Trainer Stephen Brown was hoping to run the Zabeel five-year-old in the 2400m Cup on February 15 but scrapped the idea after jockey Nick Hall dismounted on Saturday and told him the gelding would struggle at the distance.

“Everyone is saying run him in the Mornington Cup but 2400 metres is beyond him and we don’t want to stuff him up,” Brown said.

A last start 1700-metre winner at Flemington January 21, Bolton was on trial at 2000 metres on Saturday.

After dashing clear half way up the straight he held on to beat the fast finishing Montgomery by three-quarters of a length with Royal Mail another 1-3/4 lengths away third.

Brown said he would look at options for Bolton, including the Group Two St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25.

Brown hasn’t ruled out the $1 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10 as a possibility.

Bolton is not nominated for the Australian Cup but connections can pay a $55,000 late entry which is due by March 5.

“He’s going really well and we know he can run the distance now,” Brown said.

Brown had targeted last year’s Darwin Cup (2000m) with Bolton but he was first emergency and didn’t get to run.

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Moody had a meeting with the owners of the unbeaten mare in Melbourne on Friday after which managing owner Neil Werrett confirmed a trip to Dubai dominated discussions.

“Dubai is the highest on the priority list now,” Werrett told The Age but added the trip would only be undertaken if it did not interfere with the number one stable goal of a win at Royal Ascot in England.

Moody told AAP no decisions had been made beyond the Orr as he was taking it one race at a time.

At Caulfield on Saturday, Moody said if Black Caviar went to Dubai it would be a direct flight from Australia and then a direct flight to London.

But a flight straight to London was a “two stop-over 33 hour trip and it’s very taxing on horses”,” he said.

“The big negative against Dubai is she’s going to be away from home for three or four months.

“She’s going to be away from me, the jockeys, the staff, the vet, the farrier, the chiropractor.

“She’s going to have access to those facilities over there but it’s going to be a different scenario.

“She’s a mare that takes a fair bit of maintenance so that’s a big negative and there are a lot of great races here.”

The world’s best sprinter worked on the course proper at Caulfield on Saturday morning ahead of her shot at her 18th straight win at her first attempt at the 1400m trip in next Saturday’s Group One C F Orr Stakes on her home track.

“She had a canter around on the course proper. She worked nice,” Moody said.

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Havatryst ($6) stormed home to win the 1200m dash in a nail-biting finish by a short neck over The Sixties ($8.50) with Fangles ($10) a length away third.

The win provided jockey Larry Cassidy with his first winner since he returned from injury last month after sustaining four broken ribs and two hairline fractures to his right leg in a fall on November 30.

“It’s good to get some money in the bank finally,” Cassidy said.

Trainer Barry Baldwin was relieved to see Havatryst back to his best following two indifferent performances in the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in December and Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1300m) at the Gold Coast in January.

The son of Foreplay had a splint bone problem after finishing ninth in the George Moore Stakes and was then found to be suffering from a throat infection after his Goldmarket Handicap defeat.

“I was only half confident with him today because of his wide draw,” Baldwin said.

“He was always wide but he did a great job.

“I’ll give him a spell now and nominate him for the major sprints but I’d say he’ll be better off in some of the second-tier races.”

Earlier Taree apprentice Matt McGuren maintained his perfect metropolitan strike rate scoring aboard Lucky Luna in the Sky International Benchmark90 Handicap (1640m).

McGuren, 21, has had only two metropolitan rides and was successful at his first attempt on Youthful Jack last month at the Australian Turf Club’s midweek meeting transferred to Wyong due to construction at Randwick.

“That’s two wins from two rides and the streak is continuing,” a beaming McGuren told Lucky Luna’s connections.

“My first was on Youthful Jack.”

McGuren was originally indentured to Grafton trainer Alan Ryan who was convinced the rider would be a success in the saddle when he entered his stable weighing 65 kilograms.

Now 10 kilograms lighter, McGuren has since been transferred on loan to Ross Stitt at Taree to grab more opportunities.

