No breathing concerns for Kaygeebee 

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr continued their superb form early in the 2022-23 season with Kaygeebee leading throughout at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Price said he was surprised Kaygeebee was able to win on Friday night as the stable had spent time in the past four weeks since the gelding scored a Pakenham Synthetic debut win last month trying to detect a problem with the three-year-old's breathing.

"He had a dynamic scope and I've been trying to find out why he's been making a noise in his throat, so I did say to Damian (Lane) just to let him flow (and) don't be gagging him up," Price said.

"It was good that Zahra (Custodian) and Melham (Shalaman) sat off today, but you still have to be good enough and he was good enough and we'll just keep him to 1200 metres."

Price said he did not know if Kaygeebee's breathing would hinder him later on in his career.

"Not over the 1200 metres and not if it holds as is. At the moment we're in a good place," Price said.

No Caulfield Cup for Desert Icon

As a number of JRA Cup runners looked to enhance their hopes of a start in Caulfield Cup by gaining a weight penalty for winning the JRA Cup, the winner Desert Icon was not one of them.

The Chris Waller-trained galloper was not among those entered for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on October 15 but is among entries for the Group 1 The Metropolitan on Saturday.

Jo Taylor, Waller's Melbourne representative, said Friday night was all about finding out where Desert Icon sits.

"There are bigger tasks that he can be set for, but it really was just to see what he could step up to this preparation," Taylor said.

"Tonight, again it was a step up for him and he showed that he's up to the task."

For winning jockey Brett Prebble, it was a welcome birthday gift in a well-judged front running ride.

"I wanted him to travel on the bridle as long as he could as that is ground really as bad as he wants it, and once he got the momentum going, I thought he could maintain his gallop," Prebble said.

"Then for some reason he wanted to lay off the track.

"First time in the night-time, I think he was a bit lost here."

Wee Nessy a class above

Fresh off a Group 1 win at Moonee Valley on Friday night aboard Coolangatta in the Moir Stakes, Jamie Kah wasted no time in getting on the board at Mornington on Saturday.

Kah partnered the $1.40 favourite Wee Nessy, prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, to win the opening race on the program, the No Fuss Event Hire Handicap (1000m).

Wee Nessy was facing just four opponents and Kah rode her as the best horse in the race, not concerned about being trapped wide over the sprint trip.

"These small fields are difficult sometimes.," Kah said.

"I wanted to be handy on her, but I was mindful that she was fit, she's going well and while she was a little wide, she was the best horse in the race.

"She's grown a lot this time, she's filled out. She's a nice horse and the team's got her going well.

"Hopefully she can go through her grades."

Mrs Sippy bows out in style

The Jason Warren-trained Mr Sippy will head to the breeding barn a city winner after taking out the Polvin Fencing Handicap (1600m).

The seven-year-old mare by Melbourne Cup winner Americain ran her last race on Saturday before a date with Darley stallion Earthlight.

Mrs Sippy retires after 39 starts and six victories with a further nine second placings of which six were on city tracks.

"It's very rewarding," Warren said.

"She's been knocking on the door, and I know it is Mornington today, but it is a city win for her.

"She'd had half-a-dozen second placings but hadn't had that city win, so for a broodmare, it's a good result."

Aesop announces himself at Sandown

Even Phillip Stokes can't believe the progression Aesop has made this campaign.

The six-year-old son of Make Believe recorded his first win since being recruited from Ireland by OTI Racing with a dominant display in the $130,000 Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1800m) at Sandown on Sunday.

His two-length win as a well-supported $3.70 favourite prompted Jamie Kah to predict that he is 'going to feature in something big this spring', but Stokes said it was unlikely to be next weekend's Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick.

"I'd say that might come up too quick. I'll speak to Terry (Henderson) and the team," Stokes said.

"It's just good to see this horse back. We were in a bit of trouble last prep when he was getting beaten at Sale and now he's here doing these sorts of things.

"I'm thinking that we keep him around 2000 metres, keep him fresh and keep that turn-of-foot in him."

Aesop's win was the first leg of a winning double for OTI Racing, who the following race saw $41 chance Regal Lion unleash a withering finish to take out the $150,000 Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1700).

Roy toys with Sandown Stakes rivals

Gentleman Roy missed a start in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, but co-trainer Ben Hayes hopes Sunday's Group 3 win in the Sandown Stakes will secure him a start in next month's Toorak Handicap.

The tenacious front-runner registered his seventh win from just 13 starts when he led from start to finish in the 1500-metre event.

Hayes hopes the three-quarters-of-a-length win over the in-form Military Expert, with classy gelding Pinstriped back in third, will improve his rating enough to get into the 1600m Toorak on October 8.

"We had to win today to get enough of a rating to get in and I'm hoping this win will sneak him in at the minimum weight with now two good runs under his belt he might be hard to beat in the Toorak."

Bowman suspended for whip use

Hugh Bowman's trip to Melbourne for Underwood Stakes Day was a sour one with the Hall of Fame jockey outed for excessive whip use.

In the day's feature, in which he was forced to settle for second placing aboard Mo'Unga, Bowman incurred a nine-meeting suspension and $3500 fine for overuse of the whip.

Bowman was found to have struck Mo'Unga 11 times prior to the 100-metre mark – six more than permitted – and 12 times in total in the 1800m event.

His suspension starts after next Saturday's Epsom Handicap meeting at Randwick ad he will be free to ride again on Sunday, October 9.