Racing
Some of the stories from Memsie Stakes Day
Discreet turns the tables
Trainer Dan O'Sullivan conceded he was resigned for another second placing with Too Darn Discreet before the mare rallied to win the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m).
Too Darn Discreet just failed to run down El Rocko over 1600m at Caulfield a fortnight ago and O'Sullivan thought that galloper had again stolen a winning march.
But relishing the extra distance, Too Darn Discreet powered home over the extra 100m to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.
O'Sullivan had been considering stepping back to mares' company with Too Darn Discreet for the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 13 but may need to revise those after Saturday's success.
"That was my plan, but I'll have a chat to Declan (Bates) about it because she's hitting the line like she's ready for 2000 metres," O'Sullivan said.
"The jury's a little bit out, but I'll enjoy the win first, go home and think about that later on."
Stakes company now for On Display
An early spring win will hopefully set On Display up for a potential Stakes victory at Flemington at her next outing.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper took out the Stow Robotics Handicap (1400m) with the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 13 an early spring target.
Price said there was a big circle placed around the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
"She's a good mare and she is in for a good campaign," Price said.
"I was happy to kick off here and I think from here we go to the Let's Elope (in) two weeks, (at) 1400 to keep the edge on her.
"There's a big circle around the Empire Rose. The obligation is to get the Black Type all the time, but this was just a nice kick off point here."
Hickmott fluid on spring plans
Trainer Robert Hickmott has some thinking to do after Revelare took out the Remembering Mikaela Claridge (2000m).
The Group 3 Foundation Cup (2000m) on September 20 is the natural progression for a horse looking to secure a berth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 with its 'win and you're in' status.
But the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 is also on the mind of Hickmott and there are two upcoming ballot free options that may suit Revelare.
First-up is The Archer (2500m) at Flemington on September 13 with The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 4.
"I haven't talked to the ownership group, but obviously, the Foundation Cup in three weeks' time is on the agenda," Hickmott said.
"It's been in the back of my mind, and a couple of the owners, but The Archer is probably going to be the weaker of that and The Bart Cummings, plus it gives you that mile-and-a-half run going into the Cummings if you do happen to miss out there at Flemington and you can have two cracks in it.
"We'll just see how he pulls up and where we go from here, but we're very happy with today."
Tropicus books Group 1 start in The Heath
A crack at the Group 1 Manikato Stakes beckons for Tropicus after the four-year-old's brilliant return in the $200,000 Group 3 The Heath (1100m).
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained entire proved too speedy for his rivals, powering to a 2-1/4-length win over Arkansaw Kid with Mark Zahra in the saddle.
It was the third win from four starts at Caulfield, and second at Group 3 level following his win in the Zeditave Stakes earlier in the year, and Freedman said the time had come to aim up with the son of Too Darn Hot.
"Maybe the Manikato might be the right target for him," Sam Freedman said.
"He's got very good gate speed, he wasn't stopping there, so he would keep running at 1200 and I think what's been the key is tactical speed now the blinkers have gone on."
The Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) will be run at Moonee Valley on Friday night, September 26.
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