Bulls kick-off delayed

James Cummings has changed tack with multiple group 1 placegetter Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}), opting to delay his return to the track and miss a trial at Randwick on Tuesday.

The initial plan had been to resume Osborne Bulls in the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick on Saturday week, but Cummings has decided not to begin the 6-year-old's campaign until the G2 Shorts on September 21.

He will now trial on September 10 ahead of his return to the track and will have two runs ahead of what is likely to be his main spring target The Everest.

His owner Godolphin has a slot in The Everest, but will not confirm until closer to the $14 million race which of its horses it will choose.

Sesar ready for Group 1 test

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes is confident Sesar (Sebring) can find his best form ahead of Saturday's G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield.

Sesar's two starts in Melbourne this campaign have seen him disappoint in the G3 Bletchingly S. last month before an improved third in the G2 Aurie's Star S. at Flemington.

Hawkes, who trains with his brother Michael and father John, told Racing.com that the Aquis Farm-owned 4-year-old was ready to step up in class, starting with Saturday's first Group 1 of the Victorian season.

“It’ll be quite good to get him in these good races and see how he performs,” Hawkes said.

“He’s done everything right, his first-up run at Randwick was outstanding, he had no luck at Caulfield (in the Bletchingly) and some would argue he should’ve won at Flemington (in the Aurie's Star)."

“If he’d put two or three together, he’d be going into the race as one of the absolute favourites, but it’s a Group 1 race, they don’t give them away, you have to earn them.”

Levendi comeback not confirmed

A veterinary check next week will determine if 2018 G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro) continues on his return to racing.

Trainer Peter Gelagotis has been taking a steady approach with the now 5-year-old, who hasn't raced since his Randwick Group 1 win, having initially had bone chips removed and then fracturing his pelvis back in February.

As he ramps up his training in the next week, Gelagotis will be closely monitoring whether he is still up to the rigours of racing.

“Once the acid pressure comes on, I get the feeling that maybe the time has passed by for this horse," racing manager Manny Gelagotis told Racenet.

“It is gut-wrenching because in the lifetime of our business, this is the best horse we have ever had."

“My gut feeling is I am hoping, praying, every day, that he can come back because you can’t replace a horse like this."

“But you have to be realistic and say we are having our last shot at the stumps and the welfare of the horse comes first - if he’s not 100 percent he won’t be racing."

Hawtin heads to Australia

New Zealand trainer Brendon Hawtin is heading to Australia to work as assistant to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young at Cranbourne, while maintaining a small team himself.

Hawtin, who has stables at Cambridge and at Te Awamutu, has decided it’s time for a change, and will join the burgeoning operation of ex-pat New Zealanders Busuttin and Young, who are on quite a roll at the moment.

“The opportunity arose to be assistant trainer to Trent and Natalie and I will be applying for my trainer's license over there so it is too good to turn down,” Hawtin said.

“I’ve been friends with Trent and Natalie for years and they are flying over there, getting bigger and bigger. I will be taking over a new barn at Cranbourne to have 30 of their horses in work."

“I’ve always wanted to have a go in Australia at some stage and I had to grab this with two hands."

Stephen Marsh will take over Hawtin’s Cambridge stable and Hawtin’s father, Keith, will reapply for his trainer’s license to continue the Te Awamutu stable.

MRC members given a chance at $250,000 Everest bonanza

The Melbourne Racing Club is offering a member a chance to win $250,000 in a promotion which links closely with The Everest.

The MRC linked up with slotholder, the ATC, to ensure the marquee sprinting race on the opening day of its carnival, the G2 Schillaci S. is now a wildcard entry into the $14 million The Everest at Randwick the following week.

And now members can cash in on that relationship with the MRC Members’ Everest Sweepstakes to provide 16 of them a chance to have a designated runner in the Schillaci S. The lucky winner will then have a shot at $250,000 should the horse they draw then go on to win The Everest the following week. There are prizes of $100,000 and $50,000 if the horse runs second or third in The Everest.

“When planning the MRC Everest Series, it was vital to us that we involve our members in the excitement of what is happening both at Caulfield and in Sydney on Saturday 19 October," MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby said.

“Our members are our greatest asset, and the reason behind everything we do as a club. Our successes are their successes and so it is only natural that we want to share the wealth, should the MRC runner get up in The Everest."

“While we don’t yet know who will take up the MRC slot in The Everest, we do know that it will be a heart stopping race for racing lovers, and even more so now for one of our members.”

McNab gets Melody ride again

Michael McNab will retain the ride on Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in Saturday's G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings.

Te Akau’s principal rider Opie Bosson is set to miss the meeting with a minor shoulder injury, paving the way for McNab, who rode her when fourth in the G2 Foxbridge S. earlier this month.

Trainer Jamie Richards is happy with how the six-time Group 1 winning mare is progressing towards the defence of the race she won 12 months ago.

“We’re happy with her and she has worked up well since her good fourth, off the outside gate, in the Foxbridge,” he said. “If we draw a gate, she should be a nice chance.”

Moroney plots 2000 Guineas shot

Talented 3-year-old Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) kicked off his path to the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas in November with a trial win at Te Teko on Tuesday.

Co-trainer Mike Moroney, who trains in partnership with Pam Gerard, has high hopes for the colt, who had just two runs as a 2-year-old.

“Harlech we think he is probably our best three-year-old,” Moroney said. “We are going to aim him at the 2000 Guineas in Christchurch."

"We think a lot of him. He’s a Darci Brahma colt and he is just going to get better with practice, but he looks reasonably smart.”

Moroney also had a couple of 2-year-olds trial, a Dissident filly who ran fourth, and a Showcasing (GB) filly, who ran second in her heat.

The three 2-year-old trials were taken out by Tony Pike's unnamed Not A Single Doubt filly, Team Rogerson's unnamed Reliable Man (GB) filly and Jamie Richards' Savabeel colt No Limits (NZ).