Just What You Need!
After a set-back put a halt to spring plans, What You Need has made a winning return claiming the VRC Member James Matthies Sprint (1100m).
What You Need turned heads with his debut win at Geelong last August and returned to Flemington on Saturday posting a new three-year-old class record.
Trainers Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr now have their eyes set on a black type race, the Listed Sunlight Classic over the same course and distance in two weeks' time after What You Need scored a 3-¼ length win over stablemate Kaygeebee.
Price thought What You Need may have been underdone for Saturday's return after one trial was a 'non-event' when the colt twisted a plate before an improved performance with his next outing.
The co-trainer said What You Need will improve with the hit-out leading into his next outing.
"He comes to a $500,000 Listed race in a couple of weeks' time here, 1100 metres down the straight, and that'll just set him up nicely," Price said.
"Possibly a trip to Sydney (after that) for him, but (it was) a very exciting win."
Melham pulls pin after Sirileo Miss
Jockey Ben Melham cut short his day at Flemington to head to Royal Melbourne Hospital to check on the condition of his partner Jamie Kah after her fall earlier in the day.
Kah was slipping in and out of consciousness immediately after falling from Flyball in the Group 2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes which resulted in Saturday's meeting being pushed back.
Without a ride in the afternoon's feature, the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, Melham sought a release from his final two rides after partnering Sirileo Miss to victory in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m).
Melham was down to ride Our Playboy in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap and Grand Pierro in the Cirka Plate.
"I'm going to put the cue in the rack for the day and just make sure she is alright," Melham said.
"It's just a reminder of how dangerous the job can be, the last week or so, but right now winning is not important as long as everyone is OK."
Right You Are continues winning run
Right You Are has stretched his winning streak to five with an emphatic win in the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m).
A tendon injury forced the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace -trained galloper to miss more than 12 months of racing, but the gelding has remained in work since resuming his current campaign last September.
Right You Are has progressed through the ranks winning at Moonee Valley, Sandown Lakeside and Sandown Hillside, twice, prior to his fifth straight win on Saturday.
Now Maher and Eustace are eyeing a return to Flemington in a fortnight's time for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
"For sure, why not?" Eustace said.
"It's a lovely trial for the race, he's a gelding, he's fit and sound and in career best form.
"He'll be racing for $3 million, and we'll have a crack."
Scallopini continue good Flemington run
Scallopini is likely to return home to Queensland for a shot at a big Group 1 handicap following his brave win in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m).
The Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted-trained galloper overcame a wide barrier to record his third 1400m win in stakes company at Flemington in four starts.
When asked if Scallopini could take a position in the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley next Saturday, Hoysted said that was unlikely.
"Every time we've tried him at the mile he just has never been as strong through the line, so when you've got a race like the Stradbroke at home we can try and aim him up at that," Hoysted said.
"Where his rating sits now, that's the sort the race he'll need to be going into.
"We were first emergency last year. He'll definitely get a start this year and he'll give a very good sight."
Quote of the day
"I think he said, 'it's won that many in a row it's due to lose one for sure by now', but it worked out OK" - Mark Zahra said after visiting Right You Are's regular rider Ethan Brown in hospital on Friday. Zahra replaced Brown on Right You Are who made it five straight in the Australian Cup Prelude.
