Horse Racing

Connections of gun three-year-old Sepoy have kept the racing world’s dream of a supercharged clash between Australia’s best colt and our darling Horse of the Year Black Caviar alive, trainer Peter Snowden and owners opting to pay up for Sepoy in the 2011 Patinack Farm Classic first acceptances today.

Originally 44 horses were nominated for the $1 million Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m), which threatens to steal the thunder from the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on Saturday November 5 on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Super mare Black Caviar is one of five 2011 Patinack Farm Classic first acceptors for Peter Moody

After Racing Victoria took first declarations for the sprint feature today, just 14 horses remain in Patinack Farm Classic 2011 contention, which is less than even the 16-starter plus four-emergency field limit for the feature.

It seems Peter Moody and his undefeated queen Black Caviar have scared away all but the bravest of rivals.

Having boosted their impressive career record to nine wins from 10 starts last Saturday winning the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m), Elusive Quality colt Sepoy is still an uncertain final acceptor for the Patinack Farm Classic field with their main aim being the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day the Saturday before the Patinack.

Unsurprisingly Black Caviar is the early odds-on favourite in the Patinack Farm Classic odds at Luxbet.

The elite Bel Esprit five-year-old is at a current quote of $1.12 in the markets, which is incredibly short for a futures market but not for a champion of her calibre.

Black Caviar will next race on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley this Saturday where she vies for her 15^th consecutive career victory in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m).

Obvious second-elect in the updated Patinack Farm Classic markets following first declarations is Sepoy at a quote of $7 through Luxbet, with no other hopefuls under double-figures.

Just to tighten the stranglehold premier Victorian horseman Moody holds over this year’s Patinack Farm Classic, along with Black Caviar he also has four other horses still entered.

Peter Moody’s other 2011 Patinack Farm Classic First Acceptors are:

• Curtana ($19 Luxbet) – Four-year-old Exceed And Excel mare caught the eye of all when running a brave second, beaten one and a quarter lengths, to Sepoy in the Caulfield Sprint last Saturday

• Mid Summer Music ($26 Luxbet) – Unusually bred but ultra-consistent six-year-old mare, hasn’t finished worse than third since February and her seven starts since have produced four victories – including the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes and Group 3 Cock Ram Stakes at Caulfield – two seconds and a third to Sepoy in the Caulfield Sprint

• Panipique ($61 Luxbet) – Testa Rossa mare last seen running eighth in a Listed 1200 metre sprint final at Caulfield, before which they overcome an awkward gate to win over 1100m at the same track, is a black-type winner at Flemington and if she follows her faster-paced stablemates in the Patinack is a genuine place chance

• Doubtful Jack ($81 Luxbet) – Only non-mare for Moody in the Patinack entries, this five-year-old Not A Single Doubt gelding won a 1207m handicap on a Heavy (9) track at Mornington last-start, which was their first win since Launceston in January

Other notable Patinack Farm Classic first declarations include:

• International Group 1 winner Happy Zero ($15)
• Chris Waller’s evergreen veteran Albert The Fat ($26) who ran second to Love Conquers All in the Betfair Stakes on Caulfield Cup Day
• Local Flemington-trained mare Response ($26) who was third to More Joyous in the Tristarc Stakes last Saturday
• The returned overseas campaigner Scenic Blast ($26) racing back in Australia against Black Caviar in the Schweppes Stakes this Saturday

Rounding out the entries are then:

• Rob Heathcote’s Queensland galloper Buffering ($35)
• The John O’Shea-trained Foxwedge ($81) who won the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last time out
• Chris Waller’s Epsom Handicap third placegetter Red Tracer ($81)
• $201 roughie of the hopefuls Emerald Downs from the stables of Anthony Cummings

The 2011 Patinack Farm Classic final field of acceptors will be taken on Wednesday November 2 and published right here at Races.com.au.

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2011 Patinack Farm Classic First Acceptances