Stars to the fore on Champions Day

McDonald, Via Sistina dominate again

James McDonald put an exclamation mark on the most successful Melbourne Cup Carnival by a jockey when he teamed with his new favourite mare Via Sistina to take out Saturday’s $3 million Champions Stakes at Flemington.

The superstar Sydney-based New Zealander completed his second Group 1 double of the week when the eight-length Cox Plate heroine powered to a 2-3/4-length win in the 2000-metre event.

The win followed Champions Sprint victory on Sunshine In Paris earlier in the day, with McDonald having won both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Empire Rose Stakes on Derby Day, to take him to 10 winners for the week.

That tally equalled the mark he set in 2021, the year he won the Melbourne Cup aboard Verry Elleegant.

“I ride for some brilliant trainers, I get on the best horses and I’m lucky to be able to drive them, basically.

“I steer them around a white rail and hope for the best and they do the rest.”

Sun shines in Champions Sprint

Annabel Neasham’s faith in Sunshine In Paris was rewarded when the classy mare upstaged Australia’s best sprinters in the Champions Sprint, but the victory did not come without a tinge of regret.

The Sydneysider was kicking herself for not insisting that her training partner Rob Archibald be trackside for the $3 million event on such a stage.

Neasham has only been in partnership with Archibald since earlier this year and the victory was his first at Group 1 level.

Archibald watched on from Rosehill in Sydney and Neasham can’t wait to celebrate with him.

“I feel bad, I wish Rob was standing here, I did ask him if he wanted to do it but he said, ‘no, I’ll do Sydney’,” Neasham said.

“But he was the first person I rang as soon as she crossed the line and I know what that’ll be feeling like for him.”

Sunshine In Paris ($5) surged late to score by a short-head from Right To Party ($31), who flashed from last to just miss in her first try at Group 1 level, with winner Bella Nipotina ($4.40 fav) a further short-head away third.

Brightside stars in Champions Mile victory

If there was any doubt that Mr Brightside had any more in him this spring or that Pride Of Jenni may get the better of him again, the gelding and jockey Craig Williams put that all rest with an emphatic victory in the Champions Mile at Flemington.

It was not that the five-year-old was overlooked by punters as his $5 starting price suggested, but stepping back from 2040-metres last start when finishing fourth in the Group 1 Cox Plate to the 1600-metres of the Group 1 $3 million Mile might have been his undoing.

Certainly not, as he powered to the line to notch his eighth win at the highest level and speared his career prizemoney to more than $16.3 million – that for a horse bought for around $7,000 four years ago.

“He’s such a special horse to us,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“I was hoping he could get that gap, and he got it, and he was so strong through the line.”

“We took a risk and put the blinkers on, back in trip, it was suitable, and Craig rode him terrifically,” Will Hayes added.

Roman smokes ‘em in Queen Elizabeth

It was a win more than two years in the making and Smokin’ Romans ($13) could not have picked a more appropriate venue to reward his connections’ patience.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding led all the way to claim the $300,000 Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.

It was the 10^th career success for the eight-year-old, but first since claiming the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 1, 2022.

“He’s a horse that’s a Turnbull winner, he hasn’t got to that form for a long time, but it’s fantastic for the horse, the owners and the team to get a big win like this,” Maher said.

“He’s a quirky fella. He was playing up a fair bit out the back, so when you know he’s doing that he normally runs a pretty forward race.”

Big baby Angland’s new heights over the mile

The step up to 1600-metres held few concerns for Angland ($3.50 favourite) with his victory in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Mile to notch his fourth career win in seven starts and a first at Flemington.

By 2017 Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Ace High, more is in store for the four-year-old gelding to the satisfaction of co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr especially at Headquarters with the pair continuing their good record in this event on the final day of the carnival.

“If you have a look at him he’s a very big horse, and he’s a big horse for big tracks,” Price said.

“We’ve kept him on the big tracks and he’s been OK. He’s been a big baby though, I would have to say.”

Darby filly lands Banner payday

Within The Law $7) landed her connections a large immediate return with her decisive win in the $500,000 Inglis Banner for two-year-olds.

The Bjorn Baker-trained filly collected the $300,000 winner’s cheque after powering to a 1-1/4 lengths win in Chisholm in the 1000-metre race restricted to Inglis graduates.

Within The Law, a daughter of Yulong first-season stallion Lucky Vega and the Dundeel mare Contract Signed cost Darby Racing just $30,000 at this year’s Inglis Classic Sale.

With Ben Melham aboard, who teamed with Darby Racing to win a Golden Slipper aboard She Will Reign, was aboard for the Banner win and the top jockey predicted a bright future for Within The Law.

“She did everything right and that takes them a long way in these early two-year-old races,” Melham said.

Second time lucky for Rey Magnerio

A second visit to Flemington within a week has paid dividends for a large and happy group of owners as Rey Magnerio took out the Listed Always Welcome Stakes (1200m) after finishing second seven days earlier in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) on Victoria Derby Day.

Placed at each of the five-year-old son of Magnus’ last three starts, Rey took his Flemington record to two wins and three placings in his five starts at the track.

Ridden by Jye McNeil, the gelding wore down the gallant effort of Front Page in the drive to the line.

“All the ownership group have had a bit of a frustrating few runs, so it’s great to be able to get the right result today,” 2020 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil said.

“(But) you can’t be too frustrated with him because he always runs an honest race and I loved his will to win today.”

Punters’ fortunes Hinged on J-Mac

James McDonald notched his eighth winner over the Melbourne Cup Carnival with a last gasp victory on the Chris Waller-trained Hinged in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).

Usually a wet tracker, the good surface at Flemington was no disadvantage in the six-year-old mare’s first win here at her third attempt.

McDonald and Hinged wore down Sirileo Miss who looked to have her measure late in a win for backers of the $4 favourite.

“She got her day today,” Waller said.

“Great ride from James McDonald, nice draw, good weight and a long Flemington straight so it made it easier.”

And the leading hoop rounds it out with a four-timer.

McDonald’s 11^th Melbourne Cup Carnival victory came with Pisanello’s win in the World Horse Racing Grand Handicap (1100m) with a big crowd’s reaction of excitement rarely seen outside of a Group 1 race, and capped his leading jockey status for a record sixth time since 2000.

“What a week it’s been, McDonald said. 

“It’s been sensational. Everyone’s been great.”

Four Group 1 wins for the week, and a benchmark 80 victory to boot.