Making the Point for Sprinting
J A McGrath
10 October, 2016
What a weekend of contrast for arguably the two best racemares in the world.
In Australia, the mighty Winx sauntered to her 12th consecutive win when taking the G1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes in Melbourne, but in America, Tepin suffered her first defeat in nine starts when finishing second to bold front-runner Photo Call in the G1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, Kentucky.
Winx is in terrific form as she heads to the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Oct 22, where she will clash with the Godolphin weight-for-age star Hartnell. She hardly broke sweat as she beat two rivals in her warm-up race, and trainer Chris Waller has her perfectly primed for her big Spring assignment.
I felt sorry for Tepin as she -- and the other runners in the one-mile contest at Keeneland -- allowed the winner, a five-year-old Galileo mare, too much leeway in front. They virtually ignored her, to their great cost.
Tepin is still the same force as she was at this time last year, and form followers would be best advised to completely forget the defeat.
In the UK, Godolphin's Blue Point finished an honourable third in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, providing the racecourse proof that he is indeed a sprinter and not one for the Classics in 2017. He is to be trained for the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next June.
"That was his sixth start. He has danced every dance this season, and he is still going strong. He is a class horse, but we feel he will be best at six furlongs, not the Guineas trip," said trainer Charlie Appleby.
"He may have been beaten, but he lost nothing as far as his reputation is concerned. He should win some nice races next year," he added.
Ballydoyle colts Churchill and Lancaster Bomber filled the first two places in the Dewhurst to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a 1-2. Churchill has plenty of scope and looks to be in the Classic mould.
Godolphin were to the fore when the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Best Solution took the G3 Autumn Stakes by two lengths. "The options are open for him," said Saeed. "He does not have an entry in the G1 Racing Post Trophy. I could see him running in the Dubai Guineas and UAE Derby next year " the trainer added.
