Almond Eye blitzes Tenno Sho

Japanese star Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has returned to the track with an awesome performance in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), blitzing her rivals in the 2000 metre event.

Having her first run since her shock defeat in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in June, Christophe Lemaire rode Almond Eye midfield along the fence, but after pushing up along the inside of Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune {USA}) at the 300 metre mark, exploded clear to register the easiest of victories by 5l.

Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) finished on for second, while Aerolithe was brave in third having set the pace throughout.

Having now won eight of her ten starts, Almond Eye has two possible destinations for her next assignment. She could contest the G1 Japan Cup or head to Hong Kong, where she holds an entry for G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup.

Shadow Hero plays Derby waiting game

While many of his potential G1 VRC Derby rivals have been putting forward their credentials on the track, favourite Shadow Hero (Pierro) has been quietly plotting his way to Flemington.

The Mark Newnham-trained gelding has not raced since winning the G1 Spring Champion S. on October 12 but the trainer told Racenet he is pleased with everything Shadow Hero has been asked to do in his short break.

“He has only had the three runs so there probably is a little bit of improvement in him but I had him pretty right for Spring Champion Stakes day,” Newnham said.

“His main two targets have been the Spring Champion and Victoria Derby. I couldn’t say he has improved a lot but there is a little bit left in him going to the 2500 metres.

“He has done well since he's got to Melbourne. He is eating good and feels good.

“He is going to have a gallop on Tuesday at Flemington and Josh (Parr) is going to come ride him but it is pretty much business as usual.”

Quinella for Spill The Beans

First season Aquis Farm sire Spill the Beans posted his first winner on Sunday, with quinella in the juvenile maiden at Townsville.

Tennessee Boy was hot favourite on debut, winning by three and a half lengths over Molongle Drifter, also by Spill The Beans. Trained by Roy Chillemi and bred by Aquis and partners, he is from Red Ransom (USA) mare Tennessee Red.

Spill the Beans stands at Aquis Queensland at a fee of $11,000.

Shark rested and then ready to return

The G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick in the autumn is high on the agenda of Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) after his third in Saturday's G1 Cox Plate.

Trainer Jamie Richards has confirmed the 5-year-old will head to the paddock for a well-earned rest before heading back to Australia in 2020.

“We will sit down and put a plan together for his next campaign which I would think will have Sydney in the autumn as a focus," he said.

“After his display over the 2000 metres I think a race like the Queen Elizabeth S. (G1, 2000 metres) at Randwick has to be a target for him as he has shown he is well up to the journey at weight-for-age.

“I do think there is improvement in him just given how little racing he has had, so I believe he can take them on again in Sydney.”

Richards next major assignment is preparing Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) for the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington on Saturday.

“She (Melody Belle) has settled in nicely at Flemington and is doing well,” Richards said.

“Opie (Bosson) will ride her and I guess now what we need is some luck with the barrier draw, certainly more than we got last week.”

Final tune-up for Kolding

Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will be given a final tune up for next Saturday's Golden Eagle on Monday.

Stable representative Charlie Duckworth told Racing NSW that the 4-year-old had done well in his break since winning the G1 Epsom H. on October 5 and had come through his recent trial win at Rosehill in good form.

"He had a maintenance trial in between runs and will have a pretty significant gallop on Monday morning which will have him cherry ripe. He is a fit horse and pretty easy, once they get to that level you've just got to keep them mentally stimulated," he said.

"It is interesting, it's almost like he has gone to the paddock. He has won five out of his past six and the one he was beaten in he was first up, take that out of it and he is unbeaten since he was gelded."

Snowden to wait on Zimbol

Co-trainer Peter Snowden will make a last-minute call on whether California Zimbol (I Am Invincible) tackles the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington on Saturday.

Snowden won't make a call on the filly taking on the colts in the 1200 metre race until acceptances are taken on Wednesday

"Because we’ve been so patient with this filly there is no point in throwing her in the deep end just yet," he told Racing.com.

"I am looking at four and five with her. She can be a really good filly given time. There are plenty of races for her this prep and next prep.

"This filly won’t be going to stud early. I just want to take her on quietly and hand-pick her races but she still might run yet.

