Victoria Derby boosted to record $3 million
This year's Group 1 Victoria Derby will carry a record $3 million prize purse, with Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club adding another $1 million to the Flemington classic.
The significant increase follows recent consideration by the Asian Pattern Committee over whether the time-honoured 2500m race should retain its Group 1 status.
The Victoria Derby will be run at Flemington on October 31.
Blinkers likely for Jimmysstar in Manikato
Jimmysstar is likely to wear blinkers for the first time in a race when he tackles Sunday's $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The Group 1 star worked sharply in the blinkers at Caulfield on Tuesday morning under regular rider Ethan Brown, having also worn them in his recent trial.
“He had the shades on when he trialled the other day and he had them on again this morning and he’s worked very well, as you would expect him to,” trainer Ciaron Maher said.
Extragalactic closing in on Manikato start
Extragalactic is on the verge of securing a spot in Sunday's Manikato Stakes, with trainer Gavin Bedggood indicating Hedged is very unlikely to accept.
With the Manikato restricted to a field of 13 and Extragalactic currently 14th in the order of entry, Hedged's absence would move her into the field.
James McDonald is booked to ride, with connections reporting the mare is spot on heading into the Group 1 sprint.
Stewards stand firm over Caulfield rail decision
Racing Victoria stewards have strongly defended the controversial decision to move the rail at Caulfield on Underwood Stakes Day.
RV Executive General Manager – Integrity Services Jamie Stier said stewards remained satisfied with their decision after considering all available evidence.
The Melbourne Racing Club has rejected the need for the move and maintains the track was safe for racing as originally presented, but Racing Victoria says it stands firmly behind the stewards' race-morning decision.
Hayes: Ka Ying Rising better than last year
David Hayes believes Ka Ying Rising has arrived in Australia in even better condition than when the Hong Kong superstar won his first $20 million Everest last year.
Ka Ying Rising arrived in Sydney on Monday and is now based at the Canterbury Quarantine Centre, where he completed a light workout on Tuesday morning.
He will remain in quarantine for the next two weeks before stepping up preparations for his Everest defence.
Damian Lane lands Wine Dark Sea Caulfield Cup ride
Damian Lane has been booked to ride Australian Bloodstock's imported stayer Wine Dark Sea in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on October 17.
The Harry Charlton-trained gelding has been allocated 54.5kg for the 2400m handicap and heads to Australia off a victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2671m) at Newbury.
Charlton pointed to Lane's outstanding Melbourne record as a key factor in securing the star jockey for the international raider.
Zahrann cops Cups penalty after Naturalism win
Zahrann has moved a step closer to securing a Melbourne Cup start after receiving a 0.5kg penalty for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups following his Naturalism Stakes victory.
The Ciaron Maher-trained import rises to 53kg in the Caulfield Cup and 54.5kg in the Melbourne Cup, where he moves up one position to 38th in the order of entry.
His Group 3 Naturalism Stakes win also earned Zahrann a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption.
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
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