Bulls on song

Everest aspirant Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) continues to impress trainer James Cummings ahead of a return to racing in the G2 Shorts on September 21.

Osborne Bulls edged out Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) in an exhibition gallop on Saturday and Cummings said all the signs were positive after he finished off the final 600 metres in 33.90s.

"Osborne Bulls is going really well. Now we’ve just got to get the timing right with him and we’ll be excited getting him back to the races in The Shorts in a couple of weeks," he said.

“Both horses are in to trial on Tuesday and it’s a Tuesday morning decision but I’m pretty happy with the way he looked and my first impression is that he’s warming to a first-up level of fitness that will be desirable for The Shorts.”

Home Of The Brave may also go to The Shorts, but could also head to Melbourne.

Shark fresh into Epsom

Jamie Richards will send Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) to the G1 Epsom H. without another run after his fast-finishing 2nd in the G2 Tramway S. on Saturday.

Richards said he preferred to keep the talented 5-year-old fresh ahead of his Group 1 assignment on October 5.

“He (Te Akau Shark) was very good as he was another that wasn’t suited by the pattern of racing on the day,” Richards said. “He had a horse laying all over him most of the way, which didn’t help, but I just liked the way he closed it off in the last piece to claim 2nd."

“He is a horse that goes best on the fresh side so he will go straight into the Epsom in a month.”

Richards also gave a pass mark to Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a touch unlucky when 4th in the G2 Furious S.

“Probabeel just got caught in a tricky spot in a small field. We had wanted her to make her challenge a little wider in the straight but circumstances saw her having to stay on the fence," he said.

“We know that she is going to be better suited once she steps up in distance but I thought she fought on nicely and will take benefit from the run. She will head to the G2 Tea Rose S. in a fortnight for her next run.”

Zahra gets Kings ride

Leading jockey Mark Zahra has claimed the ride on Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) throughout his Melbourne campaign.

Kings Will Dream made his comeback from a life-threatening pelvic fracture when 5th on debut for new trainer Chris Waller in the G1 Winx S. last month.

Jason Collett had the ride that day but now the 6-year-old has headed south, Zahra will take the reins, starting in Saturday's G1 Makybe Diva S. at Flemington.

Kings Will Dream will likely embark on a path to the G1 Cox Plate next month, a race where he suffered his major injury last year.

Sisstar shines in maiden win

The full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar) broke her maiden with a 6.7l win at Murray Bridge on Sunday.

Sisstar, now a 3-year-old filly by Zoustar, dominated at start number five.

“She’s already stakes placed, so the win today adds a lot of value to her,” said co-trainer Calvin McEvoy, referring to Sisstar’s 3rd in the Listed Dequetteville S. at Morphettville in April.

“We’re really impressed that she raced more generous today and is doing a lot more right.”

“We really like her, but we’ll just step through the grades and allow her to build some confidence,” he said.

Oliver makes it No.10

Damien Oliver claimed a 10th Scobie Breasley Medal at the Victorian Racing Awards in Melbourne, edging out five-time Scobie winner Craig Williams by eight votes.

Oliver edged out Williams 60 votes to 52, despite Williams winning the metropolitan premiership, with Mark Zahra (48), Dwayne Dunn (33) and Luke Currie (32) rounding out the top five.

Oliver first won the medal in 1996 and followed that up with success in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2015 and 2018.

In other awards, Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), claimed her third Victorian Racehorse of the Year Award over All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey (Needs Further) and multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar), while Winx's trainer Chris Waller won his first Fred Hoysted Medal.

Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani took home the Colin Alderson Award, presented to one of the state's most exciting young trainers, while Damian Lane and Michael Poy received the peer-voted Most Valuable Jockey and Rising Star awards respectively.

Shane Jackson won his first Tommy Corrigan Medal, awarded to the leading jumps jockey of the season in Victoria and South Australia.

Setback for Team Rogerson

Team Rogerson is hoping for an upturn in fortune this spring having lost progressive 5-year-old Comeback (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), who had to be euthanised after a suffering a fracture.

Comeback was injured in the G1 Tarzino Trophy on August 31 and unfortunately could not be saved.

“He was very brave and it’s such a shame we couldn’t save him after he suffered his injury,” Graeme Rogerson said.

“I guess that is racing, where you have to take the good with the bad, but it is a tough old game when this sort of thing happens. He was a genuine and much-loved horse.”

More Wonder (NZ) (Mossman) will now carry the stable's hopes in the G1 Windsor Park Plate on September 21, having finished 9th in the Tarzino Trophy after copping interference.

“He didn’t get a lot of luck in the run home as he was hampered by Comeback when he faltered,” Rogerson said.

“I was pleased without being delighted by the run, but he has worked up nicely since then and we’re hopeful of a better effort in the Windsor Park Plate.”

Aalalune (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who finished further down the track in that race, will now be reserved for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series later in the year.

"She can have a freshen up and then will most likely go to either the G3 Soliloquy S. at Ellerslie or the G2 Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa in October," Rogerson said.

“From there we will concentrate on the Filly of the Year series with the G1 1000 Guineas at Riccarton her main focus to start with.”