Japanese star targeted

Five-time Group 1 winner Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is top of the Moonee Valley Racing Club's wish list of invited runners for the G1 Cox Plate.

The MVRC has issued 11 invitations from four jurisdictions for the $5 million race on October 26.

Besides Almond Eye, Group 1 winners Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune {UAS}), Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) and Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) have been invited from Japan, along with Kluger (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).

Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are three Godolphin targets.

Aidan O'Brien has Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) invited while Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has earned an invite for Sir Michael Stoute with the Roger Varian-trained Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

Shinn bound for HK

Leading jockey Blake Shinn has been approved to ride in Hong Kong next season.

Shinn is currently based in Queensland where the 31-year-old is enjoying an outstanding run of success at the winter carnival.

He returned to the saddle earlier this year after suffering a serious neck injury in a trial prior to last year's spring carnival.

Shinn has been granted a part-season licence, which will commence on July 15 and expire on February 29, 2020.

Savvy goes again

Expatriate New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will be hoping for a case of third time lucky for their 3-year-old Savvy Oak (NZ) (Savabeel) when he lines up in the G1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.

He has contested two previous Derbys this season, finishing seventh in the G1 Victoria Derby in November and runner-up in the G1 South Australian Derby last month.

“He’s finally settling down. He has got a few traits and is a bit quirky, but he’s starting to settle down and is learning what it’s all about now,” Busuttin said. “He’s up here enjoying the Queensland sun and he is going very well,” he said.

Bullish about Tyzone

Toby Edmonds is hoping Tyzone (Written Tycoon) can give him the perfect send off in the G1 Stradbroke H. ahead of his departure to England to put the finishing touches on Houtzen (I Am Invincible) for the G1 King's Stand S. at Ascot.

Edmonds took Tyzone, who won the BRC Sprint last time out, to Eagle Farm on Tuesday morning to work on the course proper.

"It gave him a look at the track and he worked solidly. It topped him off nicely," Edmonds said.

"The horse is a winner. If you look at his record he has 16 wins and five minor placings. That is the record of a horse who likes to win."

Divine success

Demand Attention (Starspangledbanner) is on the board after the daughter of the great Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert Sun {Ire}) broke through at Seymour.

The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old was making her fourth appearance and gave a dominant performance under Damien Oliver to win the Ben Davey Plumbing Plate Maiden.

Demand Attention is the fifth winner from seven foals of the two-time Australian Horse of the Year Makybe Diva to race and includes the stakes performer Divanation (All Too Hard).

Lofty future goals

Comeback (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) will attempt to extend his winning streak to six on Saturday when he lines-up at Trentham with future stakes targets on the radar..

“He’s getting better all the time,” co-trainer Graeme Rogerson said. “He’s not the soundest horse in the world, but he’s been placed right and he does a lot of work on the treadmill and in the aqua walker.

“We are trying to get him up now to run in Group company. He’ll head to the Opunake Cup and the Winter Cup and then we might freshen him up for the Foxbridge Plate and the Tarzino Trophy. I like the horse.”

Perth catalogues online

The catalogues for the upcoming Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling and Thoroughbred Sales are now online.

To be held at the Swan Valley Sales Complex on Sunday, June 30 from 11am, the sale will boast a great mix of thoroughbreds including weanlings, yearlings, broodmares and racehorses.

The day will commence with the Winter Yearling Sale where 31 lots, plus supplementaries, will be on offer. These youngsters are by sires including Blackfriars, Denman, I'm All the Talk, Magnus, Playing God, Safeguard, Snippetson and War Chant (USA).

The Thoroughbred Sale comprises a great selection of weanlings and broodmares. Among the weanlings are members of the first crop of local based stallions Lucky Street and Rommel. Mares catalogued include stakes performers Bermaise (Orientate {USA}), Molta (NZ) (Danske), Red Hot Sax (Saxon) , Snug Buggles (Jeune {GB}) and Tenko (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}). Already 12 supplementary lots have been entered for this sale.

Covering sires of mares on the day include All American, Awesome Rock, Bradbury's Luck, Gingerbread Man, God Has Spoken, Maschino, Patronize, Rommel, Sessions, Universal Ruler and Vert de Grece (Ire).

McLean called to answer

Victorian trainer Jarrod McLean will front a hearing into charges relating to the possession of an electronic apparatus, commonly known as a jigger.

Racing Victoria stewards charged McLean with being in possession of the apparatus at a Yangery property on, or about, January 30.

The second charge relates to his conduct in possessing such a device and his failure to give an explanation to stewards, prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing.