Trav’s First Look: Derby & Golden Eagle Day

Derby Day is upon us now with the Moonee Valley Cox Plate Carnival over. Saturday’s Victoria Derby promises to be one of the best in recent time with Goldophin’s Observer a clear cut No.1 pick after his impressive win in the Vase yesterday.

The Empire Rose could see stars of the turf Fangirl and Pride Of Jenni lock horns. Whilst the Coolmore is full of quality with Golden Rose winner Beiwacht, up against the likes of Tentyris, Beadman, Skyhook and My Gladiola.

In Sydney it’s the running of the Golden Eagle for the first time at Randwick.

Autumn Glow, the Epsom Handicap winner, will be a short-priced favourite with James McDonald to ride the unbeaten mare.

The other feature there is the Russell Balding Stakes with Jimmysstar, War Machine and Mazu all running out of The Everest against the in form Private Eye and Japanese visitor Strauss.

Evaporate, Sepals and Feroce make the trip up from Melbourne for the Golden Eagle. International representation comes from Panja Tower and Seagulls Eleven.

Whilst Angel Capital is a possible runner for the Waller stable, although he may also head to Melbourne for Champions Day or the C.F Orr Stakes the week after.

Gerringong and Manaal may back up after running in yesterday’s Invitation.

GOLDEN EAGLE, 1500m, 4yos, Set Weights
FEROCE (D Sutton) J Parr
LINEBACKER (J O’Shea & T Charlton) Z Lloyd
SEPALS (C Brown) E Brown
ANGEL CAPITAL (C Waller)
PANJA TOWER (S Hashiguchi)
SEAGULLS ELEVEN (H Palmer)
MAYFAIR (B Baker) D Gibbons
EVAPORATE (B, W & JD Hayes) N Rawiller
FULLY LIT (G Waterhouse & A Bott) R Bayliss
LORD PENMAN (C Waller)
SHANGRI LA SPRING (G Waterhouse & A Bott)
WILLYDOIT (C Maher) T Clark
DEPTH OF CHARACTER (A & R Archibald) J Collett
AUTUMN GLOW (C Waller) J McDonald
GERRINGONG (G Waterhouse & A Bott)
LADY SHENANDOAH (C Waller)
MANAAL (M Freedman)
PERFUMIST (B Baker) R King

Jimmysstar and Lady Shenandoah headline the Australian entrants for the Russell Balding on Saturday. Joe Pride is expected to have veteran Private Eye among four runners here in Golden Mile, Coal Crusher and the evergreen Mazu. Japanese-trained Group 2 winner Strauss will also run here, with leading Brazillian based jockey Joao Moreira.

Briasa may also line up here but Joliestar is expected for the Champions Sprint. Sydney Stakes winner Rothfire does run here with Jason Collett.

RUSSELL BALDING STAKES, 1300m, Set Weights, Open
JIMMYSSTAR (C Maher) E Brown
LADY SHENANDOAH (C Waller) J McDonald
WAR MACHINE (B, W & JD Hayes) T Clark
BRIASA (M, W & J Hawkes)
PRIVATE EYE (J Pride) N Rawiller
MAZU (J Pride)
STRAUSS (R Takei) J Moreira
ROTHFIRE (R Heathcote) J Collett
COAL CRUSHER (J Pride)
GOLDEN MILE (J Pride)
CABALLUS (B Baker)
IOWNA MERC (B Baker)

Expect a full field at this stage for the Victoria Derby. With Vase winner Observer, Norman Robinson winner Autumn Mystery, Geelong Classic winner Azazel and Super Impose winner Options all in the race. Others set for the 2500m classic include Providence and Miewa.

