Super Sepoy wins again
Sheikh Mohammed's sprinter Sepoy made it 10 wins from 11 starts by taking the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.
Last Updated: 29/10/11 8:31am
Sheikh Mohammed's Sepoy took his record to an impressive 10 wins from 11 starts with a hard-fought effort in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
The Sheikh was expected in Melbourne to see the three-year-old sprinter but he did not appear to pick up the Group One prize provided by jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
He should, however, get another chance to cast his eye over Sepoy, who is expected to be prepared for Royal Ascot next summer in the silks of Godolphin.
This was not as powerful performance as some of those produced by Sepoy during the Australian spring, even if he showed a smart turn of foot to lead with a furlong to go, as Foxwedge closed to within a head.
Future plans
"It would be great to see him in Australia for a couple more runs before he goes overseas but Sheikh Mohammed will make that decision," said McEvoy.
Snowden added: "He will go for a spell now and come back in the autumn.
"He's peaked three times this campaign and is showing signs of coming to the end.
"I will get him ready for a couple of starts in the autumn.
"I would like to get him over there (to England) as good as I can."
This means Sepoy will not clash with Australian sprinting sensation Black Caviar in next Saturday's Patinack Farm Classic.
Another three-year-old who could conceivably end up in Europe is the Mark Kavanagh-trained Atlantic Jewel, who was an effortless seven-length winner of the Wakeful Stakes.
Atlantic Jewel is now unbeaten in five starts and is part-owned by Coolmore, who could be keen to promote her sire Fastnet Rock in the northern hemisphere.
"She lapped them. I got there too early but there wasn't much I could do," said jockey Michael Rodd.
"My job was just to keep her out of trouble and she would do the rest."
Kavanagh is likely to run her next in Thursday's VRC Oaks, the usual port of call for Wakeful winners.
"I wanted to spell her after the 1000 Guineas but she's just kept on improving," he said.
"It was sort of a bit arrogant the way she did that, I must admit."
Galah performance
There was a third short-priced winner, and another for Sheikh Mohammed, Snowden and McEvoy when Galah got up in the final strides of the Inglis Carbine Club Stakes.
"He's still green and has a lot to learn. He's still six months off his best which should be in the Sydney autumn," said Snowden.
"He could go for the Sandown Guineas next."
There were several late Emirates Melbourne Cup clues on offer, with Niwot clearing right away in the Lexus Stakes to guarantee himself a start next Tuesday.
Glass Harmonium, formerly with Sir Michael Stoute, also earned his own shot at the 'race that stops a nation' by dominating the Longines Mackinnon Stakes.
Hugh Bowman, who has ridden many times in Britain, won the feature AAMI Victoria Derby for the second year in a row, this time aboard the New Zealand runner Sangster.