Aaron Mills’ top three to follow from Belmont

Aaron Mills - Monday October 2

There’s just one Saturday remaining at Belmont in a long winter season and the black book is bulging with horses to follow ahead of the switch to Ascot for a big summer of racing.

Advertisement

PLATOON
Western Australia’s new season two-year-olds went to the races for the first time and we spotted one to follow straight away. Betting suggested Platoon was the second strongest chance of the four runners trainer Neville Parnham prepared for this initial juvenile scamper but gained plenty of admirers when running on strongly to finish a close second. After drifting back to last as stablemate Wakan Tanka duked it out up front, Platoon fanned wide turning for home before making good steady progress in the run to the line. He’s a son of Group I winning sprinter-miler Playing God and appears to have inherited plenty of the old man’s traits, too, so on that logic we can expect Platoon to keep improving as the season unfolds and the distances increase. The first two-year-old race beyond 1000 metres isn’t until November 4 but it looks a logical race to target even at this early stage.
Career record (1:0-1-0)
Race to look for – 2YO 1100m on November 4

OCEAN JEWEL
This was probably still considered an ‘off season’ three-year-old race but the way Ocean Jewel got the job done first-up over 1000 metres suggests she will more than measure up against stronger opposition in the coming months. Deliberately ridden cold from the widest barrier, just as she had been in a recent trial, the daughter of Ocean Park found herself back last on the turn and looking for room to gallop. Forced to seek a split through the ruck, Ocean Jewel charged to the line in dominant closing sectionals once clear to win going away. "The scary thing is, once she gets out to a mile you will see her at her best,” said trainer Simon Miller after the win. He’s already earmarked Guineas races and the weight-for-age Group I Kingston Town Classic against the older horses as likely targets over the Perth summer carnival.
Career record (3:2-1-0)
Race to look for – Anything she lines up in next

CONSEATED
There were some good runs in this race however few were as eye-catching as Conseated. The consistent mare with a 30 percent winning strike rate usually goes well fresh but after trialling only fairly ahead of her first-up assignment punters were entitled to expect she would need the outing. After drifting back towards the tail of the field Conseated found the line strongly and was doing her best work late to finish just a length behind the in-form Floyd. She’s won four times at Belmont although she looks equally as effective at the tighter Ascot track and with a metropolitan rating of 75 it might be time for her to step up to Benchmark 72+ company where she can benefit from having a senior jockey back on board. Stick with her.
Career record (21:6-5-5)
Race to look for – Benchmark 72+ 1200m

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 19
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Smart 2YO for Ferrando
Progressive colt El Vaquero completed the southern juvenile season on a winning note at Oamaru on Sunday, outclassing his rivals to claim the One Smart Coffee (1200m).
Two to Black Book for Darby Racing
Darby Racing celebrated another feature race win with their savvy $160,000 Inglis Digital purchase Robusto in the Listed ATC Winter Challenge at Rosehill on Saturday and in his post-race interview Bjorn Baker revealed they had purchased two new tried horses last week, so who are they?
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Mulberry Racing are looking to make an impression with a string of lovely yearling purchases this year and the acquisition of an Everest slot and their colours were in the frame at Hawkesbury on Sunday carried by a 2YO son of Pierro.
Robusto The Ultimate Inglis Digital Success Story
When Churchill (IRE) gelding Robusto was offered on Inglis Digital last September he was a solid Saturday class horse that had claimed a Benchmark 88 event on July 20, fast forward 12 months and he’s a $2.1million earner with the Listed ATC Winter Challenge (1500m) on his resume.
Written By 3YO Claims Second Stakes Victory
Talented three year old Wind And The Lion (Written By) made a welcome return to form when he claimed the second stakes win of his career in the Listed HG Bolton Sprint 1200m at Bunbury yesterday and comes from a famous female family steeped in history .
Melbourne Cup Contender for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has been doing a lot of amazing things this year and he might just have a Melbourne Cup contender with the Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa putting himself in the picture with a facile five length win in the Group II Curragh Cup (1m6f) overnight.
Make That a Dozen Winners for Farnan
Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan added a new winner to his tally on Sunday at Seymour where Blethyn saluted as a short priced favourite.
G3 Success For 2YO Maurice Filly Ethereum Girl
Improving off a close-up second in the Listed Oaklands Plate last start, two-year-old Maurice filly Ethereum Girl was too classy, winning the Group 3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Now Dual G1 Oaks Winner for Coolmore
Not seen since winning the Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) at the start of June, the Aidan O’Brien trained Frankel filly Minnie Hauk started favourite in the Group I Irish Oaks (1m4f) at The Curragh overnight and duly saluted.