VICTORIA DERBY, 2500m, Group 1, 3yos, Set Weights
OBSERVER (C Maher) M Zahra
OPTIONS (T & C McEvoy) H Coffey
AUTUMN MYSTERY (R Hunter) B Shinn
ARCORA (T Busuttin & N Young) J Allen
AZAZEL (M Walker) M Dee
MIEWA (N Ryan) J Childs
PROVIDENCE (C Waller)
HIGHVOL (N Ryan) J Mott
ENGINE OF WAR (M Price & M Kent Jnr) T Berry
MATSUDA (C Maher) T Stockdale
MCWOODY (M Walker) J Melham
O’SHEAMUS (J O’Shea & T Charlton)
ONE STEP CLOSER (J O’Shea & T Charlton)
AMAZAKE (C Maher)
DEAL DONE FAST (M Cumani) D Stackhouse
FEDERALIST (M, W & J Hawkes)
ARABIAN PRINCE (M Kent) C Williams
SAVISANTA (C Waller) B Melham

Kerrin McEvoy will fly in to ride Fangirl in the Empire Rose Stakes, with stablemate Leica Lucy to be ridden by Mark Zahra.

Tristarc Stakes quinella Abounding and Splash Back run here, as does Te Akau’s Damask Rose.
Pride Of Jenni is a maybe with the Champions Mile the following week also on the cards.

EMPIRE ROSE STAKES, 1600m, Group 1, 3yo Up, Fillies & Mares, Weight-For-Age
FANGIRL (C Waller) K McEvoy
PRIDE OF JENNI (C Maher) D Bates
SPLASH BACK (G Begg)
BENAGIL (G Thompson) C Williams
ABOUNDING (R Heathcote) J Melham
LAZZURA (C Waller) T Berry
LEICA LUCY (C Waller) M Zahra
DAMASK ROSE (M Walker) B Shinn
IDLE FLYER (M Smith) M Dee
ON DISPLAY (M Price & M Kent Jnr) B Melham

The Coolmore is set to be a deep race with the likes of Tentyris, Beadman, Beiwacht, My Gladiola, Tycoon Star, Raging Force, Skyhook, Legacy Bound, McGaw, My Gladiola and Devil Night amongst the nominations when they close tomorrow.

Blake Shinn will take the ride on Beadman, whilst Adam Hyeronimus will come down from Sydney to ride Golden Rose winner Beiwacht in his first run in Melbourne. Red Anchor winner Napoleonic still could back up, as might Crockett winner Stardom.

COOLMORE STUD STAKES, 1200m, Group 1, 3yos, Set Weights
BEIWACHT (C Waller) A Hyeronimus
DEVIL NIGHT (M, W & J Hawkes)
SKYHOOK (G Ryan & S Alexiou) C Williams
MCGAW (D & E Browne) L Neindorf
TENTYRIS (A & S Freedman) M Zahra
BEADMAN (P Snowden) B Shinn
RAGING FORCE (P Snowden) T Berry
TYCOON STAR (B, W & JD Hayes) M Dee
LEGACY BOUND (R Griffiths) J McNeil
HIDDEN MOTIVE (N Doyle) A Morgan
JIMMY RECARD (C Maher) B Allen
NAPOLEONIC (J O’Shea & T Charlton)
GALLO NERO (M, W & J Hawkes)
MY GLADIOLA (J McArdle) J Mott
POINT BARROW (A & S Freedman)
STARDOM (G Waterhouse & A Bott)

The Damien Oliver will be run at 1400m on Saturday and see King Zephyr against the likes of Steparty, Zou Sensation, McHale and Media World.

Expect King Zephyr to be a short priced favourite when markets open tomorrow.

THE DAMIEN OLIVER, 1400m, Group 2, Handicap
STEPARTY (P Preusker) J Allen
HERE TO SHOCK (B, W & JD Hayes)
ZOU SENSATION (L & T Corstens & W Larkin) B Allen
PAYLINE (C & C Munce)
KING ZEPHYR (G Begg) J Childs
MEDIA WORLD (P Snowden) M Dee
HOLYMANZ (C Maher)
MCHALE (C Waller)
IS IT ME (D Bowman) P Moloney
WARNIE (C Maher)