Visinari gets bob in 

Visanari is getting together a handy record for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr team having now had six runs for the stable for four wins and two seconds. 

The French-bred UK import won first-up in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes (1400m) to register his second win on good ground in Australia. 

Price said it was a different looking program for Visinari after racing on softer ground during the winter. 

The Group 2 Waterford Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 and the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington two weeks later are next on the agenda for Visinari. 

"He'll definitely improve from today, but I thought he might have been lacking a bit of hard race fitness," Price said. 

"He doesn't want a lot of racing. He doesn't want a lot of galloping. We'll just keep him happy. 

"Hopefully he's improved from last prep, and we can win a bigger race." 

She's Licketysplit on target 

New Zealand trainer Andrew Forsman had a Group 1 plan in mind for filly She's Licketysplit and after the filly's win in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) said everything was on target. 

The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 will be She's Licketysplit's next assignment after her solid victory on Saturday. 

She's Licketysplit was luckless when covering ground at her Australian debut in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 17. 

"The Thousand Guineas has always been the plan since coming over," Forsman said. 

"Job done today, so we'll see how she comes through it." 

Forsman would not be drawn on whether the filly will press on further to the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 Victorian Oaks (2500m) later in the spring. 

"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, and that would be nice, but she's a Group 2 winner now in Australia which is great," Forsman said. 

Excelida breaks through at Stakes level 

Lindsay Park-trained Excelida finally got the monkey off her back at Stakes level taking out the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m). 

The victory was Excelida's sixth from 34 starts with a further 13 placings, of which nine had been in Stakes company. 

Last autumn Excelida ran consecutive placings in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap, the Listed Anniversary Vase and the Group 3 R A Lee Stakes before a spell and trainers Ben and J D Hayes were fearing the mare would miss out on a Group race success. 

"It was just a great result because of all the mares (we've got) this one's been placed nine times in Stakes races and yet to win one, so for her to win for Cambridge Stud, Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Henry Plumtree, it's just a big thrill," Ben Hayes said. 

"They were very patient, they allowed her to stay in training and it was great to get that result for them. 

"The whole stable is absolutely thrilled." 

Now with a Stakes win under the belt, the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week will come under consideration. 

"There are lots of options," Hayes said. 

"We'll see how she pulls up, but she's in really good form and getting back on a dry track was great. 

"It's definitely something we'll look at, we'll talk with Brendan and Henry and come up with a plan." 

Begg to have first Cup runner 

After more than three decades of training, Grahame Begg is set to have his first runner in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). 

Lunar Flame (pictured above) was already in the top 24 on the Order of Entry into the Cup on November 1 but made sure of her place with victory in The Bart Cummings (2510m). 

Begg started his career training in NSW and landed his first stakes winner in 1990. 

After a training sabbatical, Begg set up in Victoria in 2016, firstly at Pinecliff before expanding to Caulfield and with the closure of that track as a training centre on to Cranbourne. 

"This will be my first Cup runner," Begg said. 

"It is great for the stable, they've done a wonderful job presenting her here on the day and I thank the ownership group, they've been very understanding and have helped us along." 

Begg said Lunar Flare would head to the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on October 22 as her final lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. 

"That's only her third run up this time in, so she's still peaking," Begg said. 

"She'll go to the Moonee Valley Cup in three weeks' time, she likes that little bit of a space between her runs and then 12 days into the Melbourne Cup." 

Private Eye impresses in Gilgai 

Winning jockey Josh Parr says trainer Joe Pride should take all the credit in producing Private Eye an impressive first-up winner in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m). 

Having his first start since running second to Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in June, Pride added blinkers to Private Eye's gear on Saturday. 

The gear change worked as Private Eye raced to a 1-½ length win at his first start on the straight Flemington track. 

"I was very confident going down to the start and behind the gates as he seemed to have his mind on the job," Parr said. 

"Interestingly, blinkers first time, first-up for this horse. It was a master move by Joe Pride because it was his first go down the straight. 

"It was a brilliant effort by the horse, and I'm thrilled to win here at Flemington again." 

Kiwi raider lands double 

New Zealand trainer Andrew Forsman landed a Flemington double when the well-supported Mr Maestro took out the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m). 

She's Licketysplit stamped her Thousand Guineas credentials earlier in the program taking out the Edward Manifold Stakes while Mr Maestro is on a path to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in four weeks' time. 

Victory in the Super Impose was Mr Maestro's second Flemington win in succession after scoring on a Heavy 10 track over the same trip on September 18. 

Forsman said he had not locked away a lead up run to the Derby. 

"It's been a great day, two for two and I'm really rapt with how the team's going here," Forsman said. 

"We haven't locked anything in yet, just whatever suits him best going into the Derby. 

"I think he actually looked better in his action on top of the ground today which is great heading forward." 

Quote of the Day 
"This is a new preparation for him because he's going to have to race on solid ground." - co-trainer after Visinari's first-up win in the Paris Lane Stakes.