Light Infantry Man Wins Australian Cup

Another classic chapter of Australian Cup (G1) lore was written March 28 as an epic home-straight battle ended in a Ciaron Maher quinella, as Light Infantry Man overcame a once-more gallant Pride Of Jenni (AUS) in the Flemington Racecourse feature. Saturday's edition, on an unforgettable day of racing, was worthy of the best of them, as Light Infantry Man edged out Pride Of Jenni at the last gasp. Neither of Maher's two runners was a strong fancy. Chris Waller pair Birdman (IRE) and Leica Lucy (NZ), and Godolphin's Tom Kitten (AUS)headed the market at AU$2.50, AU$4.60, and AU$6, respectively. Punters had that right, in a way. The trio finished in that order—but in fifth, sixth, and seventh—as the lesser-rated Light Infantry Man, at AU$21, and AU$11 shot Pride Of Jenni fought it out. Under her favorite rider Declan Bates aboard, Pride Of Jenni assumed her customary leader's role. Bates had her out by 3 or 4 lengths most of the way. He'd subtly increased that to 5 lengths as the mare eyed her galling quest to hold on up the long Flemington straight, but the mission looked over as early as the 300-meter mark, as Birdman ranged alongside, having saved ground on the rail. Yet as soon as that had happened, Pride Of Jenni kicked again. Birdman's challenge was smashed. But now Light Infantry Man, having traveled in third and fourth for Harry Coffey, emerged menacingly. Again, he looked set to run past the mare inside the 100 meters, but Pride Of Jenni fought again. Like heavyweight boxers, the pair gave all they had over what was left, and on the line it took only the closest of photo examinations to reveal a margin to the outside horse—by a nose. Aeliana comes out on top of Tancred thriller If Autumn Glow (AUS)wasn't around, Aeliana (NZ) would be close to being hailed as Australian racing's superstar mare. But a week after scoring her second elite victory, Chris Waller's other great current female showed she was worthy of the lofty title herself when she scored her most stirring triumph to date in Saturday's Tancred Stakes (G1) at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. Last autumn, Star Thoroughbreds' AU$180,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase took the breath away in beating the boys by a little more than 5 lengths in the Australian Derby (G1). Last week, she showed her fighting qualities with a quarter-length victory in the Ranvet Stakes (G1) when she wore down stablemate Lindermann (AUS)—a redoubtable group 1 winner but perhaps short of the top echelon. Strongly backed into AU$1.70 favoritism, she confronted a bona fide top-rater in William Haggas' English raider Dubai Honour (IRE), here for a third time in quest of his fourth Australian elite title—to go with his other one in the 2024 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (G1)—and back-to-back Tancreds. Dubai Honour was 2 lengths clear at the 100 meters, but with the crowd yelling itself hoarse, Aeliana dug her deepest to continue her charge, wearing away until clinching victory in the last few strides, by a quarter of a length with James McDonald aboard in the 2,400-meter (about 2-mile) event. 'Magic filly' Belle Cheval shines in Vinery Stud Stakes The mighty Savabeel (AUS) chalked up his 36th elite winner when Belle Cheval (NZ) scored a thrilling and dramatic victory in Saturday's Vinery Stud Stakes (G1) at Rosehill. In one of many spine-tingling finishes on a magnificent day of racing in Sydney and Melbourne, the New Zealand filly scored a popular win with punters as AU$2.60 favorite in the AU$750,000 feature, giving trainer Mark Walker his 33rd group 1 success and jockey Zac Lloyd his fifth. It also came with ample postrace tension, before Belle Cheval was confirmed as emulating half brother The Bostonian (NZ) in becoming an elite victor. Jumping from gate 2 of nine under Lloyd, riding with great confidence following his Golden Slipper (G1) win a week earlier at the same track on Guest House (AUS), Belle Cheval enjoyed a perfect trail in third on the fence, behind a moderate tempo which suited her at her first try beyond 1,600 meters (about 1 mile). She claimed the lead at the 200 meters but, at the same time, veered dramatically outward, across the line of After Summer (AUS). Straightened by Lloyd under vigorous whip riding, the Kiwi raider knuckled down to see out the job as After Summer rallied late, holding just enough in reserve to beat After Summer on the bob of the head, denying that filly's sire The Autumn Sun (AUS) a third group 1 title in eight days by just a nose.