Sunlight recovering

Multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar) is recovering after undergoing surgery on a hind leg after an accident in the spelling paddock.

Trainer Tony McEvoy ordered X-rays after she was found to have filling on the cannon bone.

"Everything went very straight forward and she is now back on her feet and happy," McEvoy said on Twitter.

McEvoy had been planning an autumn campaign starting in the G1 Lightning S. at Flemington in February, but with a six week recuperation period, that race is ruled out.

The setback also means Sunlight will not go to the Dubai World Cup meeting in March, however Royal Ascot in June is still a possibility.

Doomben rained off

Torrential rain forced an early halt to Friday’s Doomben meeting where a number of contenders for the $2 million Star Magic Millions 2YO Classic were to have been in action.

Features on the card were the Listed Spirit Of Boom Phelan Ready S. and the Listed Boomer Bloodstock Calaway Gal S. for the 2-year-olds.

However, after three races around 100mm of rain fell in 45 minutes and resulting surface water forced stewards to call the rest of the meeting off.

The Phelan Ready S. and the Calaway Gal S. have been added to next Wednesday’s card at Doomben.

MM target for 3YO

Anthony Freedman is keen to chase Magic Millions 3 & 4YO Classic honours with King Of Hastings (Ilovethiscity).

He was a last-start fifth at Ballarat when resuming and while Freedman’s son Sam conceded that was a touch disappointing, he said a shifty track was a contributing factor.

King Of Hastings gets an opportunity to bounce back when he runs in Saturday's Say Hello To Summer Racing Trophy at Flemington.

"We're happy with how he has trained on. He's fit and well and it looks a good race for him," Freedman said.

McEvoy chasing mile

Kerrin McEvoy has never won any of the three big mile handicap races at Randwick.

While the G2 Villiers S. doesn’t have the prestige and status of the Doncaster Mile and Epsom H., it remains the centrepiece of Sydney's summer racing action.

"I might have run second and been close in a finish but I've never won one," McEvoy said. "These big handicap races are the ones we keep trying to aim at and they're all enjoyable to win."

McEvoy will get an ideal opportunity to break his hoodoo aboard the James Cummings-trained Ranier (Lonhro) in the Villiers.

The 4-year-old turned in two strong performances in mile races over the Sydney and Melbourne spring carnivals before scoring a last-stride win in the G3 Festival S.

Farewell Talenti

Talenti (NZ) (Niagara) will have his last start for trainer Robert Hickmott at Flemington.

Unbeaten in Australian appearances, he has been purchased by clients of retired champion Hong Kong jockey turned trainer Douglas Whyte.

After successive wins at The Valley, Talenti steps up to 1800 metres on Saturday in the Flemington Family Lawn H.

"My brother Michael has sold the horse to Douglas Whyte and his clients in Hong Kong," Hickmott said. “I'm sorry to see him go as he's a nice progressive horse and I'm sure he'll do well in Hong Kong."

Talenti was bred and raced by leading New Zealand equine photographer Trish Dunell.

Flower denied bail

Racehorse owner and accused drug smuggler Damion Flower will spend Christmas in jail after Supreme Court judge Robert Hulme on Friday knocked back his second bail application since he was arrested in May over his alleged involvement in an international drug cartel.

"The prosecution case is a strong one," Justice Hulme said. "The offences alleged are of very grave seriousness. The applicant faces potential incarceration for a very long time, with the maximum penalty prescribed for some of the offences being life imprisonment.

"I am not satisfied that the applicant has shown cause why his detention is not justified. The application for release on bail is refused."

Trial a pointer

A dashing trial and strong track work has The Odyssey (Better Than Ready) in top order for the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm.

He was voted Queensland's best 2-year-old for last season, but was below par at his first two runs back from a break before showing his true colours with a runaway win at Eagle Farm five weeks ago.

Since then, The Odyssey has won a Doomben trial by 8.5l in 57.46s, nearly a second faster than any other 1000 metre heat on the morning.

New Guineas events

Racing Queensland has announced plans to join with Magic Millions for a big prizemoney series of provincial Guineas races.

Magic Millions will sponsor four races next year in Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns with almost $250,000 on offer in prizemoney and QTIS bonuses.

The Townsville Guineas will have a prizemoney increase from $30,000 to $50,000 and three new races in July and August - the Capricorn, Whitsunday and Daintree Guineas - will also be worth $50,000.

Any QTIS registered horse which can win two or more of the Capricorn, Whitsunday and Townsville Guineas will receive a $25,000 bonus in the form of a QTIS sales voucher.

"Fostering the continued growth of the industry and our participants in regional areas throughout the racing season is a key component of our long-term commitment to Queensland," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.

McDonald inspires confidence

James McDonald’s willingness to commit to Encountabull (Bull Point) in the Inglis Nursery at Randwick has boosted trainer John Sargent’s confidence.

The top jockey rode the youngster when he finished strongly for a debut fourth at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day and was impressed enough to gain the mount in Saturday's race.

"He galloped him before Melbourne and he said he'd get on the horse there and then after he said he'd get on it at Randwick," Sargent said. "It's good to get him that far out. They're hard to get the real top boys and he's right on his game.

"He has won a trial since that race and he's a promising colt by Bull Point, who is a first season sire," Sargent said. "I do have a good opinion of him so hopefully he will front up and show that."

Villiers key to future

The performance of the in-form Gold Fields (Churchill Downs) in Saturday's G2 Villiers S. race will determine his immediate future.

He is in line for a trip to Dubai for races ahead of the World Cup carnival, while Villiers success would guarantee Gold Fields a start in the G1 The Doncaster at Randwick in April.

"I'm pretty happy with the way the race has turned out on acceptances and I'm very happy with him, so I think we'll get a really good indication on Saturday of which way we'll be going," McGill said.

In Dubai, there are suitable races in January and February ahead of the World Cup carnival in March. McGill said he was also keen to try Gold Fields on dirt.

Should McGill elect to stay home, Gold Fields will be freshened ahead of an autumn campaign which could also take in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield in March.

Julius ready to go

Comeback sprinter Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will take the next step toward an elite level target when he contests the G3 J Swap Contractors Sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The 8-year-old delighted his connections when returning from a tendon injury to finish fourth fresh-up in the Listed Counties Bowl at Pukekohe last month after more than 12 months on the sidelines.

“I was very proud of him,” trainer John Bell said. “He wasn’t pushed in any way. He got lent over all the way down the back straight and in the home straight once he got clear, boy did he put in.”

Julius will again lump topweight of 60kgs in Saturday’s open handicap, a stepping stone toward the G1 Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Dunstan Final next

Stakes performer Jip Jip Rock (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) added a second career win to her tally at Ellerslie when victorious in the Barfoot and Thompson Twilight Cup.

“It was a good ride and a good win,” co-trainer Peter Williams said. “We were pretty happy with her, we just needed someone to ride her properly, and he did that.

“They were just ordinary rides in her two previous starts (over 1400 metres). She will probably go into the final now.”

That final is the Dunstan Feeds Championship at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.