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TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER - FLEMINGTON
Rail Position: +2M Entire
CHAMPAGNE HERO (Race 3, 12:00pm, 1800m, B Shinn, 57kg)
Champagne Hero has taken everything in his stride since arriving in Melbourne. He’s surprised me with how well he’s adapted to working the reverse way, and Blake Shinn was most taken by him in Thursday’s gallop. His coat’s gleaming and the trip away from Sydney has done wonders for him, so he may just be coming right at the perfect time. He’s dropping back in trip slightly from 1800 metres which isn’t our usual preference, but this is an easier race than the Derby was on Saturday and we think he’s got the speed in his legs to cope with it. Flemington’s a big expansive track which should suit his way of going, and Blake will be positive from barrier 14 to try and land in the first quarter of the field where he can then hopefully settle into a lovely rhythm in running. The top rated horse in the field is 72 so this is a winnable race, albeit there are plenty of unexposed types in opposition who have the potential to improve a lot on what they’ve shown previously. However, he’s fit and in a terrific headspace so if he can bounce back to his best form then we’re confident he can make his presence known at the finish.
VAUBAN (Race 7, 3:00pm, 3200m, B Shinn, 56.5kg)
Vauban’s a most interesting story. He’s a horse where if something goes wrong, the dummy gets spat right out of the cot. As Blake says, he’s a bit soft inside. However, he’s also got the most amazing ability which can help him to win this race. He’s calmer now than he was before going to Caulfield last month, he’s eating up a treat and his coat is gleaming so mentally and physically he seems to be in a superior place. Blake’s been in every morning over the last week working with myself and now Adrian who’s come down from Sydney, and we’ve been experimenting with different types of gear on him. As such, he’ll race in a crossover noseband and tongue tie as he often did in Europe, and we think these changes are optimal for him putting his best foot forward. He’s drawn a low barrier in 2, and there are a lot of opinions on how he should be ridden to best effect. He led throughout when he won at Royal Ascot in 2023, but on many other occasions he’s sat just off the speed with cover or even towards the rear of the field before going onto win. Since arriving in Australia, he’s mostly been ridden with cover and as such Blake will let him land where he’s comfortable and happy in the run. It’s been raining cats and dogs in Melbourne so it’s going to be on the softer side which he’s got plenty of form on, and we know he can stay 3200 metres so the distance isn’t a query. He’s underperformed in this race on two previous occasions, however they’ve both been when he’s fresh off the plane from Ireland and he was going seven and thirteen weeks between runs respectively so he’s had a very different setup this year. Again, some of his critics say he can’t run to the same level of form racing the Melbourne way, however in Europe he’s won top-class races at York, Cheltenham, Naas and Leopardstown which are all the same direction as Flemington so to say he doesn’t race well in an anti-clockwise direction isn’t borne out in his form. It’s an ultra-competitive race which on his best form he’s capable of winning, so fingers crossed he gets out of bed on the right side and everything goes right for him on the day as we’d love to see him saluting the judge for you all.
SURFIN' BIRD (Race 9, 4:35pm, 1400m, T Clark, 55kg)
Surfin’ Bird is ready to rock and roll once again. She’s come through her extremely impressive win at Caulfield in magnificent order, and she’s firing on all cylinders ahead of this assignment. It’s a big step up in grade so we’re under no illusions that she needs to keep improving to be competitive. However, horses don’t generally win competitive benchmark races by 4.5 lengths like she did unless they’re Stakes class horses in the making, so we’re confident she’s up to it. She does stick to 1400 metres and given she’s up in grade this is the biggest query, as she is taking on better horses over a distance that may well ultimately be short of her best so she’s going to have to be at the top of her game. With that said, she’s got a lovely light weight and she’s won on soft tracks previously which gives us confidence that she’ll handle the testing conditions, so with even luck in running we expect to see her right there at the finish.
TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER - RANDWICK
Rail Position: +4m 950m - W/Post, +2m Remainder
LES VAMPIRES (Race 5, 2:20pm, 1600m, W Costin, 54kg)
Les Vampires ran an improved race to finish just 2.92 lengths from the impressive winner in the Five Diamonds Prelude last time. We knew he’d appreciate the longer trip and so it proved, but once again he was just slightly one paced over the concluding stages. As such, this further step up to the mile can only bring about further improvement, and it’s usually a genuinely run race so he’ll be well-suited by a decent end to end gallop. He’s down in the weights again with just 54kg on his back, and Winona rides our horses very effectively so she should be able to roll forward from barrier 9 to get across into a prominent position in the first four or five. This is a very competitive race so we’re under no illusions as to the challenge he faces, however he’s one of the highest rated horses in the field and he’s receiving weight from those above him so if he can enjoy all the favours in the run he’s more than capable of finishing in the first four or five.
