Saturday preview: six things to keep an eye on

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

VRC Derby - international stallion influence

Whilst it is a race of Australian form lines, the field for this year's G1 VRC Derby is made up for horses by an interesting variety of sires; horses who have raced with distinction around the world.

Three stallions bred in different countries are represented by two runners each - the late Fiorente (Ire) a chance for his first Group 1 winner with Apulia, so impressive racing clear in the G2 Moonee Vase, a race in which Bulawayo was a solid fourth.

Arrowfield Stud's Dundeel (NZ), who was when seventh in the 2012 Derby won by Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand), also has two runners - the last start G3 Norman Robinson S. winner Sunsets and the lightly raced longshot Mercante.

Doing a good job with his first Australian crop is Coolmore Stud's US Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) and he too has two chances; Verdad, who was run down by Apulia after making the pace in the Vase, and Air Assault who stuck on gamely for third in that same race.

Fellow Triple Crown champ American Pharoah (USA) also has a major chance with Riff Rocket remaining favourite despite his defeat as an odds-on favourite in the Norman Robinson. His trainer, Chris Waller, is seeking a third win in the race - successful last year with Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) and in 2014 with Preferment (NZ).

Another acclaimed American, one who has never actually stood in Australia, also has a runner - Into Mischief (USA), who is looking for his first stakes winner in this part of the world with Roguery on the up after putting together two nice wins at the provincials.

And the best of all Northern Hemisphere-based horses with Australian runners - the mighty Frankel (GB), already the sire of three Group 1 winners here, represented by Gates who was good running third off a slow start in the Norman Robinson.

A couple of Japanese-bred stallions also have runners - Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (the Scone galloper Warialda Warrior) and Staphanos (Jpn) (the maiden Tokyo Run {NZ}).

And Redoute's Choice makes his presence felt with Make A Call by Extreme Choice and Kosgei by The Autumn Sun.

Beaten as favourite - by the Western Australian galloper Plastered (Laranto) in the 2004 Derby having won the G1 WS Cox Plate at his previous start - Savabeel atoned by siring a winner of the race, Sangster (NZ) successful in 2011.

His son Gold Bullion (NZ) was not really suited by the way the Norman Robinson was run but he'd been coming along nicely prior. His co-trainer Gai Waterhouse enjoyed one of her early career highlights in this race, cheering home Nothin' Leica Dane in 1995.

Coolmore Stud S. - Group 1 horses, Group 1 stallions

A race that made the transition from being run as the Ascot Vale S. (first contested in 1863) earlier in the spring - a Group 2 contest from 1979 to 2005 - to the Cup week event than it now is, the Coolmore Stud S. has been run at the elite level since 2006.

Since that time, it has been won by 17 horses and what an impressive record they boast - eight of those going onto further Group 1 success and all nine of the colts who have won it (just two geldings successful in that time) have ended up standing at stud.

Five fillies have successfully taken on the colts in that time frame with the 2018 winner, Sunlight, making it three generations of success - her sire Zoustar winning in 2013 and his sire Northern Meteor in 2008.

And she was part of an all-Zoustar finish with Zousain second, Lean Mean Machine third.

Table: G1 Coolmore Stud S. winners and their subsequent performances post-win

When run as the Ascot Vale, the race also boasted a history of being won by classy stallions - the likes of Heroic, Vain, Century, Kaapstad (NZ) and Encosta De Lago first across the line along with the likes of such wonderful gallopers as Surround (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}), Manikato (Manihi) and Rancher.

And it looks like being a significant breeding race again with all 14 of Saturday's male runners being colts - the likes of Shinzo (Snitzel), Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) and Veight (Grunt {NZ}) looking to boost their stocks as potential stallions whilst Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) is the most strongly fancied of the three fillies.

Empire Rose S. - Group 1 girls

Named after the big bold chestnut, the 1988 G1 Melbourne Cup winner, the G1 Empire Rose S. is one of Australia's premier contests for mares.

Kicking off as a Listed race, it was elevated to Group 3 status for a couple of years and was run as a Group 2 for seven years before 2004 saw Miss Potential (Dolphin Street {Fr}) win the race as a Group 1.

Testament to the race's quality is the fact that it has, on 12 occasions, been won by mares who either previously had or subsequently did, win further Group 1 races whilst eight of its winners have gone on to produce stakes winners.

Successful when the race was a Listed contest in 1989, Echo Lass (NZ) (Prince Echo {Ire}) is the dam of the G1 All Aged S. winner Des's Dream (NZ) (Dahar {USA}) whilst the 2011 winner Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow) was well-represented by two stakes winners - the dual Group 3 winner Holyfield (I Am Invincible) and the Listed winner Vamos Bebe (I Am Invincible).

The third winner of the race is a mare still making her mark - the Roger Hoysted-trained Natural Wonder (Aurilandy), who did such a great job winning 12 races (three in stakes company) being the dam of the dual Group 3 winner Hula Wonder (Hula Chief {NZ}), in turn the dam of the Group 3 winner Sugar Bella (Not A Single Doubt) who sadly died after producing just one live foal - last weekend's Listed William Crockett S. winner Gumdrops (Written Tycoon).

