at $8 for the Group 1 Flight Stakes with Baker keen to follow the tried and true three-year-old fillies path through the spring, which kicks off with the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 23. 'She is going super,' Baker said. 'We will go through the fillies series and I think she has come back a little bit bigger and stronger. 'You don't get carried away but she has the temperament and everything about her suggests maybe she can be a filly that can go on to that next level. 'With two-year-olds, it's always a bit of a question mark but I have a bit of a feel about her.' It was a remarkable two-year-old season for Within The Law that could have ended in disaster. She won the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes before escaping serious injury when she went through the running rail and lost her rider in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. Within The Law was able to get back to the races to finish third in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes and then came a close second to Nepotism in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. 'She did a great job and is more of a raceday racehorse rather than a trackworker,' Baker said. 'From that point of view I think, she may be able to step up another level.' She won't be the only two-year-old stepping out on the morning with a plethora of youngsters lining up, including Skyhook, West Of Swindon, State Visit, Blitzburg, King Of Pop, Memo and North England. Baker also has last start Group 1 Sydney Cup winner Arapaho having his first trial over 1000m in a heat that also includes stablemate Perfumist. Group 1 performer Lindermann is among the Chris Waller-trained spring hopefuls set to step out while Canadian Group 1 winner Moira is in the same 900m heat. Waller will also saddle up his first trialist in the Godolphin royal blue with Commemorative in a 900m heat. Originally published as Bjorn Baker predicting big things for exciting filly Within The Law this spring
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Peter Moody says immature filly Ole Dancer ‘has the quality' for spring after return win at Caulfield
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Less could be more if strong Caulfield winner Ole Dancer makes it to the Group 1 Thousand Guineas in October. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly remained unbeaten in the 2YO Handicap (1200m), the former said the two-year-old had plenty of improving to do. Premiership-leading jockey Blake Shinn had to push Ole Dancer off the leaders' heels into clear running in the straight but the $3.90 favourite comfortably held off the honest Thanks Gorgeous ($6.50) to win by a length. • 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! 'She got a little bit lost when she went to the front but she's a quality filly that is still quite immature but I think she's got nice upside to come,' Moody said. 'I think she's got the quality to be running in spring races but whether she has the maturity will probably be the question mark.' Ole Dancer easily won the SA Magic Millions Classic on debut at Murray Bridge in March before making it two wins from as many starts at Caulfield. However, Moody said the Ole Kirk filly had not shown 'as much (development) as I would have liked' in the months between her first and second starts. The rising three-year-old's immaturity means Moody and Coleman were likely to give Ole Dancer one run between Saturday and the Thousand Guineas (1600m) on October 18. 'If she got to a race like a Thousand Guineas, she'd probably get there on one run, she's that type of filly,' Moody said. 'She won't need a lot of racing due to a lack of maturity so we'll just monitor that as we go along. 'Maybe there will be something in the back end of August. 'Well give her another month and a pretty easy time of it and find another 12 (00) or 1300(m) or something like that.' Ole Dancer gave Moody and Coleman their 29th city win of the season, leaving the Pakenham-based duo sixth in the Melbourne trainers' premiership. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ STYLISH BIRTHDAY PRESENT Stylish Secret gave trainer Mick Nolan an early 70th birthday present with victory at Caulfield. Stylish Secret overhauled Verona Rupes with every bit of fitness acquired from seven preceding starts for the campaign to get the result – Nolan's first Caulfield winner. 'My first runners I had at Moonee Valley, Flemington and Sandown all won,' Nolan said. 'I've been a bit cranky, I've had to wait four (starters) for this, but I've got them all now.' Nolan, who turns 70 on Sunday, will celebrate the birthday with Stylish Secret owners and '10 stubbies too many'. 'It's going to be great, all the owners are going to be there,' Nolan said. 'You only get to 70 once in your life.' Stylish Secret covered 13,500 race metres the past seven starts, building to the 2400m 3YO Open Handicap win. 'I sent an audio this morning (owners' update), I added it up (distance raced) … said it's done 15,000 metres, Bart (Cummings)only had to do 10,000 (metres),' Nolan said. Cups King Bart Cummings had a theory stayers required 10,000 metres under the belt to prepare for the Melbourne Cup. FAMILY MATTERS Jockey Matt Cartwright sealed a special win aboard Pop Award for his grandmother and mother, trainers Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor, at Caulfield on Saturday. Cartwright went stride for stride in the straight Blake Shinn-ridden favourite Verdoux and got the result late in the 1100m Benchmark 78. Shinn had ridden Pop Award to victory last campaign but could not quite get the 55kg required on Saturday. 