Mic Mac paddy whack

The Spring campaign of star galloper ‘Mic Mac’ gets underway on Saturday, where he takes on exciting mare ‘Black Caviar’ in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.

Unbeaten Black Caviar hasn't raced since her dominant win in the Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in January, and Mic Mac will be looking for any chink in the mare’s armour.

After receiving the son of ‘Statue of Liberty’ during the autumn, Trainer Paul Messara is expecting big things of the entire, but is wary of Black Caviar, "I think if she turns up then she's the one to beat".

Messara said he had learned a bit about Mic Mac in recent weeks to the point where he delayed his spring kick-off by a week.

"He actually takes a bit more work than I first would have thought," the trainer said.

"It just took a bit longer hence a slightly later start to his campaign. But he's ready to go now and I'm very happy with him, let's hope he races back to his best again this preparation".

Messara has given the star sprinter two trials to prepare him for Saturday’s hit out, with his most recent effort a narrow win over 900m last week, finishing just in front of Group 1 winner ‘Melito’.

"I think he'll still take improvement out of the run on Saturday but I'm pleased with the way he's going into it and he's nice and fresh".

Mic Mac is currently $8.00 for the Schillaci and sits on the fourth line of betting. Black Caviar is the dominant $1.70 favourite.

2010 Yalumba Stakes

An intriguing battle is looming in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes, even with only six horses accepting for the Group 1 race.

The $400,000 Yalumba Stakes run over 2000m, pits crowd favourite 'Whobegotyou' against last years Cox Plate winner 'So You Think' in a race that promises to decide who will start favourite in the 2010 edition of the Cox Plate.

When the pair last met, Whobegotyou finished a half length behind So You Think in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes run over 1400m at Caulfield, in what seemed to be a preview of future bouts.

Both horses appear to have a stranglehold over the race, with last years Melbourne Cup favourite 'Alcopop' heading the other runners.

So You Think heads the Yalumba market at $1.50 with Whobegotyou on the second line of betting at $2.90.

$400,000 Group 1 Yalumba Stakes (2000m) Weight For Age

1 MASTER O'REILLY Danny O'Brien -Dwayne Dunn (1)
2 WHOBEGOTYOU Mark Kavanagh -Michael Rodd (5)
3 RED RULER (NZ) John Sargent - Mark Du Plessis (2)
4 EMPIRES CHOICE Bart Cummings -Damien Oliver (6)
5 ALCOPOP Jake Stephens -Mark Zahra (4)
6 SO YOU THINK Bart Cummings -Steven Arnold (3)

Not so Joyous in Toorak

Gai Waterhouse’s glamour mare ‘More Joyous’ will have to defy history on Saturday if she is to continue her winning ways in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.

A winner of nine of her twelve career starts, More Joyous races in Melbourne for the first time on Saturday, a task that has brought many other class gallopers undone.

Whilst her ability to handle the configuration of the Caulfield circuit is still unproven, More Joyous has shown herself to be extremely adaptable and capable in all track conditions.

The main stumbling block for More Joyous appears to be shouldering the top-weight of 58kg. In doing so, she is seeking to set a new weight carrying record for mares in the Toorak Handicap, a mark that is currently held by 'Ripa', who carried 57.5kg to success in 1965.

Even with the big weight, Tulloch Lodge spokesman Mark Webbey says the Waterhouse team are still confident and “There's no denying she deserves that figure (58kg)".

More Joyous faces fourteen rivals in the Toorak Handicap and has drawn a little awkwardly in barrier ten, however regains the services of top jockey Nash Rawiller. Rawiller will be back in the saddle on Saturday after Corey Brown rode her to victory at her past two starts in the Sebring Sprint and George Main Stakes.

With classy opposition such as Sir Rupert Clarke stakes winner ‘Response’ and Mick Price’s boom galloper ‘Spacecraft’ carrying less weight than the super mare, More Joyous’ task looks to be insurmountable.

The weight of history on her slight frame may just end up being the undoing of Waterhouse's glamour mare, but no doubt, her Cox Plate campaign will continue steamrolling ahead.

More Joyous heads the Toorak Handicap market at $2.25, with Spacecraft second favourite at $6.50.

'Rothesay' back and raring to go

Boom galloper ‘Rothesay’ looks set for a superb spring campaign, after trialling exceptionally on Tuesday at Rosehill.

After winning the trial, Rothesay's trainer Gerald Ryan said he expceted big things of the four year old, and is looking forward to Saturday week’s Theo Marks stakes, the entires first up assignment.

Rothesay displayed his enormous talent during the Brisbane winter carnival with a two and a quarter length win in the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup run over 1600m. This impressive showing was followed by a similar comfortable victory by three and a quarter lengths to win in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas over the same distance.

Ryan believes that his youngster is bigger and stronger than what he's been at this stage of any of his previous preparations, and looks ready for a forward showing first up.

"I sat down last week and watched the replays of his two wins in Queensland and he was impressive doing that,”

“In saying that, I still think he can improve.”

Rothesay is scheduled to progress to the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick second-up and then the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, meaning a start in the Epsom Handicap is unlikely for the four-year-old.

Rothesay has won four of his seven starts and earned almost four hundred thousand dollars in prizemoney.

'Snow Alert' facing biggest test

Classy five year old ‘Snow Alert’ will test his staying ability on Saturday, stepping up beyond 1600 metres for the first time in the Premier’s Cup at Rosehill.

Snow Alert is one of two runners for leading trainer Chris Waller in Saturday's Listed race over 1800 metres, with Waller’s proven stayer ‘The Embassy’ also in contention.

After running second in the Scone Cup and winning the Listed Rowley Mile in May, Snow Alert was spelled, and his two starts since have been on rain-affected tracks.

Waller has since been searching for the gelding’s preferred firmer going, and seems to be quietly confident heading into Saturday’s race.

"He is fitter for his two runs and is well weighted with 54-1/2 kilos so I expect him to go well".

Waller had always thought that he looked like the type of horse who will get over further ground, with his action suggesting he is suited to longer racing.

"He's a big-striding horse who gets back and with some luck he'll run home strongly”.

Waller has planned out the start of the spring for the gelding, rising in distance to tackle both the Wyong and Newcastle cups.

This race should prove to be a successful start in Snow Alert's new chapter of life. With class on his side, he will definitely be right in the finish in Saturday's race, and in future staying events on the Sydney calender.

Snow Alert is the $5 second elect for the Premier's Cup behind 'Scouting Wide' at $3.20 with The Embassy a $13 chance.