Young Werther shakes tag

Having already earnt well over $1 million in prize money, Young Werther's record had a couple of angles to look at. One could argue he'd been pitched up in strong races ever since his debut win at Geelong (running to 93+) which saw him start favourite in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m). Plenty more have argued he's a 'non-winner', having run in the minor money on eight occasions.

I think it's more the former than anything- since his Victoria Derby third and before Saturday, he's only ever raced out of Group class on four occasions, and two of them were when first up.

It was the perfect storm on Saturday really. Arguably his best career run came over the Flemington 2000m, having run second in 2021 to Incentivise in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

In fact, if you isolate his Flemington form over his entire career it reads quite well. He's run Timeform figures of 101-110-111-116-114-111-84-107-99-115, the two efforts below 100 coming in a Melbourne Cup and a Roy Higgins, both over proper staying trips.

He had to run right up near his best- his 115 rating on Saturday is his fourth career best behind runs in the Turnbull, Cox Plate and ATC Derby, but those who stuck with him were handsomely rewarded after drifting all the way out to $14.

A third crack at the Turnbull seems the obvious Spring target given his Flemington form and while this won't be good enough to win a typical Turnbull, especially if Romantic Warrior runs there before the Cox Plate, but for now, he should focus fully on Flemington.

Coco Sun on Group 1 path

T & C Mcevoy have a handy filly on their hands with Coco Sun winning the Listed Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville Parks in fairly impressive style.

It was only a field of six but she sat back and showed a big turn of foot to drop her rivals, including the highly fancied Dubenenko.

A Timeform rating of 97 at just her second career start is very promising, and reads well compared to some recent 'feature' two-year-old racing in Melbourne.

The Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) was won by Dolphin Skin with a rating of 96, and Saturday's Byerley Handicap was won by Sunsource with a 98 rating, which, theoretically, Coco Sun would've toppled given her 2kg fillies allowance (effectively rating her 101 at weight-for-age).

Coco Sun's 97 rating is identical to Mac 'N' Cheese in 2021, also for the McEvoy stable, who didn't quite go on with it, and four pounds better than Instant Celebrity (93) in 2020.

Instant Celebrity then went on to run third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) when not staying a mile before also winning a Group 1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) and running second in a Group 1 Goodwood Stakes (1200m).

Coco Sun has already been touted as a Thousand Guineas contender, to be run after the Melbourne Cup Carnival this year, and looks more assured of running a stronger mile and beyond than the likes of Instant Celebrity. She's definitely one to keep an eye on when she comes to Melbourne.