He had his first ride for Kelly finishing second on Lucky Luna at the Gold Coast in December.

A handy bull rider in his younger days before injuries forced him from the sport, McGuren was always confident of scoring on Lucky Luna.

“We got posted three deep early on but we made the most of a run we got and he was too fit for them at the end,” he said

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Emmalene, who is targeting the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm in two weeks, produced a phenomenal performance to finish on the heels of the placegetters in fifth spot behind Leealan in the Racing Retro Handicap (1110m).

Leealan ($7) downed Amber’s Crown ($7) by a nose with a long neck to third placegetter, Well Credentialled ($21).

Emmalene was having her first start since making a huge impression winning the Listed Gucci Stakes (1200m) on Oaks day at Flemington in November but looked to have lost all chance when she missed the start.

Apprentice Brooke Richardson then hunted Emmalene along to race midfield and at the top of the straight looked like she could still pull off a remarkable victory before her run petered out close to the line.

“It was more like a barrier trial and she’ll still be going to Sydney,” Emmalene’s trainer Liam Birchley said.

“She was definitely unlucky. The operation was successful but the patient is dead.”

A $110,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales, Emmalene is owned by a syndicate which includes rugby league icons Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley and Darryl Brohman as well as well-known player agent Steve Gillis.

Stuart and Daley won rugby league premierships together while playing for the Canberra Raiders as well as being teammates during their days representing Australia.

Trainer Scott Morrison will now give Leealan a short break before looking at some of the better winter carnival races.

“What a tough win. He’s been badly handicapped and it’s crazy stuff the way he got penalised and his ratings soared after winning at the Gold Coast (in November),” Morrison said.

“I’ll bring him back for the Mick Dittman Plate then we’ll see about the winter races.”

Leealan’s win gave apprentice Anthony Allen his second metropolitan victory.

The 19-year-old is believed to be Australia’s only hearing-impaired jockey.

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Trainer Jason Warren confirmed the plan after Bel Sprinter ($2.70 fav) came from second last of the 10 runners under Ben Melham in Saturday’s Listed United Arab Emirates Stakes (1000m) and quickly rounded up his rivals.

After tracking Kulgrinda ($4) in the run he went on to beat that mare by a length with Faster Son ($18), having his first run for the Mick Price stable, two lengths away third.

“We’re better placed now that we’ve had this run. I wouldn’t have liked to have taken him (Sepoy) on first up fresh,” Warren said.

“But with that run under his belt he is going to be a lot better for it and we are going to stick to plan A which is the Oakleigh Plate.

“He looked a little bit burly in the (mounting) yard and he’ll be better for the run.

“He’s best placed with three weeks between runs so he’s right in the Oakleigh Plate.”

Racing Victoria’s handicapper of sprints Neil Jennings said Bel Sprinter would get in with 54kg, 2kg above the limit weight and 4kg less than the topweight Sepoy (58kg).

Warren said the $750,000 prizemoney of the weight-for-age Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 had been tempting.

But the $400,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield a week later was the preferred option to try to win his first Group One race.

The gelding, by Black Caviar’s sire Bel Esprit, will then go to the $1 million Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on March 10.

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Yoshida, one of the world’s biggest and most successful racehorse owners and breeders, recently bought a half share in the VRC Oaks winner for an undisclosed sum after becoming good friends with managing owner Phil Sly.

“The big boss (Yoshida) from over in Japan was just on the phone and he is ecstatic,” Sly said.

Sly struck up a relationship with Yoshida when he met him in Japan last year.

He described Yoshida as a humble man despite his enormous success in the racing industry which includes the 2006 Melbourne Cup with Delta Blues.

“We just got on together and he likes to drink a bit of red wine from Australia and party a bit,” Sly said.

Mosheen is likely to end up in Japan but her immediate future is in Australia where the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 3 is likely to be her prelude to the Group One Coolmore Classic (1600m) on March 24.

After winning Saturday’s Listed Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes (1200m) she now goes to the Group Three Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 18.

