Mare back in form

Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) has doubled her Group 3 tally with victory in the Summer Cup at Randwick.

Since her triumph in the Adrian Knox S. as a 3-year-old in April 2018, the John Sargent-trained mare has raced in top company, but struggled to crack it for another first prize until Thursday.

"It's a long time since she won, but she's always been against the best horses," Sargent said. "We produced her against the best 3-year-olds and she won but it has taken a while since.

"It's just been one of those years for her, but hopefully those things are all behind us now and she can bounce into 2020."

Win long overdue

Odeon (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) has broken a lengthy run of outs with success in the Listed Lord S. at Caulfield.

His victory was posted in the Listed Cup Day Plate on Melbourne Cup day in 2017.

"There was a lot of pressure on and it was like winning a Group 1 race," co-trainer Simon Zahra said. "He's an honest sort of horse, but things haven't quite gone his way and a lack of fitness probably told the other day.

"You can see why we get frustrated when they win like that. You know they have a ton of ability when you watch them work Tuesday and Friday and gallop like they do, but they can't win a race."

Few similarities

Breeding aside, Halogen (Sebring) and his Group 1 winning older half-sister Sunlight (Zoustar) don’t have much else in common.

Halogen is set to run for the first time at The Valley on Saturday in the Antler Luggage Plate after co-trainer Tony McEvoy was forced to find a 1200 metre debut race for the 2-year-old.

McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, said Halogen was shaping as a miler in the early stages of his career, whereas Sunlight was a speed horse.

"I bought Sunlight, I bought the sister and I liked him enough to buy him," McEvoy said. "If he's half as good as her we'd be happy, but there's very few similarities between he and the other two.

”He's a miler and he's finding everything a bit too sharp for him at the moment.”

Gold Coast targets

Mark Newnham has already sent out 16 stakes winners in his brief training career showing the ability to pick out ideal paths to feature races.

Newnham experienced a lot of major race success when stable foreman for Gai Waterhouse and has continued since branching out on his own in 2016 and his wins include three at Group 1 level.

He has his eye on further victories next month when Diamond Thunder (Dawn Approach {Ire}) tackles the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas and Every Rose (Choisir) the $2 million The Star Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.

Diamond Thunder will have his final lead-up in Saturday's G3 Vo Rogue Plate and Every Rose will run in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. 2YO at Eagle Farm.

Meech in familiar surroundings

Leading Victorian jockey Linda Meech makes a rare homecoming appearance at Eagle Farm with two key rides.

She will ride Amish Boy (Star Witness) in Saturday's G3 BJ McLachlan S. and Epic Girl (Shamus Award) in the Listed Nudgee Quality.

Meech grew up in New Zealand, but did her early apprenticeship in Brisbane during the late 1990s when she first linked with now-retired trainer Peter Moody. She later moved to New South Wales and rode many winners on the provincial circuit before making Victoria her home.

She has become a regular rider for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable and was Victoria's leading rider last season.

Amish Boy is trained by the Maher and Eustace while Epic Girl’s Chris Anderson was looking for a replacement jockey with Stephanie Thornton sticking with Sugar Boom (Spirit Of Boom) in the Nudgee.

Chasing Millions berth

The Candy Man (Casino Prince) needs to win the Shoot Out Quality at Eagle Farm on Saturday to gain a place in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy on January 11 at the Gold Coast.

The gelding is a versatile character and has won all four of his heavy track starts and after good rain in Brisbane this week he would usually be looking at another wet track.

However, Eagle Farm has showed a remarkable ability to handle heavy rain in recent months and is likely to race as good on Saturday.

"Of course the advantage is that many horses don't handle the wet. The Candy Man loves Eagle Farm and all big tracks so that is a plus," trainer Barry Baldwin said.

"I think he will be hard to beat in the Millions if he gets there, but if not we can start thinking about getting him ready for the Doncaster in the Sydney autumn.”

Precious victory

Wingatui trainer Claire Anderton got the Christmas present she wanted this year, it was just a day late.

Stable star The Precious One (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) had been knocking on the door at stakes level for some time and the 5-year-old mare was able to deliver for her connections on Boxing Day when recording her breakthrough black-type win in the Listed Southern Wide Realty Hazlett S. at Wingatui.

“We have all known that she has got the ability, but it was just giving her the chance to be able to show it,” Anderton said. “She has gone some amazing races. That’s the first open race that she has won, but she has gone some super races.”

Another Singapore stint

Alysha Collett will return to Singapore for a 12-month stint after a brief return home to New Zealand for a Christmas holiday, where she has mixed time with her family in Pukekohe and riding at a handful of race meetings.

One of her strongest backers has been expatriate New Zealand trainer Donna Logan.

“It has been going well for me in Singapore,” said Collett, who rode 11 winners during her last Singapore stint. “I’ve been getting plenty of rides and Donna has been really supportive and so has (trainer) James Peters.

“Just after I started back in Singapore this last time my Mum (Judy) came over for a holiday and watched me ride. I won a double that night, including my first winner over there for Donna.”

McDonald impressed

Only In Jakarta (Snitzel) has maintained her perfect record to provide jockey James McDonald with an Ellerslie winner during a working holiday.

The grey mare worked her way to the front and she was far too good in the run home to claim the Heaquarters Viaduct/The Lonely Hearts Club H.

“She’s very quick and has got a high cruising speed. She was lovely and relaxed and knows her bob,” McDonald said.

Trainer Tony Pike said black type was an obvious aim for Only In Jakarta and the possibility of a future trip to Australia.

Trainers fined

Trainers Leon and Troy Corstens have been fined $1000 for presenting the wrong horse to race at Caulfield.

Racing Victoria stewards ordered the scratching of Rapidora (Oratorio) from the Frank O'Brien H. when an inspection of the mare on arrival at the course revealed it was Titan Blinders (All Too Hard).

A gelding, Titan Blinders was also engaged in a later race at Thursday's meeting, the Ken Sturt H. and was not due on course until later in the day.

Steward in charge of Thursday's meeting Rob Montgomery said there was a mix-up at the stable with the wrong horse being brought to race.