Chautauqua frenzy takes focus off rising stars The Autumn Sun and Zousain

[Ulquiorra]

PERHAPS lost in all the Chautauqua excitement on Saturday was the performance of those around him, notably the J.J. Atkins quinella of The Autumn Sun and Zousain.

Reports about the progress of Zousain this campaign had been good and he ran right up to them, winning the trial without being fully extended.

The last two Chris Waller-trained horses to run second in the Atkins were Zoustar and Brazen Beau, both of which won the Coolmore Stud Stakes, the race Zousain is headed for.

The Autumn Sun also coasted to the line, just on the heels of the placegetters and he too looks on target. Waller’s Sires winner Lean Mean Machine wasn’t far away either.

Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar showed some early toe and also earned a pass mark over the unsuitable trip.

BOOKIES LOVE AUGUST
ONE from two for the boom three-year-olds Multaja and Brutal at the Valley on Saturday at SPs of $1.60 and $1.55, with the latter having to dig deep to land the prize.

Both Multaja and Brutal were sprouted as likely Group 1 winners off their last-start wins.

Whether that unfolds remains to be seen, although Brutal was hardly dominant and Multaja was rolled by a Sandown midweek placegetter.

August is a month where there’s considerable guesswork as to which youngsters may have taken “the next step” during their winter breaks.

Bookmakers must love the spruik horses at this time of year — and there’s statistics to show why. Between 2012 and 2017, backing three-year-olds that started favourite in stakes races in August produced a 27 per cent strike rate for a whopping 34 per cent loss on turnover (or 27 per cent if you “flat staked” every one of them).

WITHIN STRIKING RANGE
STABLE representative Trent Edmonds tipped From Within to go straight to open company now she had broken her run of outs.

From Within was an impressive debut winner at Canterbury in December 2016 and started equal favourite with Houtzen in last year’s Magic Millions, but had failed to win in nine subsequent starts.

She switched to the Toby Edmonds stable this season but questions were raised when she travelled like a winner but failed to let down first up at Doomben.

On Saturday, Ryan Maloney bounced the Not A Single Doubt mare out of the gates, had her travelling beautifully in front and nursed her for a good portion of the straight before asking for full extension. From Within coasted home to win by two lengths in a super slick 56.61sec, zooming home in 32.79sec.

“She gallops as good as any horse we’ve got,” Edmonds said. “Now that she’s won and knowing the amount of ability she has, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go straight through to open company.”

That opinion was underlined on the clock. From Within’s time was clearly superior to the 57.11sec Straturbo recorded to win the Open later in the day.

DROUGHT RELIEF SWITCH
SUNDAY’S racing industry fundraiser for drought relief has been switched to Doomben racecourse after support for the event outgrew expectations.

Organisers have a terrific line-up of items to be auctioned, including Winx memorabilia.

There has also been an offer from Winx’s physio Tom Simpson of ePhysio to provide a two-hour consultation to a Brisbane stable.

Anticipation is high as to how much the racing celebrities, including Peter Moody, Tony Gollan and Bernadette Cooper, will bring in the slave auction from 2pm.

MALONEY ON RIGHT TRACK
THE late pick up ride on Dal Cielo last week could prove a godsend for Ryan Maloney.

With Kris Lees sending winning chances to Queensland every week, Maloney put himself in the box seat piloting to win Dal Cielo last week.

He was rewarded on Saturday with the winning ride on Tawfiq Boy for Lees and also Guard Of Honour, who was hamstrung by his poor draw. Lees’ Queensland spokesman Mel Eggleston suggested there will be more offers coming Maloney’s way.

On the subject of the Lees stable, the runners coming out of the Newcastle yard continue to be airborne. Graff continued the run on Saturday, with what will be a new career peak rating.

Respected ratings analyst Daniel O’Sullivan of BetSmart and The Ratings Bureau noted the colt joins a growing list of horses running to career bests for Lees at the moment, following the likes of Le Romain, Dal Cielo, Tactical Advantage and the Frankel-Samantha Miss filly Miss Fabulass.

TOUGH TVERSKY
TVERSKY made it two from two this time in when calling on reserves of courage to win the Benchmark 85 Handicap. Jockey Dale Smith said he felt runner-up Arena Salon would beat him several times in the straight.

“He’s the toughest horse I’ve ridden up here,” the former Victorian jockey said. “That was good fight. He just dug deep. The other horse got in front, but he gritted the teeth and showed a lot of tenacity.”