No crowds for Cup carnival

The VRC has confirmed that the Melbourne Cup Carnival will go ahead with no spectators this year.

In a statement, VRC chairman Amanda Elliott said it was clear it would not be possible to safely host even small crowds at the racecourse for the four-day meeting, which starts on Saturday.

"While we are very disappointed not to be able to welcome our members and racegoers to Cup week, we understand the Government’s commitment to keeping our community safe," Elliott said.

"We also recognise the need for certainty and clarity for our patrons, being only six days out from Derby Day.

"We are still in discussions regarding the potential return to the track for a small number of owners, as is currently permitted in regional Victoria."

Pike to ride Steel Prince

William Pike has secured the ride aboard Steel Prince (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup, while Daniel Moor will be aboard G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).

Pike, who has been in excellent form, including four winners on Caulfield Guineas day, has been booked on the G3 Geelong Cup winner Steel Prince, who looks set to make the field as number 25 on the current Order of Entry.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 7-year-old was ridden by Jye McNeil at Geelong, but McNeil is already committed to the Joseph O'Brien-trained Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Steel Prince finished ninth in last year's Melbourne Cup when ridden by Brett Prebble.

Moor has earned Danny O’Brien's nod of approval for the ride aboard last year's G1 VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound, who will carry 51kg.

Jamie Kah, who rode Miami Bound on Saturday, is committed to Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}).

First winner for Mikki isle

Mikki Isle (Jpn) secured his first Australian winner on Sunday when the Gillian Heinrich-trained Oriental Princess won at the Sunshine Coast.

Ridden with aggression by Michael Cahill, Oriental Princess led every step of the way over the 1000 metre contest and had 1.75l to spare over Oblique (I Am Invincible) on the line, with Whistling Loren (Vancouver) in third.

She was a $150,000 buy for Winners Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is a granddaughter of Group 1 winner Demerger (Saithor {USA}).

Group 1-winning miler Mikki Isle shuttled from Japan to Arrowfield Stud for three seasons before remaining at home this season because of quarantine restrictions over Japanese stallions visiting Australia.

He has had five winners in Japan, including the Group 3 winner Meikei Yell (Jpn).

Godolphin trio likely for Eagle

James Cummings could take as many as three runners on to next Saturday's $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

Silver Eagle winner Flit (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) and G1 Australian Oaks winner Colette (Hallowed Crown) are set to take their place, with a decision to be made early this week on Criaderas (Lonhro), after his second on Saturday.

The likelihood of a wet track for the two mares will likely sway Cummings to keep Flit and Colette in Sydney, rather than take them to Melbourne to tackle the G1 Empire Rose S.

“We will nominate both the mares for Melbourne but I love the weather for Colette for the rest of the week,” Cummings told Racenet.

“They are both in good form and I think they are going to run really good races.”

Criaderas made good ground when runner-up to Cuba (All Too Hard) over 1400 metres at Randwick.

“If Criaderas pulls up well I think he will run well too,” Cummings said.

“His rating would have increased and he would have made up more ground than most horses did all day in his race.

“He handled the rain-affected track which is what we are likely to face next week so there is a lot to like about the prospect of running him.”

Russian ready for Cup

Trainer Danny O’Brien has confirmed plans for Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) to progress to the G1 Melbourne Cup, after running third in the G1 Cox Plate on Saturday.

O'Brien was happy with Russian Camelot's run in the Cox Plate and believes he can turn the tables on Saturday's winner, Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

‘’He ran super and I am confident, given the way he’s come through the race, that he’ll run a great race in the Melbourne Cup,’’ O’Brien told Racing.com.

‘’We used him up early there on Saturday to get a position but I’d love to ride him a bit quieter back midfield and give him a bit of a rest and then let him really finish off."

Queen bruised but not bowed

Arcadia Queen (Pierro) has come through a tough run in the G1 Cox Plate in good order and will now head towards the G1 Mackinnon S. at Flemington.

The 5-year-old mare stumbled and almost fell 1000 metres out in the race, before picking herself up to run fifth.

Her owner Bob Peters said while he was disappointed with the bad luck his star mare had endured, she looks ready to back-up in the Flemington feature on November 7.

"She seems to have come through the race alright it generally takes a few days before you can be really sure,’’ he told Racing.com. ‘’We thought she was okay straight after her Golden Eagle but it turned out she’d hurt her back."

Concert Hall on song and ready for more

Co-trainer Robert Wellwood is aiming for further stakes success with Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) after she delivered a third Group 3 win in the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson H. at Trentham.

Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James said the 6-year-old would be given more chances at Group races this campaign, with a possible future in Australia next autumn.

“We’ll see how she travels back and comes through the race but we do have some exciting targets for her," he said.

“We had thought about running her at Pukekohe next week if it got too wet at Trentham today, but now she has had that run we will just tick her along.

“A race like the Counties Cup is an option that is coming up but if she does what we think she can do then a trip across the Tasman for an autumn campaign is a definite option.”

Rose sweet for Guineas tilt

The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) will go straight to Group 1 company next month after her impressive win in a Riccarton maiden on Saturday.

A 5l win has convinced the Pitmans that it is worth aiming Miss Tycoon Rose at the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas.

“We’ve been very happy with how she is going and hopefully she has done enough now to get a start in the 1000 Guineas,” Michael Pitman said.

“Obviously, the punters thought she was a good thing yesterday and she proved that in the end.

“I think the most impressive part of the win was the time she ran as that would be competitive against the best 3-year-old fillies.

“She deserves her chance in the Guineas as she has always found the line, so I don’t think the mile will be a worry."