Mer De Glace favourite

Mer De Glace (Jpn ) (Rulership {Jpn}) has taken over from Constantinople (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup favourite after the barrier draw for the $8 million race.

The G1 Caulfield Cup winner is now the $7 top pick after drawing gate two in a field of 24 for 3200 metre feature at Flemington on Tuesday.

Constantinople has also drawn a favourable gate in stall seven, but has eased to $8.

Last year's winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) will jump from barrier five and is a $13 chance to make it two in a row.

The Chris Waller-trained Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is on the third line of betting after also drawing well in gate four.

Consolation for Pierata

Top sprinter Pierata (Pierro) gained a smaller measure of compensation for his luckless fifth in The Everest with a commanding victory in the Redzel S. at Rosehill.

The Greg Hickman-trained 5-year-old had to overcome an outside gate, but he did that in style under regular rider Tommy Berry to claim the $1 million sprint.

"I just trusted Pierata. I just don't have enough praise for him, gee didn't he pin his ears back," Berry said.

Pierata was racing for the first time in the colours of Aquis, where he will be retired to at the end of this season.

"It's been an amazing ride and he's been an amazing horse. Hopefully, he'll do a good job at stud," Hickman said.

There remains the possibility that he may race on the international stage at the Royal Ascot carnival before he begins his stud career,

Family affair

Morphettville trainer Richard Jolly celebrated his most important win since his daughter Chantelle joined him in partnership when Kemalpasa (Magnus) won the G2 TAB S.

“She’s at home looking after the team, but it’s really good. It’s great to have a horse that’s competitive at the carnival,” he said.

“He’s been a revelation this horse. He’s been a bit head strong, but he knows how to win.”

Kemalpasa, who has now won six of his last seven starts, took control 400 metres from home and stayed on strongly to give jockey Jake Toeroek his first Melbourne spring carnival winner.

Widdup eyes big prize

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has eyes for the $1 million Hunter after a stable quinella on Golden Eagle day at Rosehill.

Topweight Sandbar (Snitzel) edged out Junglized (Snitzel) in the Chandon H. for Widdup.

“He's been a terrific horse and Junglized is the same. He's always honest and he never puts a foot wrong."

Widdup has big plans for Sandbar, starting with a trip to Newcastle in two weeks’ time for the rich new 1300 metre feature.

McDonald praised

Former top jockey and Godolphin employee Darren Beadman praised the winning ride of James McDonald aboard Tally (Street Cry {Ire}) in the Rosehill Gold Cup.

"It was a crafty ride by James," Beadman said. "He just let the race pan out down the side there until he got the first corner.

"The gate was the key thing just to get him out and get him in the right position and the right part of the track in the straight. "

Beadman suggested it was unlikely the seasoned campaigner was done for the spring.

"There might be something for him at the back end of the carnival," he said. "The Sandown Cup or something, I don't know if he'll go to Perth.”

Grand stable result

Foxton trainers David and Emma Haworth came within a nose of a quinella in the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup at Awapuni, headed by a breakthrough performance by Toms (NZ) (Towkay).

He stepped up to stakes level for the first time on Saturday and rose to the occasion, with accomplished stablemate Balham (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) delivering an excellent supporting performance in third.

“It was fantastic,” Emma Haworth said. “It was great to see Toms win the race so well, and we were also really proud to see the old boy Balham back in top form.

“Toms is a horse who’s really come of age this year. We were confident he’d be even better on top of the ground, so it was really good to see him come out and win a race like that.”

Winner casts long shadow

Attempting to repeat a spring double from two years ago, top-class galloper Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) ticked the first box with a supreme weight-carrying performance in Saturday’s Courtesy Ford Redcraze Bowl at Awapuni.

He won the same race in November 2017, then lined up in the G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton 11 days later and shared the spoils in a dead-heat with Son of Maher (Al Maher).

Shadows Cast’s achievements towered over his rivals in Saturday’s race, and his rating of 103 earned him a testing topweight of 63kg.

“That was a very good performance from the horse, especially under that big weight, we’re very happy with that,” trainer Mark Oulaghan said. “The plan is to go down to Riccarton again, as long as he comes through this well.”

Youngster makes history

Kameko (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) has raced into history with an impressive win in the Futurity Trophy at Newcastle, the first British Group 1 event run on a synthetic surface.

Originally due to be the centrepiece of last Saturday's rain-abandoned fixture at Doncaster, the event was swiftly rescheduled to be run on the all-weather track at Gosforth Park.

Kameko travelled strongly in midfield before drawing clear to beat the Aidan O'Brien-trained Innisfree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by 3.25l.

"I was very relieved when they decided to run it here, rather than wait until later in the year on the grass," Balding said. "I think it was a proper horse race and he is a very good horse."

"He thrives on work and racing and I'm so looking forward to next year with him.”

Advertise retired to National Stud

Three-time Group 1-winning sprinter Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) has been retired from racing and will enter the National Stud in Newmarket next year.

Bred by Cheveley Park Stud and raced by Phoenix Thoroughbred with trainer Martyn Meade, Advertise broke his maiden at first asking last May and was second to Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 Coventry S. four weeks later.

He followed up with victories in the G2 July S. and G1 Phoenix S. and was second to Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. to round out the year. At three, Advertise capitalised with a win in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in race record time and, after finishing second in the G1 July Cup, won the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over elders.

“As a Group 1 winner at two and three, Advertise has given us some brilliant days. His win in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot this year was a particularly special and happy day,” Phoenix Thoroughbred Chief Executive Officer Amer Abdulaziz said.

“We are really excited to stand him as a stallion at the National Stud alongside Aclaim and we will be supporting his progeny in the sales ring.”

Asterius for Gong

Trainer Chris Waller has a million reasons to keep Rosehill winner Asterius (Sebring) close to home.

"He's entered for the greys race at Flemington, but he will go to The Gong in three weeks," he said. "It's a million dollar race over 1800 metres in three weeks which suits.

"He likes his races three weeks apart and is a horse I think might get to the Villiers in December."

The $1 million Gong is a new race on the calendar to be run at Kembla Grange on November 23 with Happy Clapper (Teofilo {Ire}) also heading there.

Bar to be raised

Smart 2-year-old Rothfire (Rothesay) earned himself a crack at stakes class with success at Eagle Farm on Saturday in the Orthochick H.

Trainer Rob Heathcote has high hopes for the unbeaten youngster, who had won on debut at Deagon.

"He might be something a bit special. He isn't a Magic Millions horse, but I might have a crack at some of the summer 2-year-old features up here," Heathcote said.

Drought over

Coffs Harbour trainer Warren Gavenlock has broken his city duck at Rosehill.

Plonka (Epaulette) bounded away at the 200 metre mark to win Saturday's TAB Highway H. from Gumshoe (Shamus Award).

It was a milestone moment for Gavenlock, who has waited many moons for a metropolitan winner.

"First win, first city winner," he said. "We've had a few placings down here before, but that's our first one."