Tuesday, 25 February 2025: A quick look at all the big ratings at Caulfield and Rosehill on Saturday.

JIMMYSSTAR winning the Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate

Caulfield

Futurity

Mr Brightside  held on to win his ninth Group 1, holding off the charges from Tom Kitten  and I Wish I Win  to take the Futurity Stakes with a Racing & Sports rating of 122.

That's a slight dip on his first up run behind Another Wil  and that's a fair enough line to take looking at the beaten margins of some of the horses that ran in both.

Freedom Rally  for example was beaten 7.2 lengths in the Orr and only 2.3 lengths away here, similarly Pinstriped  finished much closer.

The track was an interesting talking point at Caulfield. The wind didn't play nearly as much of an impact as many thought it would, with a fast deck at Caulfield far outweighing any headwind.

Mr Brightside was given a great ride to win the Futurity, and I found it odd that so many people were saying Williams would go back from the wide draw which he just doesn't do on this horse anymore.

Tom Kitten probably should've won on the replay, getting out too late, and the sectionals can make that case as well. He's run to 121 on the RAS ratings which is a new peak, up from 119.

It sets up for a fantastic All-Star Mile with Another Wil, Mr Brightside, Tom Kitten, and likely Atishu and Fangirl who went 123 first up in the Apollo.

MR BRIGHTSIDE winning the Lamaro's Hotel Futurity Stakes

 

Blue Diamond

Devil Night  won the Blue Diamond and it was his ability to settle where he did that won the race. The second and third horses have both run a better sectionally adjusted figure, with the winner running a RAS rating of 114, which actually isn't terrible for a Blue Diamond.

Since 2010, Blue Diamond winners range from 124 (Sepoy) to 110 (Little Brose).

The trend has certainly been downwards in recent years, with the past three winners before this year running the three lowest ratings. Daumier went 111 in 2022 and Hayasugi 113 last year, so Devil Night just edges her.

On the whole, I probably wouldn't be taking any of these if they go to Sydney, although we'll touch on the Silver Slipper a little bit later as well.

 

Oakleigh Plate

Jimmysstar  was awesome taking out the Oakleigh Plate and ran a big rating in the process.

He ripped home in 32.84 and was given a great ride by Ethan Brown to track up close enough around the bend and fly past a game She's Bulletproof.

He's run to 121 on the RAS scale and the time, especially when you adjust for his sectionals, is very strong around the 124 mark.

Jimmy running into the 120s isn't a shock. He'd shown plenty of sectional ability and started favourite over Another Wil at Flemington in a Group 2, with the expected rating at 120 that day.

This is good going for an Oakleigh Plate. Since 2000, only Snitzel (125), Lankan Rupee (125), Weekend Hussler (124) and Fastnet Rock (122) have out-rated Jimmy, even just edging Starspangledbanner at 120.

Last year's winner Queman went 114 while Uncommon James went 118 the year prior.

It'll be interesting to see what they do with Jimmy now. There have been Quokka rumours flying around, and a fast 1200m at Ascot could really suit.

Overpass  has 119 and 120 in his pair of Quokka wins so Jimmy would be up to his ears in that if they do go, and The Goodwood could be another great target. With good placement, there's every chance he could rack up millions this time in.

 

Rosehill

Silver Slipper

Beiwacht  won the Silver Slipper in good style, sitting on speed and sprinting home well to score by 2.2 lengths, running to 112 on the RAS scale.

That's a big new peak from Beiwacht and sits slightly on the softer side for Silver Slipper winners, which is probably in line with what we've seen from these two-year-olds the whole way through.

There certainly wasn't enough in the sectionals to say Wodeton  should've won this. We make his run the same rating to his 103 on debut, but the mark up isn't nearly as strong.

He probably should've finished second but I wouldn't be dropping off him completely. The interesting thing was the market, which was firm with Wodeton throughout despite everyone knowing he'd be ridden cold.

That can be looked at two ways- either the market thought he was more wound up than he was, or they just didn't care and thought he had such an edge on them anyway. I'm leaning to the latter.

BEIWACHT winning the TAB SILVER SLIPPER STAKES

 

Hobartville

Broadsiding  resumed with a nice win in the Hobartville Stakes, running to a RAS rating of 117.

That's a couple of pounds below his 119 rating Golden Rose win over the same route last time in but it's a great starting point.

No doubt he's the horse to beat in the Randwick Guineas and will start favourite but Swiftfalcon  has gone enormous from the back. He's run 114+ on the Timeform scale with a big sectional mark up which is a clear new peak for him.

He needs to draw a gate in the Guineas, because the stable are too negative from wide gates, but he can win that race.

It'll be interesting to see what they do with both horses after that. The Rosehill Guineas is the obvious path, but it wouldn't surprise if something goes the George Ryder/Doncaster path.

Hawkes did it with Brutal a few years ago to win the Doncaster and it wouldn't surprise if they went that route again.

Aeliana  was also very good fresh. Not sure what the race is for her but it could be the Vinery. I don't think she'd have a problem getting 2000m and she won't face Lady Shenandoah there who the stable have said won't be heading there.

BROADSIDING winning the KIA ORA HOBARTVILLE STAKES at Rosehill in Australia.