It was another huge Saturday in the great game, headlined by the much-anticipated clash between Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi in the Group 1 Winx Stakes. We also saw some emerging three-year-olds put their hands up, Cavalry Girl stamp herself as a Group 1 contender and plenty of spring campaigns begin to take shape.
Boniface breaks through in the Premier's Cup
Boniface broke through for his first victory on Australian soil with an impressive win in the Group 3 Premier's Cup at Randwick.
The OTI Racing import won three of his first five starts in France before beginning the second phase of his career in Australia this year, and he now looks ready to progress towards some bigger spring targets.
The stable intends to head to the $300,000 Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick next month before aiming at the $2 million Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on October 10.
Boniface is also entered for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup in October.
Prima Bella upsets the big guns
The Group 3 Toy Show Quality looked to be all about Apocalyptic and Savvy Hallie, with the two talented mares dominating the betting after establishing themselves among last season's best three-year-old fillies.
But the race didn't go according to the market.
Neither favourite fired a shot when the pressure went on, and it was Prima Bella who fought on strongly in the straight to claim her first Group 3 victory.
Trainer Matt Smith felt her residual fitness gave her an important edge over her more highly fancied rivals and isn't in any rush to map out her next target. She will head back to the farm on Monday before the stable decides where to go next.
Pembrey explodes onto the spring scene
One of the performances of the day came from former Golden Slipper favourite Pembrey in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes.
James McDonald was aboard at the very backable price of around $4.50 and, when nobody wanted to apply any pressure, Pembrey and J-Mac were given a relatively easy time in front.
When they turned into the Randwick straight, McDonald clicked her up and the response was immediate. Pembrey showed a serious turn of foot and put the race away in the style of a very good horse.
Trainer Tony Gollan and connections can now aim at any of the major three-year-old fillies' races through the spring — and perhaps even dream a little bigger.
McDonald certainly was.
Give her a slot.
On what we saw Saturday, a lightweight tilt at The Everest doesn't look completely out of the question.
Midnight In Tokyo gives Pollard his biggest win
Midnight In Tokyo led throughout to claim the Group 3 Show County Quality, delivering Queensland trainer Todd Pollard the biggest victory of his training career.
Winning jockey Ben Thompson was full of praise for Pollard and his team, with the trainer knowing the seven-year-old particularly well after previously taking care of her when she was trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald.
She's clearly a happy mare and continues to race as though age is no barrier.
Favourite Campione D'Italia was disappointing, although jockey Tommy Berry believes he will be much better for the first-up run.
Cavalry Girl earns her Group 1 shot
Down to Sandown for the newly elevated Group 3 Carlyon Stakes, where Cavalry Girl was all the rage with punters.
She travelled beautifully for Craig Williams but, approaching the 300m, the favourite was surrounded by horses with nowhere to go.
Eventually the rails run appeared.
Cavalry Girl accelerated through the gap like a good horse and quickly put the race away, ultimately winning with something in hand.
Trainer Tom Dabernig and connections now believe she deserves her opportunity at the top level. Cavalry Girl is set to return to Sandown in a couple of weeks for the Group 1 Moir Stakes over 1000m, where she could take on flying three-year-old filly Natural Fling.
That shapes as a serious clash.
Autumn Glow wins the race of the day
The Group 1 Winx Stakes was billed as one of the races of the year, with superstar mares Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi finally meeting at Randwick.
It didn't disappoint.
Midnight Dynamite ensured there were no excuses by setting a cracking tempo, while the two favourites settled nicely behind the speed. Turning into the famous Randwick straight, there was even a brief moment when it looked like an upset could be on the cards.
Then James McDonald clicked up Autumn Glow.
Her acceleration was immediate.
Autumn Glow quickly put Sheza Alibi and the rest of the field to the sword, showing the class and speed that has her rated among the best horses in the world.
Sheza Alibi was caught off guard by the acceleration before getting into her work and finishing strongly, but all honours belonged to Autumn Glow.
The big question for Chris Waller and Arrowfield is now which way they head.
Do they drop back to 1200m for The Everest, where the world's best horse Ka Ying Rising awaits, or stretch her out to 1600m for the King Charles III Stakes?
Connections will take around a week to make the call. On Saturday's imperious performance, either option looks within her reach.
Asfoora calls time on a remarkable career
One of Australian racing's great international sprinting stories has come to an end, with Asfoora retired following her final start running 8th in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
The eight-year-old finishes with a 35-race career spanning six years and four countries, and her overseas exploits helped introduce trainer Henry Dwyer to British racing.
Asfoora leaves some serious trophies on the mantelpiece, including the King Charles III Stakes, Nunthorpe Stakes and Prix de l'Abbaye.
She also made such an impact on Dwyer's international ambitions that the Australian trainer has since taken out a British training licence.
A terrific career from a mare who took Australian sprinting talent to the world.
Yellow Jersey and Half Yours tune up for spring
There was plenty happening away from the races as Yellow Jersey and Half Yours completed an exhibition gallop together at Sandown.
Cox Plate hopeful Yellow Jersey shaded the Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours, with Calvin McEvoy describing their work together as "beautiful".
Yellow Jersey is set to resume in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield next Saturday, while Half Yours will have an official trial at Flemington on Friday as he builds towards his spring campaign.
Autumn Boy heads to the Memsie
Autumn Boy will resume in next Saturday's Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield after being scratched from the Winx Stakes.
Chris Waller stablemate Beiwacht could join him after being withdrawn from the Winx Stakes with a minor temperature. The stable will monitor his bloods before deciding whether he is ready to make the trip south.
Barnavara was also scratched from Randwick, with Waller preferring to find an easier starting point and a better draw for her return.
The Memsie is quickly shaping as another fascinating early-spring Group 1.
Map Of Stars firmly on the Cox Plate path
Royal Ascot winner Map Of Stars remains firmly on course to become Wathnan Racing's first Australian runner this spring, with the $6 million Group 1 Cox Plate the target.
Map Of Stars won the Wolferton Stakes (2000m) at Royal Ascot in June under James McDonald, with J-Mac telling connections afterwards that the horse had the right profile to travel to Australia for the Cox Plate.
French trainer Francis Graffard has since given him another run at Deauville, and Wathnan Racing has confirmed Melbourne remains firmly in its sights.
Another serious international contender could be heading our way this spring.
Robbie Williams is coming to Cup Day
There will also be some star power of a different kind at Flemington this spring.
The Victoria Racing Club has announced global music star Robbie Williams will perform on Melbourne Cup Day, November 3.
Williams will perform in the Mounting Yard before the Melbourne Cup before returning for a set on The Elms Live Stage after the final race.
A pretty handy addition to Australia's biggest day of racing.
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
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