Happy New Year 2013

Well after a long break to recover from my PTSD (Posttraumatic Spring Disorder) I am back again just in time for the Australia Day long weekend and a welcome return to some quality racing.

Action kicks off on Friday night at Moonee Valley with the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at w-f-a. Saturday sees the Blue Diamond Previews (1000m) at Caulfield headline a raceday that features two other Listed races. In Sydney they head to Warwick Farm for the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) and in Queensland the Sunshine Coast has a rare Saturday Metro TAB meeting with the feature being the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m).

You can find a full list of upcoming feature races here.

But the red light is on and the starting signal has been given so it's time for us to look at the weeks ahead.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Black Caviar

Well duh. It's a no brainer, but not for the reasons you'd expect. All the questions have been answered. She's unbeaten. She's done it at home and abroad. She's done it at handicap level and at w-f-a, right handed and left handed. So why is she a horse to follow? Because I want to see how she has recovered from that gruelling trip and race at Ascot. Because I want to see how many more times they go to the well and risk that unbeaten record with a mare who's rising seven. Because I want to see if any of the brash young upstarts progressing through the ranks can get her out of her comfort zone. And lastly, simply because I want to. Nothing draws attention to a sport like a superstar. It's like a train wreck, you know how it's going to end but you just can't look the other way.

The Others

As I've just mentioned we have some other handy sprinters around and it will be interesting to see who picks up the scraps left behind by the mighty mare. Hay List is back again and from all reports is bigger and stronger than ever, which is frightening because he already looked like he should be pulling a wagon full of beer barrels. And what of the unbeaten Perth gelding Barakey? Those in the know in WA say the times he's been running in winning are the equal of the likes of former star sprinters from the West like Miss Andretti and Scenic Blast. Then there is Sea Siren. Has she recovered from her Hong Kong disappointment? If she has she will be up to her eyeballs in anything she contests, having claimed three Group 1's already (BTC Cup, Doomben 10,000 & Manikato Stakes) in just 11 career starts. Buffering can't be forgotten either. The perennial bridesmaid deserves to break through for a Group 1 after no less than six placings at the highest level in the last 14 months. He was edged out in both the Doomben 10,000 (Sea Siren) and Stradbroke (Mid Summer Music) after an injury interrupted prep, he was pipped in the Newmarket by Hay List and led home the chasers behind Black Caviar in the Lightning and the Patinack. Throw in a third to Foxwedge and Hay List in the William Reid and surely he must be due. But they'll have their work cut out for them judging by Black Caviar's jump-out at Sandown earlier this week.

3-y-o's

Pierro and All Too Hard were head and shoulders above the rest of the crop and proved it with a stirring finish in the Caulfield Guineas and then backed it up with super runs in the Cox Plate. But what sort of a toll will that take on a young horse? We all saw what happened last year with Helmet and Manawanui. They never recaptured their form upon resuming in the Autumn, and only time will tell if these guys can avoid the same fate. I'm not saying they can't, I'm just saying I won't be jumping out of any windows to take skinny prices before I've seen they've come back fit and healthy.

Stayers

Puissance De Lune was the name on everyones lips after his slashing win in the Queen Elizabeth on the final day of the Flemington Carnival. But bookmakers putting him up a $7 favourite for this year's Cup already? You have got to be having a lend of me. A day is a long time in racing, a year is an eternity. Again, not bagging the animal, he is undeniably talented but he has to reproduce that form, then has to maintain that form, has to stay sound and has to get into the race with a winnable weight. And even if he does you'll probably get something like that price next November without the risk because the money will come for the imports as it always does. Sit on your hands!

THIS WEEKEND

The horse to watch will be Miracles of Life in the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Preview. She isn't nominated for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes but nonetheless is currently the $7 favourite for the feature. She made it two wins from as many starts with a dynamic nine length victory last time out and 29-year-old apprentice Lauren Stojakovic retains the ride despite a host of senior Melbourne riders throwing their hats in the ring.

In the same race Gai Waterhouse has Swing Vote after her impressive win on debut at Warwick Farm on January 5, and Darley has nominated boom filly Montsegur after she romped home on Boxing Day at Caulfield. 

That stable has also nominated Kuroshio for the colts and geldings division where Peter Moody saddles up last start Flemington runner-up Thermal Current and first starter Dissident.

Meanwhile Sam Kavanagh has nominated debutant Mon Gateau and says the gelding has shown above-average ability including an impressive trial win against older horses.

Friday night's Australia Stakes has attracted just eight acceptors and with the early scratching of Skytrain there will now be no third dividend. No surprise really with all the A-grade sprinters preparing for races like the Lightning, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket. Pinwheel heads the field.

Lastly we have the Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm on Saturday aka the Dad's Army Stakes featuring the likes of Fiumicino, Ironstein, Macedonian, Tullamore and Reuben Percival - all of whom are nearly old enough to vote.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I really enjoy gardening. Sometimes I'll still be out there at 3am in the morning, still diggin' away...

- Fred West, Gloucester, 1994