Stable fancies 3YO

Crack The Code (I Am Invincible) will take on the older horses in the G3 Sir John Monash S. and co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr believes she’s up to the task.

"Crack The Code is going really well," he said. "She has had two really good jump-outs. She had a course proper gallop on Tuesday morning with our other runner in Saturday's race, Princess Of Queens, and she was probably a length and a bit in front on the line and worked better.

"It's a pretty even race this year so we expect her to be right in the finish, but she is certainly going to take improvement from the run and end up in those' mares' Group races during the spring."

"Princess Of Queens' form is fairly exposed. Crack The Code has definitely got more upside, I would think."

Filly to follow

The outside gate might beat Intrepidacious (Shooting To Win) in the Everest Carnival H. at Rosehill, but trainer John O’Shea said she is a filly to follow.

"She's going to have to go back to get in and from the 1100 metres at Rosehill, it's just a death knell, but she has to go to the races.

“We haven't run her for a month trying to get into this race so we'll run but I'd think the gate might pose an issue for her.

"I think she's got a good race in her at some point, it's just a matter of all the ducks lining up for that to happen."

Blue Point To Kildangan Stud

Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) will stand alongside his sire at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, Darley confirmed on Thursday.

The high class sprinter, who landed a notable double in both the G1 King’s Stand S. and the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting in the colours of Godolphin for trainer Charlie Appleby, was retired in June.

Bred by Oak Lodge Bloodstock, the 110,000gns Tattersalls December weanling turned 200,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase also captured the 2018 King’s Stand S., and has won all five of his starts this season.

Fighting meningitis

Apprentice jockey Tahlia Hope is in a Victorian hospital after contracting viral meningitis.

"Doctors have confirmed she has viral meningitis, infection and swelling on brain," the Victorian Jockeys’ Association said.

Hope, 20, has ridden 24 winners this season including a winning double at Morphettville in Adelaide last Saturday.

Headgear on

The unbeaten Ziemba (Rothesay) will wear blinkers for the first time in the Brent Kielly Memorial at Doomben.

Co-trainer Robert Heathcote said the stable expected the 2-year-old to appreciate the headgear for the first time.

"We deliberately kept them off him for his first two starts with the idea of adding them when he got to Saturday class," Heathcote said. "His whole family have been blinkers horses so we can be confident he will be as well."

Heathcote started his training partnership with Chris Anderson in May and they have already had 22 winners.

Middle Eastern buyers active

The Tattersalls July Sale continued in robust fashion on the second day with Middle Eastern buyers dominating the horses in training trade and a remarkable 95 per cent clearance rate.

Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali continued his spending spree when going to 100,000 guineas to secure the 3-year-old Mr Diamond (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}).

"We like the horse a lot, we like his profile – he was third last time to a horse called Awe, who was subsequently fourth in the Britannia and has been sold to Hong Kong,” said bloodstock agent Will Douglass, who is working with Ghazali. "We like buying from Richard Fahey too."

That top price of the session was later matched when Train To Georgia (Scat Daddy {USA}) was knocked down to Al Rashed Racing. Sold by Tuite Racing on behalf of Matt Morgan, the 3-year-old was an impressive winner on debut in March and then runner-up over 2000 metres.

"He is going to Dubai. We watched him win and we liked that. He is by Scat Daddy and should suit Dubai,” Al Rashed racing manager Tariq Moubarak said.

Communique too good

Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) has powered to victory in the G2 Princess of Wales's S. at Newmarket with last year's G1 English Derby winner Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) finishing last of the six runners.

"We don't really have tactics and any idea he has to lead is not true - he bowled along and it didn't matter he wasn't in front," Communique’s trainer Mark Johnston said.

Masar’s trainer Charlie Appleby said his horse cost himself by over-racing.

"He was in as good a nick as we could have him. He was fit and well. I hate to use an excuse when a race doesn't pan out for you, but they didn't go much of a gallop and he was just unfortunately over-racing on the outside and it paid in the end.