Sights Lowered For Perturbo Return

Friday, 06 August 2010 04:45

Wet tracks have disrupted the preparation of promising sprinter Perturbo, forcing connections to lower their sights with the gelding for his spring launch at Flemington.

Co-trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson were hoping the five-year-old would kick off in Saturday's Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) but instead have opted for the 1000-metre support race, the Warren Lee and Kenneth Norton Handicap.

"We would have loved to have run in that (Aurie's Star) but it has been very difficult to get the work into the horse with it being so wet at Cranbourne," Cindy Alderson said.

Alderson said she had been unable to trial Perturbo and it was virtually a situation of running him over 1000 metres at Flemington and hoping for the best.

"He's going to improve out of this run, that's for sure," Alderson said.

Perturbo made giant leaps last campaign when he went from racing in restricted class to contesting the Group One Goodwood at his last run in Adelaide on May 2.

He was beaten three lengths when finishing eighth in the Goodwood but lost a plate in running and didn't get a lot of galloping room.

Alderson said the Flemington straight appears to suit Perturbo and he has impressed at his only two starts at the track.

The gelding was an unexpected winner when he stormed home from last to claim a narrow win over 1000m at Flemington on April 10.

At his other start he just failed to snatch a victory from Good Medicine when second in a photo-finish in the Kokoda Track Handicap (1200m) in his Goodwood lead-up on Anzac Day.

"The Flemington win was a surprise to us all," Alderson confessed.

"The straight suited him as he was able to get out into the open and let rip.

"It has added a new dimension to the horse."

The downside was that Perturbo's rating soared from 72 to 89 last campaign and he will carry 59kg on Saturday.

"There were not a lot of options for him but if he can show he is capable of performing well down the straight again on Saturday then he could go back there next month," Alderson said.

She said the Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) could be his goal on September 4.

Picture: Colin Bull

Geeyjayhaitch Breaks Run Of Outs

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 07:15

Rejuvenated stayer Geejayhaitch has overcome potential career-ending, if not life-threatening, leg injuries to end a run of 16 outs with an easy win at Sandown on Wednesday.

The Matsqui seven-year-old, prepared at Broadmarsh in southern Tasmania by Walter McShane, broke both cannon bones after winning over 2400m at Sandown in July 2007.

Five screws were inserted in his pastern which saved him and he spent 14 months on the sidelines being nursed back to health and fitness by McShane.

The gelding came back and won successive races at Hobart and Devonport and was placed over 2500m at Flemington before again going amiss with a fractured pastern which put him out of racing for another 11 months.

"I bought him an above-ground water treadmill after his last accident and he spends every second day in that and I put it down to that that he's here today," McShane said.

"He trots up to 14 kilometres in it."

McShane, who stands the gelding's sire on his property, bred Geejayhaitch out of the Aliocha mare Aliocha Lady who won two races before being given to him.

He races Geejayhaitch with hotelier Geoffrey Joseph Hoare whose initials were used to name the horse.

Ridden by Glen Boss, Geejayhaitch ($2.50 fav) sat third behind tearaway leader Bratton ($21) in the Grey Boots Hcp (3100m).

Revelling in the heavy (10) going, he went on to score by four lengths from Bratton with Solar Reef ($10) a nose away third.

McShane, who has been training for 40 years, came to Melbourne in the 1970s with smart galloper Bastille Beggar.

"He was the first Tasmanian-trained horse to win a two-year-old race in Melbourne," McShane said.

"He won three or four races at Moonee Valley and 20 or 21 races overall."

"This (Geejayhaitch) is the best horse I've had since him."

Geejayhaitch has won six races and been placed nine times from 31 starts.

McShane, who has the gelding stabled with Colin and Cindy Alderson at Cranbourne, intends to bring him back to Sandown for the Merman Hcp (3100m) on August 25.

Pictures: Colin Bull

Stable Thinks Retrieve Can Handle Heavy

Thursday, 05 August 2010 08:15

The Peter Snowden stable is quietly confident promising three-year-old Retrieve will handle the expected heavy going at Flemington on Saturday.

By Rahy, the sire of Breeders' Cup Turf winner Fantastic Light, Retrieve was first-up from a spell when charging home late to finish a close third on a slow track to the smart Spirited Eagle over 1200m at Moonee Valley on July 3.

