A brief look at the Flemington undercard

Aardvark impresses in Talindert 

Holding Aardvark back from contesting the early stages of the Blue Diamond Series has paid a winning dividend for the connections of the colt. 

Trainers Leon and Troy Corstens decided to hold back Aardvark from the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield last week to concentrate on the Listed Talindert Stakes with the sone of hot stallion Capitalist running out a 1-¼ length winner. 

Part-owner James Harron, who has one of the favourites for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield next week in Bodyguard, said it was unlikely Aardvark would join the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained two-year-old next week. 

“It’s not really about steering clear of anything, but we’ll see how he comes back and see what Troy thinks,” Harron said. 

“He was going to go to the Prelude, but we just wanted his fitness levels to come on a bit more and Troy made a very smart decision in waiting that extra week, which had him cherry ripe for today.”

Consistency pays off for Miss 

Multiple Group 1 placegetter Revolutionary Miss is likely to be given another chance at the highest level before a potential sale as a broodmare. 

Freshened after a placing on the Gold Coast last month, Revolutionary Miss took out the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m). 

Revolutionary Miss ran second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) during her two-year-old year and second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas as a three-year-old. 

Now the Peter and Paul Snowden stable may consider the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill at Rosehill next month. 

“She’s very genuine and never runs a bad race and it set up nicely from a good barrier draw today,” Peter Snowden said. 

“She’s a very tough filly and when you spell her it takes a bit to get her back again, so she was freshened up after the Gold Coast and was in good order. 

“The Coolmore is an option, and the 1500 metres is a sweet spot for her. We’ll see what happens.” 

Snowden indicated Revolutionary Miss could be sold as a broodmare on the Gold Coast in the middle of the year. 

Hayes’ $150 knock-out punch

Whether the Jimmysstar bubble has burst is still to be seen but Makram’s shock win at $151 had co-trainer Ben Hayes somewhere between hinting and cajoling for a ticket into the rich All-Star Mile next month.

While Jimmysstar was the long odds-on favourite of the day at $1.26, Makram spoilt the All-Star Mile favourite’s winning run in the Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m).

It was Makram’s first win since saluting at Flemington over 1700-metres in September 2022.

“Incredible,” Ben Hayes said.

“He’s a horse (that) last prep he had to have surgery on both of his fetlocks, he got a couple of screws in and just didn’t have the confidence. 

“I didn’t think we could win. He ran a really good race and hit the line over a trip too short but horses can surprise you and that is what he did today.”

So thrilled with the victory, a step up to the 1600-metres in March has the Flemington and Euroa-based training team thinking a berth in the $3 million feature should not be an extreme thought.

“He just won over 1400-metres in a stakes race, and I think he gets better when he gets out over a trip,” he added.

“Might have to get an All-Star Mile ticket!

El Soleado a potential ‘freak’ 

Jamie Kah suggests El Soleado could be a ‘freakish’ stayer in the making after he completed a winning hat-trick in the Goodwood Trophy (2000m). 

It was Kah’s first ride on the gelding after Mark Zahra had steered the Robbie Laing-trained El Soleado to victory at Flemington and Caulfield at his previous two starts. 

El Soleado was also having his first try at 2000m on Saturday. 

“This horse is a push button out there and he does everything to make your job easy,” Kah said. 

“He’s going to be freakish when he gets up over 2500 (metres) plus, I think. 

“He took a little while, probably 100 metres, once I got out for him to reach his top, but I think as the races get longer, he’s going to get better.” 

Riding honours were shared by Craig Williams and Damian Lane with two winners each while six of the winners came from Flemington-based stables.