Cox Plate option open

Flit (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) is the favourite to claim her first Group 1 title in the Thousand Guineas and she also remains the only 3-year-old filly still in the mix for the G1 Cox Plate.

"We've kept her in the acceptances and we don't need to rush that at the moment," trainer James Cummings said.

"She is third-up in the Thousand Guineas and that's a target race for her. It's very important before we go considering anything past that point.

"She has had a preparation that was completely set for a 1600 metre target that was desirable for us.

"We made the call early that we'd lean toward the Thousand Guineas over the Flight S. and the way the field is shaping up I think that has worked in our favour.”

Don’t dismiss Yourdeel: Hayes

David Hayes, who trains in partnership with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, has issued a warning to punters not to dismiss Kiwi import Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas.

He has had two starts for Hayes, finding the line well when seventh in the G2 Danehill S.at Flemington before losing the rider in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude most recently.

“He unfortunately clipped heels and dislodged Jamie Kah,” Hayes said. “She had a nasty fall and luckily the horse didn’t get hurt and neither did Jamie.

“We’re looking forward to the Guineas. I think he would have run a very good race in the Prelude and he probably would have been half the odds that he is. So for punters, it might be a nice opportunity.

“He’s a dual Group 1 winner from New Zealand and he works like a very nice horse. One of my Hong Kong owners bought him and they spent a lot of money, so hopefully they can get a few rewards.”

Bott tips better showing

Adrian Bott is expecting improvement from Just Thinkin’ (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 Spring Champion S. at Randwick.

He agrees the Mark Newnham-trained Shadow Hero (Pierro) is the horse to beat after his G3 Gloaming S. victory, a race in which Just Thinkin’ finished fourth.

"There was plenty of pressure on in that race from the outset and I'd like to think that's a run that well and truly sets him up for what's always going to be a tough test for them over the Randwick 2000 metres," said Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse.

"That should have him well conditioned and seasoned. We've made some small gear changes. We've put the blinkers on which we've kept up our sleeve for a while and hopefully that's to his benefit on Saturday."

Force to be reckoned with

Cosmic Force (Deep Field) will strip a fitter colt for Saturday’s G2 Roman Consul S. at Randwick.

He was edged out by the Standout (Exceed And Excel) when he resumed in the Listed Heritage S. and co-trainer Paul Snowden felt the lack of match practice was the difference at the finish.

Cosmic Force and Standout will meet again on Saturday and with the added advantage of a 2.5kg swing in the weights, Snowden is confident his charge can turn the tables.

"We were lacking a bit of race fitness. We were first-up off a long break and that's the only thing that got us I'm pretty sure," Snowden said. "Hopefully we can level the score on Saturday against the winner."

Sweet result

Sweet Melania (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) has earned a crack at the big time with a runaway victory in the G2 JP Morgan Chase Jessamine S. at Keeneland.

Success guaranteed her a spot in the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf and follows the win of Four Wheel Drive, also by the Coolmore stallion, in the G2 Futurity S. at Belmont Park which booked his spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“As soon as I completely got the lead, she relaxed well and I cruised to the quarter pole. When I asked her to go, she switched leads and gave me a great turn of foot,” Sweet Melania’s rider Jose Ortiz said.

Trainer has faith in Eric

Queensland trainer Stuart Kendrick doesn’t believe there is much between his G1 Caulfield Guineas runner Eric The Eel (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and the second favourite Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).

"Alligator Blood looks a genuine miler while my bloke looks like being a stayer. I know we are drawn off the track, but Eric The Eel can get back and run home.

"Whether Caulfield is his track we will see, but we paid the late entry for the Victoria Derby and I can hardly wait to get him on the big Flemington spaces."

A big offer was made for Eric The Eel after he showed Group 1 potential with an unlucky fifth in the JJ Atkins in June, but Kendrick felt there was something special about the gelding who is on his way to the G1 Victoria Derby next month.

Championship on line

The 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Caulfield WFA Championship will go right down to the wire in the fourth and final leg, the G1 Ladbrokes Caulfield S.

Depending on Saturday’s result, any one of four horses could be crowned the winner of this year’s Championship.

Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) tops the table with 14 points, despite winless through this year’s series, but finished third in the G2 PB Lawrence S., fourth in the G1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie S. and fourth in the G1 Underwood S.

He has bypassed the Caulfield S. with Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars), Gailo Chop (Fr) (Deportivo {GB}) and Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) all in line to gain enough points to surpass him and win the title.

Vespa’s son scoots home

Wellfield Lodge stallion Vespa (NZ) got off the mark at Tauherenikau where his son Piaggio (NZ) was successful at his third appearance.

The 2-year-old won the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race for trainers Johno Benner and Holly Wynyard with the former sharing in the ownership and he also guided the career of Vespa.

“It was definitely special. We obviously owe Vespa a lot,” Benner said.

The son of Elusive City (USA) won seven races, including the G1 Diamond S. and the Karaka Million to be crowned champion New Zealand 2-year-old. He subsequently won the G2 Wellington Guineas as a 3-year-old and was a multiple Group 1 placegetter.

Derby inquiry

Stewards have set the date for the resumption of an inquiry into the G1 Queensland Derby fall which resulted in high-profile jockey Corey Brown suffering serious injuries.

Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards confirmed the inquiry would resume on October 21 with four jockeys required to attend.

Brown, who suffered injuries to his spine, ribs and lungs and will be out of the saddle for an indefinite period, was aboard fallen runner Lord Arthur (Camelot {GB}), who was euthanised after the incident.