New jockey

Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) will be ridden by Jamie Kah in Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas.

In a bid to leave no stone unturned for the feature, Kah travelled from Melbourne to ride the 3-year-old in trackwork at Morphettville on Tuesday.

"He's a bit of a tricky horse and Leon (Macdonald) wanted me to come over and have a sit on him," Kah said. "He did want to lay in a bit, more he wants to lean in, so Leon wanted me to get a feel for that before the race.

"I also suggested that they put a tongue tie on him, because of his laying it plays around with his tongue and his breathing so hopefully it can only help."

Exosphere strikes

Darley stallion Exosphere has sired his first winner with the homebred Thermosphere, his sixth representative to race, successful at Newcastle on Friday.

The James Cummings-trained 2-year-old had finished runner-up at Canterbury Park at the end of last month and went one better in the hands of Jason Collett in the Simtrack Maiden Plate on Friday.

Exosphere won five of his 10 starts, including the G1 Golden Rose S. and three Group 2 events, before his retirement to stud in 2016.

The son of Lonhro will be represented by three fillies, Lots 134, 526 and 589 during the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, which opens on Monday, and a colt, Lot 382.

Group 1 the pinnacle

A Group 1 win is all that is missing from the resume of Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) and trainer David Vandyke is hoping that will change on Saturday.

Alligator Blood's agonisingly close second to Super Seth (Dundeel {NZ}) in the G1 Caulfield Guineas last October is the star Queensland 3-year-old's only defeat in 10 starts.

On Saturday he gets his second chance at the highest level in the highly anticipated Australian Guineas.

"Group 1s are Group 1s. He's won a Magic Millions Guineas and that was fantastic, but to win a Group 1 is the top of the mountain.

"We get a great opportunity on Saturday. The owners and jockey Ryan Maloney and the horse, they haven't won a Group 1 as yet, so I'm wanting him to win on Saturday for them as much as myself."

Chance for stardom

Trainer Aaron Purcell is hopeful Guizot (Ire) (Tertullian {USA}) can secure a spot in the $5 million All-Star Mile with victory in the G2 Blamey S. at Flemington.

"We nominated him for the All-Star Mile thinking we probably weren't going to get enough public support to get in and we were hoping we could win a lead-up race on the way in," he said.

"The Blamey was the obvious race. His form says he's going well enough to deserve his chance in the Blamey and if he happens to win that then he definitely deserves his chance in the All-Star Mile."

No luck with gates

Jamie Richards has learned to take poor draws for Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) in his stride.

He has the horse on a path to the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. after proving himself in the spring with a close second in the Epsom H. and a G1 Cox Plate placing, both times from wide gates and that is again the case on Saturday when he has barrier 13 of 14 in the G1 Chipping Norton S.

"We're getting used to the bad draws. It's just part of it," Richards said. "I will leave it up to Opie (Bosson) a little bit, but he won't rush him and do much early. He's a horse that likes to find his feet, even if he ended up three-deep with a bit of cover.

"He's got very good form from the spring so if he can run up to that form he should be competitive."

2YO in top shape

Boom Queensland youngster Rothfire (Rothesay) is in fine fettle for Saturday’s The Jewel Prelude at Doomben.

He is unbeaten in three appearances for Robert Heathcote, who can’t fault the unbeaten youngster.

"If anything he has taken another step up. His work on Tuesday morning was very strong," he said.

Heathcote has made it clear he has a huge opinion of Rothfire, but knows too well the vagaries of racing.

"I have never said this horse is another future Group 1 horse like Buffering, but what I have said is that he reminds me of Buffering in the things he can do," he said.

Well-bred filly impresses

One of the most valuable fillies in New Zealand produced a stunning performance at Hastings to remain undefeated in two starts to date.

Exaltation (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt) is a 3-year-old half-sister to New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and came from last to reel in her rivals for trainer Jamie Richards.

“I thought that was a great win and I got a real buzz out of that. It was awesome, really, and good to have her back,” Richards said. “We’ve had a few injury hold-ups with her and bits and pieces, but the team have done a great job to present her at the races in very good order.

“We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves at this stage, but the G2 Wellington Guineas on Oaks Day at Trentham could be a nice race for her. I think it would suit her and she looks quite exciting.”

Equine heroes at Highden

While Libby and Sam Bleakley of Highden Park haven’t set out to replicate Victoria’s famous Living Legends farm, the high-profile horses retiring to their Manawatu property shows they are well on their way.

Living Legends, dubbed the international home of rest for champion horses, is home to the likes of G1 Melbourne Cup winners Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), and Rogan Josh (Old Spice), while Highden Park is starting with a distinct Hong Kong flavour.

Last year Hong Kong Derby hero Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}), who was raised at Highden Park, returned to his birthplace to begin his retirement and next week he will be joined by another former Hong Kong star, Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

“We are collecting Werther on Monday. Werther has been so good for our reputation, our mares here, and Tavistock,” Libby Bleakley said. “We feel we owe him a good retirement and a good home. It’s going to be cool to have him back.”

US star favourite

Maximum Security (USA) (New Year’s Day {USA}) has been installed as the favourite for Sunday’s inaugural US$20 million (AU$30,555,258) Saudi Cup.

"It's thrilling to come over. The people have been great to put on this show. It's not about the money, I mean it is, but it's not,” trainer Jason Servis said.

Connections of Maximum Security elected to allow the star colt to make his reappearance in Saudi Arabia, passing up the opportunity to run in the Pegasus World Cup last month.

"It wasn't an easy decision to come here. He's four from four at Gulfstream Park and could have run in the Pegasus World Cup, so it was tough," Servis said.

"The problem was if we ran hard in the Pegasus, we didn't know if we could make here off a short rest, so we opted to skip the Pegasus."