There’s so much excitement in the air as the biggest week on the Australian racing calendar rolls on.
It’s Champions Day in Melbourne tomorrow and with three Group 1 races on the program, it’s the perfect way to close out the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The curtains will also come down on the Sydney Everest Carnival as the $2m Five Diamonds headlines a fantastic ten race card.
I have just the four runners for the blackbook this Saturday that I’m keen to follow and we’ll start with Flemington –
SABAJ ($3 at time of publish) didn’t have a lot of luck when resuming for the new stable in the Silver Eagle and I think he’s set to make amends for that in the second event on Champions Day.
Slowly away in the Group 3 feature, the Manhattan Rain gelding settled in the second half of the field but had nowhere to go until the final stages.
Held up approaching the turn until finally getting clear with 100m to go, he charged late to finish on the heels off the placegetters.
He wouldn’t have beaten Linebacker, but I have no doubt he would have claimed second.
Now under the care of the Price / Kent team, the four-year-old has had just five career starts, delivering two victories and three runner-up finishes.
Notably, two of those second placings came at stakes level, including a strong performance in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes, behind subsequent Group 1 winner Reserve Bank.
Fitter for that first up run, he looks well suited as he steps out to the mile and back in grade.
An improving type, he looks poised for bigger and better things.
SWEETHEARTED ($9 at time of publish) comes off an encouraging first up effort at Caulfield and he looks set to improve and he steps out on the big Flemington straight for the final event of the day.
The Philip Stokes trained four year old got along way back off the outside draw in the 1100m event and worked home strongly down the outside before just peaking late.
Lightly raced, he’s shown plenty of talent and he has been unlucky on a couple of occasions.
He’s been placed in both second up appearances and the wide draw is perfect for him, as he can get back and unleash that great turn of foot down the outside.
Daniel Stackhouse knows how to get he best out of him and he stays aboard.
Two to follow from
Rosehill –
JUST TOO FLY ($6.50 at time of publish) makes his return to the races for new trainer Chris Waller.
A son of Justify, the colt began his career in Western Australia, where he impressed in his four race starts.
He placed on debut in a 2YO Plate before stepping up to stakes company, where he finished second in both the Listed Perth Stakes and the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate.
His breakthrough win came in the Group 3 WA WA Sires’ Produce Stakes, after which he enjoyed a well-deserved spell.
Given two trials ahead of his return, he looked sharp in her latest outing at Warwick Farm, cruising to the line under a hold.
A few gear changes have been made, with the blinkers going on, as well as a tongue tie and a lugging bit and with a touch of luck off the wide draw, I think he’ll prove too classy for them.
HURSTVILLE ZAGREB ($3.60 at time of publish) is a horse I have a lot of time for and I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him.
Prepared by the O’Shea / Charlton team, the four year old will line up in the fifth event tomorrow looking to make it back to back wins after a dominant second up display.
He just peaked on his run late when resuming over the mile at Warwick Farm and with the added fitness, he was far too good last time over that same course and distance.
Lightly raced, with just the seven starts, the Divine Prophet gelding has yet to finish out of the placings and he looks a very progressive galloper.
The rise to 1800m will suit and he’s certainly one to follow going forward.