Enable ready for Arc defence

Trainer John Gosden sees substantial improvement in his champion Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {IRE}) after her winning comeback in Saturday's September S. at Kempton Park.

Enable had not raced since her dominant win in last year's Prix De l'Arc De Triomphe having suffered a leg injury earlier this year.

But she returned with a strong front-running performance to beat Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by 3.5l, her eighth win in her nine-start career.

"She'll come on for that as she was only 80 per cent fit – 85 at a stretch – but she's in a good place mentally and she's enjoyed it." Gosden said.

"It's been very frustrating for her, as it has for us, especially when she's seen the other horses going out on the Heath.”

She is looking to emulate the mighty mare Treve (Fr.) {Motivator {GB}'s recent back-to-back winners of the Arc.

No Cox Plate for Magic Consol

G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam S winner Magic Consol (Consolidator {USA}) will target another 1600m G2 race at Moonee Valley and not contest the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

The 9-year-old earned a ticket to the Cox Plate with his career-best win on Saturday but was not initially entered in the $5 million G1 weight-for-age race, meaning connections would have to pay a $200,000 late entry fee.

Trainer Paul Preusker, still savouring the biggest success of his career, said the step up to the Cox Plate over the 2040m as not suitable for his stable star.

“The Crystal Mile for sure was my next plan. Look it would be lovely to produce a runner in the Cox Plate, but I think we owe this horse. He gives you everything he’s got when you take him out," he told RSN.

“We’ll look to keep him in a spot where he can do what he’s good at."

International interest strong in MM 2YOs in Training Sale

October's Magic Millions 2YOs in Training Sale is set to attract a strong contingent of buyers from Singapore and Korea.

Magic Millions Sales Director David Chester is currently in Korea promoting the sale and speaking to buyers from across Asia.

The success of sale graduates this season in Singapore has grown interest significantly and there are 205 lots eligible for bonuses during the Singapore Golden Horseshoe 2YO Series at this year's sale.

Lim's Lightning (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Galvarino (Stryker {AUS}) and My Big Boss (Smart Missile {Aus}), all graduates from the sale last year, filled the top three positions in July's S$325,000 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe.

Overall, the past six sales have produced 46 stakes performers across the world.

"The Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale produces more winners and has the best strike rate of the three breeze-up style auctions in Australasia," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.

The 219 lots at the sale will breeze-up over the next month. Warwick farm will host breeze-ups this Thursday, followed by Seymour on Friday.

There will be breeze-ups at the Gold Coast on Monday September 17 and Monday October 8 before the sale takes place the following day, Tuesday October 9.

Golden Rose plans for Thrillster

Co-trainer Troy Corstens is eyeing a possible shot at the G1 Golden Rose for Thrillster (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) off the back of the filly's win in the Listed Atlantic Jewel S at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

"There's a few opportunities. I am thinking of the Golden Rose at this stage. It could be really nice for her," Corstens told RSN on Sunday.

Corstens said a gallop at Flemington this Saturday would determine if Thrillster heads to Sydney, or remains in Melbourne for a tilt at a fillies race at Caulfield.

"I'd say on Saturday morning, we'll try to get permission for Flemington and give her a gallop the Sydney way of going with a mate and see how she handles that," he said.

"We'll probably make a decision next week whether we go to the Golden Rose or we wait that extra week and go to the Thousand Guineas Prelude."

Thrilster became Starspangledbanner's third stakeswinner in Australia with her win on Saturday less than an hour after Home Of The Brave won the G2 Theo Marks in Sydney to join Of The Brave on the list of Group winners by the stallion.

Great Northern win for Chocolate Fish

Chocolate Fish (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) claimed a hard-fought victory in Sunday's Irvines Great Northern Steeplechase (6300m) at Te Aroha.

With the race not held at Ellerslie this year due to track renovations, Chocolate Fish was able to take advantage and defeat Perry Mason (Zed {NZ}) by 4.5 lengths with Shamal (Zabeel {NZ}) third.

It was a deserved triumph for the 9-year-old and his trainer Shane Brown.

"I thought we had the best stayer so I said to (jockey) Shaun (Phelan) to put him in the race and he will out-tough them. A lot of people said he was a bit of a ‘gunna’ but he’s just a genuine stayer who will go all day," he said.

“He’s a nine-year-old that’s only had twenty-five starts but he won his maiden (steeplechase) race first-up and has been up against the big guns ever since."

“It’s huge to have won the Northern, I’m just rapt for the horse as he deserved that.”

Jackfrost (NZ) (Gallant Guru {Aus}) won the Schweppes Great Northern Hurdle.

Cup targets for Trap for Fools

The major spring handicaps may come onto the radar of former Western Australian Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice {GB}) after his win at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Trainer Jarrod McLean told RSN that the G3 JRA Cup is the most likely destination for Trap For Fools, who took his record to 12 wins from 27 starts with his open handicap victory over 2040m.

However, the G1 Metropolitan H. is also a possibility on the same weekend, with McLean refusing to rule out a tilt at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups later in the spring.

McLean, in his role as assistant trainer for Darren Weir, was also happy with the run of Yogi (NZ) (Raise The Flag {GB}) who would also be plotting a path to Flemington.

"He's ticking over beautifully. He'll go through the Naturalism, and then onto the Bart Cummings," McLean said.

"Hopefully if he can win that, he can have a free hit at the Melbourne Cup."