Cox Plate winner Via Sistina has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup by connections, six days out from the race that stops the nation.
Shayne Hope
West Aussie mare Amelia’s Jewel gets her biggest chance at Group 1 glory on the Eastern Seaboard in Saturday’s $1 million Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington (1600m).
Hayden King
Trainer Chris Waller says connections are weighing up if Melbourne Cup favourite Via Sistina will race, but international Jan Brueghel has been ruled out.
Melissa Woods
Hotshot WA mare Alsephina’s Melbourne campaign reaches a crux in Saturday’s $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, with the six-year-old hitting the lucrative feature in career-best form.
Chris Waller-trained mare Via Sistina is the new Melbourne Cup favourite following a record-breaking performance in her Cox Plate victory.
The awaited clash between Playing God three-year-olds West Star and September Born in the Listed $125,000 MacMahon Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot delivered, with West Star defeating his archrival.
Three-year-old colt El Castello kept his unbeaten preparation intact and claimed the biggest win of his short career with victory in Saturday’s Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
After the week that came from hell, monumental mare Via Sistina revived memories of the worshipped Winx by decimating her Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040) rivals at Moonee Valley.
Via Sistina has cruised home in a record-breaking Cox Plate run, dominating the field to win the historic race by eight lengths.
Jake Santa Maria
Via Sistina has won the $5 million Cox Plate, beating pre-race favourite Prognosis by a record margin in Australasia's weight-for-age championship.
This year’s Listed $125,000 Macmahon Belgravia Stakes (1200m) is a classic in the offing, with multiple three-year-olds of endless potential on show in Saturday’s Ascot feature.
BRUCE MCAVANEY: It’s a race steeped in history with a new chapter to be written on Saturday. Here are the horses who have a real chance of winning.
Bruce McAvaney
Chris Waller has been thrilled with Cox Plate fancy Via Sistina's preparation and response after the star mare threw jockey James McDonald during track work.
Leading North West jockey and Tenterden-raised Jessica Gray has copped a heavy riding suspension after returning a positive urine sample during a meeting in Broome in August.
Cameron Newbold
Leading WA country jockey Jessica Gray has copped a shock six-month national race riding ban in the iconic $100,000 Broome Cup’s second drugs test bombshell.
Ernie Manning
Rising star Mister Smartee surged to nominal favouritism for Friday’s Group 2 $100,000 Trotsynd J P Stratton Cup (2130m) at Gloucester Park where he aims to protect an unbeaten campaign after drawing gate two.
One of WA’s most promising sprinters warmed his engine for a coming-of-age campaign at Monday’s Lark Hill trials, with formidable four-year-old Jokers Grin monstering his rivals late.
Star Albany galloper Red Can Man made an impressive return at Monday’s Lark Hill barrier trials, in preparation to launch his latest assault on Group 1 feature races.
Whether it’s a fun day trip or a longer holiday, here are seven must-do activities that showcase the very best the Peel region has to offer.
Racing WA
The New South Wales Premier met with his friend of 20 years - a racing executive - for a ‘meet and greet’ shortly before a massive $5bn racetrack sell-off was announced.
Blair Jackson
Dual Railway Stakes-placegetter Comfort Me showed age hasn’t halted his zest for racing, ripping away with Saturday’s Group 3 $200,000 Liberties Insurance Eurythmic Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
Young talent Ceolwulf has carried on his rapid progression through the grades, supplementing his last start Epsom win with victory in Saturday’s $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Ciaron Maher’s memorable afternoon only got better an hour after his mammoth Everest success, with stayer Duke De Sessa storming away with the Group 1 $5 million Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (2400m).
