An array of future stallion prospects will have opportunities to boost their CVs at Flemington Saturday.
Group 1 opportunities await a number of high-class 3-year-olds at both ends of the distance spectrum in the Coolmore Stud S., and in the VRC Derby.
The short course specialists will dash for the cash over the 1200 metres of the Coolmore, in which Aquis Farm holds a strong hand with ownerships interests in Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar) and Sesar (Sebring).
The former has won two of his five starts, including the G3 Sires’ Produce S., at Doomben last term and the G2 Run To The Rose earlier this spring.
Trial success
He was fifth in the G1 Golden Rose S., behind his gifted stablemate The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) at his last appearance and he has subsequently been kept up to the mark with a trial win at Randwick.
Sesar is coming off a victory in the G2 Roman Consul S., while Aquis also share in the ownership of the dashing filly Sunlight (Zoustar). She claimed the G3 Thoroughbred S., two runs back before the rub of the green went against her in the G1 Manikato S.
Thinkin’ Big (High Chaparral {IRE}) will have studmasters doing just that if he adds the G1 VRC Derby to his record.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt has a strong sense of timing about him following a commanding performance to win the G3 Norman Robinson S.
Bred to stay
He has a staying pedigree to back his claims and is from the family of Nothin’ Leica Dane, who won the Derby for Waterhouse before running second in the G1 Melbourne Cup three days later.
The G1 Empire Rose S., provides the bonny mare I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) another gilt-edged opportunity to continue her winning ways.
Unbeaten in her last three appearances, is a multiple stakes winner and victory would make her one of the most valuable mares in the country.
Trainer Shane Nicholls has done an admirable job with the Matthew Sandblom-owned 5-year-old, who has won 10 of her 26 starts.
Topweight up to task
Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {IRE}) will have to give weight to all-comers in the G1 Kennedy Mile, but he is more than capable of rising to that challenge.
High-class and durable, the 8-year-old is the model professional and is in cracking form and followed up his sterling G1 Epsom H., victory a last-start second in the G1 Toorak H.
Hartnell
Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) has been a star for Darren Weir since her arrival from New Zealand and gained her just deserts with an emphatic win in the G3 Ethereal S., after an unlucky Australian debut when third in the G3 Edward Manifold S.
Victory on Saturday will see her tighten her hold on the upcoming G1 VRC Oaks.
Everest eye-catcher
Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {IRE}) is a clear topweight in the G2 The TAB S., and he is more than capable of carrying his 59kg impost to victory. The most genuine of customers, he was set the sternest challenge of his career last time out and came through with flying colours when he powered down the outside fence to finish third in The Everest.
Osborne Bulls
There will be keen G1 Melbourne Cup interest in the G3 Lexus S., with a number of runners attempting to force their way into the Flemington feature.
Among them is A Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {GER}) who had little luck when third in his Australian debut in the G3 Herbert Power. He was hemmed in on the fence and got out too late to trouble the Cup favourite Yucatan (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}).
Leading Carbine hope
Godolphin’s Ranier (Lonhro) is at the top of his game and he looks an outstanding chance to add the G3 Carbine Club S., to his burgeoning record while stablemate Resin can book end a mouth-watering card at Flemington in the G3 Furphy Sprint.
In Western Australia, trainers Grant and Alana Williams look to have a stranglehold on the G3 South African Airways-Asian Beau S.
They will saddle the favoured pair of Galaxy Star (Redoute’s Choice) and Action (Pierro) with both runners coming off resuming runs for second and further improvement can be expected from the duo.
Draw in mare’s favour
The G3 TAB Touch-Prince Of Wales S., might be decided by barrier draws and Celebrity Dream (Thorn Park) has been blessed with an inside gate after a gallant third when resuming in the Listed Crawford S., from an awkward barrier.
Black type action in New Zealand is at Awapuni with the running of the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup and provides Excalibur (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) with a more suitable opportunity to strut his stuff.
The G3 New Zealand Cup prospect was a last-start eighth in the Listed Jakkalberry Classic, but he will be much better suited to the step up to a middle distance on the roomier Palmerston North track.
