Four Top-Level Races Highlight Flemington Card
Description:
Australians eagerly awaiting the Melbourne Cup (G1), "The Race That Stops a Nation," will start coasting to the standstill with four enticing group 1 events on the Nov. 4 Victoria Derby Day card at Flemington.
The AAMI Victoria Derby (G1) drew a full field with Ace High (AUS), a High Chaparral colt, looking to back up his Oct. 7 victory in the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (G1) at Randwick. He narrowly edged Tangled (AUS) in that race and the Snitzel colt is back for another try.
The Champion Stakes was 2,000 meters and they will add 500 meters in the Derby—the first time any of the field has been asked to go that far.
Others rated a chance in the day's feature are Main Stage (NZ), Sully (NZ), and Weather With You (AUS).
The Victoria Derby was first run in 1855, six years before the first edition of the Melbourne Cup.
The Kennedy Mile (G1) is a contentious heat that features Tosen Stardom, winner of the Toorak Handicap (G1) at Caulfield in his last start—his first victory since coming from Japan in late 2016. The 7-year-old son of Deep Impact is trained by Darren Weir, who also sends out Lucky Hussler (AUS).
Chris Waller trains six of the 14 starters in the Kennedy Mile.
The Myer Classic (G1) for fillies and mares at 1,600 meters attracted an overflow field with 16 to face the starter. Foxplay (AUS), a 4-year-old Foxwedge filly, has been racing against higher-ranked competition and Global Glamour (AUS), a 4-year-old daughter of Star Witness, makes her second start of the season after winning the Schweppes Tristarc Stakes (G2) at Caulfield first up.
Twenty are set for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1), a 1,200-meters dash for 3-year-olds. Trapeze Artist, a Snitzel colt, enters this off a convincing, 4 1/2-length upset win in the De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose going 1,400 meters at Rosehill Gardens Sept. 23.