VICTORIAN STALLIONS PLAY THE BRIDESMAID, THIS TIME

The progeny of Victorian stallions had to play bridesmaid at Caulfield on Saturday but all the second placegetters showed that with some luck in running a big race win is just around the corner.

The first of the runners up was Carrara, which had the unenviable task of chasing Denman in the Listed Wellington R.C Stakes eventually finishing three lengths behind the star 3yo. Carrara, a son of Blue Gum Farm's star resident Elvstroem, has taken his record to 5 wins and 6 placings from 12 starts and is well on his way to becoming the first million dollar earner for his sire.

BIG V REPORT

GROUP ONE RACING AT CAULFIELD

A stellar card is in placed for Saturday’s Group One meeting at Caulfield, the feature event being the $400,000 C.F Orr Stakes which has attracted a strong field inclusive of four classy Victorian bred gallopers.

The hardest to beat of those will be Heart Of Dreams having his first run since the spring. A horse who can pull out a good run fresh, he is in good shape according to trainer Mick Price.

“Typhoon Tracy is the one to beat,” he said, “but Heart Of Dreams is pretty right. He is a good each-way chance.”

HOLD THAT TIGER'S IRON HORSE WINS AGAIN

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Iron horse Apprehend from the Tony Vasil stable made it three wins from his last four starts winning the $90,000 TAB BIG6 Mega Jackpot Handicap (2600m) at Flemington on Lightning Stakes day.

Apprehend ($3,$3.50,$3.40) was dominant throughout and sprinted well upon straightening to score a comfortable length win from Grand Destiny ($4.80,$5) with Macedonian ($2.60,$3.20) a further half length away third.

Remarkably it has been twenty starts since Apprehend was last in the spelling paddock, but Aquanita foreman Trent Penutto says the gelding is thriving.

BEL ESPRIT'S DOUBLE CAPS BIG DAY

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It was one helluva day in Hobart town on Saturday (30 January) with stakes wins to Geegees Blackflash (Clangalang) and Radha Rani (Delago Brom), while Bel Esprit kicked in with a program treble after Cardannic won the second on the program: the Winning Edge Presentations Handicap.

And just to cap off another big week for Bel Esprit, Shane Fliedner’s Tollesprit put in a biggie by taking out the Schweppes Handicap at Flemington in comfortable fashion.

2YO STAKESWINNER FOR DELAGO BROM
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In what was clearly a red letter day for Eliza Park stallions (Clangalang’s first stakes winner with Geegees Blackflash and a city double to Bel Esprit), Delago Brom produced his third stakes winner when exciting 2YO Radha Rani took out the Motors Elwick Stakes-LR at Hobart yesterday (30 January).

Although the Delago Broms tend to give the impression they improve as they mature, his last two stakes winners have been juveniles – Delago Bolt and now the Terence Evans trained Radha Rani.