Victorian return pays for Midwest 

Midwest maintained his perfect record at Moonee Valley with a narrow win in the VOBIS Gold Comet (1000m). 

The  Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained sprinter won back-to-back races at the track more than 12 months ago and relished the leader's role on Saturday. 

Saturday's 1000m contest was Midwest's first in Victoria following a run a Morphettville in Adelaide and two at Rosehill in Sydney. 

However, jockey Daniel Moor said the blustery conditions on Saturday almost brought Midwest, who was sent out the $2.15 favourite, undone. 

"It was really noticeable down the side, swirling around quite a bit, which probably didn't help my bloke," Moor said. 

"He wasn't aggressive, but he lacked focus at a couple of key points, and I really had to ask him to get on with the job." 

Australasian Oaks quest for Queen 

Jockey Dean Yendall does not see the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville being beyond the capabilities of Queen Air. 

The Lindsey Smith-trained daughter of Toronado landed her second victory when she took out The Mystic Journey (2040m) on Saturday, third-up for the campaign. 

Queen Air showed staying promise as a spring three-year-old, finishing fourth in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and then third in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m), both at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. 

Yendall made the most of a good start by rolling forward on the filly, before putting the acid to her rivals from the 500m mark. 

"She's a big, free-running thing, the more you can have her relaxed and into her comfort stride, the more she's going to give when you ask her at the end of the race," Yendall said. 

"You're only a three-year-old once. She's got great ability, she's got that good staying stamina as you saw here last season at Flemington in the Oaks, so there's no doubt she can run a nice run in Adelaide." 

Bel Air lands narrow win 

Bel Air has possibly earned a break after his narrow win in the VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m). 

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained gelding landed his second win from nine starts but has been described as his own worst enemy by his jockey Ben Melham. 

"He's not very tractable. He didn't get around Flemington, which is unusual. I couldn't steer him there," Melham said. 

"Even at Pakenham, he wanted to lay out, so I wasn't sure how he would get around The Valley, and to my surprise he did. 

"He was able to duck and weave when he needed to." 

Melham said Bel Air has a touch of class and with Saturday's win under the belt hopes that will give him a lot of confidence. 

"He's got a bit of class this bloke, but he's had a long preparation," Melham said. 

"He's been all around the countryside. He's been a good money spinner for connections and it's good to see him get another win on the board." 

Munhamek goes back-to-back 

Former Hong Kong galloper Munhamek has shown his toughness landing his third win for the campaign, taking out The Mugatoo (1600m). 

Munhamek started his Australian career with a win at Caulfield last August and Saturday's victory was his 11th start for trainer Nick Ryan. 

Saturday's win came on the back of a win over 1600m at Flemington a fortnight earlier. 

Ryan will now have some thinking to do with the galloper, whether to take the gelding to Sydney or press on to the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo on April 1. 

"He's been a bit of a revelation, it's his 11th run for the prep but he's just thriving," Ryan said. 

"He's just got better and better, he loves stable life and he's a good horse. 

"He does like a bit of cut in the ground. 

"What's up in Sydney? I don't know. We'll sit down and have a chat, but it's good he won, he's getting his rating up there so it opens a few doors." 

Fall mars win of She's All Class 

Another fall at the main city meeting in Melbourne marred the last stride win of She's All Class in the Listed Abell Stakes (1200m). 

Teo Nugent fell heavily on the hometurn from Florescent Star and was transported to Royal Melbourne Hospital, after initially slipping in and out of consciousness he was talking to ambulance officers and moving his limbs. 

His fall follows Ethan Brown's hospitalisation following a fall in the Australian Guineas on March 4 and Jamie Kah and Craig Williams being injured at Flemington in a fall during the VRC Sires' produce Stakes. 

Co-trainer David Eustace and stable foreman Lucy Yeomans sprinted to the hometurn to check on the condition of Nugent. 

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said She's All Class is quite cantankerous at home. 

"She's moody at times and she is hard to manage, but today was her day," Turnbull said. 

"I think we'll keep her to six (furlongs) for now. Lucy, Dave and Ciaron (Maher) down on the Peninsula have got her sorted out in terms of keeping her fresh. 

"She doesn't gallop a lot and she seems to respond well." 

Quote of the day 

"I had a runner in the All-Star Mile last year. I'm here on the same day, but in the reserves, that's OK" - trainer Enver Jusufovic after Vongole, one of three runners the trainer had in the Sharp Extensive IT Handicap, scored a narrow win.