Golden Eagle hopes
The $7.5 million Golden Eagle might be a long-term goal for exciting filly Rubisaki (Rubick), who has continued her progress with success in the G2 Kewney S. at Flemington.
Trained by Patrick Payne and ridden by Billy Egan, she motored home to open her stakes account in the 1400 metre event confined to 3-year-old fillies.
Part-owner and syndicator Joe O'Neill said the best is to come from Rubisaki and the $7.5 million Golden Eagle in Sydney this spring could be a target.
"It's 1500 metres and she would get in. She's been to Sydney and won a $1 million race so she goes well on that leg. I think there's a lot more to come from her.”
Perfect result
Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom {USA}) had no trouble justifying his strong support to win the Listed Furphy Ale March S. in style.
He was coming off a previous fourth in the G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield and was ideally-placed in Saturday's event.
"He had 54 kilos coming out of a Group 1 weight-for-age race. It looked ideal for him," winning rider Dwayne Dunn said.
"He was in the right spot, travelled well and it couldn't have worked out any better for him. Hopefully that gives him some confidence going forward."
Back in style
Fasika (So You Think {NZ}) showed she was in for a rewarding campaign when she resumed with victory in the G3 Wenona Girl Quality at Randwick.
It was a major result for the Joseph Pride-trained 4-year-old, whose ownership group includes the race sponsors Tricolours Racing & Syndications.
“This race stood out to get a Group 3 win behind her and there’s a fair bit of upside to come,” Pride said. “I’ve got a few things in mind, but one race that stands out is the G1 All Aged S., so we’ll see what happens.”
Group 1 goal
Trainer Gerald Ryan has Group 1 hopes for Villami (Foxwedge) later this year.
“The whole idea is to give her a couple of runs here and then look at Brisbane and try her over 1400 metres in the Tatt’s Tiara,” he said.
Villami took a winning step toward that goal when she proved too good in the Listed Tokyo City Keiba Fireball S at Randwick. It marked her first appearance in five months.
“I knew she was fit and is bigger and stronger now. She has been flying at home,” Ryan said.
Soft track key
The Bevan Laming-trained Paint The Town Two (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) struck her preferred soft conditions at Flemington and made the most of it to land the G3 Schweppervescence Trophy .
"We got her from New Zealand and from the day she arrived she has picked up a cheque nearly every start,” stable representative Adrian McGregor said.
"She loves a bit of cut in the ground and when the rain came on Thursday we were hoping for a heavy track.
"We thought she would be a really good chance, but with the track being upgraded, we were still confident but thought she was a better chance on a wetter track.
"On a firmer track she gets back in the field, but on a rain-affected track she races forward, travels better and lets down better."
Waller playing it cool
Trainer Chris Waller isn’t getting carried away with Shared Ambition (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) with Listed Randwick City S. winner.
The former Irish horse has now won four races in Australia and led in a stable trifecta on Saturday when he beat Group 1 winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Wu Gok (Sebring).
Waller said the G1 Ranvet S. had been discussed, but he was reluctant to push that far this soon.
"He is not the furnished product yet. He has a bright future, but I think he is six months away from being fully furnished. By Northern Hemisphere standards he is still a young horse and six months younger than our horses.”
Jockeys outed
Brett Prebble's win in the G2o VRC Sires' Produce S. at Flemington on Lunar Fox (Foxwedge) came at a price with the jockey suspended for careless riding.
Prebble was one of two riders suspended out of Saturday's race for 2-year-olds, with Dwayne Dunn also hit with a suspension for careless riding aboard third placegetter Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon).
Prebble pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge for causing interference near the 250 metre mark. His suspension starts after next Saturday and will return on March 25.
Dunn was suspended for eight meetings for a low-range incident, with his penalty also starting after next Saturday's meeting.
Promising prospect
Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock) completed a double for the Ellerslie meeting with a dominant display to post the third win of his five start career.
The lightly-tried 4-year-old was untested to claim the PGG Wrightson/Vetmed H. with the prospect in time plenty more to come.
“He’s a very good horse. The chances are he’ll probably go for a break, although we can’t leave him out too long as he’s a tank of a horse,” trainer Lauren Brennan said.
Regular rider Jason Waddell also believes Packing Rockstar can make an impact against the best. “He’ll go right through the grades and he’s got a bit of swagger about him,” he said.
Breakthrough success
Tumbler Ridge (Spill The Beans) realised his early season potential when he broke his maiden at Eagle Farm in the QTIS 2-Year-Old.
He had looked good at the trials and was second in the first juvenile race of the season in October at Eagle Farm, but failed first-up from a wide barrier.
Trainer Steve O'Dea's stable foreman Matt Hoysted said Tumbler Ridge had always been a horse with plenty of potential.
"He could go with our top filly Gotta Kiss, but he was always going to be a horse who would want some distance further than 1200 metres," Hoysted said.
"He will have his next start in a 1400 metre race at Eagle Farm in a fortnight and after that we might think about the winter."
