Almanzor - New Winner

Trainer Clinton McDonald recorded his second G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) victory in the last three years when his Magnus filly Streisand further improved off a last start success in the G2 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (F) to take out Caulfield's $2m juvenile feature by three quarters of a length.

What a difference three weeks has made in the life of rugged stayer Final Return.

The Golden Slipper market was again given an almighty shake up when the Philip Stokes trained Wild Ruler colt Stretan Ruler put the Sydney juveniles to shame when thrashing them to win the$300,000 Group II ATC Silver Slipper (1100m) by a wide margin.

Yulong Investments has made a splash in New Zealand this season, buying up the nation’s leading three-year-old filly talent, and they were once again rewarded at Ellerslie on Saturday when sealing the quinella in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Really coming into her own last time in with back to back stakes victories highlighted by an almost six length victory in the G2 MRC Sandown Guineas (1600m), Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s Sheza Albi returned in emphatic fashion on Saturday, winning the $300,000 G2 MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m).

The Michael Mehegan trained Bossy Benita broke her maiden on February 26 last year and 12 months on the four year-old So You Think mare is now a stakes-winner after scoring a bold front running victory in the $200,000 Group III MRC Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

With the betting suggesting the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable would win the $750,000 G1 MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday, it was the outsider of their two runners in the race that produced the goods as Too Darn Hot 4yo Tropicus was simply too strong.

Minutes after 60/1 shot Power Beau won the Listed SAJC City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville to become the 28th stakes winner for Darley’s Brazen Beau, the Michael Freedman trained Cinsault won the G2 ATC Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill to become the 29th stakes winner for her sire.

Perennial black-type bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha shed that unwanted tag in outstanding fashion when she downed a quality line-up of mares in Saturday’s Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.

Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker was busy packing on Thursday morning as he readied himself for a trip to Adelaide to link up with a five-strong arsenal from the team’s Cranbourne base that will contest most of the major events at Morphettville on Saturday.