Busy Weekend As Michael heads to Karaka

Whilst Michael is New Zealand inspecting yearlings in preparation for next week's Karaka sales, the stable will be busy saddling up six runners at four different tracks over the weekend.

We kick off with a couple of horses at the Cranbourne night meeting on Friday, the first of which is the promising filly Daniela Rosa who takes her place in the Unox Plate with Jake Noonan to ride.

Last seen when running an encouraging fourth at her Bendigo debut last August, the Dane Shadow three-year-old is more mature this time around and has actually been ready to run for a couple of weeks - accepting on a couple of occasions only to be withdrawn after drawing awkwardly.

Unfortunately she has again drawn out wide but, as our racing manager Anthony Feroce said, "you can't just keep scratching, she has to run some time!"

And so from barrier nine of 12 runners Daniela Rose is set to embark on her second campaign with a bold showing expected.

"She ran well at debut," said Feroce, "and she has improved since. She is a nice filly whose jump-outs have been good. With an ounce of luck she has a good each-way chance."

Racing in the Mypunter.com Handicap, Habitual Offender (pictured) is our other Cranbourne runner. Coming off a disappointing run at Echuca on December 31, he is suited up to 2000m this time and a drop in class should also aid his chances.

"It is not a particularly strong race, one that give him the chance to put his best foot forward," Feroce said.

We have just the one runner at Moonee Valley on Saturday and it's an early one, Suspicious Mind contesting the opening event, the Think Big Stud Handicap over 2000m.

"She has been going well and she likes Moonee Valley - we are expecting a nice run from her."

Solid on pace at her most recent outing at Yarra Valley, the daughter of Alamosa had not enjoyed the best of luck at previous outings and her chances are enhanced by a nice drop in the weights.

A debutant is the first of our Sale runners on Sunday, the Shocking three-year-old Beyond Beautiful due to race in the Growmaster Plate over 1400m with Jake Noonan to ride.

"She is a nice staying filly who we expect to be finishing off strongly," Feroce said of the daughter of the imported mare Fairfield Flame who was Group Two placed for us in New Zealand

In the following race we have Malfum lining up for his third start and we have been happy with his first two races, during which he has raced a little greenly.

"He has drawn well for the first time which is going to help him and he is a horse who has been improving all the time. He had to do a bit of work last start but he should get an easier run this time and if he does he is a good each-way chance."

Symphony Plays is our other Sunday runner, due to debut at the Wyong meeting. Owned by the stable she has unfortunately proven a bit disappointing in her work to date but hopefully she lifts her game on race day!