COLOR OF FAME PROVES HIS CLASS

Color Of Fame has showed his class overnight for Australasia with a win in the ($2M, 2400m Breeders Cup Turf) at Churchill Downs. Showing great amounts of courage, Color Of Fame fought back after getting passed by the wonder 3yo Daredevil to win in a gutsy salute.


Color Of Fame set the pace from Malvern Hill and Trail Finder, with the Australian champion Camena's Thunder in fourth position. Behind them was Daredevil and then there was a mile back to the rest of the field, who would have to be Phar Lap to win from there. As they moved into the home straight Camena's Thunder broke down and was dropping back through the field, out came Daredevil, who wasn't in his usual front running role, hit the lead. It was a great burst of sprint but the burly NZ son of Quest For Fame fought back and somehow hit the lead, despite Daredevil's brilliant burst of speed. This is the moment when Color Of Fame became one of my favourite PF horses, he was so brave in fighting back and hitting the lead, sealing the deal for NZ.


Color Of Fame won well, breaking the hearts of his rivals like Vo Rogue and Might And Power before him and therefore won his second Breeders Cup Turf. Second was Kingston Dawn flashing home for second in a photo with Daredevil, with the consistent Tension in fourth. Behind him was the Arc winner Malvern Hill, who to be honest was pretty dour but game in defeat. In sixth was Arctic Slicker, who settled too far back and really run on late, not to disimilar was Fireball's run, trained by Royal Flush Farms. Camena's Thunder broke down but will still be ready for the (A$2m, 2000m Hong Kong Cup) at Sha Tin in a months time. I don't know the results of the rest of the horses but they settled way too far back and had geniune excuses.


The win of Color Of Fame takes his earnings to $10,476,000, with 13 wins from 22 starts. Chiknsmack has really shown great class in the training of this super star and likely plans include the (A$1.5m, 2400m Hong Kong Vase) against the mighty Heat Seeker and the (A$2m, 2000m Hong Kong Cup) at Sha Tin Hong Kong International day. Best of luck for Michael with those plans.


Other highlights of the meeting was the breaking of the PF world record earnings held by A Bus, broken by the champion mare Pegasus Song. She ran second to a rampaging Money Maker.


Other wins on the program were Chelsey with her first Breeders Cup win with Perfect Picture over Oprah in the Sprint, Find A Way's narrow win in the Endurance over the gallant leader Sinking Fear, Narsil and Lovely To See You, Regal Son's brilliant win for Laurie in the Breeders Cup Classic, Princess Royale's win over She's A Prize in the Filly/Mare, Believer and Beauty Queen winning the 2yo events and Ton Of Luck showing great class beating Hepatic Flap in the Mile, with Kennys Charm and my old bugger All For Dansilver getting a check for fourth.

COULD PRESTO WIN ANOTHER GROUP 1? INTERVIEW WITH HIS TRAINER BEN..

