All-Star shot on Melody's agenda

Trainer Jamie Richards has indicated Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) would look to become the first New Zealand horse to target the All-Star Mile in 2020.

Off the back of a brilliant week in Melbourne, where she won the G1 Empire Rose S. and then backed up with a fast-finishing second in the G1 Mackinnon S. Melody Belle will have a well-earned break, but Richards is already plotting her next campaign.

“Melody Belle looks like an ideal candidate for the All-Star Mile and I guess her work over the past week at Flemington won’t have done her any harm in terms of the public vote to get a start in the race,” he said.

The public vote which determines most of the All-Star Mile field will be opened up to New Zealanders in 2020, but the fact she is now a 10-time Group 1 winner would surely make Melody Belle a prime candidate for a wildcard spot.

Richards said G1 Cox Plate placegetter Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) would also be considered for the race at Caulfield, although targets in Sydney would be more likely.

“Te Akau Shark could also look at the race but might be more suited in Sydney where he could be favoured by striking tracks with a little more give in them," he said.

“In the past, we probably wouldn’t have had Sydney on his radar as he needed a decent spell after a hard campaign like he has had, but as he has matured he seems to be able to cope a lot better with more regular racing, although we are mindful of not overdoing it with him.

“At this stage we won’t know much more until we get them back in the stable but we are certainly keen to head back over the Tasman and take on the challenges presented.”

Magic's tough Mackinnon doesn't surprise Magnier

Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier paid tribute to the toughness of the Galileo (Ire) breed after Magic Wand (Ire) backed-up from the 3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup to win the G1 Mackinnon S. on Saturday.

Showing remarkable resilience, the 5-year-old mare came off a four-day break to drop back 1200 metres and claim her first Group 1 win.

But the success didn’t surprise Magnier, who like everyone else at Coolmore, has so much faith in the progeny of Galileo.

"Those Galileos, they are so tough and they can fight a lot. They just don’t give up. It worked out well. And when you have Aidan O'Brien, Galileo and Ryan Moore, you just can't stop them," he told Sky Sports Radio.

The win saw Galileo join the legendary Danehill (USA) with 84 individual Group 1 winners.

"I don't think we have seen a stallion like him," Magnier said.

As for Magic Wand, Magnier said it was likely she would remain in training in 2020 and may return to Melbourne next spring.

"The lads want to keep her in training. We’ll run her in Europe next year and might even finish up here again next year," he said.

Diva delivers a filly

Three-time G1 Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) has delivered her latest foal, a filly by More Than Ready (USA).

The star mare's 10th foal arrived this week, 14 years after she completed her historic Melbourne Cup treble at Flemington.

It continues the run of fillies for her, with her past five foals all female. She had a filly to Written Tycoon last year, while she has a 3-year-old by Brazen Beau called Sublime Diva, who is in work with Chris Waller.

Of her seven foals to the track, five have been winners, including Divanation (All Too Hard), who has been stakes-placed and has won two of her seven starts.

This filly is the first foal she has had to More Than Ready, having missed to the Vinery legend back in 2010.

Feature double for Preusker

Horsham trainer Paul Preusker got some small atonement for Surprise Baby's (NZ) (Shocking) close-up run in the G1 Melbourne Cup when he won both the features at Ararat on Sunday.

The Preusker-trained Stealthy Lucas (Lucas Cranach {Ger}) won the $70,000 Ararat Gold Cup, the biggest win of his 15-start career.

A race later, the $82,000 Programmed China Bowl went to the Preusker-trained Marcel From Madrid (Sepoy), the half-brother to G1 Victoria Derby winner Levendi (Pierro).

Clark remains in hospital

Jockey Raquel Clark appears to have escaped serious injury after a heavy fall at Morphettville on Saturday.

The 26-year-old fell to the turf when Goodgee (Love Conquers All) clipped heels approximately 200 metres past the winning post. The horse fell and rolled over the top of Clark.

She was initially unconscious before being transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she remains under observation after suffering headaches.

A winner of 351 races, the majority of them in Tasmania and South Australia, her career-best victory came aboard Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) in the G2 Danehill S. (1200 metres) at Flemington in September.

Million aims for De La Terre

Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson thinks promising 2-year-old De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) could live up to the quality of a Karaka Million 2YO.

De La Terre won well at Te Rapa on Saturday and his veteran conditioner thinks the filly can contend with the best juveniles in New Zealand.

“I think she is going to be a real top filly,” Rogerson said. “She probably should be unbeaten but she did a little wrong on debut and got narrowly beaten, but she stepped up and showed her class on Saturday.

“She’s beaten some nice types and did it comfortably so there is a lot to look forward to.

“She’s aimed at the Karaka Million but there are some nice options coming up before then so we’ll just take her along one race at a time.”