Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner's follow and forgive files from Caulfield
No match for top two but best work late. Travelled nicely behind the speed before a flat spot around the bend and lost ground. Once clear again inside the last 75m worked through his gears again. Bring on 1400m next start. SALTY PEARL (1st) and MILLENNIUM BLADE (2nd) impressed, especially runner-up forced to do the donkey work early outside the leader and bloused only late with a big gap to third.
Salty Pearl gets out late & picks up speed down the straight to take out the opener at Caulfield & her maiden victory ðŸ'¥ @cmaherracing @bennallen44 pic.twitter.com/8W1Ui756YD
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 31, 2025
ILLATIVE (unplaced, Race 2)
Did a bit wrong, slow into stride and raced keenly, and then jockey Beau Mertens told stewards the mare made an abnormal respiratory noise post-race. Despite all this, Illative recorded the second best 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m sectionals bettered only by the impressive winner SPLASH BACK.
Splash Back gets the cash at Caulfield, a great ride by in form apprentice Tom Prebble @Grahame_Begg @MelbRacingClub pic.twitter.com/BqmtoPXckL
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025
STYLISH (unplaced, Race 4)
Held up from the 500m and never tested as a result. Won nicely at Bendigo first-up and expected to go on with the job but cluttered up behind traffic, as the tempo slackened at about the 900m, and ended up further back than anticipated.
Trial By Press is two from two this preparation! @GregEurell @HoopHouston @MelbRacingClub pic.twitter.com/YSZpYyPhYd
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025
WATCHME WIN (4th, Race 8 )
Flew home behind fellow South Australian sprinter AVIATRESS to run third and fourth respectively. The Andrew Gluyas-trained Watchme Win recorded the fastest closing sectionals on the card including a 22.06 sec last 400m and 11.25 sec final 200m burst in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes.
Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock pic.twitter.com/ih8tQ2OP4p
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025
CAFE MILLENIUM (5th, Race 9)
First start for Lindsay Park and suspect the second could be even more fruitful. Next to last in the run and charged home to run fifth, first time the Melbourne way. Plenty of upside and potential.
Namesake splits the gap then holds off a fast finishing pack to pick up his second win from his last three starts in the last at Caulfield 🙌 @cmaherracing @jaylahkennedy pic.twitter.com/jxSdT5j8Qm
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 31, 2025
FORGIVE
WONDER KID (unplaced, Race 7)
Looking for further? Wide early and rolled forward to settle outside the leader. Travelled nicely and took over around the bend but one-paced.
Dublin Journal gives Luke Currie and the Hayes team a double at Caulfield @lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/4Ei4xkTicA
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025
RECOMMENDATION (unplaced, Race 8)
Travelled nicely first-up but then held up from the 400m to 250m and then one-paced to the post. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame in the left foreleg.
Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock pic.twitter.com/ih8tQ2OP4p
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025
HARD TO CROSS (unplaced, Race 9)
First start since June 2024 and raced keenly through the early and middle stages. Held up on the heels of PRANCING SPIRIT (unplaced) late and could not be ridden out fully to the finish. Should benefit immensely from the hitout. Might need another one to blow out the cobwebs but 1600m on a rain-affected track a sweet spot going forward.
Namesake splits the gap then holds off a fast finishing pack to pick up his second win from his last three starts in the last at Caulfield 🙌 @cmaherracing @jaylahkennedy
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 31, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
10 minutes ago
- ABC News
AFL Round 20 Saturday live updates: Suns vs Lions, Dockers vs Eagles, Kangaroos vs Cats, Crows vs Power blog, scores and stats
It's Rivalry Saturday in the AFL, starting with the Suns hosting the Lions in a crucial Q-Clash at Carrara. Next up will be the Dockers hosting the Eagles at Perth Stadium in the Western Derby, as Fremantle attempts to consolidate their place ahead of September. Then tonight, the Crows and the Power meet at Adelaide Oval, as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley leads his team for one last Showdown. Docklands is the venue for the other game today, with the Kangaroos hosting Geelong. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
News.com.au
10 minutes ago
- News.com.au
West Indies skipper's ‘masterclass' puts Aussies to the sword
Australia secured the series victory against the West Indies on Saturday with Tim David delivering a historic innings at Warner Park in Saint Kitts. The Aussies were set 215 runs to make it three wins in a row and while it looked dicey halfway through the chase, David flipped the script in absurd scenes. After the ninth over, the Aussies found themselves at 4/92 before David flicked the switch and went after the West Indies attack. The middle order star etched his name into the record books by registering the fastest ever half-century and century by an Australian in a T20 international contest. He needed only 16 deliveries to bring up his half-century and brought up his century off 37 deliveries as he guided the Aussies home. In one blistering passage, he led the way as he and Mitchell Owen scored 71 runs over the course of three overs. 'This is a momentum-changing knock here from Tim David,' Brad Haddin said, while his fellow commentator Samuel Badree added: 'This is insane level batting'. The absurd innings left cricket fans watching on in sheer disbelief after the level of hitting that was being displayed. Sports journo David Moore wrote on X: 'Is Tim David playing Stick Cricket? He is absolutely on a different planet today.' Journalist Brayden May wrote: 'Tim David treating the West Indian bowlers like nan on Christmas Day.' Another added: 'Goodness me this tim david innings is reminiscent of old chris gayle work. he's smoked about a dozen balls out of the ground today, power hitting of the top most order.' A third wrote: 'What an onslaught by Tim David. He has singlehandedly taken the game away from West Indies.' David's electric display of power-hitting stole the limelight away from West Indies skipper Shai Hope. With the West Indies needing to win in order to keep their hopes alive in the five match series, Hope batted superbly when scoring an unbeaten 102 to lead his nation to 4-214 from the full allotment of overs. The star West Indian Hope joined Chris Gayle as the only batters from the Caribbean to score centuries in all formats of the game when scoring his maiden T20 century from 57 deliveries. Despite his best efforts, the tally wasn't enough as Australia's middle order exploded and snatched victory away. With the series now wrapped up by the Aussies the final two matches mean little with the hosts hoping they can snag at least one victory for their fans.