A quality field of 17 mares have accepted to contest this year's edition. Between them they have won 33 stakes races with three already having a Group 1 to their name - Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) a four-time big-race winner in the UK, Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) taking out this year's G1 Queen of the Turf S. and Hinged (Worthy Cause) last year's G1 Surround S. winner.

Four runners are coming out of last-start Group 1 assignments - Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel {NZ}) ending up too far back from a wide gate (she has drawn one this time) in the G1 King Charles III S. in which Atishu covered ground.

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) held on well after setting up a good pace in the G1 Toorak H. whilst fellow Pride Of Dubai mare Deny Knowledge (Ire) went out too hard in the G1 Caulfield S. - also far from disgraced.

Alcohol Free, Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}), Hope In Your Heart and Atishu are all fighting out favouritism whilst another leading contender in an open race is the in-form Wishlor Lass (Mshawish {USA}).

Wakeful S. - Oaks-bound fillies

What a wonderful mare Wakeful (Trenton {NZ}) was, the winner of 25 of her 44 starts (placed 16 times), with 12 of her victories coming in races now classified as Group 1 events whilst another six were in Principal races that no longer exist.

It is fitting that she be remembered every spring and a nice race it is too, 40 of its winners backing up to win the G1 VRC Oaks including three of the last five - Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Aristia (Lonhro).

It has been a while, but the race has also provided a trio of G1 Melbourne Cup winners - Evening Peal (Delville Wood {GB}), Light Fingers (NZ) (Le Filou {Fr}) and Rainbird (The Buzzard {GB}).

It is also apt that the race proves to be a good race for future broodmares as Wakeful was such a good one herself - two multiple elite-level winners - the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Caulfield S. winner Night Watch (St Alwyne {GB}) and the G1 Oakleigh Plate and G1 Futurity S. winner Blairgour (Wallace).

Thirty-six Wakeful winners have produced stakes winners with 12 of those represented by Group 1 progeny - the most recent of those being Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) whose son Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has three Hong Kong Group 1 wins to his name.

And a couple of Wakeful winners have produced Wakeful winners - Calera (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}) the dam of Imposera (NZ) (Imposing) and True Course (Midstream {GB}) the dam of Eld (Empyrean {GB}).

James McDonald won last year's edition aboard Zennzella (Snitzel) and on Saturday he takes the ride on the favourite Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) who looked to have a bit in hand winning the G2 Edward Manifold S. last time out. Her trainer James Cummings won this two years ago with Willowy.

Harlow Mist (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) is suited back up in distance and has pedigree ties to the race, her grandam Grand Archway (Archway {Ire}) taking out the race en route to her VRC Oaks success in 1998. Also in the market is Konasana (Dundeel {NZ}) who was good in the G3 Ethereal S. and who looks likely to be suited at the bigger track.

Golden Eagle - 5-year-old riches

A $10 million race solely for 4-year-olds, the Golden Eagle is into its fifth year, and it has attracted a potential star with Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) dodging the G1 WS Cox Plate after her disappointing Toorak H. ninth.

It was a pretty full-on raceday on that occasion and it was reported that she was on the tense side and as the late, great Colin Hayes used to say - “always forgive a good horse one ordinary run!”

Take that out and she is the one to beat, the winner of nine of her 12 starts down in class having already run a great performance in a similar race - third in the rich The Quokka in Perth back in April.

She seeks to become the second female Golden Eagle winner on the back of the success of Colette (Hallowed Crown) in 2020.

Another mare with a big chance is the high-class New Zealander Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) who looked to have plenty in-hand recording a soft Listed Matamata S. victory at only her second run in. She is well and truly proven in Australian having taken on the boys in the G1 Australian Guineas in March - defeating the Toorak winner Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) who has been scratched from this edition.

Hawaii Five Oh (I Am Invincible) has drawn better - barrier three - than he did when working hard in The Everest. Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) comes back in distance but has been strong to the line in Group 1 company at his last two outings.

Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) - whose trainer Chris Waller won the inaugural running of this race with Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) overraced in the G1 Turnbull S. but was great in the G1 Makybe Diva S. won by Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).

And adding interest is the Japanese visitor Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat {USA}) who has raced just five times, winning three races - coming off a close-up third in Group 1 company.

The Sprinters - The Damien Oliver & the Giga Kick

A race which has had a number of name changes - historically known as the Linlithgow S. - the last race on the Derby Day card has a worthy new title this year, being run to honour the retiring superstar rider Damien Oliver who heads to Flemington Cup week for the last time.

It would be some atmosphere on course should he win his own race and he looks a top chance to do so, leading out the field on the Godolphin 5-year-old Vilana (Hallowed Crown) who boasts good second-up form and who ran so nicely when resuming.

Vilana's stablemate Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) is one of the main threats to the fairytale result, coming off a soft on-pace victory in the Listed Headquarters S., trialling nicely since. His rider James McDonald won this race last year aboard Old Flame (GB) (Invincible Spirt {Ire}).

It is not a black-type race but there is $3 million on offer at Rosehill for sprinters, the 1300-metre contest has a small field of only eight lining up but there is certainly quality there with the last-start The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) attempting to win his 12th race from just 13 starts.

Also coming through that race is Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) who had little luck and Private Eye (Al Maher) who was gutsy holding on for third off a wide run.

Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) adds interest resuming off a Warwick Farm trial win and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) just keeps racing well.