Resuming with a close-up fourth in the Listed Barton Stakes recently, 5yo Not A Single Doubt gelding Cafe Millenium was too strong at Flemington on Saturday, winning the Listed VRC Elms Handicap (1400m), his third black type victory.
Really coming into his own since transferring to Victorian stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes, it’s interesting to note that Cafe Millenium made his debut on this weekend back in 2023 at Royal Randwick, winning the Pierro Plate by a length and a quarter.
Jumping away on the third line of betting behind race favourite Sabaj, Cafe Millennium settled on the outside with just one behind him in the run.
With Scheelite and the NSW visitor Matcha Latte taking up the running, the pair slowed up the field before Scheelite kicked it up again as he entered the straight and tried to make a break on the field.
With Sabaaj stuck on the rail and needing a gap, Celine Gaudray aboard Cafe Millenium was making her run down the outside of the field to put herself into a challenging position.
With Sabaaj finally securing clear running, Cafe Millenium sprinted strongly, charging past Scheelite to take the win, given the Hayes brothers three winners from the first seven races on the card including the stakes winning 2yo Hard Kick in the first.
Recording his third black type win from his last six starts, Cafe Millenium took his overall record to five wins and three placed efforts from 27 starts with $657,370 in earnings.
Building a great relationship with the gelding, Celine has been aboard Cafe Millenium in all his three black type wins, with co-trainer JD Hayes also highlighting her riding ability.
“A big thank-you to Ron Finemore giving Celine the opportunity as well, stated JD Hayes. “He backs in young people. He's stuck by her and she's ridden him a treat every time. They have a good affinity and that was a beautiful ride.”
“When they backed off, she put him in galloping room and it was a very strong, authoritative win. He's a good Flemington horse.”
“I think they just click. She's got good hands. She's a very good horse lady. She's very under-rated. She does a lot of work for us and we're happy to put her on when we can."
When asked what is the difference between now and six months ago for Cafe Millenium, Hayes indicated a few subtle gear changes.
“We haven't got any gear on his head. He'll improve again when we get the winkers on and if we ever do get the blinkers on, I think he'll improve again. There's plenty of wriggle room there and I think this Flemington racetrack really suits him as well. I think we'll steer him towards this races as well."
With the All-Star Mile the logical race to aim him at, Gaudray will surely be out to continue her winning ways on the gelding.
“I love riding this horse,” said Gaudray. “He's the ultimate best horse to ride. You get on him, he does everything you ask him to do. Today the race just shaped out perfectly for us.”
“There was a lot more speed than I anticipated. It was nice to see that and when they slowed up, I was able to peel out three-wide and let him gradually come into the race. He's a big striding horse, he got all the room he needed. He was too tough for them.”
Bred and raced by Ron Finemore and John Leaver’s Planette Thoroughbreds, Cafe Millenium was foaled at Newhaven Park Stud.
Cafe Millennium is the lone winner from two to the races out of the 2yo winning High Chaparral mare Veloce Forte, herself a half-sister to the G2 MVRC Moonee Valley Classic winner and G1 Queen Of The Turf runner-up Gypsy Diamond and also to the G2 winner Miraval Rose (Grunt).
Veloce Forte has had a chequered breeding career since foaling Cafe Millenium, with the next named foal being the unraced 2yo filly Forte Fatale (Needs Further) in the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton yard with the mare missing in the subsequent two breeding seasons.
Veloce Forte has since been covered by Tassort in the spring.
Cafe Millenium is one of 85 stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Not A Single Doubt, who is represented by six sons at stud this season including Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice and Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan.
