Features
Aurie’s Star looks set to be compelling contest
That element to the race, and it’s accompanying aura, has faded, but it’s still the first Group race of the season and, at least, this year the appearance of the two Irish bred runners adds a level of intrigue. They are Home Of The Brave who debuts in Australia and Poetic Dream who, when he... Read More
More from On The Watch
Godolphin-raced filly Multaja shows her class with fast times at Moonee Valley
Having her first start since her promising debut win in a Two-Year-Old Fillies’ Maiden (1115m) at Werribee on April 7, Multaja was resuming from the outside barrier (12) in a Three-Year-Old Fillies’ Handicap (1000m). After settling back in ninth place, Dwayne Dunn tracked forward with a wide trail with Multaja, before making a decisive move,... Read More
Maid Of Heaven (AUS) 3 f Smart Missile – St Therese by Dehere
Tim Clark settled the filly at the tail of the five-horse field, sending her deep round the home turn and came with a strong late bid to score an impressive half a length victory over Brillant Choice (Redoute’s Choice) in a winning time of 1:13.63. An Arrowfield Stud homebred, Maid Of Heaven is a half-sister... Read More
Godolphin’s Avilius headed for greater glories
The attractive, near black gelding, having his first start in Australia and his first race since September 30, 2017, stepped out in the 1600 metre Tony Crawford 50th, a Benchmark 91 contest, but his performance left me thinking he could well capture a Group 1 in the coming weeks. Carrying 59.5 kilograms, Avilius was last... Read More
Morrison and Balding relishing quest to become first Englishmen to conquer the Cup
And the VRC would have to look no further than past visitors Andrew Balding and Hughie Morrison if any further promotion of the race was required. “Where else would you want to be in November?” said Balding as he confirmed, yesterday, that Duretto and Count Octave were his two likely Cups runners while Brorocco was... Read More
Cross Counter a worthy candidate for Flemington feature
The five-day meeting also gave rise to a number of noteworthy developments looking ahead to the Australian spring, with the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) nominated as the long-term target by trainer Charlie Appleby for the fast-improving Cross Counter (Teofilo) following his success in the Gordon Stakes (Gr 3, 1m4f) on Saturday. Although this contest... Read More