Group racing returned to Caulfield on Saturday and there were a host of good performances to note as the spring period develops in Melbourne.
THEANSWERMYFRIEND
Trainer Robert Smerdon produced Theanswermyfriend for the first appearance of his four-year-old season and the son of High Chaparral showed he had come back in good order with a strong first-up run. Theanswermyfriend's natural speed got him up into a position just behind the leaders before he fought on well to only go down by a length to the former Perth mare Quilista, who was on debut for the Darren Weir camp. Theanswermyfriend produced his best form over 1400m last time in but has won over 1600m and will be hard to run down once he finds the front over that trip. Theanswermyfriend is on the outside in the navy sleeves with a navy cap with yellow spots.
.@DKWeirRacing is on the board! Former WA mare Quilista proves too speedy first-up. Tough to make ground. pic.twitter.com/w04e6PvhLc
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 19, 2017
Career record 11:3-5-0.
Race to look for – Benchmark 84 to open class races over 1400 to 1600m.
HE'S OUR ROKKII
He's Our Rokkii didn't really come up in the autumn but the five-year-old looked better in a sound first-up run in the Group II PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m). He's Our Rokkii was no match for Hartnell but he stuck to his task well in the straight before only being nabbed for third on the line by the multiple Group I winner Black Heart Bart. While Hartnell had his measure on Saturday, He's Our Rokkii is set to head off on a different path to the top Godolphin galloper with his next run likely to be the Group II Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 9. If he makes the expected improvement off his first-up run, He's Our Rokkii will be hard to beat second-up at the Valley. He's Our Rokkii is in the navy silks with the green and navy striped sleeves, starting his run from fourth on the rail.
Hartnell returns with a bang, blitzing the field in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes. 💙 #TeamHartpic.twitter.com/Usg440nfw1
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 19, 2017
Career record (22:7-3-1).
Race to look for – Group II weight-for-age or Group I handicaps up to 2000m.
TAHANEE
Bred in Argentina, the well-travelled mare made her Australian debut for the Darren Weir stable after previously competing in Dubai under the care of South African trainer Mike De Kock. Tahanee resumed in a Benchmark 84 contest and probably had her chance to win the race but her condition gave out late in a smartly run race to finish less than a length from the winner Here To There. She'll be much fitter for that run, which was her first since March and her overseas form is OK up to 1600m. Watch for Weir to improve her markedly in the next few weeks. Tahanee is in the yellow silks with the blue cap, starting her run from midfield.
What a ride! @brown_ethan8 cuts the corner on Here to There, powering through the line to get the money. pic.twitter.com/p4LkSSEKgc
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 19, 2017
Career record (14:5-2-2).
Race to look for – Races between BM84 & open class over 1400m – 1600m.
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