The Exciting Return Of Coeur Volante

A step up to 1800m should suit Bancory Bay who takes his place in the 7th race on the card, the Mal Seccull BM70 named in honour of the owner of the great sprinter Manikato.

Hard fit for recent racing, the consistent three-year-old has measured up to this level at his latest outings, Michael noting that "he has not been far away against these sort of horses all the way through."

Jye McNeil has forged a good partnership with the regally bred son of Fastnet Rock and he again takes the ride, the pair to jump from barrier 7.

"We have taken the blinkers off as he just wanted to over-race last start," Michael said.

"We have left other gear on him though, he didn't want to go straight at Caulfield a couple of starts ago and he cost himself the race. That gear seems to have done the trick."

"We have been really happy with him," he continued. "He goes into this race without a glitch; we can't fault him - he is fit and well."

"Obviously the topweight is a pretty good horse," said Michael whilst noting that Bancory Bay meets Garnacho three kilos better at the weights from their latest meeting.

Bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Bancory Bay is a son of the Gr.1 Flight Stakes winning, Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes runner-up Oohood, an I Am Invincible mare from one of Australia's finest families - that of Snippets, Not A Single Doubt, Forensics, Rewaaya and King's Legacy.

One of the feature events of the day is the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes and we are looking forward to the return of our classy filly Coeur Volante.

Having her first run since an unlucky run from a wide gate in the Gr.2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm last June, the Proisir three-year-old has been given time to mature and we do think that she has come up all the better.

"She has furnished," Michael said, also happy with Coeur Volante's attitude this time around.

"She is still quirky but her demeanour has certainly improved. I think maturing and the travel she had are things that are going to help her in this preparation."

"She will be at her freshest," he continued, "so I hope she does things right - our biggest worry is the barrier draw (9), she just needs a bit of luck but if she races as well as she is going on the track she can win this."

"I think she is the best horse in the race and hopefully this is the start of a really good campaign."

Already a two time Group winner from just seven starts (both times with today's rider Blake Shinn aboard), Coeur Volante has been jumping out well in preparation for her return and each of her first up runs to date have been full of merit.

At $90,000 at Karaka, Coeur Volante was a great buy for the stable and it is a lovely family that she hails from, able to boast amongst her relations the Gr.1 AJC Oaks heroine Savana City (her fourth dam), the Hong Kong Gr.1 winners Mr Vitality and King Of Danes and the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks winner Citirecruit.