Eagle run ruled out

Irish visitor Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) won’t run in the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

The 4-year-olds race was a post-Everest option for the G1 July Cup winner, but trainer Aidan O'Brien has told Racing New South Wales stewards the horse will not take part.

However, stablemate Never No More (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) remains in the mix for the Golden Eagle and is a $15 chance with G1 Doncaster Mile winner Brutal (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) the market leader at $3.80 ahead of Arcadia Queen (Pierro) at $4.20.

Another Northern Hemisphere-trained horse, Beat Le Bon (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), is safely in the field, but I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) will have to rely on several non-acceptors on Tuesday to make the final 18.

Top hopes remain

A total of 42 horses, including defending champion Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and leading local contender Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking), have stood their ground after the third acceptances for the G1 Melbourne Cup were taken on Monday.

Cross Counter will be trying to become the first horse since the mighty mare Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert Sun {Ire}) to defend his Melbourne Cup crown.

The G1 Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) is on target to continue Japan’s feature race dominance while one of the leading local hopes is the G3 Bart Cummings winner Surprise Baby.

No penalties

The G1 Melbourne Cup hopes Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Master Of Wine (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) have escaped penalties for their respective wins at The Valley and Randwick.

Hunting Horn won the G2 Moonee Valley Cup on Saturday with Master Of Wine claiming the Listed Tattersalls Cup.

Racing Victoria's Greg Carpenter opted not to penalise the pair, saying Hunting Horn was favourably weighted to win at The Valley while Master Of Wine was on the limit weight at Randwick.

"Hunting Horn has 55kg in the Melbourne Cup and he will already meet Mr Quickie on 2.5kg worse weight terms and Downdraft on 2kg worse weight terms from Saturday's contest and all other runners from Saturday between two and 3.5kg worse," Carpenter said.

Explorer applications open

The Explorer Program has confirmed itself as the best way to fast track a career in the thoroughbred industry with the 2019 intake of cadets, coming from right across Australia, on track for jobs upon graduation or committed to pursuing further equine-related educational opportunities.

Applications are now open for the 2020 program, which involves 12 months of stud and stable horsemanship training, including three months of theory and practical learning while based at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Campus.

During work placements, Cadets learn from a number of leading employers, including the biggest names in the business such as Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, McEvoy Mitchell Racing, Lindsay Park Racing, Godolphin and Arrowfield Stud, who, in conjunction with the Australian Turf Club, are the founding benefactors of Thoroughbred Industry Careers – a not for profit organisation that funds the training program.

Kiwi mare out of cup

Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}) is out of G1 Melbourne Cup contention following a paddock injury.

“She banged her leg and it hasn’t responded as quickly as we would have hoped,” trainer Bill Thurlow said. “Her welfare was always our priority, so the decision was taken to abandon pursuing with the race.”

Glory Days had three runs in Melbourne this spring, including a fifth placing in the G3 JRA Cup and a last start ninth in the G2 Herbert Power S.

Thurlow has now set his sights on an autumn race day return for his G1 Auckland Cup winner and G1 Sydney Cup placegetter.

“At this stage we are confident, with time, she will make a full recovery and hopefully race in the autumn,” Thurlow said.

Technician triumphs

Team Valor’s Technician (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) opened his account at the highest level when he overcame a heavy surface at Longchamp to win the G1 Prix Royal Oak over 3100 metres.

It was his first start in elite company since he finished sixth in the G1 English St Leger and had triumphed in the G2 Prix Chaudenay in between times.

“He’s developed into a really nice stayer and has been better and better with each race this term,” beamed assistant trainer Freddie Meade.

“He’s been a fantastic servant to the yard this year and has gone right through the ranks from a Listed win to, now, a Group 1 win. I imagine he will stay in training, I certainly hope so, and his target will be the top staying races next year if he does. That is the plan at this stage and he’ll have a good break now.”

Alson way too good

Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) had to settle for second in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and he went one better in the G1 Prix Criterium International.

The contest developed into a match race after Lady Penelope (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) reared out of the gates, but Alson turned it into a one act affair with 20l on Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at the post.

“I was informed that Gestut Schlenderhan is closing its training establishment in Germany and I won’t be training for the operation anymore,” conditioner Jean-Pierre Carvalho said.

“There had been rumours for a while and it became official last week. The horses will be spread across trainers in France and Germany and I’ve been told Alson will be transferred to Andre Fabre, but I don’t know if that’s true or not. I shall continue training for my other clients, but I need to find a new base.”

Quality roster

Quality Road (USA) will join Tapit (USA) and Medaglia d’Oro (USA) as the second highest-priced stallions in the country with a 2020 stud fee of US$200,000 (AU$293,000) Lane’s End Farm announced on Sunday.

That news was announced in tandem with that of a new stallion addition: the 2018 Champion 2-Year-Old Game Winner (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) will join the farm’s roster, along with the previously announced Catalina Cruiser (USA) upon his retirement.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to stand Game Winner upon retirement in 2021,” said Lane’s End’s Bill Farish. “Champion 2-year-olds are hard to come by and we are honoured that Gary and Mary West have entrusted Lane’s End with his stallion career.”

Game Winner will remain with Bob Baffert and target a spring campaign.