Ole Kirk heads to paddock

G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) is headed to the paddock and won't race again this spring.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes told RSN that Ole Kirk had earned a good spell having put together back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Guineas and the Golden Rose S.

“He is definitely going to the paddock,” Hawkes said. “This was his grand final. He peaked in Sydney but then his grand final was there (at Caulfield). There was no thought about him going on.

“He’s going to the paddock and then who knows what he’s going to do in the autumn.”

Ole Kirk, a close relative to champions Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and All Too Hard, is set to attract substantial attention from Australia's leading studs in regards to his breeding future.

“He is the best 3-year-old in the country. What’s he worth? Who cares what he’s worth, it’s a big, big number,” Hawkes said.

Meanwhile, Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who dropped out in the Caufield Guineas when favourite, has been sent for scans, with more clarity on his immediate racing future expected on Monday.

Full steam ahead for Russian Camelot

The G1 Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup are still firmly on the agenda of Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) despite his defeat in Saturday's G1 Neds (Caulfield) S.

The 4-year-old was surprisingly beaten by Arcadia Queen (Pierro), but trainer Danny O'Brien told Racing.com the import remained on track for his spring targets.

“He’s pulled up super, he’s been bouncing around all morning,” O’Brien said.

“We were still really happy with his run yesterday, he was just beaten by a good horse who returned to her best form. He’s definitely more suited in races with more pressure, so I think the Cox Plate will suit him perfectly.

“Yesterday was basically a leisurely gallop and then they just worked home strong which doesn’t suit him.”

O'Brien said the Melbourne Cup was very much part of the plans.

“It’s always been the aim to head there, so as long as he pulls up well, I think we still will,” he said.

McNeil secures new Cup ride

Jye McNeil has snared the ride on G2 Herbert Power S. winner Chapada (Bullet Train {GB}) in the G1 Caulfield Cup.

McNeil had initially been booked to ride Orderofthegarter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 2400 metre feature but he has been withdrawn from the race after being well-beaten by Chapada in Saturday's Herbert Power.

With Chapada having just 50.5kg in the Caulfield Cup, trainer Mike Moroney's options were restricted, with usual rider Daniel Stackhouse unable to make that weight.

McNeil will also need to drop weight to take the ride but has been working hard on a boxing regime in order to achieve the goal of riding the lightweight.

Chapada is a $21 chance for the Caulfield Cup.

Everest slot still up for grabs

Chris Waller Racing is expected to confirm which horse will run in its slot for this Saturday's The Everest on Monday.

Waller is the only slotholder yet to lock in its candidate for the race, with the likes of Wild Ruler (Snitzel) and Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) putting their name up in lights with wins on Saturday.

A decision must be made by the time acceptances are made on Tuesday morning,

Last year's winner Yes Yes Yes was one of the final runners locked in by Waller in 2019.

Golden Eagle set for late raiders

A trio of late contenders could be making tracks for the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on October 31.

Bob Peters-owned pair Windstorm (Redoute's Choice), who won the Listed Weekend Hussler S. on Saturday and Superstorm (Sebring), who finished third in the G1 Toorak H. are both chances to head to Sydney to contest the Golden Eagle.

Also likely to head up the Hume Highway is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), who has impressed since settling in as part of the international contingent at Werribee.

Pike still committed to Perth

A haul of four winners on Saturday has not changed William Pike's long-term plans with the star jockey happy to return to Perth when the Spring Carnival is over.

Pike secured two Group 1 winners on a marquee day at Caulfield aboard Arcadia Queen (Pierro) and Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon), but Perth will remain his home for now.

“If I kept getting opportunities like I am now, I’d consider coming back and forth a bit more often, but I’m definitely looking forward to going home and I’m happy with my lifestyle in Perth,” Pike told Racing.com.

“It was a pretty good day for me, things just went right, I’m still pinching myself. We came over trying to win Group 1s and to get a couple under the belt really makes the trip worthwhile.”

Summer targets for Summer Passage

Group 1 winner Summer Passage's (Snitzel) comeback victory at Matamata on Saturday provided co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan, who has waited a long time to see the former top juvenile back in the winner's stall, a big reason to smile.

A winner of the G1 Sistema S. as a 2-year-old, Summer Passage was placed in a G1 Inglis Sires' in Australia. He was sent to Hong Kong where he found the hard tracks against him and he was retired to stand at Mapperley Stud for the 2019 breeding season where it was discovered he was infertile.

That prompted a return to the racetrack for O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott and now as a 6-year-old gelding, he duly saluted over 1200 metres.

“We’re chuffed as it is just fantastic to have him back and winning like that,” O’Sullivan said.

“It didn’t surprise me as he had trialled particularly well and in reality, he was two classes above them.

“I label about two horses a year and I did say to Scotty after his work on Tuesday that only bad luck could beat him.

“I think the most pleasing aspects were that he wanted to do it and they ran a good time (1.09.81).

“I really have to single Andrew out for special praise as he and the team have done a super job with him. It has been Scotty’s special project and the horse looks a picture.

“He is a proper Group 1 horse so that will be where we aim him over the summer once we’ve given him time to get over the first-up run.”

Mehrtens' win helps lift spirits

Mehrtens (NZ) (Pins) delivered some positive news for his breeders Goodwood Stud, after what has been a very tough week, with a win at Hawera on Saturday.

Goodwood owner William Fell is married to popular jockey Rosie Myers, who is in an induced coma at Wellington Hospital following a freak accident at Tuesday’s Foxton trials.

Mehrtens claimed his fifth win from 20 starts for trainer Suzy Gordon.

"It was a very good win yesterday by a horse who’s got a bit of ability,” Gordon said.

“Being bred and part-owned by Goodwood, it made it a very special result. It was quite an emotional afternoon for all of us.

“I hope it helps and gives a bit of a boost to William during such a difficult time. He sent me a text this morning that said ‘that was for Rosie’, so that was great."

Myers remains in a coma, but in a stable condition, with a small bleed on her brain and a facial fracture.