The New Years Day meeting attracted a good crowd to Flemington for the running of the G3 Standish Handicap (1200m) and the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m). There was also a 2yo fillies race, with a few interesting debutants to assess. It was great to see so many families on the lawn enjoying the racing and activities that had been put on by the VRC.

MATTHEW ELLERTON and SIMON ZAHRA

This training partnership had been on good form of late with plenty of winners. They’d been quiet during the Spring Carnival, deliberately so, giving their up and comers some time to mature and then have a shot at what is good money over the summer period.

This has born fruit and continued to do so on New Years Day, with the stable saddling four winners across the card, including one of the features and a debutant 2yo.

First up was Want To Rock (Katelyn Mallyon) in the 2yo fillies race, which opened the card. The daughter of Wanted raced on the speed and kicked well, but didn’t have it all her own way as she was challenged by La Renarde and Damien Oliver. But Want To Rock held on well to win by a neck at the line. Both fillies look to have talent and will be looking to upcoming Stakes races to gain some black type to their pedigree.

The next winner was Magna Rossa (Katelyn Mallyon) who won the Nouvelle Star, making it back-to-back wins for the daughter of Magnus. Rough Justice (Damian Lane) was the third part of the four timer, taking out the Red Tempo, making it back-to-back city wins for the 4yo gelding. It also bought up a second win for his sire Wanted for the day.

Durendal (Damian Lane) started favourite in the G3 Standish Handicap and went on to win far more convincingly than the three quarters of a length margin suggests. It was the second win for the day for  Contract Racing, who also bred Durendal, from a family they have had a lot of success with over a long period of time. His dam  Razor Blade (Blazing Sword) has produced  multiple Group 1 winner Flamberge (Exceed And Excel), Listed stakes-winner Curtana (Exceed And Excel), and the Group II winner Sunburnt Land (Scenic).

MUJADALE

The Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) bought together an even field of stayers. As is his usual racing pattern, Mujadale jumped well and led the field up the straight for the first time. Smartly rated by Stephen Baster, he led without a great deal of pressure until Baster lifted the tempo at the 1000m mark, and maintained his lead unchallenged turning for home.

However he was under extreme pressure for much of the Flemington straight from Danjeu (Ben Melham) and Trendsetter (Glen Boss). But the 8yo showed how tough he is fighting off both the challengers to win narrowly on the line.

Stephen Baster incurred a penalty for excessive whip use, with the margin so narrow there were calls for greater penalties (read relegation or disqualification) for winners where use of the whip is penalised. We’re going into shaky ground there, as quantifying the difference (if any) a strike of the whip makes is complicated.