The colt then broke through at his third start in a 2YO Maiden (1300m) on the Geelong synthetic track on July 20 beating Lopov, one his nine rivals in Saturday's Pauline Fogarty and Kennith Bird Hcp (1410m).

"He had a gallop on heavy ground on Tuesday morning and handled it quite well," Melbourne stable foreman Paul Snowden said.

"I wouldn't say it was bottomless but it gives you some confidence he'll handle it, although you never really know until they've raced on it."

Retrieve will be ridden by Craig Newitt who has been aboard the colt at his two starts this preparation.

"His third when first-up at Moonee Valley was good and when he won at Geelong last start it was only a maiden but he was pretty impressive," Newitt said.

Owner Sheikh Mohammed has a strong hand in the race as he also has the Lee Freedman-trained Censor in the event.

The Elusive Quality colt is unbeaten in two starts - both on heavy tracks - over 1218m in a Kyneton two-year-old maiden on June 22 and over 1400m at Sandown on July 14.

In-form apprentice Jake Noonan takes the mount on Censor while apprentice Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins will ride the Peter Moody-trained Sayahailmary.

The Keep The Faith filly resumed with a solid on-pace win in the Jack Maher Classic (1200m) at Wodonga on July 25.

Both Retrieve and Censor are among the nominations for the $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 9 while Sayahailmary is entered for the $500,000 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13.

The Flemington track was rated a heavy (8) on Thursday with the rail out 9 metres for the entire circuit.

Ballarat Trainer Living Cups Dream

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:15

Ballarat trainer Mark Lewis is pursuing his Caulfield and Melbourne Cups dream with promising five-year-old By The Way who won well second-up at Sandown the day after Cups entries closed.

Lewis thought By The Way ($5) might have been "a run short" for Wednesday's TR Trevaskis Hcp (1200m) but was proved wrong.

Ridden by in-form apprentice Jarrod Fry, the gelding settled last and swept home in the heavy 10 conditions to score by two lengths from Side Splitter ($8) with Adaptor ($3.50 fav) 1-3/4 lengths away third.

"We've got a long way to go. We've nominated him for both Cups but whether we get there is another thing," Lewis said.

"We just have to take these little steps with him and get his rating up and get him into better races.

"He had chips in both knees at the end of his last preparation and we had to get them operated on and just give him plenty of time.

"With the water-walker we've got at our property at Ballarat it has really started to help and show dividends with our horses."

By The Way, who has won five of his 12 starts including two at Sandown, is yet to race beyond 1400m and yet to win beyond 1300m.

"He has come back a different horse this campaign," Lewis said.

"Just whether last preparation he was fired up with the chips in his knees and the pain he was feeling, but I think he'll definitely run a mile (1600m) and 2000 metres but what do you do, you might as well put them in (the Cups) and see what happens.

"He's by Street Cry (the sire of last year's Melbourne Cup winner Shocking) and they do stay.

"We'll go to a Saturday 1400-metre race in three and a half weeks (the Gay Icarus Handicap at Caulfield on August 28) and see we where we get to."

Meanwhile, leading trainer Peter Moody has a high opinion of nicely-bred three-year-old Achievements ($1.75 fav) who led all the way under Damien Oliver to break through for his first win at his third start in the Attley Hcp (1200m).

The Redoute's Choice colt, out of Listed Gosford Belle Of The Turf Stakes winner Rubitoff, is from the same family as Group One VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Rubitano.

Achievements is nominated for the $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 9 but Moody said the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on August 28 might come up a bit too quickly for him.

"He's a damn good colt, but he has to learn his trade. He was all at sea there," he said.

"We had hoped to find a leader because I did say to Damien pre-race if he's out in front he might get very lost because he hasn't quite got his mind around it (racing) but he still got the job done.

"I was saying to Damien pre-race that he's shown as much as any of our three-year-olds at home but he hasn't been able to take it to the races yet.

"But maturity and education are wonderful things and slowly he's getting there."

Oliver said Achievements won despite not handling the heavy ground at all.

"He's still progressing and he'll get better," he said.