News.com.au
40 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Wallabies vs British and Irish Lions: Second test scores, latest talking points from the MCG
For a city that has always been lukewarm about its on-again, off-again relationship with rugby, Melbourne has turned on the charm offensive for Saturday's latest fling between Australia and the British & Irish Lions. Revelling in its reputation as Australia's sporting capital, Melbourne has embraced the so-called game they play in heaven like never before, breaking with convention by granting the Lions permission to play on Victoria's most hallowed turf. Comprising the best players from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, the Lions have already featured at some of the most iconic stadiums on the planet since they began touring the world in the late 1880s, but there's something extra about getting invited to play on the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first time. 'When you spend time in Melbourne and speak to the locals and all Australians, they hold the MCG in a real special regard,' the Lions' captain Maro Itoje said. 'It's a privilege for us to play there in what will be an amazing stadium and an amazing crowd. If it reaches full capacity, it will definitely be the biggest stadium that I've played in, so it's something that we're looking to relish.' Melbourne knows how to throw a party and for the visiting fans, the festivities are already in full swing. An estimated 40,000 Lions' supporters have made the long trip from Europe to watch the match live from the G and have transformed the Victorian state capital into a sea of red jerseys and hoodies against the backtrack of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot', 'Flower of Scotland', 'Land of my Fathers' and 'Ireland's call.' From the CBD to St Kilda Beach and Lygon Streets, Melbourne's pubs and restaurants are doing a roaring trade, with Lions' and Wallabies fans side-by-side. Because Lions tours to Australia only take place every 12 years, for Wallabies' long-suffering supporters, it's a rare time they can wear the team's gold jersey with pride. After the disaster of the last World Cup, being spotted in public wearing a Wallabies jersey was almost as awkward as being caught on kiss cam at a Coldplay concert, but not this week in bustling Melbourne. While the final attendance will depend on how many members show up, Rugby Australia expects it will surpass the all-time record crowd for any Lions match of 84,188, at Sydney in 2001. 'In 10, 15 years' time will I look back on this game?' Absolutely,' Australia fullback Tom Wright said. 'I'm probably never going to play in front of 100,000 people again,' For both teams, the occasion has taken on even greater importance because the stakes could not be higher. The tourists won the opening Test 27-19 in Brisbane last weekend and will clinch the series with a game to spare if they win again at the MCG. The Wallabies are desperate to level the series and ensure the last match in Sydney is not a dead rubber and Melbourne's fickle weather has potentially come to their rescue. In theory, the forecast of rain on Saturday night should help the Wallabies, who have assembled a massive forward pack after Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Dave Porecki were all passed fit after missing the series opener. The Australians were outplayed in the first Test but finished strongly to close the final margin to eight points after trailing by 19 early in the second half. The Wallabies' coach Joe Schmidt is banking on his big men holding the Lions at bay long enough for his replacements to run over the top of them, but also knows things don't always go to plan so he doesn't care how they get the result, as long as they do. 'We just want to win,' he said. The Lions know the ambush the Wallabies are planning for them. In 2001 and 2013, the visitors won the opening Test in Brisbane only to lose game two in Melbourne. They have made changes to their team too, with head coach Andy Farrell stacking his starting XV with nine Irishmen for what he hopes will be their crowning glory. 'We're the privileged ones that get the opportunity to do something special and hopefully create a bit of history,' Farrell said. 'There's a determined Australian side that's in our way that's going to try and stop us from doing that, so it's a hell of a Test.'
