Winds to abate for Confluence at Flemington

Brad Waters - Monday August 7

Developing three-year-old Confluence is likely to get an easier run than his last outing irrespective of where he draws in Saturday's Flemington assignment.

Advertisement

Confluence has finished second at all three runs this time in, including at his last outing where he did it tough before finishing 2 ¼ lengths from Shamport in the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m) at Caulfield.

Confluence was stuck three-wide and fighting into a strong headwind for most of the race but managed to pinch a break before Shamport over-ran him in the Caulfield straight.

The forecast is for calmer conditions than those that eventually forced the postponement of the last five races s at the July 29 Caulfield meeting and the son of Denman is one of 20 entries for the Super VOBIS 3YO BM70 Handicap (1400m).

Co-trainer Simon Zahra said Confluence had the required talent to break through for a city win but it was a matter of whether the colt was coming to the end of his preparation.

"He's going well and he's had three runs for three seconds but we just hope he can hang on for another run," Zahra, who trains Confluence in partnership with Mathew Ellerton, said.

"He's been up a while but it looks like a nice race for him.

"He's pretty smart this horse but it is only his second preparation but we're hoping he can just hold his form.

"He just needs to draw a decent barrier where he can get a bit of cover and he'll be hard to beat."

The powerful Darren Weir stable prepared Confluence's last-start conqueror Shamport and will provide another serious rival on Saturday with Peruggia, the winner of his last two starts, among the nominations for the $120,000 race.

Peruggia is one of four last-start winners among the nominations along with the Lindsay Park-trained pair French Skyline and Regal Embrace while Lee and Anthony Freedman have entered the Geelong maiden winner Sky Punch.

Advertisment
More Reading...
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Brad Waters' one to follow from Caulfield Saturday July 29
The wind put paid to the majority of Saturday’s Caulfield meeting but there was a strong performance worth following in the next few weeks.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.