A BITTERSWEET DAY FOR US

Another busy day for us with runners at Caulfield and Tofane bowing out in Sydney in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes under Mark Zahra.

Mike has spent a lot of the last two weeks in Sydney and says while day will be bittersweet the daughter of Ocean Park (pictured) could not look any better.

“She looks magnificent, has dapples on dapples and the trip away has sparked her up a little,” Mike said.

“The track is on the improve which will help. It’s hard to know how the opposition will be after racing on these heavy tracks with just a couple, us included, on fresh legs.

“We’ve done enough with her between the runs, the draw will mean Mark can decide where he settles.

“She has been a terrific mare for the stable and it would be lovely to think she can go out on a winning note.”

At Caulfield Hayley is the first to go in race five over 1100 metres with Robbie Downey riding again.

“She’s fit and racing well, I think she was beaten by a smart one last start at Ballarat,” Mike said.

“She’s got a good draw in two now after scratchings with four last start winners engaged so it is a step up in class for her.

“She has good natural speed and I can see her being in this for a long way.”

Cirrina runs in race six over 1100 metres with scratchings reducing the opposition to six.

“The scratchings have helped but it is still a strong race,” Mike said. “She gets a handy weight drop from her last start second at Mornington and she’s done well since.

“She’s up considerably in class but she’s in good order and going as well as we can get her.

“She’s fitter now and I’m happy with her so if she can fly the gates and get the lead then I’m sure she can give them something to run down.”

Milford has gained a start in the Easter Cup and Mike says the 2000 metres is ideal at this stage of the preparation.

“He’s had the two starts this time in and this is the race we had in mind for him when he came in,” Mike said.

“He looks magnificent and has drawn nicely so we’ll try and take advantage of that.

“It’s a solid race as you would expect but our horse is in good order and with ordinary luck then I expect him to be in the finish and a win will not surprise.”

A trio of runners in the Victoria Handicap over 1400 metres with Poland and Bermadez guaranteed a start but Tokorangi unfortunately missing a start.

Bermadez will jump from barrier six under Patrick Moloney and comes into the race in good order. “I can’t fault him, his work has been excellent and at the weights he’s a winning chance with ordinary luck in a competitive race.”

Poland gets the blinkers on for today. “The draw helps him from four so he should get a lovely run,” Mike said.

“I’ve put the blinkers back on - when we did that last season he improved noticeably so if they do their job and he puts his best foot forward then he can definitely be in the finish.”

Last start winner General Firepower rounds out the day in the last race over 1600 metres.

“It’s a step up in class for him but I thought his win was full of merit, racing wide and then finishing off,” Mike said.

“This race has certainly come up strong but our horse is nice and bright and it will be interesting to see how he shapes up in this class.”