TAB Australian Cup Day race review

Joyful win up the straight 

Joyful Fortune has again shown his liking for the Flemington straight taking out the Listed Bob Hoysted Stakes (1000m). 

A former Hong Kong galloper struck down with tendon troubles, Joyful Fortune has done most of his racing down the straight upon his return to Australia. 

Joyful Kingdon was trained in Sydney by Mark Newnham upon his return but ventured to Melbourne on two occasions to compete in short course races at Flemington. 

After another stint on the sidelines through injury and Newnham’s move to Hong Kong, Joyful Fortune was transferred into the care of Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes who have sent the sprinter to their Pakenham stable. 

“The team is working together,” Will Hayes said. 

“It started with the team at Euroa getting him right. John Russell and our assistant trainer Sarah Fannin have put so much work into this horse (at Pakenham) and to get him here on race day is really special. 

“We’ve got a routine that works for him. We did a trial away this time and just gave him the simulation of a race day experience and that seems to have done the trick, he just ran enormous.” 

Alabama Lass excites at Flemington debut 

Star New Zealand filly Alabama Lass has made a successful hit and run mission to Melbourne with victory up the straight at Flemington. 

A winner of five of her eight starts on home soil, with a further three seconds, Alabama Lass led throughout to claim the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m). 

Alabama Lass is prepared by Ken and Bev Kelso who travelled to Melbourne in 2023 to win the Group 1 Australian Guineas with Legarto. 

Ken was represented the team on Saturday with Bev watching at home in New Zealand. 

“It’s a shame Bev can’t make it now,” Kelso said. 

“She’d love to have been here like she was Australian Guineas. It’s just a shame she can’t make trips now but I’m sure she gave that couch a bit of a hiding.” 

Kelso said Alabama Lass would return to New Zealand and hopefully return for a spring campaign. 

“She’s really fast but she just drops the bit and just lobs along so she doesn’t exert a lot of energy,” Kelso said. 

“We’ll get her home now and think about the future. There could be some nice sprint races here in the spring, but we’ll take a breath and just get her home. 

“She deserves a little spell, she’s been up for a while, but it’s onwards and upwards from there.” 

Light Infantry salutes in Australian Cup 

Ciaron Maher and Ethan Brown have combined with Light Infantry Man to win the TAB Australian Cup. 

Maher saddled three runners in the time-honoured Group 1 contest over 2000m at weight-for-age to win the race for the first time. 

Pride Of Jenni, who was sent out favourite, faded in the straight after leading to beat one runner home, almost 16 lengths adrift of Light Infantry Man while Middle Earth, who won the Australian Cup Prelude, finished fifth. 

Pride Of Jenni, as usual, set a solid tempo, and led from Young Werther and Attrition with Deny Knowledge, who was expected to apply early pressure, settling in fourth, after bungling the start. 

Light Infantry Man tracked that speed before moving into contention turning for home. 

“I was pretty confident actually,” Maher said. 

“I knew he’d enjoy that good tempo because of his races in Europe and he’s in career-best form. 

“The team have done a great job with him. Browny rode him beautifully. He’s a strong horse and can sustain it. 

“He just keeps improving, he put the writing on the wall in Perth. It’s fantastic, He won quite well.” 

Deakin lands Melbourne Cup berth 

Phillip Stokes and OTI Racing can start mapping a campaign aimed at the Melbourne Cup after Deakin won the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m). 

The imported gelding earned a prized ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 with his neck victory over Berkshire Breeze. 

Stokes is already excited about the journey towards Australia’s most famous race and was thrilled to see the five-year-old justify the faith he has in him. 

“It’s a very important win, just to see the progression the horse has made from when he came to us,” Stokes said. 

“He’s got a start in the Melbourne Cup, that’s great, and we’ll just have to plot a path towards it. 

“Which way we go is probably through a Caulfield Cup I would have thought, but he’s a very exciting horse and it’s a credit to train him.” 

Recuperato lands breakthrough win 

Trainer Peter Gelagotis claims racing has brought out the best in Recuperato who broke through for her maiden win in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m). 

The daughter of Farnam was taken to Adelaide for her debut, finishing fifth in a Listed race, before improving to run third behind the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Conscience at Sandown on March 12. 

Gelagotis said Recuperato had gained a lot from those experiences and appreciated the rise to the 1200m of Saturday’s contest. 

“She was a little bit exuberant in Adelaide, but I thought she was creditable and at her next start, she just got a little bit lost coming down the hill, one went past her, and she was just wanting to duck in behind,” Gelagotis said. 

“When she got out and got clear air her closing sectionals indicated to us that she was worthy of being here today and hence we challenged her. 

“She couldn’t have been more impressive and more emphatic winning.” 

Prestige Ole goes back-to-back 

The David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins stable is enjoying a purple patch at present with Prestige Ole scoring in the York VOBIS Gold Plate (1400m). 

Prestige Forever scored at Moonee Valley last Saturday with Steamy Mist also being successful at Pakenham while Prestige Ole scored his maiden win at Ballarat on March 7 and appreciated the 1400m on Saturday. 

Brideoake said the colt, by Ole Kirk, was likely to be spelled now. 

“I think he was good today,” Brideoake said. 

“I liked the way he settled behind the speed because it looked a pretty slow speed there and then he let down quite nicely. 

“He’ll probably spell now. Going forward as a three-year-old, he’s probably going to run up to a mile I would say.”