ROCK EMPIRE (Race 9, 5:30pm, 1500m, A Hyeronimus, 58kg)
Rock Empire followed up his win at Kensington with a terrific effort to finish a close fourth when up in grade at Randwick. He showed there that he can well and truly cut it at this level, so this race is the ideal steppingstone for him. The slight step up to 1500 metres is perfect for him at this stage of the campaign, and he’s reunited with Adam who knows him well and gets on brilliantly with him. He’ll be positive from barrier 8 to hold a forward position, and there’s enough speed in the race to suggest it will be a genuinely run contest so with further improvement to come we expect him to be right there at the finish.
TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER - KEMBLA
Rail Position: +5M Entire
SUPERMASSIVE (Race 3, 2:00pm, 1200m, Z Wadick (1.5kg), 57.5kg)
Supermassive has taken plenty of time to come to hand and he’s required a lot of patience, but Adrian and I are confident he will be worth the wait. He took good improvement from his first trial to finish second in his most recent one, and the tearaway winner of that hit was beaten a nostril in a Midway Maiden at Wyong last week so that gives us some confidence. He’s debuting at a realistic level as he’s a horse who’s probably going to need a run or two to fully figure things out, but with that said he goes into this as fit and forward as we can get him. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1, so Zac should be able to let him land where he’s comfortable from that position but we imagine he’ll settle in the first quarter of the field. Kembla’s a lovely track for him to debut at as its sweeping turn and long home straight are both fair and inviting, so he should be able to enjoy all the favours in the run. He’ll improve with race experience and as he continues to stretch out over a bit further, but he's forward enough to do himself justice and Zac’s a talented rider at this level so his 1.5kg claim is another bonus and we’re hopeful he’ll be right there at the finish to get his career off to an encouraging start.
Rail Position: +2M Entire
CHAMPAGNE HERO (Race 3, 12:00pm, 1800m, B Shinn, 57kg)
Champagne Hero has taken everything in his stride since arriving in Melbourne. He’s surprised me with how well he’s adapted to working the reverse way, and Blake Shinn was most taken by him in Thursday’s gallop. His coat’s gleaming and the trip away from Sydney has done wonders for him, so he may just be coming right at the perfect time. He’s dropping back in trip slightly from 1800 metres which isn’t our usual preference, but this is an easier race than the Derby was on Saturday and we think he’s got the speed in his legs to cope with it. Flemington’s a big expansive track which should suit his way of going, and Blake will be positive from barrier 14 to try and land in the first quarter of the field where he can then hopefully settle into a lovely rhythm in running. The top rated horse in the field is 72 so this is a winnable race, albeit there are plenty of unexposed types in opposition who have the potential to improve a lot on what they’ve shown previously. However, he’s fit and in a terrific headspace so if he can bounce back to his best form then we’re confident he can make his presence known at the finish.
VAUBAN (Race 7, 3:00pm, 3200m, B Shinn, 56.5kg)
Vauban’s a most interesting story. He’s a horse where if something goes wrong, the dummy gets spat right out of the cot. As Blake says, he’s a bit soft inside. However, he’s also got the most amazing ability which can help him to win this race. He’s calmer now than he was before going to Caulfield last month, he’s eating up a treat and his coat is gleaming so mentally and physically he seems to be in a superior place. Blake’s been in every morning over the last week working with myself and now Adrian who’s come down from Sydney, and we’ve been experimenting with different types of gear on him. As such, he’ll race in a crossover noseband and tongue tie as he often did in Europe, and we think these changes are optimal for him putting his best foot forward. He’s drawn a low barrier in 2, and there are a lot of opinions on how he should be ridden to best effect. He led throughout when he won at Royal Ascot in 2023, but on many other occasions he’s sat just off the speed with cover or even towards the rear of the field before going onto win. Since arriving in Australia, he’s mostly been ridden with cover and as such Blake will let him land where he’s comfortable and happy in the run. It’s been raining cats and dogs in Melbourne so it’s going to be on the softer side which he’s got plenty of form on, and we know he can stay 3200 metres so the distance isn’t a query. He’s underperformed in this race on two previous occasions, however they’ve both been when he’s fresh off the plane from Ireland and he was going seven and thirteen weeks between runs respectively so he’s had a very different setup this year. Again, some of his critics say he can’t run to the same level of form racing the Melbourne way, however in Europe he’s won top-class races at York, Cheltenham, Naas and Leopardstown which are all the same direction as Flemington so to say he doesn’t race well in an anti-clockwise direction isn’t borne out in his form. It’s an ultra-competitive race which on his best form he’s capable of winning, so fingers crossed he gets out of bed on the right side and everything goes right for him on the day as we’d love to see him saluting the judge for you all.
