Secret Whispers for Independence Cup

The Independence Cup is the feature in a six race card framed for tomorrow. Nine runners are in the fray for this 1,400m contest for horses in Class III.With visiting jockeys B Prakash, Neeraj Rawal and S John riding in the race, the contest will be fierce.
Secret Whispers is in a winning streak and his connections apparently targetted this richly endowed race as his opening attempt this season.
Keeping nothing to chance, in form jockey S John is summoned from the South. He is expected to guide Secret Whispers to victory in a three cornered contest involving Arctic Force and Fabulous Emperor.
Selections: 1.45 p.m.: PRINCE OF GOLD 1, Shanghai Girl 2, Chitrita 3. 2.20 p.m.: MYSTERIO 1, Flying Jaguar 2, Bossy Boss 2. 2.55 p.m.: MASTER MARVEL 1, Promissory 2, Brave Italiano 3. 3.25 p.m.: BOLD REPLY 1, Succeeding Star 2, Right Again 3. 4.00 p.m.: SECRET WHISPERS 1, Arctic Force 2, Fabulous Emperor 3. 4.35 p.m.: CARLITO 1, Grace N Grit 2, Adriana 3. Day's best: Master Marvel.

Jockey Ramon Dominguez sweeps two Grade I stakes at Hollywood Park

Jockey Ramon Dominguez deserves a first-class plane ticket back to New York after sweeping Hollywood Park's two Grade I stakes Sunday.

"It's awesome," the 32-year-old native of Venezuela said.

Both winning rides featured come-from-behind finishes. Cocoa Beach rallied in the stretch to overtake pacesetter Precious Kitten to win the $500,000 Matriarch at one mile on the turf. Visit finished third.

Then he maneuvered Court Vision from last in a field of nine to win the $500,000 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/4 miles on the turf. Cowboy Cal took second and Midships third.

Each win was by a margin of three quarters of a length.

A winner on three continents and on a variety of surfaces, the 4-year-old Chilean-bred Cocoa Beach showed she might be the second-best filly in America behind unbeaten Zenyatta by winning for the ninth time in 12 career starts. She covered the mile in 1:35.49 as the 9-5 favorite.

Trained by the Dubai-based Saaed bin Suroor for Godolphin Racing Inc., Cocoa Beach finished second to Zenyatta in her last start, the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. This time, there was no stopping Cocoa Beach once she unleashed her closing kick.

"When I saw her coming from the corner, the last furlong and one-half, I thought she was going to win," Bin Suroor said. "The jockey had a brilliant ride. He kept her nice and relaxed behind and took her toward the middle. When he asked her, she flew."

Earlier in the day, Zenyatta came out of her Hollywood Park barn to take a bow and parade in front of her fans, and Bin Suroor was happy Zenyatta didn't run.

"Zenyatta is a star," he said. But he indicated Cocoa Beach will stay in the United States and isn't afraid of a possible rematch with Zenyatta next year.

"Why not?" he said. "I think my filly will be stronger."

The Grade I stakes ended three days of six stakes races as part of Hollywood Park's Turf Festival.

Court Vision, the 4-1 second choice in the Hollywood Derby, seems to have found a fondness for the turf.

Trained by Bill Mott, Court Vision won the Grade II Jamaica Handicap on Oct. 4 in his last start on the turf and has recovered nicely after a 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

The victory was even more impressive because the race had a slow pace set by Muny, with splits of 25.10, 49.41 and 1:13.40. The final time was 2:01.43.

"Looking back, if I knew they were going that slow, I would have been worried," Dominguez said. "He finished very, very strong the last part."

Dominguez, who arrived Sunday morning and was scheduled to return to New York on Sunday night, said of his day's work, "It's hard to describe."

Viewed edges Bauer for Cup glory

Viewed, ridden by Blake Shinn, won the Melbourne Cup by a nose in a thrilling finish at Flemington.

The Bart Cummings-trained victor pipped Newmarket handler Luca Cumani's Bauer in a photo, with C'est La Guerre third.

It was a second agonising defeat for Cumani whose Purple Moon was runner-up last year.

Viewed gave Cummings a record 12th Melbourne Cup success, while Aidan O'Brien's fancied Septimus finished well down the field in 18th.

The Irish challenger led early on before stablemates Alessandro Volta and Honolulu came through to take over the pace-making duties.

The trio set a strong gallop and pulled around six lengths clear at one point, with Septimus leading into the straight.

But Shinn made steady progress on Viewed and guided him to the front of the field two furlongs from home and he looked on course for victory.

However, Bauer, under Corey Brown, stormed through on the outside and drew up alongside Viewed in the final couple of strides only to be denied in a photo-finish.

The last Melbourne Cup triumph for Cummings, who turns 81 later this month, was in 1999 with Rogan Josh.

"Someone told me I do make a habit of winning this race and I said it was a good habit to get into," he said at the winner's presentation.

"I feel very sorry for Luca Cumani as the runner-up, but it's great to see the Aussies succeed. I thought it might have been a dead heat it was that close."

Shinn added: "I got to the front way too early but he dug deep. He put in 110% today, he gave his all. He's a master, Bart.

"To win a Melbourne Cup at only 21, I'm just so delighted and hopefully the best is yet to come from me."

Dermot Weld's Profound Beauty finished next best of the European raiders, claiming fifth under Glen Boss, while Cumani's other runner Mad Rush, who went off as favourite, was seventh.