Pictures: Colin Bull

Star Mission For Spacecraft

Thursday, 05 August 2010 07:45

Jockey Craig Newitt is upbeat about the chances of lightly-raced four-year-old Spacecraft in the Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap on the back an impressive jumpout during the week.

Formerly trained by Danny O'Brien, Spacecraft will make his debut for trainer Mick Price in Saturday's Flemington feature.

Newitt has watched the progression of the son of Galileo in recent weeks but with champion jockey Damien Oliver doing most of the work on him it wasn't until Tuesday that he got to partner him in a serious hitout.

He said he couldn't have asked Spacecraft to go any better in an 800-metre jumpout against Australian Horse of the Year favourite Typhoon Tracy.

"He went to the line equally as good as Typhoon Tracy which is not bad for a horse that is going to want a mile (1600m) or even further," Newitt said.

"He jumped and led her up, he jogged, and went to the line with a fair bit in hand.

"We wanted to see if he was sharp enough so he could run over the six furlongs (1200m) on Saturday and I was very happy with him.

"He impressed me very much."

Spacecraft has raced only seven times but has promised to win a good race.

A Moonee Valley and Caulfield winner, he trained on last spring to finish a long neck second to Hanks in the Group Two AAMI Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley but trained off in the autumn after an encouraging first-up third to Denman and Carrara in the Listed Zeditave Stakes (1200m).

His only public appearance for Price was last month when he ran on strongly to finish second in a 1000-metre Geelong barrier trial.

Trial winner Bay Of Poets ran the fastest time of the day and on Thursday won his maiden at Sale by four lengths.

"I don't know why his (Spacecraft's) form tapered off last autumn," Newitt said.

"There might have been issues there but he has shown no signs of any problems.

"He is going super."

Price has nominated Spacecraft for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups as well as the Cox Plate but shorter-term has the Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield as a goal.

He said a win on Saturday would make it easier to place Spacecraft in the spring as his rating was still relatively low at 85.

"If he does happen to win his rating will go whoosh which would be beautiful," Price said.

Spacecraft's weight of 53kg led to Oliver searching for a runner in his weight range in the Aurie's Star.

He has landed on the back of the Peter Moody-trained Group One winner Headway (55.5kg) but Moody said she would not run if the track was heavy.

Flemington was rated a heavy (8) on Thursday.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Cups Ambition For By The Way

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 05:07

By The Way might not have raced beyond seven furlongs after twelve career starts but that hasn’t prevented his trainer Mick Lewis of aiming at a berth in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

The five-year-old gelding was among the long list of entries for both races yesterday and today impressively won the $30,000 T.R. Trevaskis 0-82 Handicap (1200m) at Sandown Lakeside second-up from a spell.

Ridden by two-kilo claiming apprentice Jarrod Fry, By The Way ($5) finished strongly from the rear of the field to power over the top of his rivals to beat Side Splitter ($10-$8) by two lengths with Adaptor ($3-$3.50 fav) a further length and three quarters away in third.

Evergreen sprinter Fermino Courage ($4.60-$5.50-$5) finished fourth, over five lengths from the winner.

“I was a bit surprised with that win, I thought he might have needed another run,” Lewis said.

“We’ve got a long way to go, we have nominated him for both of the Cups but whether we get there or not is another thing.

“I think he’ll definitely run a mile to 2000 metres but you might as well put them in and see.”

“He is by Street Cry and they tend to stay.

“We’ll take these little steps with him and get his rating up to get him in better races.

Lewis said the gelding has had come back a difference horse this time in after removing bone chips from bone knees at his most recent spell.

By The Way will have his next run in a Open Handicap over 1400 metres at Caulfield on August 28.

A winner of five from 12 starts, By The Way has accumulated over $88,000 in prizemoney.

Pictures: Colin Bull

Bart Is Favourite For 13th Melbourne Cup

Thursday, 05 August 2010 04:59

Faint Perfume is favoured to give Bart Cummings his 13th Melbourne Cup and his eighth Caulfield Cup with TAB Sportsbet which opened its Cups and Cox Plate markets on Thursday.

The VRC Oaks winner is $12 Melbourne Cup favourite ahead of 2009 Cup winner Shocking, Tenno Sho winner Jaguar Mail and another Cummings' representative, Queensland Derby winner Dariana.

