Lengthy bans

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has handed lengthy cobalt bans to father and daughter training partners Terry and Karina O'Sullivan.

They appealed their original one-year sentence handed out by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, but on Wednesday had those disqualifications increased by VCAT, with Terry out for three years and Karina five.

The O'Sullivans faced elevated cobalt charges from Darragh (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and Gold A Plenty (New Approach {Ire}) in pre-race samples in 2015 and 2016.

Terry O'Sullivan received a three-year disqualification on each charge with VCAT ruling the penalties be served concurrently. Karina O'Sullivan was also disqualified for three years on each charge, but her penalties are to be served partly concurrently.

Plum mount to Rawiller

Trainer Chris Waller has called top jockey Nash Rawiller off the bench to replace James McDonald aboard classy 4-year-old Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick.

With regular rider James McDonald committed to partner Japanese Group 1 winner Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Queen Elizabeth, Rawiller has the mount and partnered her in a gallop on Tuesday on the outside of the Rosehill course proper.

“She seemed to enjoy my company and she can at times be a little keen in her work, but she got in a beautiful rhythm and relaxed well,” Rawiller said.

“I got her to get her head down a little bit, which was good and the feeling that she gave me was terrific. It gave me a good confidence boost going into the weekend.”

Change of fortune due

Mark Newnham is hoping his classic luck can turn for the better when Quintessa (Pierro) runs in the G1 Australian Oaks.

"It would be nice to win one. I've had two runners in an Oaks and they've both run second," the Warwick Farm trainer said.

Greysful Glamour (Stratum) was runner-up in the 2018 Victorian Oaks while Scarlet Dream (Sebring) finished second in the Sydney version 12 months ago.

Newnham can see similarities between Scarlet Dream and Quintessa, both fillies starting their careers in lesser grade and improving as they were stepped up in distance.

Quintessa earned her spot in Saturday's field with a third in the G3 Adrian Knox S. after she led on the turn and was run down late.

Nothing between barnmates

Trainer Jamie Richards doesn’t believe there is anything between his G1 Queen Elizabeth S. contenders Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire) and Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).

While stable jockey Opie Bosson has been forced to choose between two of his favourite horses, opting to ride Te Akau Shark, Richards is sitting on the fence.

"I find it hard to split them, but Opie has always been very impressed with The Shark all the way through and thought he was one of the best ones we've had so he wanted to stick with him," Richards said.

"I'm very proud of both horses. It's a privilege for our stable to have a couple of horses of their calibre who we can take to the races. This has been the grand final this preparation for both so hopefully we can get them there in really good order."

Half-sister to Justify born

Stage Magic (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}), dam of American Triple Crown winner and Coolmore stallion Justify (USA), produced a filly foal by Curlin (USA) in the early hours of Tuesday morning at John Gunther’s Glennwood Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. “We are quite excited to have a filly,” Gunther’s daughter Tanya told TDN America.

“We don’t fetal sex our mares, so we never know what we are going to get. We were very keen to get a filly since we don’t have one out of the mare. So that was very good news. And just to have a nice safe, healthy foaling took a lot of stress off.” Of the foal, Gunther said, “So far, it looks like she has good bone, good leg, she’s got nice long ears that are kind of cool looking. She looks like her brother and her mom, so that’s always a positive. She’s got a nice shoulder on her. It’s too early to tell, but I like what I’ve seen so far.”

The 13-year-old Stage Magic will be bred back to Curlin this year.

Purple patch of form

Positive Peace (Stratum) will seek to extend her impressive run of winning form in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Legacy S. at Randwick.

The Bjorn Baker-trained 4-year-old will be chasing her sixth consecutive victory when she steps up to the elite level for the first time.

"It's a very tough race but she's in great order. She's fit and she keeps stepping up. She's going to have to step up again, no doubt, but we couldn't be happier with her so she deserves her chance,” Baker said.

"She's definitely done more than we ever thought she would. She's done a great job but I think she's continuing to improve so regardless of what happens on Saturday, hopefully she can go on with it."

Tim Clark rode Positive Peace to victory in the Emancipation, but he is committed to Con Te Partiro (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) so Adam Hyeronimus has the ride.

Trainer in happy mood

Co-trainer Tony McEvoy is happy with Secret Blaze (Sizzling) ahead of the G3 Easter Cup at Caulfield on Saturday.

"He's well and it seems like a nice race for him," he said. "We tried him as a stayer before a freshen up and he performed quite well.

"What we're trying to keep is a bit of speed in his legs, so we've kept him fresh for this race and then maybe we can bring him across to Adelaide and step him up in distance for the Port Adelaide Cup.”

The Listed Port Adelaide Cup will be run over 2500 metres at Morphettville on May 2.

Overdue win beckons

Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) will chase her first win at Caulfield on Saturday since she was successful in the G1 Champagne S. at Randwick in April, 2018.

After a Sydney and Brisbane campaign last year, Seabrook missed the spring with a gut illness which co-trainer Mick Price said needed careful attention.

She showed the benefit of patience when resuming for third in the Listed Hareeba S. at Mornington on March 21 and will now take aim at the Elvis Thurgood Anniversary Cup.

"It was good she had a good spell because her run in the Hareeba was excellent and it’s indicative of a good prep to come," Price said. "She had a tough 2-year-old year only because she had no luck in a couple of races and I persevered thinking there was a Group 1 win in her, which she did win.

"That values her at $1 million and I wouldn't take that back. We tried to get her to 2000 metres because she's out of a Don Eduardo mare, but that didn't work so we've brought her back to being a sprinter, 1400-metre horse that she is."

Distance to suit

A step up in trip will help promising 2-year-old Doctor Jack (Star Witness) deliver a special win for veteran trainer Harold Norman at the Gold Coast on Thursday.

He was a fast-finishing second in his first start at Doomben in a 1200 metre contest two weeks ago.

The colt moves up to 1300 metres in the Aquis 2-Year-Old at the Gold Coast, which will ideally suit him.

"He got back near last at his first start but really got home strongly. I have always thought he would be best at longer than 1200 metres," Norman said.

The colt is named after one of Norman's late owners in Dr Jack Woolridge, who was a long-time supporter of the Gold Coast based stable.

Rained off

The Sunshine Coast meeting was postponed after two races on Wednesday following persistent rain through the morning.

The track was rated a heavy eight after 27mm of rain overnight and then further downgraded with another 26mm falling in the morning.

Chairman of stewards James Williamson said jockeys had raised concerns with visibility after the first race and conditions showed no signs of improving after the running of the second event.