Josh: (JD Kayll Race Club) Well hello mate, your recent auction buy Presto is running this weekend, how did you come across him?
Ben: (Victorian Racing Stables) Hi Josh. Well back when he was at brownfoal I come across him just searching horses and he had one start and won it. I thought that’s a horse I gotta have so I emailed the owner but never received a response, but then I saw him on auction page not long ago and went all out for him.
Josh: Good, good.. Did you know about his recent form at Royal Flush Farms
Ben: Yes I’d been following him alot. And I saw the g1 win and when I saw him on sales page I thought this is a horse I gotta get
Josh: Yeah, the 1.2 million price tag did raise a few eyebrows though, was there any private deals involved?
Ben says: yes you can say that, but we not going to go into too much detail
Josh: Yes yes, so how do you think Presto will go this weekend
Ben: Well it really depends on who is in the race. It’s his first step up in distance, but I believe he can handle it. if he runs well in this race I will most likely step him up more
Josh: Yeah, there's one other runner in the race named Riskachamp, have you studied his form?
Ben: Yes and his form does not compare against presto, I wouldn’t imagine he could beat presto
Josh: Yes but he is a progressive type, could be a horse like a Largo Lad who ran so well in this this year in real life coming off similar form
Ben: Well I still don’t think he’s much of a chance. Maybe next year but not now
Ben: Let me just say I will be very surprised if he does win
Josh: Well mate you would certainly have egg on your face if you lose to him!
Josh: Any plans after this race for Presto?
Ben: No, I’ll just see how he handles the trip and if he doesn’t make it. Well its back to 8f
Josh: Well his form has been good but if there's a horse like a Daredevil, a Sinking Fear, I don't think Heat Seekers going for it.. I can't see him beating those star 3yos.. Are there any alternatives for him if they run? Perhaps the AJC Derby next week?
Ben: Possibly. but that’s the race I think they will go for. If not it might be a possibility
Josh: Yeah but remember the Rosehill Guineas is worth half a million, there's sure to be a Group 1 winner up against your champ
Ben: Well who’s to say he won’t beat one of these horses
Josh: Well I don't think he may be classy enough, he's been beaten by horses like Splash, who’s only win before the Liverpool Cup was a Stakes race, Missing Hour, who is a good horse but disposed of your horse pretty easily, and then there's All For Dansilver who hasn't really stood up to Group 1 this season
Ben: Well racing is a rollercoaster you never know what’s going to happen next
Josh: Yeah it is and by the way how’s the Greyhound plan going along?
Ben: Umm greyhound planning? What’s this got to do with pf
Josh: It's more interesting than PF seeming we are about to own a champion greyhound
Ben: We are? Mate I’m on a tight schedule. Let’s rap it up?
Josh: Well just one more question.. Are you running any other horses this week?
Ben: Yup handsome problem my other new buy and Atlantic yacht
Josh: How do you rate their chances?
Ben:Both good chances I like to think
Ben says:My stables flying along at the moment
Ben: Hopefully these horses continue
Josh: Yeah but they will have a tough job beating All For Dansilver :) so I'll let you go best of luck and hopefully you win all 3 races
Ben Ok thanks josh. Bye

ERUPT GIVES THEM A COLD IN THE AUSTRALIAN CUP

Erupt, a 4yo bay horse by Thunder Arctic and Timarida and trained by Bonai Farms, showed his great class in winning the Australian Cup. Erupt has been in great form this season, with only one unplaced effort in the Diamond Stakes. Erupt has won the one Group 1 this season, in the Dubai Sheema Classic in front of some very classy horses. Erupt's latest form was a 3rd in Italy before his average run in the Diamond Stakes.

Up against him was the Emirates Stakes winner Garson De Garcia, the Breeders Cup Filly/Mare winner Princess Royale, the Doomben Cup winner Trigun, the consistent Trail Finder, the Colin Stephen Quality winner Far Horizons and the Group 2 winner Cyberstar.

There was a frantic pace set by Trail Finder, and the field was strung out many lengths. Erupt was always close in the run and around the corner he extended away from the pack reminiscent of Sirmione in his barnstorming Flemington Group 1 wins and won by 4 lengths over Princess Royale and the brave Trail Finder. The media was understandably excited after the win and ask whether he's up to Breeders Cup Standard. I have no doubt he is... End of story. He's a top class racehorse who could win the BMW Stakes if he backs up.

HANDSOME POLITICS OUTCLASSES CANTERBURY RIVALS

Handsome Politics, the 5yo bay horse by Handsome Man and Vice President, backed up his recent good form with another win in the G 2 Canterbury Stakes at Canterbury. Before his run in the Maryland Breeders Cup Handicap (G 3) he was sold from Hopeful Farm to Victorian Racing Stables for $200,000. It was a very good buy benefiting both stables as Hopeful Farms were looking to sell a few of there horses for room while Victorian Racing Stables wanted a genuine Group class performer. Handsome Politics' recent form was a close fourth in the Maryland Breeders Cup behind Arctic Silver, a win in the Shoemaker Breeders Cup Mile from Butterfly Sneeze. At his next start he ran a very close third in the Orr Stakes behind the Cox Plate champion Camena's Thunder before winning this.

The major contenders against Handsome Politics this week were Skasey, the well performed 3yo from Olmo Dorato. Arod, the Christmas Handicap winner over horses like Misty Royal. Alycay, a recent Group winner over El Pais and Volcan. If The Crown Fits, a horse with great form through Doomsday, and Pasta Fazul, who had ran fourth in the G2 Neartic Stakes.

Handsome Politics fairly out classed this field, saluting at $2.80 by 2 lengths, over Arod and Skasey. I don't know the plans for Handsome Politics, but a logical race for him would be the Galaxy Stakes, but an alternative could be the Doncaster Handicap if he indicates he wants more ground.