Darlamax chases Melbourne maiden

Trainer Will Savage maintains Savatoxl is showing enthusiasm and a zest for racing as he prepares for a first up tilt at the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. Alice Springs-based Will Savage is looking for further interstate success with Savatoxl, the well-travelled Kuroshio gelding a multiple black-type winner in Adelaide…

Sixteen three-year-olds will test their stamina over the 2500m in Saturday's Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington. It's been a race that has produced rough results in recent years with Manzoice saluting at $21 in the most recent edition while Johnny Get Angry won at a similar price in 2020. Watch the Melbourne Cup LIVE with RACING.COM on Kayo…

If High Approach can display the same toughness as his sire Highland Reel, then trainer Archie Alexander will have an above average stayer. Highland Reel was an accomplished traveller for the Aidan O'Brien stable that would start off his season in Dubai, race through Europe and have his final start of the year in Hong Kong. High Approach won't have…

Queensland trainer Tony Gollan concedes his sprinter Zoustyle will have a tough task beating Giga Kick when they meet at Moonee Valley. The Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on Saturday will see Zoustyle, second in the sprint 12 months ago, tackle Giga Kick and five other rivals, including last year's nemesis Rothfire. "I don't know whether he can beat…

Aurora's Symphony is a $10 chance in the Adelaide Cup. Picture: Reg Ryan-Racing Photos via Getty Images Even with some more top-end talent than recent years, the market suggests this is a wide-open edition of the Adelaide Cup. Here is a runner-by-runner analysis over every horse set to line up in Monday's Group 2. 1 - PERSAN ($6) Talented stayer…

Phillip Stokes is aiming Amade at the Adelaide Cup. Picture: Brett Holburt-Racing Photos via Getty Images Group 1-winning trainer Phillip Stokes is pinning his hopes of snaring a third straight Adelaide Cup on a talented but injury-plagued globetrotter, who has won races in France, Britain, the United States and Australia. The OTI-owned Amade has…

Matt Cumani is no stranger to winning the Pakenham Cup, but it is also a race that has caused the trainer a bit of grief. Etah James took out the Listed race over 2500m in 2019 forming part of a long-priced double for the Cumani stable that day. Cumani was not on course to see Etah James win at $61 after an earlier win by Future Score at $17. "It…

Verry Elleegant co-owner Ozzie Kheir has Interpretation in the Cup We'll keep adding to this as more quotes become available leading up to the Melbourne Cup. 1. Gold Trip - owner Noel Greenhalgh "The horse basically had a barrier trial in the Cox Plate, we got no luck. "It doesn't look like the strongest Melbourne Cup field you have ever seen. "But…

Craig Williams can end a personal drought while giving trainer Dan O'Sullivan his maiden Group 1 win in Saturday's Victoria Derby. Williams last won the Victoria Derby 15 years ago on the David Hayes-trained Kibbutz when the jockey and trainer enjoyed a superb partnership during the mid-2000s. Williams's best Derby result since that triumph was on…

Craig Williams can end a personal drought while giving trainer Dan O'Sullivan his maiden Group 1 win in Saturday's Victoria Derby. Williams last won the Victoria Derby 15 years ago on the David Hayes-trained Kibbutz when the jockey and trainer enjoyed a superb partnership during the mid-2000s. Williams's best Derby result since that triumph was on…

Berkeley Square has vindicated trainer Dan O'Sullivan's faith in the three-year-old as a stayer with a fighting win at Moonee Valley. Victory in the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) on Saturday was a precursor to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Sent out the $2.60 favourite under…

Peter Moody is hopeful Red Sun Sensation can be a Victoria Derby contender after he runs at Flemington The Listed Super Impose Stakes at Flemington will give trainer Peter Moody a clearer indication of the staying potential of Red Sun Sensation. The 1800m contest on Saturday is considered an important steppingstone to the Group 1 Victoria Derby…

Following second declarations for the Melbourne Cup, there are 58 horses remaining in contention for the Group 1 race at Flemington. After Tuesday's second acceptances, there are four horses - Rodrigo Diaz, Deauville Legend, Loft and Without A Fight - prepared by international trainers while Hoo Ya Mal and Camorra will join local stables once they…

Trainer Cliff Brown is hoping to go one better in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley Former Singapore champion The Inferno has had mixed luck since relocating to Australia early in 2021. The Cliff Brown-trained galloper won the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last year before flashing home late to just miss in the Group 1 Moir…

Mornington trainer Rob Blacker says his stayer Tigertiger will be ready to run on Melbourne Cup Day. Options are the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1 or the other stayers' race, The Macca's Run, a Benchmark 96 race over 2800m. Tigertiger starts his Cup campaign this weekend with Blacker entering the seven-year-old for…

Mark Zahra rounded out a successful evening with one of the rides of the night aboard Daisies in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley. The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained three-year-old filly started a drifting $8.50 chance in the 3YO Fillies' event, with punters getting the race wrong as the heavily-backed So You See dropped…

FORMER champion jockey and 15-times Group 1 winner Simon Marshall gives us his insights into all the runners in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. 1. BEST SOLUTION (Barrier 6) Approx win/place odds: $15 / $4. Gutsy Caulfield Cup winner who's drawn perfectly in gate six. It was a terrific win at Caulfield, and came after back-to-back of Group 1 wins in…

FORMER champion jockey and 15-times Group 1 winner Simon Marshall gives us his insights into all the runners in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. 1. BEST SOLUTION (Barrier 6) Approx win/place odds: $15 / $4. Gutsy Caulfield Cup winner who's drawn perfectly in gate six. It was a terrific win at Caulfield, and came after back-to-back of Group 1 wins in…

FORMER champion jockey and 15-times Group 1 winner Simon Marshall gives us his insights into all the runners in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. 1. BEST SOLUTION (Barrier 6) Approx win/place odds: $15 / $4. Gutsy Caulfield Cup winner who has drawn perfectly in gate six. It was a fantastic win at Caulfield, and came after back-to-back of Group One wins in…

The Adelaide stable of Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea is still weighing up who will be their representative in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. Beau Rossa and Ironclad have been entered for the 1200m Group 2 contest on Saturday, but only one of the pair will be making the trip. Whichever horse does not travel to Melbourne, it will stay in…

Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander has Derby aspirations for High Approach who returns to racing at Moonee Valley. A veteran of five starts, High Approach tackles older horses for the first time when he lines up in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1500m) on Saturday. The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April and the Group 1 South…

Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander has Derby aspirations for High Approach who returns to racing at Moonee Valley. A veteran of five starts, High Approach tackles older horses for the first time when he lines up in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1500m) on Saturday. The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April and the Group 1 South…

An off-centre draw and a slightly longer trip have enticed Adelaide trainer David Jolly to Melbourne with sprinter Calypso Reign. Jolly decided the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valle y was the better option instead of the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Calypso Reign had gate one in Adelaide and will jump…

New Zealand conditioner Andrew Forsman will get a better gauge as to the spring fortunes of Riproar after the gelding runs at Moonee Valley. A half-brother to Mr Maestro, Riproar runs in the Corporate Membership On Sale Plate (1500m) on Saturday as Forsman looks to lock in a spring campaign for the three-year-old. Mr Maestro ran fourth in the…