Back to the trials for Mexico
Capitalist colt Mexico has been ordered back to the barrier trials after he was a late scratching from the Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick when he played up in the stalls.
While trainer Michael Freedman went on to win the race with stablemate Madeira Sunrise, he was bitterly disappointed that the youngster missed his scheduled first-up run.
"I genuinely couldn't split them," Freedman said.
"I feel for James (Harron) and the ownership group. It's not like he has ever had any barrier issues."
Mexico could be added to Monday's Randwick trial session and if he is given the all-clear there, Freedman will contemplate running him in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at the same track on Saturday.
Freedman already has promising two-year-old Blanc De Blanc headed for the race with James Mcdonald booked for the ride.
Winter goals for improving Lekvarte
A week after capturing the Expressway Stakes with late entry Mariamia, Joe Pride found himself in the winner's stall with another horse who was nominated as an afterthought.
Pride had wanted to run Lekvarte in the TAB Handicap (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday but when she was struggling to make the cut, he fielded a call from the Racing NSW handicapping department offering an alternative.
"We've got the handicapper to thank for that one," Pride said.
"He rang me up, I was in trouble getting a run in the 1800 (metre race) so we got included into the mile and it panned out nicely."
Lekvarte adopted her usual position off the speed and looked to have her work cut out when Banana Queen shot to the front halfway up the straight.
But under the urgings of Jay Ford, Lekvarte ($5.50) put in some big bounds late to nail Banana Queen ($3.30) with African Daisy ($6.50) third.
The winner is likely to bypass the bulk of the Sydney autumn carnival in preference for a winter sojourn in Queensland.
"I don't think we want to try and get through the carnival with her because we are going to be taking a horse that, by the time we get to the carnival, is a bit tired," Pride said.
"We will give her a freshen up now and inject her into the carnival late or maybe a Brisbane winter."
Waller big guns warm up for the autumn
Chris Waller took a half-dozen of his carnival horses for a day out at Randwick with Group 1 winners Fangirl, Hinged, Zougotcha, Madame Pommery, Manzoice and El Bodegon pairing up in 1000m exhibition gallops.
Fangirl (Kerrin McEvoy) led and maintained a short-head advantage over Hinged (Brenton Avdulla) in their workout with both to be entered for the Apollo Stakes next week.
Three-year-olds Zougotcha (James McDonald) and Madame Pommery (Jason Collett) matched strides with the former edging out her stablemate by a long head ahead of their respective resumptions in the Light Fingers Stakes on the Apollo program.
Waller said he brought the fillies and mares for a day trip to release some nervous energy, although it turned out all were in relaxed frames of mind.
"The point of today's exercise was probably irrelevant because we sent them here to have a bit of a sweat and get the butterflies out of the stomach and they just didn't turn a hair," Waller said.
"That, to me, is a great sign because it's a horse not under pressure, a horse that is enjoying their job and enjoying what they're doing and that was a pleasure to see."
Victoria Derby winner Manzoice (James McDonald) also worked strongly alongside El Bodegon (Tim Clark), who hasn't raced since finishing an eye-catching third in the Cox Plate.
That duo is also likely to be entered for the Apollo Stakes, although Manzoice is expected to wait for the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) against his own age a week later.
Annabel Neasham pair Mo'Unga and Laws Of Indices also galloped between races with Mo'unga, who is renowned for being a sluggish worker, looking sharp as he comfortably held out his barn mate.
Maher on the money with Sonora
It is rare for a race to go exactly to plan but that's what happened for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Sonora as she swept to a resounding victory at her Sydney debut.
Maher said the 1300m event panned out just as they thought it would with, delivering a perfect result.
"The race doesn't always look that clear on paper. The leader looked the leader, we thought we'd cross and sit second, he'd use it as a bunny and we knew she was in good form," Maher said.
"That's why we flicked her up here."
By So You Think whose progeny are generally slow to mature, Sonora has now won four of her 11 starts and Maher is keen to give the four-year-old a black-type opportunity during the autumn.
"She is really starting to come into her own now. She is just that bit older, a bit more mature and a bit more seasoned," Maher said.
"She will appreciate a bit of give in the tracks and as she's sneaking through the grades, hopefully we're looking for a bit of black-type at some stage."
Quote of the day: "Unbelievable turn of foot. He can only improve off today's outing. He's an 'oo-la-la'." – jockey James McDonald following the winning return of Aft Cabin at Randwick.
