Sydney trained Kentucky Miss, scored an impressive win on her second visit to Melbourne in winning the Cap ‘Antibes Stakes.  

After drawing the outside gate, Damien Oliver steered her to a passage down the centre of the course, and that is where she stayed.

She had finished out of a place to the promising Derryn six weeks ago at Caulfield; she has been mixing it with the colts and after running a creditable third in the San Domenico Stakes her trainer, Joe Pride, decided to give her another roll of the dice.

The Flemington straight track can be daunting for a first timer; however, she didn’t put a foot wrong and would not have needed to, as Beyond The Dream, having her first race start, was closing quickly when the line was reached.

There is a race on Oaks day that could suit Kentucky Miss; she is not a big filly, what she lacks in size she makes up for in strength.

“She has been in work a fair while now, we will get her back to Sydney and take it from there, we are in no hurry, “said Joe Pride.

Kentucky Miss winning with Damian Oliver

That man, Murray Baker, is back in town, fit and fresh after a trip to Europe, with his thoughts firmly planted on the Caulfield Guineas.

After the Danehill Stakes success with Saracino, the colt is in there with a real live chance, the next port of call is the Guineas Prelude.

Saracino came to Flemington with winning form, he had won at his last start, the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate over 1200 metres, at Trentham New Zealand.

“Murray Baker thought it was a brave effort, he was in front a long way out, we wanted to have ridden off the pace, he jumped well and made his own luck, and kept on running, “ said Baker.

Last start Caulfield success Defcon, turned in a shocker, he drew the rails, yet every horse in the field ran down the centre of the track, it looked as if he was completing lost.

The winner is by Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry, who won the sire’s premiership in Australia, and unfortunately died earlier this year.

Saracino - A double for Damian Oliver

Faatinah had his rivals well off the bit a long way from home, and never looked like being beaten in the race named in honour of one of our greatest jockeys, Bobbie Lewis.

The gelding was never far away when Kinglike surrendered, he was there to pick it up, turning the race into a one act affair over the concluding stages, winning as he liked.

David Hayes was impressed with the win commenting, “I would like to take him to Dubai at some time and show him up there. “

Again Xtravagent let his supporters down; coming in 15 lengths behind the second last horse, the only excuse tendered, his gait was not right.

This was the second trip across the Tasman for him, and he has failed each time, surely there will not be a third trip.

He does not want to be a race horse any longer, that’s a certainity, his mind is not on the job, he may be a good colt back in New Zealand, however, Melbournians won’t be sorry to see him leave, the second trip across the Tasman has been fouled both times.

When his co-trainer, Stephen Autridge, was asked about the run, he didn’t elaborate much, except to say, “ I am flying home to New Zealand in the morning, the horse is over at Steve Richards stables.”

Kinglike went for a while before petering out; he has not raced since April, and is sure to benefit from the outing

Faatinah ridden by Regan Bayliss

Palentino upstaged his more fancied stable mate, Black Hard Bart, with a barn storming performance to record a brilliant win in the Group1 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes.

Black Hard Bart looked to have the race at his mercy when he broke clear of the pack rounding the home turn.

Palentino was in eighth position with nowhere to go, with a wall of horses facing him he wasn’t going anywhere, and Black Hard Bart was not stopping.

DarrenWeir was not disappointed with the run of Black Hard Bart, he had one run less than Palentino, and will be all the better for it.

A $90,000 yearling, two years ago at the Magic Millions Sales in Tasmania, Palentino is now just short of $30,390 of $ 1 million in stake earnings.

Palentino will more than likely go to stud next season as a five year old, with two Group1 races already to his credit, and possibly more to follow, he will warrant plenty of thought when he goes to stud.

The Derby winner, Tarzino, ran an even race without ever looking like a winner, he will be all the better with two runs now under his belt, he should be just about ready to win next time out if he is going to have bearing on the Cups

Palentino winning the Makybe Diva Stakes

He Or She battled on well without looking a real winner, as did Jacquinot Bay, as for the others nothing really impressed.