Emotions Run High At Caulfield

Emotions ran high after the running of the opening race at Caulfield on Saturday when Glen, training for the first time under his name alone, had a stable favourite in Bankers Choice' salute in dominant fashion.

Recording the eighth win of his 44 start career, increasing his impressive prizemoney tally to beyond $1.2 million, the seven-year-old was having only his second start at the 2400m.

And what a great race he ran at his first - second in the 2023 Gr.2 Sandown Classic in which finished in front of Duke de Sessa, Vow And Declare and Deny Knowledge; some form race!

"That was fantastic," Anthony Feroce said, standing in for Glen who was cheering on from Rosehill where Coeur Volante steps up to Gr.1 company in the Coolmore Classic later in the day.

"Glen is a trainer in his own right now and this is a great start - and let's hope its the start of a big day," Anthony said.

"After that Sandown run last year we thought we'd have a crack at last year's Caulfield Cup but after a poor run in the Turnbull we had to change plans."

But there are other nice races at the 2400m and the stable have their eye on one - the Listed Warrnambool Cup which we won back in 2007 with the subsequent dual Gr.1 winner Sarrera.

"He can have a freshen up for that, he likes we tracks so that could be a good race for him," Anthony said.

Daniel Stackhouse boasts a good record on Bankers Choice and was happy to be aboard for another win.

"That was for Mike, he was a great supporter of me from when I first moved to Australia so it is nice to get a win for a stable. Glen has done such a great job over the last few weeks."

"I was actually quite confident," Daniel said - "the tempo was moderate and I thought he was getting it quite easily."

Which made him happy to make an early move.

"I wanted to get them off the bridle, he is a fit horse - I knew what I had underneath me and I knew that he would keep going."

And we hope that the day keeps going well, a busy Saturday highlighted by Coeur Volante taking her place in the Gr.1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.

Glen is delighted with the way in which she has settled in, noting that "she is only 2kg lighter than she was when she left Melbourne."

"She is nice and bright, she has been eating well and whilst it is a strong race we think she be right there in the thick of things as she has improved off that win."

And what an impressive performance that was, at just her second run since the spring, Coeur Volante racing away to a four length victory in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes.

"From barrier 1 with Kerrin McEvoy aboard it looks the perfect set-up for her," Glen said.

We also have another three runners at Caulfield.

Racing for the first time since last winter, Elkington Road kicks off his campaign in the Barastoc Handicap, the fourth race on the card.

Pleasing us with a couple of home track jump-out seconds, the dual city winning five-year-old was below his best during his last couple of short campaigns but he has always shown good talent - proving competitive in such races as the Australian Guineas, the Caulfield Guineas and the C.S Hayes Stakes.

"Coming back from a long break there will be natural improvement," Glen said, "and he will be better over a bit further but he will be ridden to give him the chance to hit the line and I think he can run a nice race."

Elkington Road has run some nice races fresh and with Jamie Mott aboard we look forward to see him approach his best form.

The VOBIS Guineas is one of the feature race on the big owners and breeders race day and we saddle up Benagil who looks set to finish closer up at her second run for the campaign.

Slowly away in a race just not run to suit when resuming in the Gr.2 Angus Armanasco Stakes and she will appreciate a drop in class today.

"This is probably the easiest race she has been in," Glen said, "though unfortunately the outside gate does make it tricky."

"We will have to see how things work out early for her, if she gets an economical run she is going to be hard to beat as she heads to the races in great order."

Benagil is certainly due some luck having not had a great deal of it during her spring campaign!

Another Caulfield feature runner for us - and unfortunately another to not fare well with the barrier draw - is Eeteedee who also jumps from the gate as she attempts to remain unbeaten in the VOBIS Showdown.

Impressive recording a tough all the way win at her Ballarat debut, the daughter of Strasbourg "has improved since that first up run and she heads to the races as well as we can get her."

"Obviously the barrier makes it very hard," Glen continued, disappointed when the fields were declared on Wednesday, "but there is only one turn to get around and we will see how things work out - Declan Bates will be positive on her and we can see if she can lead or get a slot in somewhere."

"He did mention that she might be even better ridden with cover so if that happens in might be a blessing. If things go her way I think she can be right in the mix."