Four Group 1 races combined for a super Saturday of horse racing

Another autumn weekend is in the books and with it, a string of top-quality racing. Both Flemington and Randwick had a pair of Group 1 races each on Saturday and it was typically competitive fare.

The All-Star Mile goes to Tom Kitten

A 10th Group 1 success will have to wait a little while longer for Mr Brightside. Ben Melham forced Tom Kitten to the front late on to deny the Hayes runner, with all of the front four coming out of the race with plenty of credit.

It was a second Group 1 win for the Goldolphin and James Cummings tracker. A consistent runner, he has hit the frame in plenty, reversing a narrow defeat against Mr Brightside in the Futurity into a revenge mission.

Future plans for the pair are going to be interesting with Another Wil perhaps a touch unlucky in fourth. The winner was fourth in the Australian Derby last season over 2400m so he has plenty of options.

Newmarket goes to Joliestar

The winner of the Newmarket was the sole favourite to salute in the Group 1s. She was a touch closer to the speed than the pair who chased her home which was a help to her. Damian Lane judged it right and with her stamina assured, she was never going to be picked up once she hit the front.

Her first Group 1 win had come in November 2023 in the Caulfield Guineas. Connections have campaigned her as a sprinter since. Now that she has a win over 1200m at Group 1 level, it opens up plenty of options for her going forward.

The runner-up was a decent roughie in Headwall who had been unlucky in running in the Oakleigh Plate the time before. Growing Empire, while only fourth, was closer to the pace than any of the other principals so perhaps his run can be marked up a touch.

Broadsiding was defeated by Linebacker

Godolphin were celebrating with Tom Kitten but they suffered defeat with Broadsiding in the Randwick Guineas. Zac Lloyd kicked at the perfect time on the winner and although Broadsiding got close to him, he never looked like he was going to get past.

The pair had met the time before in the Hobartville when Broadsiding won and Linebacker was only sixth. That day Linebacker was a long way back in the field so the decision was made to make sure the horse was much closer to the speed on Saturday. That change in tactics paid off perfectly.

Canterbury Stakes shocker

Royal Patronage was a relatively unconsidered $20 roughie for the Canterbury at Randwick but he didn’t let that stop him. It was a race that massively favoured those who raced close to the speed. The first two across the line were in those positions throughout so it will be interesting to see how the form works out.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott were responsible for the winner who has a smart record when he is fresh. The horse has been trained in a few places so far, starting out in the UK before moving to the United Stakes and now to Australia.

He was run in the Derby at Epsom when he was a three-year-old over 2400m. His wins in Australia have come over 1400m and 1300m so he has adaptability but perhaps first-up is going to be the time that he has to be caught.

Saturday racing in the autumn is one of the highlights of the year. Four Group 1 races on one afternoon is a great spectacle and even with the betting sites coming out on top, the quality on show was still top class.