Faint Perfume also holds sway as the top pick in Caulfield Cup betting at $10 with AJC Australian Derby winner Shoot Out at $12.

AJC Australian Oaks winner Once Were Wild and Dariana are next at $14.

Cummings also has a strong hand in the Cox Plate with So You Think, who gave him his fourth win in the race last year, the $12 equal favourite with the John Wallace-trained Shoot Out.

Faint Perfume is third pick at $16 with Predatory Pricer, now with the Mick Price stable, at $18.

The Luca Cumani-trained Manighar is the first firmer with TAB Sportsbet for the 150th Melbourne Cup with bets of $800 and $600 at $81 bringing the grey gelding's price in to $51.

Manighar is one of five horses the Cumani stable nominated for the Cup including 2007 runner-up Purple Moon and 2008 runner-up Bauer.

TAB Sportsbet's opening market for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 16.

$10.00 Faint Perfume

$12.00 Shoot Out

$14.00 Once Were Wild, Dariana

$16.00 Zabrasive

$18.00 So You Think, Linton, Predatory Pricer, Valdemoro, Vigor

$21.00 Mr Charlie, Shamoline Warrior, Jaguar Mail, Alcopop, Herculian Prince

Others from $26

Opening market for the $3 million Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 23.

$12.00 Shoot Out, So You Think

$16.00 Faint Perfume

$18.00 Predatory Pricer

$21.00 Heart Of Dreams, Linton, Vigor, Theseo, Typhoon Tracy, Shocking, Whobegotyou, Metal Bender

Others from $26

Opening market for the $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 2.

$12.00 Faint Perfume

$14.00 Shocking, Jaguar Mail, Dariana

$17.00 Shoot Out, Profound Beauty

$21.00 Jessicabeel, Zabrasive, Alcopop, Illustrious Blue, Shamoline Warrior, Efficient, Meiner Kitz

Others from $26

Geejayhaitch Wins In The Wet

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 03:53

In what can only be described as miserable conditions, the persistence of Geejayhaitch’s connections shone through as he won the $30,000 Grey Boots Handicap (3100m) at Sandown Lakeside this afternoon.

The Sandown Lakeside circuit has received 17.6mm of rain in the last week and light misty drizzle blew over the track as the horses entered the mounting yard.

Ridden by Glen Boss, Geejayhaitch settled in fourth position while tearaway leader Bratton led the field by at least ten lengths with 1200 metres to travel.

Ploughing through the Heavy (10) conditions, Geejayhaitch obtained the lead with ease shortly after straightening from Bratton and raced cleared to win convincingly.

Geejayhaitch ($2.30-$2.70-$2.50 fav) defeated Bratton ($21-$26-$21) by four lengths with Solar Reef ($9-$10) finishing third.

“He’s a great horse,” trainer Walter McShane said.

“Three years ago he broke both cannonbones here - they inserted five screws in his legs.

“He came back 18 months later and he fractured his pastern bone.

“I bought him an above ground water treadmill after his last accident and he spends every second day in that and I put it down to that why he’s here today,” he added.

Boasting a record of six wins and nine placings from 31 starts, Geejayhaitch has now surpassed the $100,000 prizemoney mark as a seven-year-old gelding.

Pictures: Colin Bull

Jockeys To Don Denim For A Cause

Thursday, 05 August 2010 00:34

Victorian jockeys will swap their distinctive white racing pants for denim breeches in Race 6 at Geelong on Friday in support of Jeans for Genes Day.

Jeans for Genes Day is an annual event which raises much needed funds for the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

Michael Rodd, Brad Rawiller and Jason Maskiell are just some of racing’s biggest names who will wear the specially designed denim-coloured breeches made by Hylands Sportswear, in the Jeans for Genes Day Handicap (1300m) at 3:17pm.

In support of the cause, the Geelong Racing Club (GRC) will open their gates for the race meeting in return for a donation from those wearing jeans.

All race-day staff, including Racing Victoria stewards, will sport their chosen denim attire in acknowledgement of the cause. GRC will also relax its members’ attire for the day in line with the initiative.

Racing Victoria’s Chief Executive, Rob Hines, said the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry was proud to support such a worthy cause as Jeans for Genes Day.

