Viddora to miss Magic Millions

Group 1 winning mare Viddora (I Am Invincible) won’t be headed back to the Gold Coast to defend her Magic Millions Sprint crown after a disappointing performance when finishing 11th in last Saturday's G1 Winterbottom S.

Trainer Lloyd Kennewell told Racing.com that the 6-year-old would head to the paddock before being prepared for one last campaign.

"We can't fault her to be honest, she has been fine, she arrived back from Perth this morning and contrary to reports out there that she hadn't eaten up all week, she was eating terrific, she was in really good order going into the race," he said.

"Horses can have off days, and she had one of those off days."

"Joe (Bowditch) said it was a very tight-run race, she was a bit hesitant in behind them, she probably does her best racing when she sweeps around them and gets off the fence and swoops around her rivals."

"So we will reassess her, make sure everything is okay and give her the tick of approval before she heads off to the paddock."

Tough homecoming for Trap

Jarrod McLean admits his last-start Group 1 winner Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice {GB}) has his work cut out for him beating the locals in Saturday's G1 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot.

Trap For Fools, a surprise winner of the G1 Mackinnon S. at his last start, hasn’t run in Western Australia since finishing sixth in the G2 Perth Cup at the start of this year.

Transferred to McLean from Lindsey Smith's stable, he has become a Group 1 winner, but McLean knows there will be no welcome mat rolled out by the locals, including the Bob Peters-owned pair Galaxy Star (Redoute's Choice) and Arcadia Queen (Pierro).

Galaxy Star won the G1 Railway S. at her last start while on the same day, Arcadia Queen was an emphatic winner of the G2 WA Guineas.

Before the other Saturday it looked a very winnable race - now I’m just hoping,” McLean told Racenet. “Those two (Arcadia Queen and Galaxy Star) look like they are two emerging stars, the two of them."

“I was here Railway Stakes day and they were both awesome and they are going to be very hard to beat.”

Martin injured in trackwork fall

Victorian-based apprentice Jack Martin's torrid run with injury has continued after a trackwork fall at Mornington on Tuesday morning.

Martin was taken to the Alfred Hospital complaining of shoulder soreness after being knocked out by the fall and was also placed under observation for concussion symptoms.

While there was no fracture in the shoulder, he is likely to miss upcoming rides, including four at Wednesday's twilight meeting at Sandown Hillside.

The 23-year-old has endured a difficult run, missing much of last summer after a fall at Hamilton in November 2017. That came after he was hospitalised following a fall at Ballarat in February 2017.

In 2014, he was left in an induced coma after a road accident when returning home from the Seymour races. He was subsequently diagnosed with epilepsy and spent 14 months out of the saddle.

Trainer eyeing second Group 1 runner

Trainer Jamie Richards is considering strengthening his G1 Sistema Railway hand at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Hawke’s Bay spring carnival star Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will definitely take her place.

“She looks terrific. She trialled well at Matamata last Tuesday and she’ll trial again at Te Aroha on Tuesday-week,” Richards said.

“She’ll run first-up in the Railway, she’s going really well.”

Melody Belle won both the G1 Tarzino Trophy and the G1 Windsor Park Plate before she was turned out.

The Railway has always been her first summer target and thought is being given to Sword Of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel) also taking his place.

“Sword of Osman has been nominated for the Railway,” Richards said.

“He’s going for a gallop at Ellerslie in about ten days’ time.

“He could well run in the Hallmark, but I just wonder if a 3-year-old is going to be competitive at set weights and penalties in races like the Railway and the Telegraph.

“We are just feeling our way a bit with him. He’s done about a week’s work and we’ll up the pace with him later in the week.”

The winner of last season’s G1 Sistema S., he hasn’t raced since finishing seventh in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Purton, Bowman favoured to fight for IJC

Two of the best Australian-born jockeys are expected to fight out the Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Hugh Bowman and Zac Purton are favoured to win the series, with Bowman having won it in 2016 and Purton having won bragging rights last year.

Bowman will be aboard Mr Right (Race 4), Marvel Joy (Race 5), Lotus Breeze (Race 7) and Lucky Girl (Race 8) while Purton has been drawn to ride General Iron (Race 4), Namjong Invincible (Race 5), Positively High (Race 7) and Vigor Fame (Race 8).

The likes of Silvestre de Sousa, Ryan Moore, Mickael Barzalona, Karis Teetan and Christophe Lemaire are also contesting the series.

Danzdanzdance ready for Captain Cook

Freshened mare Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is spot on for her assignment in Saturday’s G1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham according to co-trainer Michelle Bradley.

Danzdanzdance has not started since finishing third behind Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 Livamol Classic in early October but given time between runs she has flourished.

“We’ve freshened her up again nicely and she looks in great order,” Bradley said.

“She’s the type of filly that doesn’t need that much racing or that much work. She keeps herself pretty fit, so we’re happy with her at this stage."

“I think she is in just as good order as she was down at Hastings and we’re expecting a bold run from her.”

Opie Bosson will take the ride with Danielle Johnson sidelined with a shoulder injury,