A huge Saturday of spring racing delivered Group 1 drama, Melbourne Cup tickets and some serious statements ahead of the biggest races of the carnival.
Here's what caught our eye from Royal Randwick and Flemington.
Royal Randwick
Global Goal takes Flight
Global Goal landed the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) with a brilliant tactical ride from Dylan Gibbons, getting rolling early before outstaying De Armas and favourite Bangkok Hottie.
Trainer John Sargent had been waiting to get her to the mile. She'll now have a short freshen-up, with the Thousand Guineas or Spring Champion Stakes possible next targets.
Juja Kibo puts himself in the Cups picture
Juja Kibo produced the performance his preparation had been building towards with a strong win in The Metropolitan (2400m).
Sam Clipperton gave him a perfect ride and felt he could have gone around again. The Ciaron Maher team will now seriously consider heading to Melbourne, putting the Cups firmly into the conversation.
A Group 1 fairytale for Siena Grima
What a story in the Epsom Handicap, with apprentice Siena Grima winning a Group 1 at her very first attempt aboard God's Window.
The Chris Waller galloper stormed down the outside to beat Ceolwulf, giving Waller a record-equalling seventh Epsom and Grima a moment she'll never forget.
Ceolwulf was enormous carrying 59kg and now heads towards another crack at the King Charles III Stakes.
Tempted throws down the Everest challenge
Tempted demolished them in the Premiere Stakes (1200m), exploding down the outside under Chad Schofield to win by three lengths.
Runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in last year's Everest, she looks an even better horse now. In two weeks, she gets another shot at the world's best sprinter.
Flemington
The Next Episode arrives
The highly regarded The Next Episode showed exactly why Ciaron Maher has been so patient with him, storming home to win the Danehill Stakes (1100m).
The $2.8 million colt produced a serious turn of foot under Mark Zahra and is now right in the Coolmore Stud Stakes picture.
Mr Monaco punches his Melbourne Cup ticket
A wet Flemington prompted Ciaron Maher to switch Mr Monaco from Sydney to the Bart Cummings (2520m) β and it proved a masterstroke.
Mr Monaco won under young apprentice Jabez Johnstone to secure his place in the Melbourne Cup, while Maher remarkably also won The Metropolitan in Sydney with Juja Kibo.
Cosmic Crusader causes a Turnbull boilover
West Australian Cosmic Crusader produced the biggest win of his career in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), giving trainer Andrea Leek her first Group 1 and William Pike his 19th.
He ran down the brave Light Infantry Man, with Aeliana third and hot favourite Sir Delius fourth.
Connections now have a big decision to make β Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup.
Skybird explodes late in the Gilgai
Skybird became one of the best bets of the day for plenty of punters once the rain arrived, and she delivered in the Gilgai Stakes (1200m).
She produced her trademark turn of foot on the soft ground, exploding over the final 200m despite a heart-stopping moment when Ben Melham dropped his reins and nearly cost himself the race.
Trainer Mitch Freedman said the Champions Sprint on the final day of the Flemington Carnival is now the likely target, with potentially one more run in between.
Other notable news
Guest House sidelined
Guest House will be sidelined for around three months after suffering a near-hind hamstring injury.
Co-trainer Mick Price confirmed the colt will now be spelled, ending a preparation in which he had emerged as a genuine Everest contender. He was last seen finishing five lengths from the winner as the $2.45 favourite in the Golden Rose.
Spicy Martini is into The Everest
Spicy Martini is into The Everest. πΈ
The Stradbroke Handicap winner has secured the Inglis slot for the $20 million Everest, adding another serious contender to the October 17 sprint.
Jamie Melham suspended
Leading rider Jamie Melham will miss next Saturday's triple Group 1 meeting at Caulfield after being suspended for careless riding at Flemington.
Melham received a 10-meeting suspension from Racing Victoria stewards following the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
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