“It is good to see things pan out the way they have,” Sly said.

Trainer Robert Smerdon told connections Mosheen was only 80 per cent fit and would only get better.

“I am looking forward to 90 per cent, then 95 and maybe a 100,” Sly said.

Jockey Danny Nikolic said Mosheen was going to win before the home turn when she tracked into the race with ease.

She had her ears pricked as she coasted to the line 1-3/4 lengths ahead of That’s The One and Highly Recommended.

“I had the race won a long way out, from about the 600 metres,” Nikolic said.

“She had relaxed well and I just let her cruise up to them on the turn and when I asked her to sprint she showed a good turn of foot.

“There is so much scope to this filly. She can win over six furlongs (1200m) and she can win over a mile and a half (2400m). It is all thumbs up for her.”

Smerdon described the win as “a relief”.

Mosheen has always shown great talent and as a two-year-old finished second to Sepoy in the Golden Slipper.

On Saturday she was having her first start since winning the VRC Oaks (2500m) by nine lengths.

Smerdon said Mosheen had proved she was top class.

“You just question if they can come back in the autumn after a short break but she did it well and actually popped her ears up to the line,” Smerdon said.

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Leading up to Saturday’s Listed Emirates Airlines Stakes (1100m), the Tony McEvoy-trained Jimando had been the $5.50 Blue Diamond favourite but after his third placing he is now out to $9.

Mama’s Choice is also $9, in from $151, for the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25.

She will try to win the race at just her second start as her sire Redoute’s Choice did in 1999.

The only difference is that Saturday’s race is three weeks before the Blue Diamond whereas Redoute’s Choice won the Listed Veuve Clicquot Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield before backing up a week later.

Hayes, who has won a record five Blue Diamonds including three in succession on return from his decade-long Hong Kong training stint, combined with jockey Dwayne Dunn for Saturday’s upset win on the $31 shot.

Dunn himself is a Blue Diamond specialist having won it four times in a row aboard Undoubtedly (2005) and then Hayes’ three – Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007) and Reaan (2008).

The half-length win over Flemington debut winner Formidable ($6) with Jimando ($2.40 fav) a short-half-head away third was not totally unexpected by Hayes.

“We were confident before the barriers were drawn but from that awkward barrier (nine of 11) I didn’t want to drive her forward,” Hayes said.

“So coming from last was always going to be a task but she was impressive wasn’t she.”

“She joined in very quickly, put it all over very quickly, then switched off. That’s what I liked – her turn of foot from the 400 to the 200 (metres).

“I’d say we’d be right in it (the Blue Diamond), we’ve hit form at the right time.

“It never used to happen in the old era, but in this era Diamond winners step out around now.”

Hayes has always had a big opinion of Mama’s Choice who is a half-sister to WATC St Leger placegetter Red Hot Choice.

Her dam, General Nediym mare Red Hot Mama, is a winning half-sister to Victoria Oaks winner Hollow Bullet.

“(Owner) Jonathan Munz gave me seven two-year-olds this year and I told him she was the number one seed,” Hayes said.

“I haven’t been winning any two-year-old races this year but in a normal year I would have gone into the race roaring confident.

“But having run so many placings I thought maybe my team of horses are a little off the mark.

“So I’m happy and relieved that one has stepped up at the right time.”

The Mick Price-trained Malasun, who made an impressive debut winning the Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m) at Caulfield last month, is the $6 Blue Diamond favourite.

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Rare Subject ($19) led all the way in the Mittys Class Six Plate to record her first win in two starts for new trainer Les Kelly who took over preparing the five-year-old mare from the disqualified Darryl Hansen in December.

Bell recorded his win in front of parents Grant and Keily Bell who made the trip from Narrabri in western NSW to watch their son ride on his birthday.

“There won’t be too much celebrations going on tonight,” Bell said.

“I’ve got a couple of decent rides for Patinack Farm tomorrow so I’ll need to take things easy.”