'I know I'm family but I'm still thankful I got the ride on her because of the 55kg,' Cartwright said. 'There was a bit of pressure around, obviously I'm not Blake Shinn. 'I'm glad I could give her (Pop Award) a good ride and she won well.' Cartwright felt comfortable throughout on Pop Award despite the mare being first-up. Cartwright is set to ride in New Zealand next season. DICTIONARY ROLLS ODDS-ON 'CHAMPION' Trainer John Moloney was almost apologetic after his charge Dictionary outslugged Jimmy The Bear in the VOBIS Gold Stayers(2400m). Blinkers made all the difference to Dictionary ($14) while jockey Daniel Stackhouse's ground-saving ride contributed to the gelding's upset win over the $1.45 favourite. 'To knock off the legend Jimmy The Bear, well that's a bit special,' Moloney said. 'You never want to knock down a champion and he's been the champion of this winter so we were lucky to beat him.' 'Jimmy has nearly done everything (to win) but it's a treat to be able to pull the race off.' Dictionary ran third in last year's edition of the $175,000 race before prevailing in Saturday's five-horse field. BLUEBLOOD ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOUR To switch up the saying, $1.6m is one person's trash while another's $65,000 is treasure. Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier paid $1.6m for Behaviour at a yearling sale in 2023 before syndicator Flying Start snapped up the son of I Am Invincible for just $65,000 at an online sale in January. Chris Waller was unsuccessful in four cracks with Behaviour but the gelding posted his second win in six starts for Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood in the 3YO Handicap (1200m). Jockey Jamie Melham continued her winning return from holidays when she brought Behaviour home over the top of Craig Williams's mount Bossy Benita. 'It was a perfectly executed ride and I'm just grateful he was sent my way,' Bedggood said. – additional reporting by Gilbert Gardiner Originally published as Peter Moody says immature filly Ole Dancer 'has the quality' to race in spring after her return win at Caulfield
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Kembla preview: Commanding Belle ready to chime again
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Robert and Luke Price already have their third straight Kembla trainers premiership wrapped up but are still keen to end the season on a winning note. Headlining the attack for the father and son duo is well-bred filly Commanding Belle who broke through for his first win on her home track nine days ago. After tracking the speed, she eased wide off the bend and quickly raced away to score by a length-and-a-half. 'She was impressive the other day. It was good for her to get a two-year-old win but she got a whole lot of rating points for her trouble,' said Robert Price. Commanding Belle had shown nice ability in placing in two of her first four starts including a third to Rivellino on debut at Randwick. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! She was also much better than her second placings at Canterbury and in the Group 3 Magic Night at Rosehill to end her first campaign. The daughter of Golden Slipper winner Farnan returns to the same track and distance in the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1300m). 'She is a racing against the older horses this week but she does get a bit of weight relief being a two-year-old and a filly,' Price said. 'She has come through the run very well and he last bit of work on Thursday morning was really nice. 'She will turn up with bells on.' Price said it would pay to forget the last run of Jamarni when he tackles the Class 1 Handicap (1500m). The son of Pride Of Dubai was held up behind runners and wasn't able to be tested when ninth to Autumn Dream last week. Prior to that, he placed in consecutive runs over 1300m before scoring his first win over 1500m in a Super Maiden at Hawkesbury. 'He got trapped in behind them and was a victim of horses coming back in his lap,' he said. 'He was a little bit shy in amongst them the other day and needs some sort of head gear so we have elected to go with the winkers this week. 'It's quite a strong race but he is in it up to his ears. 'He worked nicely on Thursday morning and should have no trouble with the quick back-up because he didn't get knocked around the other day. 'He has drawn a nice, soft gate to get a good run and he will be very competitive.' The stable is chasing a reward with both Zoustrong and Autumn Heir in the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series Provincial Maiden Handicap (1500m). Zoustrong only made his race debut on June 27 at Moruya where he finished seventh behind Teepee Princess before an improved run when third to Commanding Belle. 'We are asking a lot of him. It's only his third race start but he raced well the other day,' said Price. 'We are talking a leap of faith with him because it's an Inglis Bonus race which he is eligible for. 'I think he is going to be positive with us not wanting him to be because of the way raced last start. 'He has come through the run with flying colours so we are happy to give him his chance.' Autumn Heir is also in his first campaign but has had a little more race experience with four runs, finishing just behind the placegetters in his last two. 'He will be some sort of chance in this race too. He never had a whole pile of luck the other day. 'He is going to want 2000 metres eventually but we have kept him nice and fresh. Hopefully he is sharp enough for the 1500 metres.'
