The face of our classic racing has changed, probably forever.
The fillies have taken over from the colts and geldings and the only surprise is that it has taken so long.
When you have traditionally sold as many colts to overseas markets as we have at the yearling sales, then nine out of 10 of the best colts once they are in training, only the fillies are left to come through.
Watching Spring Rain's dominance of the fillies-only Highview Stakes on Saturday and Singalong get over the top of the males in the Hawkes Bay Guineas, it is clear that as far as local racing is concerned the females have become the stronger 3-year-old sex.
Spring Rain was simply superb. When you consider how short of full fitness she was, according to trainer Roger James, how can they beat her in her main spring and summer mission, the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November.
And what about the strength behind her on Saturday.
The minor placegetters Chimera and Playful Fingers looked terrific, there is improvement in Star Satire and Diamond Cashel, and Ethereal displayed huge potential in flashing home late from last on the corner. Butterscotch and Conquistar are also fillies of real class.
It is not difficult to imagine that a few of these fillies will be racing in Australia before the end of the season.
Whichever way you look at it, The Message was handed Saturday's $100,000 Hawkes Bay Challenge Stakes on a plate.
It was the softest lead in a weight-for-age race in years.
You know they are going slow at 1600m when Aerosmith is up running second.
When there was no sprint to the home turn, the leader was always going to be difficult to pull back.
But neither blame nor underestimate The Message for that. He is universally underrated and is up to getting some weight-for-age money in Australia, despite the fact his international record so far looks ordinary on paper.
Owner-trainer John Ralph, left at home on Saturday nursing gout, is keen to look at the Cox Plate if The Message wins the $250,000 Kelt Capital Stakes on Saturday week, but against Sunline that might be looking at place money.
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Cheiron is in doubt for the $A600,000 Epsom Handicap in Sydney after finishing sixth behind the The Message.
The effort was not that bad considering he was last at the 600m - in fact he probably ran the fastest 600m of the race - but trainer Bruce Marsh is concerned the horse may he training off.
"I was not happy that he sweated up badly at the start, that simply is not him.
"He did a good preliminary, but after being at the start for several minutes he broke into this heavy sweat and rejected going into the barriers."
Marsh said Cheiron was a bit dull yesterday.
"He may need spelling. He's been up a fair while, although he's had a number of short breaks, and he's had a trip to Sydney and one to Brisbane.
"I'll do some tests and see how he is later in the week before deciding, but I'm not confident of getting him to the Epsom."
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Tough luck if you are looking for a top jockey for the Ellerslie's Guineas Trial meeting on Saturday.
Four of the best, Lance O'Sullivan, Michael Walker, Vinny Colgan and Opie Bosson, will be missing after suspensions at Hastings.
Tough on those with horses racing this weekend and tough on Saturday's stipendiary steward Noel McCutcheon, but at least a couple of these suspensions emanated from the fact jockeys have started riding more competitively now tracks have firmed after months of slogging around in the mud.
No one likes to see interference, particularly the type that made a mess of several results on Saturday but, boy, the tight competitive riding is a lot better to watch.
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Showella is delighting trainer Frank Ritchie heading into Saturday's $A350,000 Underwood Stakes.
"She's doing what she always does when she's well, she's relaxing big time."
Showella is a lazy trackworker, particularly galloping solo, and even her Underwood rider Patrick Payne, who made a special trip to Flemington to ride the mare on Saturday morning, could not change that.
"I asked Patrick to go a round of half pace, the second round at three-quarter pace and to sprint from the 600 in 39," said Ritchie.
"She ran the 600m in 41 and Patrick could not get any more out of her on her own. I'm not worried though, she's done enough work and looks fabulous."
Damien Oliver will be back on Showella after Saturday's race.
Racing: Fillies ready to dominate colts
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