Bell, who is the Queensland stable rider for Patinack Farm, took the initiative to lead on Rare Subject who beat Bang On ($14) by four lengths.

Kelly expected Rare Subject to take a sit off the pace but gave Bell no instructions.

“We knew there was no speed in the race but I thought Tim would sit second or third,” Kelly said.

“But I left the final decision up to Tim.”

Bell gave Kelly some encouraging signs for the future after dismounting from the daughter of Red Ransom.

“There wasn’t much pace on in the race and I expected Chris Munce (Break The Ice) would lead but when he didn’t I let her stride up the front,” Bell said.

“She managed to get away with some very cheap sectionals but I think she’s got a bright future.

“She’s a big lean mare who looks like she’ll run all day and has a good future as a stayer.”

Bell only returned to riding last week from a careless riding suspension.

During his time on the sidelines Bell was hospitalised for two days with pneumonia and was then forced to delay his riding comeback due to a mystery stomach bug.

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Webb is lifting his sights with the four-year-old after she posted her third victory in four starts leading throughout to land Saturday’s Shadwell Farm Kentucky (USA) Handicap (1100m).

He said the Group Two Breeders Classic (1200m) for mares at Warwick Farm on February 18 was an alternative to the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on February 25.

“The Oakleigh Plate has been in the back our heads a little bit but there is also the race in Sydney to consider,” Webb said.

“You prefer to stay at home because when you travel you upset the routine in the stable and the horses but she (Johannapine) does handle the wet tracks beautifully and Sydney is copping a lot of rain.”

Johannapine suffered her only defeat last start when she resumed at Flemington on January 14 and charged home too late to catch Ravenous Miss.

She was entered against unbeaten champion Black Caviar for last week’s Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley but Webb was happy to hold her over a week for Saturday’s easier assignment.

Ridden by Dwayne Dunn, Johannapine scored by 1-3/4 lengths from Star Of Giselle and Silkstone Special after burning off Teen Spirit who tried to go with her before tiring to finish a distant fourth.

“We thought she would win today so long as she didn’t get held up,” Webb said.

“Dwayne took the initiative which was good to see but she is still a bit green.

“She was having a look around and got a bit lost in front but to her credit knuckled down and has done the job.”

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Doubtfilly ($2 fav) finished powerfully to haul in early leader Optionality ($4.60) for a half neck win in the Skyracing.TV Handicap (1110m).

Wonderful Jester ($5.50) finished third a half neck away.

Mackay trainer Stu Kendrick plans to rest the daughter of Not A Single Doubt immediately before making a decision whether to aim her for the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane winter carnival.

Kendrick left Doomben with a good impression after Doubtfilly finished her race off strongly.

“She’s a tough filly and it was a good gutsy win,” Kendrick said.

“She got a little worked up before the race in the humid conditions which makes the win even better.

“She’s done a good job so far but she’ll have a break now before I’ll have to make a decision about coming back for the winter or stay home for more QTIS races.”

Doubtfilly’s win took her record to three wins from five starts.

Jockey Jim Byrne was reluctant to declare whether he rated Doubtfilly up to winter carnival class.

“It was a good effort but she’s only small and she didn’t beat much,” Byrne said.

Byrne said he was not concerned when Doubtfilly was caught three off the fence in the middle stages.

“I was never worried as we had plenty of cover,” Byrne said.

Kendrick feels Doubtfilly, who scored a commanding win at Eagle Farm at her previous start, still has plenty of maturing to do.

“She’s one of those two-year-olds who’s had natural ability from day one,” he said.

“I’ve had to work a fair bit on her manners. She’s not a big filly and she’s still got a lot of maturing to do.”

Kendrick, who trained at Eagle Farm for 10 years before relocating to Mackay in 2004, had some reservations how Doubtfilly would cope for the first time on a rain-affected track.
But after being rated heavy early in the week, Doomben dried out sufficiently to be dead.

Kendrick is likely to set Doubtfilly for QTIS races in Rockhampton and Mackay if he decides against taking the giant step up in class to the winter carnival.

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