Time to star

Godolphin trainer James Cummings believes the time is right for Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) to lift his weight-for-age profile.

He won the Newmarket H. at Flemington and on Friday evening bids to add the G1 Keogh Homes William Reid S. at The Valley to his record.

"The William Reid will provide an excellent challenge for Bivouac in another Group 1," Cummings said.

"The colt has toughened up after going for it against the older horses in difficult handicaps so far this campaign and he's well suited at weight-for-age now with his superior rating."

Thompson well-informed

John Thompson has Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) in the G1 The Agency George Ryder S. on Saturday and has been able to keep a close eye on what may be his chief rivals.

The Randwick trainer also has Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Super Seth (Dundeel {NZ}) staying at his stable.

"Te Akau and Super Seth are in the same barn. They're across from each other and eye-balling each other," Thompson said.

"Because Jamie isn't over here much I clock his horses for him and Te Akau is spot-on. He looks a treat and he is probably the one to beat.

"Super Seth was a bit crook there for 24 hours, but he seemed to bounce back quick and he looks terrific now. Personally, I reckon my stable will run the trifecta."

Nobbling claim

Owner Allan Endresz has suggested Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) could have been nobbled following an irregularity to Altrenogest following his Magic Millions Guineas win in January.

Endresz told Racing.com that the only possible explanations were contamination or he had been nobbled and believed the latter was the most likely explanation.

The David Vandyke-trained Alligator Blood is spelling following his unplaced run in the All-Star Mile.

Cellsabeel out

Cellsabeel (Hinchinbrook) has been scratched from the G1 Longines Golden Slipper S.

“Having completed her final gallop, she went to the beach post work. It was clear, having cooled down, that she wasn’t 100 per cent,” Ciaron Maher Racing said in a statement.

“It is very disappointing for her owner His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, Racing Manager Tim Stakemire and the team at CMR. However, we look forward to giving her a spell and the spring of 2020.”

Lindsay Park’s unbeaten G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) comes off the ballot with the withdrawal of Cellsabeel.

Valley specialist

Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien is hoping 4-year-old mare Embrace Me (NZ) (Shamexpress) can make an impact at Group 1 level at her favourite circuit on Friday night.

She contests the G1 Keogh Homes William Reid S. and has won three races at The Valley including the G3 Typhoon Tracy S.

“It’s a tough assignment for her against that class of horse, but she’s got very good Moonee Valley form at the 1200 metres and she is in career best form,” O’Brien said.

“She hasn’t had a lot of luck but has raced very well. She could potentially end up in Adelaide for those mares races over there. I couldn’t be more pleased with her, she is in great shape.”

Sydney trip on line

A tilt at the G1 Australian Derby remains a remote possibility for Tibetan (NZ) (Shocking).

Trainer Andrew Campbell will run the 3-year-old this weekend, most likely in Saturday's J Swap Contractors Bay Of Plenty Cup at Tauranga, though he also remains in the field for a distance maiden at Avondale on Friday.

A multiple stakes placegetter, Tibetan was unplaced in the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie last start after he was caught three wide in running.

"He was really disappointing in the Derby, but he had a week off afterwards and he's freshened up nicely," Campbell said.

"His work has been good and he's going just as well as he was leading into the Derby when he had good form around Scorpz and those sorts of horses. How he goes on Saturday will determine where he goes afterwards."

Strong chance

Shogun Sun (Written Tycoon) won’t be at his optimum distance at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but trainer Kelly Schweida believes he will still be hard to beat.

Schweida will run the horse in the Gallopers Sports Club Open H. over 1500 metres in preference to the Eva Air Plate over 1200 metres.

"One race was too short and the other too far. I really wanted a 1400 metre race for him, but in the end we are going with 1500 as it is the lesser of two evils," he said.

Carston happy

Andrew Carston has his two mares in peak condition for what he has revealed is their target race - Saturday's G3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Riccarton.

The Christchurch trainer will produce Ticket To Ride (NZ) (Shocking) and Monrecour (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) in the set-weights and penalties fillies and mares feature, confident he has both in the right condition to be winning chances.

"Both went really well last start and have progressed well out of the race so we're right on track," Carston said.

"This is the target race for both of them and I don't think I could have either any better."