The Daily Wrap

5 min read

Pulse's daughter pleases Waller

Chris Waller is confident impressive Kensington debutant winner Brazilica (Redoute's Choice) can take the leap in class and distance quickly.

Out of G1 VRC Oaks winning mare Brazilian Pulse (Captain Rio {GB}), the filly, ridden by Hugh Bowman, won the 1100m maiden against four rivals by 2l, impressing her trainer in the process.

"She's certainly very well-bred and they are horses I'm grateful to be training," Waller said. "She's certainly going places, and you’d certainly be confident if she got to a mile pretty easily and pretty quickly."

A $400,000 buy by Cameron Cooke for the Payne family after being passed in at the 2017 Easter Yearling Sale, Brazilica's debut had Waller thinking about his superstar The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice).

Brazilica as a yearling

"I just think natural ability will get her there. She's by the right stallion in Redoute's Choice. One of his colts won on debut here as well over a pretty short distance. I think whatever their class is, it will help them win fresh against lesser class horses."

Waller started the day with the first three winners, with So Taken (Street Boss {USA}) winning the opener and Savacool (NZ) the third event, both for jockey Sam Weatherley.

Savacool, who has race victories over Queensland Derby winner Dark Dream (All American) and Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) earlier in her career, notched up her first win of her 4-year-old campaign in a Benchmark 76 race.

The regally-bred Girl Tuesday (Street Cry {Ire}) made it four winners for Waller on the day and four wins to herself to start her career when she maintained her unbeaten status with a victory in a BM76 as she continues to step through her classes.

Dream draw shortens price

Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) has shortened into equal favourite for the G1 Caulfield Cup after drawing barrier six for Saturday's race.

The Darren Weir-trained 5-year-old's main rival in the race, Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}), came up with barrier 10, while The Cliffsofmoher (Galileo {Ire}) drew barrier 3.

"We were hoping for something between barriers four and eight so six is ideal," Kings Will Dream's managing owner Brad Spicer told Racing.com. "It continues the faultless preparation this horse has had and let's hope it can keep going for a few more days."

"He's come a long way in a short time. We had him earmarked for a Geelong Cup this spring but he's just put himself into the picture and we go into the race with a great barrier and some confidence."

Lloyd Williams has two other horses in the race and they had contrasting fortunes with Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) coming up with barrier 4 and The Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galaleo {Ire}) barrier 19 .

Top-weight Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) drew barrier 17.

Manuel could aim for Kennedy Mile

Tony McEvoy is considering a shot at Group 1 glory with Manuel (Commands) after the 5-year-old bounced back to form in a BM84 race at Caulfield.

Manuel, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, controlled the tempo and caused a minor boilover, beating the short-priced Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Tony McEvoy thinks Manuel could measure up to a race like the Kennedy Mile should he squeeze into the field.

"It's really nice to get him back in form, he's a really talented horse and he's been a bit frustrating for us, but it was a beautiful ride by Kerrin," the trainer said.

"There's several races we can run him in. There's the Sale Cup we could go to, and then there's the big mile at Flemington. I don't know if he'd get a run, but we'd look at it."

"He's galloped with (G1 winner) Hey Doc (Duporth) before and was too good for Hey Doc. He can really gallop this horse, he's just got to put it together raceday.

Xpression heads to Ashburton ahead of Guineas

Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing {GB} will use Saturday's G3 Barneswood Farm Stakes at Ashburton as her final tune-up for the G1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

Narrowly beaten by Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the G3 Hawke’s Bay Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings in her last start, the filly is ready to put her best foot forward according to co-trainer Guy Lowry.

“She has come through her last start well and we are just hoping for a bit of luck," he said. “I thought it (run) was okay and her sectionals suggested her run was okay. She has got a good turn of foot which probably gets her out of a bit of trouble.”

It will be Xpression's first try to 1400m, and Lowry is hopeful that shouldn't be an issue.

“You always like to hope they will get over a bit of a trip, but she might not, who knows,” Lowry said. “She’s going the right way at the moment and we’re looking forward to having her run on Saturday.”

Back to Myer for in-form Star

Super consistent 5-year-old I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) is well-poised for another shot at the G1 Myer Classic after her ninth stakes win at Caulfield on Wednesday.

I Am A Star dominated the G3 Ted Baker Ladies' Day Vase from the front in the perfect tune-up for her major spring assignment at Flemington on November 3, a race she won in 2016.

"After they went 100m, she went from a $4 pop to $1.50 pop when they allowed him to dictate the race," trainer Shane Nichols said.

"When you bring her back to level weights against them in the Myer, she's looking good."