Global Weekly Review 09.11.15

Time now to reflect and regroup following a gripping four days racing at the Melbourne Cup Carnival last week.

Most reflection will focus on a series of outstanding performances by horses and riders in difficult conditions, while any regrouping and looking forward is likely to concentrate on next month's Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.

But, let us go back to Flemington, for the start of the single most important four-day race meeting in the Australian racing calendar.

The popular perception that the weather in Australia in November, particularly Melbourne, is akin to some tropical island near the Equator is so far wrong, it just isn't funny.

Every so often, you need a day such as November 5 - Oaks Day in Melbourne - to serve as a reminder that weather patterns Down Under can be highly erratic. Racing had to be delayed by 20 minutes while a wild weather system swept through central Melbourne, making visibility non-existent and sending racegoers ducking for cover.

The ground had deteriorated by the end of the week, but in true Aussie style, most of the big names still turned out. The local attitude, to race regardless of the going factor, is admirable and it was as prevalent this year as any other.

Saeed bin Suroor prepared Secret Number for the Melbourne Cup, but when the six-year-old failed to make the 'cut' for the feature, his immediate target became the G3 Queen's Cup, over 2600m, on Emirates Stakes Day.

Although the Godolphin runner ran with credit, he had no answer to hardy campaigner Dandino, who is now trained by Darren Weir, and therefore a stablemate of Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance.

James McDonald found himself slightly interfered with in the straight but nothing to suggest it cost him the race. Secret Number finished second, and joined a long list of Godolphin runners, who filled minor placings over the four days.

The frustrating series of seconds and thirds was, in one way, similar to Royal Ascot when Team Godolphin went close a number of times, only to see victory slip from its grasp.

Ambience's win in the G2 Wakeful Stakes on the opening day was a triumph though she had to be content with third in the Oaks five days later, in which it appeared she did not stay the trip in the conditions.

McDonald finished the week with a total of four winners - he finished second to Damien Oliver, with six.

One of McDonald's best wins came aboard Delectation for trainer Chris Waller in the G1 Darley Classic. This was an appropriate victory as Delectation, a four-year-old gelding, is by the Darley stallion Shamardal.

On the same card, Turn Me Loose landed the G1 Emirates Stakes to put Darley sire Iffraaj's name up in lights, while Palentino earned a similar accolade for Teofilo, also from the Darley band, when taking a listed contest.

Hong Kong is a matter of weeks away and will provide a different test entirely. Many will be looking forward to those differences.