“Jeans for Genes Day is an important fundraising and awareness initiative for the Children’s Medical Research Institute and I strongly encourage racegoers to head to Geelong on Friday in their denim and donate generously to this worthwhile cause,” he said.

GRC’s Chief Executive, Paul Carroll, said, “The Club is only too happy to be involved and hope all racegoers can support the day for the benefit of this admirable cause.”

Strategic Planning Manager for the Children’s Medical Research Institute, Annette Delaney, said, “This generous initiative from Racing Victoria and the Geelong Racing Club is testament to the strong community support for Jeans for Genes Day, for which we are very grateful.”

One in twenty children is born with some form of genetic fault.

There are children with leukaemia, muscular dystrophy, genetic defects and many other disorders.

By supporting Jeans for Genes Day, you’re helping researchers to find a cure and prevent genetic diseases affecting children.

For more information on Jeans for Genes Day, including how to make a donation, visit jeansforgenes.org.au or call 1800 GENIES (436 437).

Overseas Raiders Eye Melbourne Cup

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 07:45

International trainers have accepted the challenge to try to win the 150th Melbourne Cup with a star-studded entry for the $6 million race.

Cups legend Bart Cummings has 12 nominations in his attempt to win the race for the 13th time but his job looks harder than ever with 45 European, Japanese and Hong Kong raiders entered.

Heading Cummings' armoury are his Cox Plate winner So You Think, VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume and Queensland Derby winner Dariana.

Key overseas nominations include this year's Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage, Goodwood Cup winner Illustrious Blue and Japanese stars Jaguar Mail and Meiner Kitz who were first and second in Japan's top staying race, the Tenno Sho.

RVL racing operations manager Leigh Jordon said the quality of international entries was unsurpassed.

"It is definitely the best set of nominations we have received from overseas," Jordon said.

Victoria Racing Club chief executive Dale Monteith was even more enthusiastic about the 253 Cup nominations, 22 more than last year.

"The entries are spectacular and the Melbourne Cup is truly the international staying championship of the world," Monteith said.

Global powerhouse Godolphin hasn't got its largest entry but its nine nominations are outstanding and include last year's English St Leger and Italian Derby winner Mastery, 2009 Arc De Triomphe placegetter Cavalryman and Group One winner Campanologist.

All three are also entered for the Caulfield Cup.

While All The Good won the 2008 Caulfield Cup for Godolphin, the stable has finished second in the Melbourne Cup with Central Park (1999), Give The Slip (2001) and Crime Scene (2009).

Luca Cumani has had a similarly frustrating experience with second placegetters Purple Moon (2007) and Bauer (2008) who are again both entered this year.

Cumani's other hopefuls are Drunken Sailor and Australian-owned duo Manighar and Becqu Adoree, with the latter also entered for the Cox Plate.

Dual Cup-winning Irish trainer Dermot Weld trains Rite of Passage who, like his 1993 Melbourne Cup winner Vintage Crop, has successfully mixed jumps and flat racing.

Weld, who also won the Cup with Media Puzzle (2002), is planning to return with Profound Beauty who was fifth in 2008.

Respected English trainer Sir Mark Prescott lodged his first Cup entry with Fortuni while French gallopers Americain and Laristan are both nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and Shamoline Warrior are Mark Kavanagh's leading Cup hopes.

Lloyd Williams' international search for Melbourne Cup horses has been rewarded with him nominating 20 stayers for the big race including 2009 Irish St Leger winner Alandi and 2009 Irish Derby placegetter Mourayan.

Old stager Zipping and emerging star Linton are among Williams' other entries.

South Australian Alcopop, who tried for a fairytale win in the Melbourne Cup last year, is again nominated for the Cups and the Cox Plate.

The Caulfield Cup has attracted 235 nominations including 36 internationals, double last year's tally of 18, while the Cox Plate entry of 186 is 10 less than last year and includes 10 overseas raiders.

Jordon said it was particularly pleasing to see Hong Kong's best stayer, Mr Medici, targeting the Caulfield Cup and he has also been entered for the Melbourne Cup.

Another Hong Kong star, Able One, will be the first horse to arrive at Werribee's new quarantine centre at the end of August and the dual Champions Mile winner is being aimed at the Cox Plate.

