Bivouac ready for Manikato

James Cummings has backed his star 3-year-old Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) to measure up to the open age sprinters in the G1 Manikato S. on Friday night.

The last start G1 Golden Rose S. winner takes on the older horses for the first time, with his form franked by the win of Yes Yes Yes (Rubick), who he beat in the Golden Rose, in The Everest.

The colt may be odds-on favourite in the race, but Cummings is aware of the challenge he faces.

“It’s no easy assignment at this early stage of the season to beat the older horses, but over the years the record of 3-year-olds has been quite good,” he said.

“We saw a Group 1 performance from him in the Golden Rose and he’s had a month between runs to revitalise and ensure that he’s ready for another Group 1 performance.

“His appearance is pleasing to the eye and his work has been excellent. A little jump-out last week kept him humming and I think he’ll handle The Valley quite well.

“The biggest test will be racing against the older horses. He’s got to prove he’s up to the task."

Sunlight to tackle Golden Eagle

Triple Group 1 winning mare Sunlight (Zoustar) will contest next week's $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said Sunlight had pulled up well from her 10th in The Everest and would push on as planned towards the rich race for 4-year-olds over 1500 metres, a distance she had never tackled before.

"We're going to stay on our original plan. The mare has come out of The Everest in great order," McEvoy told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday.

"Even though she ran below what we expected, she still ran the fastest 1200 metres she's ever ran.

"While we were disappointed, the run wasn't disastrous really when you do the sums."

Sir Prancealot's US fee confirmed

Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) will stand the 2020 Northern Hemisphere season for US$15,000 LFSN (approx AU$22,000) to approved mares at Rancho San Miguel in California.

The reverse shuttler, already represented in America by Beau Recall (Ire) and recent G3 Pin Oak Valley View S. heroine Lady Prancealot (Ire), stands at Cornerstone Stud during the Southern Hemisphere season.

“This is a unique situation in that Sir Prancealot is already proven to be an elite stallion in North America before even standing here,” said Adrian Gonzalez. “It’s unprecedented to have a horse with the hype of a young incoming freshman stallion along with proven graded stakes results from small crops.”

Moore happy with Magic Wand

Jockey Ryan Moore has re-united with Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at a trackwork gallop ahead of the mare taking on the G1 Cox Plate on Saturday.

Moore, who last rode Magic Wand when she was second in the Listed Wolferton S. at Royal Ascot, said he was pleased with how the 5-year-old has come through her trip to Australia.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained mare worked with Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) at Werribee over 1400 metres, shading that horse down the straight.

“We didn’t ask her any serious questions but she’s very comfortable," he said. “She came through her routine exercise in good shape and, all being well, she’ll be in good shape for Saturday."

Magic Wand has been Group 1 placed in her past three runs, with her most recent win coming under Moore in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot last year.

Ten to contest $1 million Bondi

A field of 10 horses will tackle the inaugural edition of the $1 million Bondi S. at Randwick on Saturday.

The new race for 3-year-olds, staged over 1600 metres, has attracted stakes winners Just Thinkin’ (So You Think {NZ}), Colada (Brazen Beau) and Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}) along with Group 1 placegetter Kubrick (Shooting To Win).

Promising duo Erno (Rubick) and Bottega (Snitzel) have also accepted for the race.

There are also three stakes races on the Randwick card, the G3 Nivison, the Listed Brian Crowley S. and the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup.

McEvoy's Classique ride

Kerrin McEvoy has taken the ride on Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle, meaning he will not be riding at Flemington on Victoria Derby day.

McEvoy rode Classique Legend at his first four starts, including his biggest win in April's G2 Arrowfield Sprint, but has stuck with Redzel (Snitzel) this campaign.

He replaces Nash Rawiller, who rode Classique Legend in his three starts this campaign, including his unlucky sixth in The Everest.

McEvoy is likely to take the ride on Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) in the $1 million Redzel S.

Weir faces court on cruelty charges

Disqualified trainer Darren Weir and former assistant Jarrod McLean were among four men to front the Melbourne Magistrates Court on charges relating to animal cruelty, corruption and betting offences on Wednesday.

Weir, 49, McLean, 39, Tyson Kermond, 27, and William Hernan, 34, are charged with a total of 33 charges stemming from Victoria Police raids on properties in Warrnambool and Ballarat on January 30.

The filing hearing lasted only a few minutes before the matter was adjourned by Magistrate Duncan Reynolds to a committal hearing on February 14, 2020.

Weir faces nine charges including three counts of 'engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying' of a thoroughbred racehorse, three counts of 'causing unreasonable pain or suffering' to a racehorse and charges of possessing an unregistered firearm and conspiracy to defraud RV stewards.

Monovale on the move

A four-year process is nearing an end for Monovale Farm with the development of a larger property to continue its successful Waikato-based breeding operation.

As a result, it has sold its current property near Lake Karapiro to trainer Stephen Marsh and Go Racing, who will take control early next year and use the 58-acre facility for spelling and pre-training.

“The new property is 400 acres and we’ve been getting it the way we want. It didn’t make sense to have two properties so we did a deal with Stephen Marsh and Go Racing,” Monovale’s Joe Smithies said.

“We’re still running both properties and will be for the rest of the season. This year will be the last yearling preparation we do here before we move.”

Monovale also celebrated a memorable homebred black type double last weekend with Dawn Patrol (NZ) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) claiming top honours in the G3 Sweynesse S. and Sweet Treat (NZ) (Ekraar) {USA}) winning the Listed Staphanos Classic.