Albarado in right form
G1 AAMI Victoria Derby, $2,000,000, 2500m
Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel) was an impressive winner of the G3 Norman Robinson S. and he gives every indication he will run out this distance out after hitting the line strongly in his lead-up racing.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained 3-year-old also has the pedigree to instil confidence as he is from the family of Willy Smith (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), winner of the two-mile G1 Wellington Cup.
The Norman Robinson looks a good form race and runner-up Let’s Karaka Deel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and Hit The Shot (Dundeel {NZ}) don’t need to lift much to be major players and neither does fourth-placegetter Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is a tough and talented galloper who came from the tail to win the G2 Drummond Gold Vase and a wide gate won’t unduly affect his chances.
It will be a memorable training performance by Danny O’Brien if Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) can come to the fore in just his third race day appearance.
He was a debut winner at Geelong before finishing runner-up in the Listed Super Impose S. and O’Brien took no chances with the talented gelding and withdrew him from The Valley last Saturday due to the wet track.
Young Werther’s stablemate Cetshwayo (Dundeel {NZ}) wasn’t far away when sixth in the Norman Robinson off the back of a sound win at Flemington and he could be a value runner on an each-way basis.
Trial success a pointer
G1 Coolmore Stud S., $1,500,000, 1200m
There will be plenty of interest in the performance of last season’s champion 2-year-old Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), who hasn’t run since he petered out of the G2 Run To The Rose after paring off in front. A subsequent trial win suggests he’s back on track.
Wild Ruler (Snitzel) has opened his spring campaign in excellent style with consecutive stakes wins to earn a shot at a major prize and in his current touch should make a bold play.
Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock) missed the G1 Caulfield Guineas after undergoing throat surgery and if he’s at his best will be a handful. He won the G2 Stutt S. at his last appearance and prior to that was third in the G1 Memsie S.
Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar) broke his maiden with success in the G3 Blue Sapphire S. and with stablemate Swats That (Shamus Award), last-start winner of the G3 Thoroughbred Club S., gives Team Corstens a quality hand.
Anders (Not A Single Doubt) is quick and if he gets his own way in front will be hard to peg back and the best chance at odds could be Mamaragan (Wandjina). He could be better-suited at this trip after failing in the Caulfield Guineas.
Fresh is best
G1 Kennedy Cantala S., $1,500,000, 1600m
Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) is at his best when produced on the fresh side and he was a stylish winner of the G1 Toorak H. three weeks ago.
As a dual Group 1 winner last season, King’s Landing (Redoute’s Choice) adds intrigue and he’s certainly good enough to make the best use of a big pull in the weights.
Noncomformist (Rebel Raider) has been freshened since he won the G3 Coongy H. and is back to a trip he is unbeaten over in two runs. Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has improved with each of his runs this preparation and third-up should be at his peak. He also loves this course and distance.
Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) was runner-up in the Toorak, but does meet the winner 1kg worse off although he still seems sure to run well.
Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) made up late ground to be not far away in the Toorak and luck from an awkward gate could see him as a potential upset hope, while Age Of Chivalry (NZ) (Mr Remarkable {NZ}) also has a poor gate, but is tough and genuine.
Yulong Prince (SAF) (Gimmethegreenlight) was fourth in the G1 Epsom H. and deserves consideration on that effort and Rock (Pierro) came from the tail for seventh in the Epsom and the wide-open spaces of Flemington should suit him.
Mare deserves respect
G1 TAB Empire Rose S., $1,000,000, 1600m
Mystic Journey (Needs Further) was back to her best winning the G2 Stocks S. a little over a month ago and her record suggests he is effective with her races spaced.
The 3-year-olds add interest with the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Odeum (Written Tycoon) the best credentialed and looms as a major threat. Fellow fillies Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) and Chica Fuerte (Hinchinbrook) are also in good touch and with 49kg not out of it.
Nettoyer (Sebring) wasn’t a factor in the G1 Cox Plate and she can be hard to follow, but if caught in the mood she’s more than capable of featuring in the finish.
Madam Rouge (Zoustar) won the G2 Tristarc S. in fine style with the only question mark over her is the mile, but Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) is a past 1600 metre winner and brings Group 1 form from the Sir Rupert Clarke to the table.