Peter Moody's glamour mare Typhoon Tracy also has the Cox Plate as her ultimate spring goal.

An interesting Cox Plate nomination is Macau's first Triple Crown winner Luen Yat Forever who is likely to run in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) in September before the Moonee Valley weight-for-age championship.

List Of International Entries

France

Caulfield Cup

Americain (Alain de Royer Dupre)
Laristan (Jean-Claude Rouget)

Melbourne Cup

Americain (Alain de Royer Dupre)
Los Cristianos (Alan Couetil)
Laristan (Jean-Claude Rouget)

Hong Kong

Caulfield Cup

Mr Medici (Peter Ho)

Cox Plate

Able One (John Moore)

Melbourne Cup

Mr Medici (Peter Ho)

Ireland

Caulfield Cup

Majestic Concorde (Dermot Weld)
Natural High (Dermot Weld)

Melbourne Cup

Majestic Concorde (Dermot Weld)
Natural High (Dermot Weld)
Profound Beauty (Dermot Weld)
Rite Of Passage (Dermot Weld)

Japan

Caulfield Cup

Three Orion (Akira Murayama)
White Pilgrim (Ippo Sameshima)
Tokai Trick (Kenji Nonaka)
Jaguar Mail (Noriyuki Hori)
Meiner Kitz (Sakae Kunieda)

Cox Plate

White Pilgrim (Ippo Sameshima)

Melbourne Cup

Three Orion (Akira Murayama)
White Pilgrim (Ippo Sameshima)
Tokai Trick (Kenji Nonaka)
Jaguar Mail (Noriyuki Hori)
Meiner Kitz (Sakae Kunieda)

Macau

Cox Plate

Luen Yat Forever (P C Choi)

United Arab Emirates

Caulfield Cup

Claremont (Mahmood al Zarooni)
Cavalryman (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Darley Sun (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Holberg (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Libel Law (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Mastery (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Once More Dubai (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Pompeyano (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Sopranist (Saeed Bin Suroor)

Melbourne Cup

Claremont (Mahmood al Zarooni)
Cavalryman (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Darley Sun (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Holberg (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Libel Law (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Mastery (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Once More Dubai (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Pompeyano (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Sopranist (Saeed Bin Suroor)

United Kingdom

Caulfield Cup

Stanstill (Allan Swinbank)
Dancing David (Brian Meehan)
Dangerous Midge (Brian Meehan)
Golden Sword (Jane Chapple-Hyam)
Shahwardi (Jeremy Gask)
Sans Frontieres (Jeremy Noseda)
Bauer (Luca Cumani)
Becqu Adoree (Luca Cumani)
Drunken Sailor (Luca Cumani)
Manighar (Luca Cumani)
Purple Moon (Luca Cumani)
Rainbow Peak (Michael Jarvis)
Martyr (Richard Hannon)
Imposing (Sir Michael Stoute)
South Easter (William Haggas)
Illustrious Blue (William Knight)

Cox Plate

Dancing David (Brian Meehan)
Dangerous Midge (Brian Meehan)
Sans Frontieres (Jeremy Noseda)
Becqu Adoree (Luca Cumani)
Rainbow Peak (Michael Jarvis)
Imposing (Sir Michael Stoute)
South Easter (William Haggas)

Melbourne Cup

Stanstill (Allan Swinbank)
Dancing David (Brian Meehan)
Dangerous Midge (Brian Meehan)
Golden Sword (Jane Chapple-Hyam)
Shahwardi (Jeremy Gask)
Sans Frontieres (Jeremy Noseda)
Bauer (Luca Cumani)
Becqu Adoree (Luca Cumani)
Drunken Sailor (Luca Cumani)
Manighar (Luca Cumani)
Purple Moon (Luca Cumani)
Rainbow Peak (Michael Jarvis)
Martyr (Richard Hannon)
Imposing (Sir Michael Stoute)
Illustrious Blue (William Knight)
Akmal (John Dunlop)
Tactic (John Dunlop)
King Of Wands (John Gosden)
Eastern Aria (Mark Johnston)
Lady Éclair (Mark Johnston)
Fortuni (Sir Mark Prescott)
Akzar (John Oxx)

Picture: Claire Usmar