Sir Dragonet joins Maher Eustace

4-year-old Irish galloper Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is set to join the Maher Eustace team with his sights set for the G1 Cox Plate and a potential Melbourne Cup tilt as reported by Racing.com.

The son of Camelot (GB) was praised by Bloodstock Manager Will Bourne who said “he’s from the family of Galileo and is highly rated. It’s a quality purchase and we couldn’t be more excited."

Sir Dragonet was purchased for an undisclosed amount by Maher and owner Ozzie Kheir who reached a deal with Coolmore to secure the Group 3 winner and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup placegetter.

Melody Belle improved

New Zealand’s champion trainer Jamie Richards is hoping high-class mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) can mirror the pattern of her previous campaigns.

The 6-year-old has improved significantly from her fresh-up performances in her last two campaigns and the Matamata horseman is banking on that being the case again when Melody Belle contests Saturday’s G1 Winx S.

The 10-time Group 1 winner trailed a small field of six home when ridden by Kerrin McEvoy in the G2 Missile S. at Rosehill on August 8 when resuming.

“We have just got to put a line through that run, turn the page and get on with it,” Richards said. “There were a couple of things against her, she was first-up on an unsuitable wet track and got back in a small field and struggled to make ground.

“Kerrin rang after the race and said he should probably have been fourth rather than back last in hindsight. He said don’t worry, she ran okay and will improve. She had a good blow.”

Masks mandatory

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has updated its Level 2 and 3 directives to introduce a requirement for the wearing of face coverings at race or trial meetings.

Face masks are required to be worn at all times in the weigh-room, birdcage, and starting gates. Riders are permitted to lower their mask during racing, after loading up in barriers and return their masks before re-entering the birdcage.

NZTR said this change has been brought in line with updated Government advice, and specifically to help protect the wellbeing of jockeys, upon which the ongoing conduct of racing is vitally dependent.

Pedigree to fore

The cream rose to the top as far as pedigree goes on the synthetic track at Pakenham on Tuesday when Best Ever (Snitzel) lived up to his name on debut.

The Peter Moody-trained colt is a son of More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) and continued her 100 per cent record at stud as her third winner.

More Joyous is out of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}), a half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy (Carnegie {Ire}).

Best Ever is bred and raced by Gerry Harvey and was ridden to a comfortable victory in the Magic Millions Plate by Luke Nolen.

3YO in Winx mix

Prague (Redoute’s Choice) is among the nominations for the G1 Winx S. with co-trainer Ciaron Maher mulling over a decision about a start.

"He's one of our best colts. They get the weight relief and he's a good horse,” he told Racing.com. “To do what he did last preparation was phenomenal as he was very raw, and I thought he did a great job and he'll only improve in every way."

Prague won the G3 Canonbury S. and the G3 Pago Pago S. and finished runner-up in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S.

Tidy trial effort

Promising filly Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}) turned in an eye-catching trial when she finished fourth in an open 900 metre heat at Rosehill on Tuesday behind her flying stablemate Nature Strip (Nicconi).

The 3-year-old was making steady ground without being put under any pressure by rider Kathy O’Hara and is likely to open her campaign in next month’s G2 Furious S. at Randwick.

Hungry Heart won the G2 Sweet Embrace S. at her second appearance and then made ground soundly to finish fifth in the G1 Golden Slipper S. before a spell.

Decision time looming

After 20 years training in Singapore, Stephen Gray is planning to weigh up his future lifestyle options within the next couple of years.

Gray formerly trained in New Zealand with his father, Kevin, for 12 seasons from 1988/99, the partnership winning almost 400 races, including 10 Group or Listed events. But he saw the opportunity in 2000 to move to Singapore where he has trained nearly 800 winners.

“When I first came here it was a dream. I was the youngest trainer here and I thought I’d give it five years, then it became 10 years and I’ve ended up staying 20 years,” he said.

“I saw a future. It was really exciting. The first 10 years were great, but the last 10 years it has changed a lot and it hasn’t been as positive.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m still happy to be training here, but like everyone I’ll be interested to see how the next 12 to 18 months will go.”

Glory Days returns

Group 1-winning mare Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}) returned from retirement at the Foxton trials on Tuesday where she finished fourth in her 1000 metre heat.

The Bill Thurlow-trained 8-year-old failed to fire after returning from her spring campaign in Melbourne last spring and was subsequently retired after her fourth-placing in the Listed New Zealand St Leger in March.

However, after her sale fell through her connections elected to bring her back into work and she could once again be on a Group 1 path this spring, with the G1 Windsor Park Plate and G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on her radar.

“The pending sale didn’t happen and just with what is going on around the world it wasn’t that easy to do much with her so we decided we may as well put her back in work and see how we got on,” Thurlow said.