A look back at the Flemington undercard on VRC Season Premiere Race Day

Horses for courses

It is a well-worn expression but an apt one in the case of the Ben, JD and Will Hayes-trained Rise At Dawn who notched second win in four starts at Flemington in the VRC Season Premiere Race Day Plate (1620m).

The key, however, is that of those other two starts, the gelding by three-time Group 1 winning French sire Almanzor has finished in the top two both times.

“He is building a lovely record and he is so consistent,” JD Hayes said.

“The way he runs, he’s an awfully consistent animal so I dare say he’s got more wins in store off the back of that.”

Flexibility in whether his runs are spaced anywhere from a fortnight to two months, and still performing well, is an attribute that the Hayes team have been able to capitalise on.

Bigger, better Gentleman strikes again

The Hayes team added to their tally on the day with Gentleman Roy holding on for victory from stablemate Devoted in the Flemington Kentucky Bluegrass over 1410-metres.

Described by jockey Celine Gaudray as a “bigger, better horse this time in”, the eight-year-old took his Flemington record to four wins in six starts together with one placing.

“He is such a hard horse to get past and he is a very good Flemington horse,” JD said.

“The plan is to bridge the gap (in runs) into a spring campaign and by the look of him, and that performance, he is in for a nice spring.”
Perth visitor Devoted is temporarily in the care of the stable before a possible campaign back in WA for The Pinnacles riches.

“He was massive there, three-deep the trip, and just kept finding.”

Double for Freedman pair

Training partners Anthony and Sam Freedman had a successful hour with a race-to-race double that saw Right To Party take out the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) followed by Star Vega winning the VRC Spring Gala Plate (2000m).

Leaning awkwardly upon jumping from the barrier stalls, five-year-old was off the pace early on but flashed home in the final stages to his first win at Flemington in three attempts.

“If you ride him like that, he gets it.” Anthony said.

“(The start) might have helped him, actually.”

From a spring Cups features perspective, the Lexus Melbourne Cup’s most successful owner – Lloyd Williams – had St Vincents Garden having his second Australian run and finished fifth, three-lengths behind his stablemate.

“I was quite happy with him but be became the chaser,” he said of St Vincents Garden.

“He’ll improve and he needs a mile-and-a-half.”

Star Vega’s win also provided jockey Blake Shinn with a riding double.

Lucky Luke as big day got even bigger

Scoring your first winner of the new season at Flemington is one thing, but for trainer Luke Oliver Justdoit’s win in the Donate to RDA Australia (1410m) was one part of a big day further ahead as he watched on from a hospital maternity ward.

Oliver notched his 17^th career Flemington winner as the seven-year-old mare ridden by Craig Williams made it two victories in-a-row for the Cranbourne-based team.