New training venture

Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald is set to enter a new era of his career, partnering with an as yet unidentified trainer as he looks to find a new base.

McDonald has been busy buying up horses at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, purchasing six in all, including one of the top lots on Tuesday, Lot 627, a Street Boss (USA) filly from Rosemont Stud.

"It’s been a really good week for us. I am looking at going into partnership with someone later in the year, so we are hoping to stock up and hit the ground running," McDonald said. "I can’t say who it is, but it will be announced shortly.

"The stable is going well, our strike rate is good, we don’t have a lot of runners, but what is racing is winning and being competitive, so that's all we can do and we keep soldiering on."

McDonald also revealed that he and his new training partner are looking at relocation and increasing the amount of boxes he has, with the pending closure of Caulfield as a training base.

"We are going to have a look around a few of the training tracks this week and we are probably leaning towards somewhere. We will look at everywhere and hopefully make the right decision."

Premature end

A tendon injury has ended the brief career of the classy colt Soul Patch (Shamus Award).

He finished a gallant third in the G1 Australian Guineas and trainer Ken Keys said the horse suffered the injury during the race.

Soul Patch will be confined to a box at Cranbourne during the early recovery period before connections find him a home at stud.

He was successful in three of his eight starts, including the G2 Moonee Valley Vase and he was also third in the G1 VRC Derby.

Catalyst All-Star attempt over

Trainer Clayton Chipperfield has decided to spell Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) after it was confirmed the 3-year old had bruising to his fetlocks.

The 3-year-old was at the Ballarat Vet Clinic on Tuesday for examination to ensure all was well following his below par performance in the G1 Australian Guineas.

Chipperfield advised Racing Victoria stewards of the situation and they then released information advising of a possible back issue for Catalyst, but the New Zealander said that wasn’t the case. However, further examination revealed the fetlock issue and his All-Star Mile campaign is over.

Blood tests from fellow 3-year-old Alabama Express (Redoute's Choice), who tailed the Guineas field home, showed he may have a virus.

See You Soon at Randwick or Canberra

See You Soon's (Siyouni {Fr}) trainer Jean Dubois will be guided by the track as to whether he sends his star filly to G2 Reisling S. at Randwick or the G3 Black Opal S. on Sunday.

See You Soon, who hasn't been seen since finishing second in the Golden Gift in November, warmed up for her racetrack return with an easy trial win at Goulburn on Tuesday.

"I was very happy, she did a good piece of work, she recovered quickly after that start, so all went well," Dubois told Sky Sports Radio.

"She will run Saturday is the track is not too heavy, if it's too heavy Saturday, she will go to Canberra and run in the Black Opal."

See You Soon is currently a $15 favourite for the G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill on March 21.

Sounding out Ellerslie

Ballymore Stables is hoping to raise the volume at Ellerslie on Saturday when international stayer Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) tackles the G1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup.

The Group 1 performer won three stakes races in Europe before joining trainer Michael Moroney’s Melbourne barn 18 months ago.

He subsequently contested Australia’s two Group 1 two mile races, the Melbourne and Sydney Cups, and his connections have elected to send him over the Tasman to tackle New Zealand’s sole elite-level staying feature.

“He has settled in really well,” co-trainer Michael Moroney said. “We did a lot of work with him before he left. He has arrived very fit, probably at the peak of his condition. We have aimed him toward this race and all we need now is a bit of rain.

“If we get that little bit of sting out of the ground I am sure he will be really competitive at two miles.”

King rules market

King Of Leogrance (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) is favourite for the G2 Adelaide Cup after the declaration of the final field of 16.

He was penalised 1kg for his last-start win in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality and will carry 54kg in the Cup with Damian Lane aboard. The last-start G3 Launceston Cup winner Home By Midnight (Domesday) is topweight with 58.5kg.

King Of Leogrance will be stepping up to 3200 metres for the first time and trainer Danny O'Brien said he believed he will handle the two miles. "He's a very clean-winded, natural staying horse.”

Cox Plate tour

To celebrate the 100th running of the G1 Cox Plate, the specially made gold trophy will be taken on a tour to New Zealand.

The tour kicks off at the Auckland Cup meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday and winds up on March 14.

"The Moonee Valley Racing Club celebrates a significant milestone with Cox Plate 100 in October and we are excited to get our celebrations underway with the Cox Plate 100 trophy touring New Zealand," MVRC chairman Don Casboult said.

"Champions from New Zealand have had such a substantial impact on the W S Cox Plate with the likes of Sunline, Bonecrusher and Our Poetic Prince, so it is fitting that we kick off the tour in this beautiful part of the world."

No set plan

Plans for the progressive Brisbane 3-year-old Profit (Dundeel {NZ}) remain up in the air following a runaway 1000 metre trial win at Eagle Farm.

"It was a good trial and he got to the line strongly. It gives us plenty of options," trainer Chris Anderson said.

"He will probably accept for a 3-year-old at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but he's only 50/50 about starting. I want to see how he recovers before deciding on Saturday. We might even go a month between runs."

Anderson said a trip to Sydney with Profit was a possibility, but the Brisbane winter was a stronger option.

Watch: Profit trial at Eagle Farm

Sydney option

The Tony Pike-trained Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) has been sent to Australia.

The Cambridge Stud-raced G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner was unplaced at his most recent run in the Karaka Million and is in Sydney with a longer-term view of a return.

“He will trial there and if Tony is happy with him he’ll run in the G3 Kindergarten S. at Randwick on April 4,” Brendan Lindsay said.

“The idea has been to give him the trip away to see how he copes with a view to him making a spring 3-year-old.”

BHA liaising with Government

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will continue to liaise with the Government about the coronavirus threat.

Speaking after an emergency cabinet office meeting, where ministers gathered to discuss a battle plan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the spread of the coronavirus was likely to become more significant in the coming days.

The BHA said it would be guided by Government regarding mass gatherings with three meetings in France this week closed to spectators.

"Government has reiterated its position that business should continue as usual at present across the country, and that focus should continue to be placed on following its advice regarding controlling the spread of the disease.

"The industry's steering group is co-ordinating the sharing of this Government advice with the sport's participants.”