The John O’Shea-trained odds-on favourite Chetwood saluted for the punters in the Weekend Hussler Stakes 2016 on Caulfield Guineas Day in Melbourne with a dominant win to make it four-from-four this time in.
The flying Exceed And Excel four-year-old went into Saturday’s $120,000 Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) on the back of a trio of Sydney wins including the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (2350m) at Newcastle on September 16.
With the three weeks between runs he improved again and got the sit in his first Caulfield run behind the speed-setting Sistine Demon who ran along at a blistering pace at the big odds.
Top Sydney-based hoop James McDonald was in Melbourne for a book of Guineas Day rides and was happy to have something to trail in the Weekend Hussler aboard Chetwood.
Andrew Noblet’s local Excites seven-year-old Sistine Demon was brilliant away from the barriers and flew up front ahead of Chetwood and Badawiya running along in third.
The front-runner was carving out the fast sectionals, while McDonald had the top fancy settled well and getting the nice trail ready to join it at the right time and strike on the straight.
Sistine Demon led into the turn before McDonald peeled off the fence and started a run on Chetwood who took over running, hitting the front 200m from the line and drew clear without fully extending.
Once he hit the link he was really strong all the way to the line, Chetwood ($1.95) bolting home for a dominant two length win over a fast-finishing roughie Rough Justice ($21) who covered ground for second, while Sistine Demon ($61) held for a brave third after setting that frantic pace adding value to the winning trifecta.
“He is flying and going really good,” McDonald said of the Weekend Hussler Stakes winner.
“He gave me a beautiful ride today.
“He’s led in all his starts and today he had to take a sit but he relaxed really good and showed us the good powerful finish like he always does.
“He’s maturing all the time.
“It was good to come here today on a brilliant surface and let him show his best qualities.
“John’s [O’Shea] flying at the moment, he’s got a good handle on all the horses, he’s got them turning out left right and centre and it’s a pleasure to be riding for him.”
O’Shea was pleased with the Weekend Hussler Stakes result, indicating the progressive Chetwood may be tested down the Flemington straight on VRC Derby Day (October 29) in a final spring assignment.
“It’s a wonderful thing to come to Caulfield and get a trail-up like that,” Godolphin Australia’s head trainer said.
“He was very effective today.
“I’ll just see how he pulls up, we might be able to get one more out of him this prep.
“I’ll just see. He needs to keep improving and executing.
“Early next year there’s a couple of nice races.
“The option now is to either run him down the straight on Derby Day or over seven [furlongs] on Oaks Day.
“I’m inclined to give him a look down the straight and see how he handles that and see where he’s most effective.”
The Derby Day option would be the $300,000 Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m), while on Oaks Day on November 3 the $200,000 Group 3 Chatham Stakes (1400m) would be the aim.
For all the best upcoming spring odds and betting options head to Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2016 Weekend Hussler Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Caulfield Race 4 – 08/10/2016
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | CHETWOOD | John O’Shea | James McDonald | – | 8 | 57kg | $1.90F |
2 | 7 | ROUGH JUSTICE | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Damian Lane | 2L | 4 | 54kg | $21 |
3 | 8 | SISTINE DEMON | Andrew Noblet | Ms Katelyn Mallyon | 2.2L | 3 | 54kg | $51 |
4 | 10 | RAGEESE | Darren Weir | Craig Williams | 2.6L | 9 | 54kg | $6 |
5 | 12 | UN DE SCEAUX | Todd Balfour | Chris Parnham | 3.6L | 2 | 54kg | $101 |
6 | 5 | BADAWIYA | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 3.8L | 1 | 54kg | $5.50 |
7 | 4 | TUCANCHOO (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 4.55L | 5 | 54.5kg | $21 |
8 | 2 | CHARLIE BOY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 4.95L | 6 | 58.5kg | $21 |
9 | 9 | WELL SPRUNG | Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor | Chris Symons | 5.45L | 10 | 54kg | $16 |
10 | 1 | RANGIPO | Tony Pike | Hugh Bowman | 8.95L | 11 | 59kg | $51 |
11 | 11 | COLDSTONE (FR) | Michael Kent | Michael Walker | 10.7L | 7 | 54kg (cd 54.5kg) | $41 |
– | 6 | MABEEL (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Corey Brown | – | 0 | – | – |