SURFIN' BIRD (Race 9, 4:35pm, 1400m, T Clark, 55kg)
Surfin’ Bird is ready to rock and roll once again. She’s come through her extremely impressive win at Caulfield in magnificent order, and she’s firing on all cylinders ahead of this assignment. It’s a big step up in grade so we’re under no illusions that she needs to keep improving to be competitive. However, horses don’t generally win competitive benchmark races by 4.5 lengths like she did unless they’re Stakes class horses in the making, so we’re confident she’s up to it. She does stick to 1400 metres and given she’s up in grade this is the biggest query, as she is taking on better horses over a distance that may well ultimately be short of her best so she’s going to have to be at the top of her game. With that said, she’s got a lovely light weight and she’s won on soft tracks previously which gives us confidence that she’ll handle the testing conditions, so with even luck in running we expect to see her right there at the finish.
TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER - RANDWICK
Rail Position: +4m 950m - W/Post, +2m Remainder
LES VAMPIRES (Race 5, 2:20pm, 1600m, W Costin, 54kg)
Les Vampires ran an improved race to finish just 2.92 lengths from the impressive winner in the Five Diamonds Prelude last time. We knew he’d appreciate the longer trip and so it proved, but once again he was just slightly one paced over the concluding stages. As such, this further step up to the mile can only bring about further improvement, and it’s usually a genuinely run race so he’ll be well-suited by a decent end to end gallop. He’s down in the weights again with just 54kg on his back, and Winona rides our horses very effectively so she should be able to roll forward from barrier 9 to get across into a prominent position in the first four or five. This is a very competitive race so we’re under no illusions as to the challenge he faces, however he’s one of the highest rated horses in the field and he’s receiving weight from those above him so if he can enjoy all the favours in the run he’s more than capable of finishing in the first four or five.
ROCK EMPIRE (Race 9, 5:30pm, 1500m, A Hyeronimus, 58kg)
Rock Empire followed up his win at Kensington with a terrific effort to finish a close fourth when up in grade at Randwick. He showed there that he can well and truly cut it at this level, so this race is the ideal steppingstone for him. The slight step up to 1500 metres is perfect for him at this stage of the campaign, and he’s reunited with Adam who knows him well and gets on brilliantly with him. He’ll be positive from barrier 8 to hold a forward position, and there’s enough speed in the race to suggest it will be a genuinely run contest so with further improvement to come we expect him to be right there at the finish.
TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER - KEMBLA
Rail Position: +5M Entire
SUPERMASSIVE (Race 3, 2:00pm, 1200m, Z Wadick (1.5kg), 57.5kg)
Supermassive has taken plenty of time to come to hand and he’s required a lot of patience, but Adrian and I are confident he will be worth the wait. He took good improvement from his first trial to finish second in his most recent one, and the tearaway winner of that hit was beaten a nostril in a Midway Maiden at Wyong last week so that gives us some confidence. He’s debuting at a realistic level as he’s a horse who’s probably going to need a run or two to fully figure things out, but with that said he goes into this as fit and forward as we can get him. He’s drawn to do no work in barrier 1, so Zac should be able to let him land where he’s comfortable from that position but we imagine he’ll settle in the first quarter of the field. Kembla’s a lovely track for him to debut at as its sweeping turn and long home straight are both fair and inviting, so he should be able to enjoy all the favours in the run. He’ll improve with race experience and as he continues to stretch out over a bit further, but he's forward enough to do himself justice and Zac’s a talented rider at this level so his 1.5kg claim is another bonus and we’re hopeful he’ll be right there at the finish to get his career off to an encouraging start.
