Plymouth Running For Mike

The horse who got closest to Angel Capital (this morning's scratching as favourite) in the main Australian Guineas lead-up race, the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes, Plymouth is a major contender in today's big race.

Which has everyone at the stables full of anticipation, especially as we all want to win this race for Mike.

"It would be great to get this win today and do him proud," Glen said.

Mike always had a high opinion of Plymouth (photo, Racing Photos) who was campaigned in stakes company during his first campaign, not having much luck when well fancied at Listed level on Melbourne Cup Day.

His first up run pleased the stable, the son of The Autumn Sun a little awkwardly away with the blinkers on the first time but he drove through to the lead, fighting on strongly as Angel Capital made his run.

There was gap to third that day and we are confident that Plymouth has come on nicely since that run.

"He has done extremely well this week," Glen said.

"His work has been great, he has drawn well (barrier 4), he has good jockey (Craig Williams) and hopefully he can get the run of the race and be right in the finish. We are really looking forward to it."

Craig Williams boasts a good Australian Guineas record having won the race aboard Shamus Award and Miss Finland and hopefully Ballymore can today provide him with his third success in one of Victoria's most prestigious three-year-old races.

A bit of breeding trivia - Plymouth hails from a family which has had strong Australian Guineas influence. His fourth dam Lady Giselle produced two winners of the race in Zabeel and Baryshnikov whilst Mystic Journey was line-bred to her, as is Plymouth's dam whose dam sire Dundeel is out of a mare by Zabeel.

Plymouth's own pedigree is also a very interesting one with his sire The Autumn Sun bred on a Redoute's Choice/Sadler's Wells cross whilst his dam is Sadler's Wells/Redoute's Choice. And he carries strains of Sadler's Wells' relations Nureyev, Val de Loir and Lt Stevens.

And we wish Pam Gerard from Ballymore New Zealand the very best of luck with her runner Savaglee.

We also have a runner in another $1 million race on the programme, the Inglis Sprint which sees the promising Certain Rise amongst the most fancied runners.

She ran a great race first up behind Arabian Summer and that form was franked with that filly's outstanding run against the older horses in last weekend's Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate.

Our girl ran the fastest 400m - 200m split (flying at 10.79 seconds) in the

a race before her condition just gave out late.

"That run is really the only blemish on her record," Glen said.

"She got further back than suited her from the wide gate and it was still a great run."

"Today is her hardest test to date but she looks fantastic - she heads to the race in as great order as she ever has."

"It's her first go down the straight but she has the in-form Blake Shinn on board again and she is one of the main horses to beat in the race."

Longshot Gregolimo is our third Flemington runner for the day (lining up in the final event), the imported galloper due to have his second run this time in.

Unfortunately he finished well back when resuming having also raced below his best last time in.

"We need to see him go to the races and do it but we have been happy with him at home," Glen reported.

"He works well and looks great but that has been the case all along. He does have blinkers for the first time and he worked well in them, hopefully they do the trick."

"Barrier 13 is a bit tricky but we will have a talk to Declan Bates and see how the track is playing to work out things tactics wise."

We also have the promising Acelum - who, like Plymouth is a son of The Autumn Sun - racing today, looking a big chance to break his maiden in the second race at Wangaratta.

He has been terrific finishing second at his first two starts over 1400m and the 1590m today looks ideal as does barrier 2 with Joe Bowditch aboard.

"He has done well since his last run and we haven't had to do much with him," Glen said.

"It's a nice race for him and he just has to run up to his first couple to prove hard to beat. He has drawn well and should be able to switch off just behind the speed."

As an Inglis graduate, Acelum is eligible for a nice bonus today with this race being part of the Inglis Xtra Series.