Leaning towards Flemington

Team Hawkes is favouring a start in the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington for top colt Exceedance (Exceed And Excel).

The 3-year-old is also among the nominations for the G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick, but Melbourne is the more likely destination at this stage.

Wayne Hawkes, who trains with his father John and brother Michael, told RSN927 the stable would accept for both races before confirming their decision.

“I would think he would probably run in Melbourne but we are looking at weather and everything like that,” he said.

“He is still a dry tracker, but Melbourne is going to be a bit wet and Sydney is going to be terrible.”

Back-up an option

Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) may back up in the All-Star Mile following his main goal to secure a Group 1 win for a stallion career in Saturday’s Australian Cup.

He booked his sport in the $5 million All-Star with his win in the G2 Blamey S.

"He's been set for the race and we want to go for it and we're not tempted to change our plan," co-trainer David Hayes said.

"We've accepted the wildcard and we'll make our decision on Saturday night or Sunday morning whether to take up the challenge.

Mallyon aboard

The absence of Nature Strip (Nicconi) from the G1 Newmarket H. gives Andrew Mallyon the chance to reunite with Halvorsen (Magnus).

Now based in Queensland, he has been in Melbourne to ride Halvorsen in five of his seven victories, the past two on the straight course at Flemington where the Group 1 race is run on Saturday.

Trainer Robbie Griffiths is chasing a second Newmarket victory after The Quarterback (Street Boss {USA}) handed him his solitary win at the highest level in 2016.

A last-start seventh in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on February 22 gives Griffiths confidence Halvorsen is set run run a big race on Saturday.

"To think in the early stages of the event he gave 16l away to Pippie and she didn't stop. To then run her to 2.85l was enormous and I thought it was a really good trial for the Newmarket," he said.

Reversing trend

Azuro (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) will buck the trend and cross from his Melbourne base to New Zealand for the G1 Auckland Cup.

He will be Ciaron Maher's first New Zealand runner when he contests Saturday's staying feature, one of three Group 1 races in Australasia over 3200 metres.

Maher, who trains Azuro in partnership with David Eustace, said the distance Ellerslie is the main drawcard for the former French stayer, a three time winner at the trip in Australia.

"He's got some record at the two miles, so we're going to take him across the ditch and head to New Zealand for the Cup," Maher said.

Filly at concert pitch

Talented juvenile filly Play That Song (NZ) (Showcasing {GB})will be looking for redemption when she tackles the G1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The Nigel Tiley-trained runner suffered her first defeat last start at the hands of Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in January, but trainer Nigel Tiley is confident she can turn the tables this weekend.

“I thought it was a really good run in the Karaka Million,” Tiley said. “He (Cool Aza Beel) probably got the better run and she had to come off his back, but I think on the night he was the better horse.

“She had a short break after the Karaka Million. She had 10 days out and she has come back really well.”

Public barred

The public have been barred from three race meetings in France in a response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The meetings on Monday and Wednesday at Compiegne will be held without spectators, with the order coming from the mayor of Compiegne and the president of the Compiegne Racing Society.

It is a similar story at Chantilly, where Tuesday's program will not be open to the public. Racing professionals will be admitted as normal.

The move is the first of its kind for the sport in Europe, but meetings in Japan and Hong Kong have been affected in a similar fashion while Korea has cancelled racing for at least two weeks.

Further delays

Further delays to the Gold Coast track upgrade are likely to also put on hold any plans for the club to get further metropolitan Saturday meetings in the new season.

The Gold Coast Turf Club is eventually hoping to get as many as 10 metropolitan class Saturday meetings a year.

That would depend on an upgrade of the racing surface and the installation of lights. The final race dates for next season must be available by the end of the month.

Queensland Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe this week issued a statement in which he said there was a strong possibility lights would be installed at the Gold Coast in time for the 2022 Magic Millions carnival.

He said it was imperative the right business plan be in place before the work was started.

Lupton’s last hurrah

Mark Lupton’s New Zealand training career could end in a blaze of glory at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The Matamata-based horseman will saddle up Etah James (NZ) (Raise The Flag {USA}), a 7-year-old mare he co-bred and part-owns, in the G1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup.

For 12 years Lupton has managed Flemington Farm for the late Scott Richardson and the 100-acre Matamata property has now been sold to a neighbouring dairy farmer and all Richardson’s horses dispersed, leaving Lupton with just his own horses, including Etah James.

“This is my last week of training here. I could carry on for a race or two in Australia if Etah James gets to Sydney or Brisbane, but, as far as training in New Zealand goes, Etah James will be my last starter on Saturday,” he said.

“I’m 65 now and I want to spend more time with my family, especially the grandkids, and (wife) Cath and I have a property just out of Tirau that we’ve owned for 11 years and we want to develop that, so a win in the Auckland Cup would be a big help to pay for everything.”