Moonee Valley (28/01)

Moonee Valley 28/01

Race One
1.Master Harry - 5.Tassa Avanti - 4.Umgeton - 2.Chelembra

Master Harry looked like a very promising horse in his first campaign and should prove too good in this small field. Tassa Avanti showed plenty of speed at her first start and will be the one to run down.

Race Two
9.Shivoo - 10.There's Only One - 6.Skimalong - 1.Coldens Choice

In what looks a very even race, I'm expecting a big run from little filly Shivoo. She has been consistent in similar grade recently, and with a feather weight will be right in the finish. There's Only One and Skimalong will also be around the mark with the latter wearing blinkers for the first time.

Race Three
1.Star Of Jeune - 5.Pento Diablo - 4.Montgomery - 2.Family Bliss

In a typical 3000m Moonee Valley staying test, it is a mixture of old war horses and up and comers. Star Of Jeune fits into the latter category and after running a close second at his last start, will prove hard to beat, even with the big weight. Pento Diablo and Montgomery certainly relish the trip and will make it hard for the favourite.

Race Four
5.Emma Princess - 6.Stack Em - 1.Pyrenees Express - 9.Lis Nediym

The 955m challenge has been a great success under lights at Moonee Valley, and this edition shouldn't disappoint. Emma Princess has plenty of pace and appreciates the sharp turning track, so from barrier 2 I'm expecting a big race. Stack Em and Pyrenees Express look set for greater challenges and will be closing late.

Race Five
4.Apennine - 7.Comocean - 3.Monthalia - 1.Manila Jewel

The first quaddie leg looks to be a very even mare's race. Apennine has been consistent without winning over Summer, but I'm willing to give her another chance. From barrier 5 she should get a gun run, and will be hard to hold out. You could throw a blanket over the rest of the field, with Comocean the best of the rest.

Race Six
9.Typhoon Tracy - 8.Undeniably - 4.Whitefriars - 2.Heart Of Dreams

The reigning Horse Of The Year, Typhoon Tracy, resumes after what was a lacklustre (by her standards) spring campaign. This race looks to be at her mercy if she is at her best, but if she lacks fitness, she could be run off her legs by improving youngster Undeniably. Interesting to see how the back markers (Vigor, Heart Of Dreams) run, on their way to the Australian Cup.

Race Seven
2.Cross Street - 9.Kid Kapone - 6.Rebel Truce - 8.Cavendish

The meeting doesn't get any easier with another even field contesting the third leg of the quaddie. Cross Street has always shown promise and ability, but has also proven to be costly. I'm willing to give him another chance ahead of a list of contenders. Kid Kapone and Rebel Truce have shown ability in lesser grades and could be the testing material for these.

Race Eight
7.Disco Dan - 9.Fomalite - 8.Itimo - 4.Zizz

Another even field lines up for the 'Legends After The Last' Rating 78 to end the night's program. After winning in similar company at Moonee Valley last start Disco Dan will again prove hard to beat. This is certainly his favourite distance and Jason Maskiell's claim will certainly come in handy. Fomalite, Itimo and Zizz all look to have winning chances, with Mega Excel a must for multiples.

Best Bet
Race 3 No 1 Star Of Jeune

Best Roughie
Race 4 No 5 Emma Princess, Race 5 No 4 Apennine

Flemington 22/01

Flemington 22/01

Race One
7.Redangelo - 2.Bladon - 4.Charting - 1.Aberrant

Race Two
1.Rubinacci - 3.Fantastic Glen - 2.Casual Friday - 4.Winged Charm

Race Three
3.Gail - 8.Assertion - 1.Princess Diablo - 7.Wayfield

Race Four
8.Cabeza - 10.Kert - 3.Port Vell - 5.Cornish

Race Five
6.Sister Norma - 5.Fordee - 7.Star Of Jeune - 8.Olympic Win

Race Six
1.Grand Duels - 5.Big Spirit - 2.Trader - 8.Silver Bullion

Race Seven
14.From The Terrace - 7.Work The Room - 5.Imperial Command - 15.Stillman

Race Eight
9.Threebytwo - 3.King Diamond - 7.Shewan - 4.Brillanconi

Best Bet
Race 4 No 8 Cabeza

Best Roughie
Race 2 No 1 Rubinacci, Race 8 No 9 Threebytwo

'Faster Son' eyeing Group 1 success

Exciting Queensland sprinter 'Faster Son' has Group 1 success in his sights, after arriving in Melbourne for the Autumn's "Festival of Racing".

Trainer Trevor Bailey said the gelding had spelled well back at home but has returned to Melbourne for autumn sprint races including next month's Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

“He arrived in Melbourne yesterday and will have a jump-out there (Caulfield) next Tuesday”, Bailey said.

“He's being aimed at the JRA stakes on the fifth of February at Caulfield and then three weeks to the Oakleigh Plate”.

The $350,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate is run over 1100m at Caulfield on February 26.

Faster Son's progression through the ranks began by winning three of his first four starts, before kicking off a fantastic spring campaign last year with an easy win at Doomben last August.

He then headed to Melbourne where he was unbeaten in two runs, grinding out a narrow victory at Sandown Hillside before showing his class to easily win the Mitty's Cup held at Caulfield.

Bailey said that Craig Williams has signaled his intentions to ride the speedster throughout his Melbourne campaign.