"She trialled nicely on Friday and I’ll just see how she does through the week and make a decision on Wednesday."

California Zimbol defeated subsequent G1 Manikato S. winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) at her most recent start in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S.

1000 Guineas credentials on line

Bella Mente (NZ) (El Roca) is ready for her New Zealand 1000 Guineas audition when she takes on the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial S. at Te Rapa on Monday.

Cambridge trainer Shaun Ritchie is hoping the filly can confirm her position in next month's race alongside stablemate Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).

“She (Bella Mente) has really come on since her last race and she has been working the place down with Jennifer Eccles,” Ritchie said.

“I know it’s a cliché, but there really is nothing between them so if Bella Mente can do what her barn mate did at Ellerslie, then I expect her to be tough to beat in the Sarten.”

Among her rivals are the last-start Rotorua winner Equinox (NZ) (Exceed And Excel), trained by Jamie Richards, the Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard trained Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the unbeaten Andrew Campbell-trained Pimlico (Proisir).

Lees targets Graff at Hunter

Kris Lees has confirmed that Graff (Star Witness) will target the $1 million The Hunter on his home track of Newcastle next month.

The new race will be run over 1300 metres and Graff will be a leading contender having been close up against some of the best sprinters in the G2 Premiere S. and the G2 The Shorts his past two runs.

The 4-year-old will trial next Wednesday before heading to the rich race.

Lees has confirmed that In Her Time (Time Thief), last seen when ninth in The Everest, will tackle the G1 VRC Sprint Classic on the final day of the Flemington carnival.

Vale Sheryl McGlade

The racing industry is mourning the death of highly accomplished New Zealand horsewoman Sheryl McGlade.

McGlade was well regarded in both the jumps and equestrian scenes and passed away at Waikato Hospital on Friday.

As a trainer, she produced Just Jojo (NZ) (Starjo {NZ}) to win the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton and Clem (NZ) (Silent Hunter {USA}) to take the Great Northern Hurdle at Ellerslie.

With her husband Roger McGlade, she also celebrated consecutive G1 Avondale Cup wins from 2002 with Regal Krona (NZ) (Krona {NZ}), while she also bred, raced and co-trained Karlos (NZ) (Krona {NZ}), a son of Just Jojo, who was the last winner trained by McGlade when he won the 2013 Koral Steeplechase.

McGlade’s last runner as a trainer was Moni Nui (NZ) (D'Cash) in 2016.

Makfi’s Mkfancy makes all in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud

Denying the Ballydoyle threat in game fashion, Abdullah Al Maddah’s Mkfancy (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) made all to reward Theo Bachelot’s enterprise with a first Group 1 win for the rider in Saturday’s G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

2000 metres on the deep surface was always going to present a severe test for juveniles. Mkfancy kept finding in front to see off Mythical (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and then Arthur’s Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the straight. At the line, the bay had 3l to spare over the latter, with 0.5l back to Mythical as the remainder were spread out.

Donjuan Triumphant to Haras de la Barbottiere

Recent G1 QIPCO British Champion Sprint S. winner Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead {USA}) has been retired to stand in France at Haras de la Barbottiere.

Bred by Patrick Cosgrove and the Dream Ahead Syndicate, the 6-year-old started his career racing in the colours of Middleham Park Racing, having been purchased by the syndicate at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale for 30,000gns.

He proved to have been good value, and over the course of five seasons, he raced 37 times for seven wins and 16 placed finishes, with career earnings in excess of £800,000. At 2-years-old, Donjuan Triumphant won three consecutive races, including the Rockingham S. at York and G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.

Trainer Andrew Balding said, “Donjuan Triumphant was an absolute pleasure to train; he was tough, sound and very talented."

Hermosa, Magical to No Nay Never

Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of this year’s G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, has been retired from racing and will visit No Nay Never (USA) next year.

Hermosa is out of the dual French group winner Beauty Is Truth, already the dam of Group 1 winners The United States (Ire) and Hydrangea (Ire), both also by Galileo, and triple Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed sprinter Fire Lily (Ire) (Dansili {GB}).

Hermosa will be joined in No Nay Never’s book by Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), this year’s G1 Champion S., Irish Champion S. and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner who lines up in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita next weekend.