Pike bullish

Cambridge Trainer Tony Pike is hopeful the good times can continue to roll when he saddles Cyber Attack (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in the Stella Artois 3YO Plate (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

The Kiwi horseman has had a fruitful Queensland winter carnival, most notably landing a Group 1 double with The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), while barnmate Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was third in the G1 Stradbroke H.

Although Cyber Attack was a later addition to the touring party to Queensland, Pike was pleased with his first-up performance when a luckless seventh in the Listed Daybreak Lover S. and believes he can measure up on Saturday.

“It was quite a good race and, barring bad luck, he probably doesn’t win but he might have run second. I was pretty happy with the run and he had no luck in the straight at all,” Pike said.

Good prospect

Leviathan (Zoustar) has been a work in progress and he showed with a debut win what he’s capable of.

He steps out again in the ATC Heritage Volunteers H. and co-trainer Paul Snowden said the 2-year-old had to be gelded and the addition of blinkers had helped him put his mind on the job.

"He's always been a horse with ability. He's just a slow-maturing type," Snowden said. "In six months’ time, hopefully you're going to see a nice horse.

"He was cut early because he had a poor attitude and that will get the best out of him now."

Winter lift

Co-trainer David Eustace believes Villermont (All Too Hard) can boost his Winter Championship Series Final prospects at Flemington.

Villermont runs in Saturday's Brian Beattie H. with the plan to progress to the Listed feature two weeks later if he runs to expectations.

The 4-year-old was unplaced last time out at Flemington, but did not have the best of luck in the straight when held up for clear running.

"I think he's right to go," Eustace said. "It was a good run last start but he got stopped at a vital stage. I think that was probably for the better anyway because otherwise he would have been out on his feet and probably finished a bit tired, whereas he just got a cosy run and he hit the line.

Conditions to suit

Passage Of Time (Northern Meteor) will relish a heavy track in the Winter Dash at Randwick.

"Anything you see in his record from previous preparations doesn't really apply this prep because he is so much more genuine now,” trainer Joe Pride said.

"The one that does apply and that won't go away is he's a very good wet tracker."

Passage Of Time has won four of his six starts on rain-affected ground and will get those conditions at Randwick on Saturday.

"I was toying with the idea of backing up....and every day this week he's really pleased me," Pride said. "I saw the weather forecast as well and he loves it wet, so I thought, why not?"

Foundation on board

The MRC Foundation has joined in the sponsorship of the 2019 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. The GSSSA is an initiative of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Racing Australia offering recognition to everyone in every “backroom” of every stable, stud or office.

Godolphin sponsors the Awards in Britain, Ireland, France and the United States, as well as Australia.

In an agreement announced on Friday, the MRC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Melbourne Racing Club, is to sponsor the Administration and Ancillary Services category of the GSSSA.

The Award will now be known as the MRC Foundation Administration and Ancillary Services Award.

Boost for catalogue

Sunday week's Perth Winter Sales Series has received a major boost with a quality supplementary and racehorse catalogue released.

The original catalogue has been boosted by 20 supplementaries for the Yearling and Thoroughbred Sales while huge opportunities will be available with the 29 lot Racehorse Sale on the day.

Selling will commence at 11am (WA time) on June 30 with a catalogue of 33 yearlings - all eligible to be paid up for the $11 million plus Magic Millions Race Series. Two supplementaries have been received as part of the Westbury Park Reduction - a colt by My Admiration and a filly by Blackfriars.

Following the yearlings is the Perth Winter Racehorse Sale with a newly released catalogue comprising 29 lots. A feature is the quality draft from Peters Investments which includes the stakes performed mares Showcase (Big Brown {USA})and Truly Belong (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).

Next up on the day will be the Broodmare section of the Winter Thoroughbred Sale featuring 46 lots, nine of them supplementary entries.

Rounding out a massive day's selling will be a 47 lot line up of weanlings including nine late entries by sires including Demerit, Galah, Lucky Street, My Admiration and Rommel.

Cup runneth over

Tauranga galloper Roger That (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) has developed a solid strike-rate in Cups races this season, but trainer Antony Fuller is hoping his gelding can finally breakthrough for a win in the Orora Kiwi Packaging Kiwifruit Cup on his home track on Saturday.

“It’s going to be his seventh start in a cup race this season and he hasn’t finished further back than fourth,” Fuller said.

“A fifth-placing is the furthest he has finished back all season. It is very pleasing how consistent he has been.

"If he races well we will keep going,” Fuller said. “There is the Taumaranui Cup (2200m), but we will get this out of the way first and see how he comes through it.”