'Beneteau' impresses in return

Glamour colt 'Beneteau' made an encouraging start to his autumn campaign yesterday winning his trial with ease at Randwick.

Trainer of Beneteau, Paul Messara, was happy with the colt's progress after sustaining a back injury in the middle of last year.

"There was nothing flashy about the time but he did what he had to do after settling about fourth", trainer Paul Messara said.

Ridden by Corey Brown, Beneteau clocked 1:03.3 for the 1050m heat, beating maiden gallopers 'Money Tree' and 'Savodara'.

After sitting wide for most of the trial, Beneteau strolled up to the leaders at the 200 metres winning comfortably at the line.

Messara said the 'Redoute's Choice' colt would trial again before starting his run towards potential autumn riches.

"I haven't picked out a race yet, he'll trial again in a fortnight and I'll go from there".

Beneteau started favourite in last year's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes before running on impressively from the rear of the field to finish third.

The colt then headed to Sydney where was a close up fifth behind 'Crystal Lily' in the Group 1 Golden Slipper, before finishing sixth to 'Skilled' in the Champagne Stakes.

In other news from yesterdays trials, Gai Waterhouse runners dominated the session winning 15 of the 17 heats, with the Graeme Rogerson-trained 'Shootoff' the only other non-Waterhouse trial winner.

Top class mare 'More Joyous' was among the high-profile Waterhouse gallopers to show their wares, running second to stablemate 'Montana Flyer' who led throughout.

"Star Witness" targets overseas success

Danny O'Brien's star sprinter, "Star Witness", could be headed overseas to the Royal Ascot carnival, after a short autumn campaign which kicks off in a few weeks.

Last year's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, recorded another Group 1 success as a three year old in the spring when winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Star Witness is only weeks away from resuming where he will kick off in early February at Caulfield in the Listed Wellington Race Club Stakes before contesting the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes a fortnight later.

His autumn campaign will come to a close in the Group 1 Australian Guineas run at Flemington in early March.

Trainer O'Brien believes a Guineas win would round out his potential stud record, winning both as a sprinter and a miler at the top level.

O'Brien is also aiming his star colt at Royal Ascot with possible targets being the Kings Stand, Golden Jubilee and July Cup.

Flemington 15/01

Flemington 15/01/11

Race One
1. Graskop - 3.A Rare Old Time - 5.North East - 4.Light Touch

Race Two
6.Leading - 4.Dubawi Gold - 2.Utah Saints - 5.Dusty Star

Race Three
1.Warm Love - 3.Malburn - 4.Lucky Doris - 7.Miss Elvee

Race Four
5.Absolute Joy - 10.Comocean - 4.Fashion Black - 3.Apennine

Race Five
4.Vals Boy - 3.Happy Angel - 9.Wordmaster - 1.Testapal

Race Six
10.Offenders - 5.Keano - 3.Chasm - 7.Its Prince

Race Seven
6.Tears I Cry - 10.Bondarchuck - 1.Reverend Lovejoy - 11.Sir Walter

Race Eight
8.Fieldmaster - 6.Lord Pindari - 5.Muir - 10.Beatboy

Best Bet
Race 8 No 8 Fieldmaster
Best Roughie
Race 4 No 5 Absolute Joy, Race 6 No 10 Offenders

Magic Millions track "unsafe"

Saturday's $4.3 million Magic Millions race day, held at the Gold Coast, was today declared unsafe for racing by Queensland Racing stewards but improving weather may still allow it to be run as scheduled.

Racing Queensland steward Daniel Aurich walked the rain-soaked track following yesterday's feature race barrier draws.

Aurich said two sections of the track posed serious concerns for the meeting.

"At the moment the section from the winning post to the 400 metres is unsafe for racing", Aurich said.

"There's another section from the 800 metres to the 1600 metres which is also unsafe for racing.

"If it stays fine as it is today then the track should improve considerably.

"We'll inspect the track again tomorrow and on Friday and if it stays fine we probably won't make a final decision whether the meeting goes ahead until Saturday morning.

"However, if we get any rain we may be in a position to make a decision earlier and then go to Plan B".

Sales expected to be down at Magic Millions

The strength of the Australian dollar has become a big talking point ahead of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast starting today.

Stephen Silk, the Magic Millions managing director, estimates that international buying could be down by as much as 20 per cent this year.

Some vendors fear buyers may wait until the New Zealand Premier sale later this month with the weaker Kiwi dollar more appealing to buyers.

Magic Millions director Gerry Harvey, whose Baramul Stud is the biggest vendor this week with 53 lots, disagrees and believes the value of the dollar won't make or break the sale.

"Certainly if it (the Australian dollar) was 75 cents it would be a huge advantage, but it's not", Harvey said.

"In terms of Asia, the dollar doesn't help us but they still have to buy horses. I'm not sure it will make that big a difference".

A new sale scheduled in South Africa later this month was also a threat to the Gold Coast showpiece, as South Africans have been solid supporters of this sale over the past few years.

Two youngsters who are tipped to top the sales this week are Lot 564, John Singleton's half-brother to glamour mare 'More Joyous' and Lot 30, Reavill Farm's full brother to Golden Slipper winner and gun young sire Stratum. Both colts are by Redoute's Choice.