Fifty Stars' spring targets revised

The G1 Cox Plate is off the spring radar for Australian Cup winner Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) after the 6-year-old suffered a slight setback.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racenet that Fifty Stars had a slower than expected start to his spring campaign.

“He just jarred his knee a bit,” Hayes said. “He’s on the go-slow at the moment and just doing little bits of work so we won’t see him until later this spring.”

Fifty Stars will resume in the G3 Moonga S., and target then G1 Cantala S. and then the G1 Emirates Mackinnon S. during the Flemington carnival.

“Because he had that setback we want to get him 100 per cent right," he said. “He’ll have a lighter spring before the autumn.”

Warren's stable given all clear after COVID scare

Victorian trainer Jason Warren was forced to scratch two runners from Flemington on Saturday after one of his staff members was identified as a close contact to someone who had tested positive to COVID-19.

Warren is hopeful of returning to racetracks on Monday, where five of his runners are due to compete at Pakenham, after his stable received the all clear.

"Acting with an abundance of caution and in the best interests of the industry, Mr Warren withdrew his horses from yesterday’s race meetings at Flemington and Moe so that no staff members would be in attendance," a Racing Victoria statement said.

"In addition, Mr Warren determined that he would keep all horses at his private training facility on the Mornington Peninsula whilst the matter is further investigated.

"Racing Victoria worked with Mr Warren yesterday to facilitate testing of his staff members and has been advised this morning that all returned results are negative."

Cummings looks to straight option for Home Of The Brave

Godolphin head trainer James Cummings is eager to keep Saturday's G3 Aurie's Star H. winner Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) to races down the Flemington straight.

Home Of The Brave snatched his first win in nearly two years in Saturday's Flemington feature and Cummings will look to keep the 9-year-old in his comfort zone this campaign.

“He’s got a lot of straight track experience from his racing overseas and it continues to show whenever we run the horse up the straight he always performs so well," Cummings told RSN.

“It was great to see him win again by 0.75l to the horse who beat him two starts ago, Great Again, he’s got that bit of winning form about him now and I’d like to think he can keep it up.

“We haven’t locked anything in right now but to me the Bobbie Lewis would be a nice race to keep him on the fresh side and give him another look up the straight."

McEvoy goes into bat for Melody Belle

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was not 'completely disappointed' with the first-up run of champion mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in Saturday's G2 Missile S. at Rosehill.

McEvoy was asked to explain the performance of the Jamie Richards-trained mare by Racing NSW stewards after she finished last of the six runners, but said it was a reasonable run in the circumstances.

"I ended up going to plan B and going back in behind to get some cover but it just proved a little bit difficult to get back into the race," McEvoy said. "She still ran fine, pulled up having a nice blow and should improve.

"I don't think there was anything specifically wrong with her, she just found that race a little bit sharp for her in the circumstances. I am not completely disappointed with her. Maybe she could have done a little bit more but the last furlong she was holding her ground.

"When we took the saddle off her she was having a nice blow."

NZ focus for Two Illicit

Group 2 winner Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) will be among a trio of Roger James and Robert Wellwood runners to trial before the Taupo race meeting on Wednesday .

James had been aiming G1 New Zealand Derby runner-up Two Illicit at an Australian campaign but, with the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, will instead concentrate on a domestic campaign.

“We will see where we go with her (Two Illicit) after the trial but Australia has been discounted under the current circumstances,” he said.

“It’s often not the worst thing for a 4-year-old mare to have a quieter spring as it can be a hard time for them going from age group company to competing against the older horses.

“We will concentrate domestically with her and if all goes well, we could look at Sydney or Melbourne in the autumn.

“I’ve been pretty careful with her on the wet tracks at home so she is going to Taupo for a gallop to bring her on.”

James will also step out Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel), who holds a nomination for the G1 Livamol Classic, at Taupo, as well as Sherrif (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who is also nominated for the G1 Windsor Park Plate on October 3.

“I’d like to give Concert Hall a couple of runs before we tackle Hastings but that lack of programming information isn’t helping me decide where at this stage,” James said.

“I think Sherrif is the best I’ve ever had him and I think you will see his true talent from now on."

Three winners for Maurice

Regular Arrowfield Stud shuttle stallion Maurice (Jpn) had a big weekend with his progeny in his home country with three of his daughters making winning career debuts.

The Tomoyuki Umeda-trained filly T O Mary (Jpn) cruised to a 2l win in a 1200 metre Newcomers race at Sapporo on Saturday and that success was followed by the Yutaka Okumura-trained Stutti (Jpn) causing an upset in a Newcomers race over 1600 metres at Niigata.

On Sunday, the Hidetaka Otonashi-trained Infinite (Jpn) won a 1600 metre Newcomers race at Niigata.

Maurice won't shuttle to Australia in 2020 because of COVID-19 related issues, but his first Australian crop have just turned two and will hit the track this season.

The son of Screen Hero (Jpn) has had one winner before this weekend, Kaiser Nova (Jpn).

Heptinstall on a winning streak

Ex-pat New Zealand breeder and owner Tommy Heptinstall may be in lockdown in his adopted home of Melbourne, but has celebrated a big week with the victories of Wertheimer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) at Cranbourne last Wednesday and Aqueduct (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) at Murray Bridge on Saturday.

“It has been a fantastic few days, as any time you win a race anywhere is good,” he said. “We had this plan to bring some of our horses over here to Australia and so far, so good.

“We brought eight over with six going to Michael (Hickmott) in Adelaide and the other two to Trent (Busuttin) and Natalie (Young) at Cranbourne."

“Three have run for two wins and I think the others will all run within the next 10 days or so.”