Chaillot (Testa Rossa) is a gifted and lightly-tried mare who was third in the G3 Ladies’ Day Vase at just her fourth start and she looks open to further improvement.
Personal hard to roll
G2 GH Mumm S., $300,000, 2000m
Personal (Fastnet Rock) has been in fine touch this preparation and followed up a second placing in the G2 Tranquil Star S. with a runner-up finish in the G1 Thousand Guineas. The extra distance should hold no fears and she should be hard to roll.
Personal (navy blue silks)
Agreeable (Sebring) made ground from well back in the running for fifth in the Guineas and is another filly who shapes as a top middle-distance prospect.
Salto Angel (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) is still a maiden, but was strong in the G3 Ethereal S. and stablemates Pensato (Lonhro) and Silhouette (Teofilo {Ire}) were fourth and fifth in that and performed well enough to be considered again.
Miravalle (Redoute’s Choice) was far from disgraced when she finished in behind the major players in the G1 Spring Champion S. and back against her own sex warrants plenty of respect.
Starelle (More Than Ready {USA}) was out of the frame in the Ethereal, but if you forgive that her previous run for second in the G2 Edward Manifold S. was a sound performance.
Kemalpasa favoured
G2 TAB S., $300,000, 1200m
Kemalpasa (Magnus) made all the play out in front in the G2 Gilgai S. over this course and distance and he didn’t flinch under pressure to finish a close third.
Coruscate (Exceed And Excel) is racing in career-best form with back-to-back stakes victories to his credit. He shares topweight of 60kg with Tactical Advantage (Bel Esprit), but it’s hard to ignore his form lines.
Banquo (Written Tycoon) was less than 2l off the winner in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and is a leading chance off that effort, while barn mate Order Of Command (Squamosa) didn’t feature in the G2 Schillaci S., but his previous form was consistent enough to weigh up.
Octane (I Am Invincible) doesn’t know how to turn in a bad performance and has a handy pull in the weights and Blazejowski (Dash For Cash) is back from a break and has three first-up wins to his credit.
Powerful hand
G3 Network 10 Carbine Club S., $250,000, 1600m
Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes have two strong contenders here with the in-form pair of Aysar (Deep Field) and Crosshaven (Smart Missile).
They boast Group 1 form with the former runner-up in the Caulfield Guineas and Crosshaven finished fourth so repeat performances will put them right in the frame.
Endanger (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is a progressive type and was a tidy last-start winner of the Listed Gothic S., in which third placegetter So Let’s Toast (So You Think {NZ}) will also appreciate the step up to a mile.
With two wins from three appearances Embolism (Shamus Award) hasn’t done anything wrong. This is the sternest test of his career, but he presents as a decent place prospect.
Ashrun has right credentials
G3 Lexus Hotham S., $200,000, 2500m
Ashrun (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) made a good fist of his first Australian performance when fourth in the G3 Geelong Cup. He hit the line strongly and he is a Group 3 winner in France over this distance.
Future Score (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was a tidy winner of the Listed Cranbourne Cup so he’s in the right form to make the next step up.
Schabau (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) has plenty of talent and if he relaxes on a genuine tempo can make his presence felt, while Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) hasn’t won for some time, but does boast solid place form.
Brimham Rocks (GB) (Fastnet Rock) was runner-up in the St Leger at Randwick and a definite place chance on that and Azuro (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) also stays well and an easing of the track would boost his chances.
Follow Fiteuse
G3 Furphy Sprint, $200,000, 1100m
Fiteuse (Deep Field) was runner-up last time out in the Listed Alinghi S. behind California Zimbol (I Am Invincible) and has a chance to turn the tables with a 1kg weight swing in her favour.
Fiesta (I Am Invincible) won the G3 Northwood Plume S. well enough to stay in her corner while Diamond Effort (Mossman) has been racing particularly well this preparation and there’s every reason to think she’ll go close again.
Prophet’s Thumb (I Am Invincible) looks best saved for one run and will relish a fast tempo and How Womantic (The Wow Signal {Ire}) has barely put a foot wrong in a light career and her consistency will earn her another strong following.
Exhilarates (Snitzel) was a fair sixth when resuming at Caulfield and her second-up record is to be taken seriously – four starts for a win and three placings.
