El Roca heartbreak

Classy galloper El Roca has been ruled out of the spring carnival because of injury. The stakes winner and dual Gr I placegetter was due to run first-up in Saturday’s Gr III Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington. But the New Zealander was scratched on race morning after swelling and heat was detected in his off foreleg. El Roca is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young who confirmed via social media that El Roca’s spring is over. “Unfortunately, El Roca has [a] suspensory injury and will be out for rest of spring carnival, gutted!” Busuttin Racing announced on Twitter.

Jewel shines in Let’s Elope

A shot at the Cox Plate is one step closer for top mare Commanding Jewel after she became the first dual winner of the Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington. In just her second start since winning the Gr II race for mares last year, Commanding Jewel, the $2.60 favourite, overcame a three-wide run to hold off the fast-finishing Dear Demi by a short neck on Saturday. Nautical came in another neck away third. Matamata mare, Viadana, finished the race off well to run just behind the placegetters about four lengths from the winner. Commanding Jewel’s trainer Troy Corstens said it was great to see the three-quarter sister to Atlantic Jewel show she was on target for a crack at the Cox Plate. “She needed to run like that today to warrant pushing on to a Cox Plate so it’s good to get that out of the way,” Corstens said. The plan for Commanding Jewel is to go to the Rupert Clarke Stakes, Toorak Handicap and then the Cox Plate. “It’s full steam ahead,” Corstens said. Damien Oliver weighed in 400g under his alloted weight but the rules allow for a 0.5kg leeway and correct weight was declared. Dear Demi appears to be on target for her major spring aims, finishing strongly under Jim Cassidy who was delighted with the mare’s performance. “They went a bit slow early, but she finished off nicely,” Cassidy said.

Hallowed Crown for Cummings

The fourth generation of the Cummings family has etched his name on the Gr I honour roll after a thrilling win by Hallowed Crown in the Golden Rose. James Cummings, who works in partnership with his famous grandfather Bart, is the son of multiple Gr I winning trainer Anthony and the great grandson of Jim Cummings who began the dynasty. “One more Gr I win for Bart, one for me,” James Cummings said. It was in fact Gr I win No.267 for Bart and one of the few elite races not already on his resume. Hallowed Crown ($6.50) went into Saturday’s 1400m race unbeaten from three starts but with the second-widest barrier. He was at the rear of the field early but Hugh Bowman kept him under control and made his move late with Scissor Kick ($13). The pair kicked away with a long head separating them on the line with Shooting To Win another to make ground from the back to finish third, 1¼ lengths from the runner-up. “He is a serious colt and hopefully one that takes us all the way to the top,” Cummings said. Hallowed Crown’s win was a family affair in more ways than one with the colt raced by Eduardo Cojuangco whose granddaughter and racing manager Monica is married to James Cummings. Cojuangco watched the race from his home in Manila and called his granddaughter after the race. “He was crying he was so overwhelmed,” she said. “He said it was his biggest thrill in racing.” It was the fourth win in the race for Bowman but his first since it was elevated to Gr I. It was also a race which panned out beautifully and the jockey gave credit to the runner-up. “A lot of credit goes to Scissor Kick because he got into the run where I wanted to be and he had to do all the work. He took me into the race.” Cummings would not be drawn on how far into the spring Hallowed Crown would go but Scissor Kick’s owner John Messara, father of trainer Paul, said his colt would continue. “He just couldn’t get in. He was five-wide with no cover,” Messara said. “We will see how he pulls up but obviously he’s a Gr I horse. We’ve just got to find the right race for him.”

Clover Don rolls favourites

Clover Don and Robbie Holmes produced a massive upset to win Addington’s Ordeal Cup and take a giant step towards the Dominion Handicap in the process. The all-the-way victory on Friday night came over the highly rated Sheemon and red hot favorite Habibti, and will give a strong boost to Clover Don’s chances of making the Dominion field. Holmes went to the lead early and the 11-year old trotter was tough in the home straight to hold off all challengers for a massive blowout at more than $30 for the win. Holmes did well to find the front from barrier six. There was no sign of a repeat of last week’s tardy start from Habibti as David Butt eased her off the mobile to settle near the rear of the field from barrier eight. With a lap to run Butt trailed Dexter Dunn and Sheemon up three wide to sit parked for most of the last lap. When they turned for home Habibti could not go with Clover Don and Sheemon made ground but could be excused for not running down Clover Down given it was his first start since winning the four-year-old Ruby at the Harness Jewels in May. Smart three-year-old pacer Zin Zan continued his impressive start to his career with a win in the C1 pace over 1950m for trainer Geoff Dunn. The win was his second in just four starts and he will now be primed for a Sires Stakes campaign.