Almandin pleases in return to action at Moonee Valley

Darryl Sherer - Saturday August 26

Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Almandin pleased connections with a strong second place finish when resuming in Saturday's MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Advertisement
Almandin (white cap) finishing second to Pacodali. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Racing in the first three after turning out of the home straight, Almandin ($10) pressed for the lead around the home turn before being run down by Pacodali ($2.90 fav) to be beaten three-quarters of a length, conceding the winner 6.5kg.

Almandin was racing for the first time since winning last year's Melbourne Cup and part-owner Nick Williams said he was satisfied with the effort.

"I think that was about what we were expecting," Williams said. "He did have 61kg which meant he was thrown in under the weight scale for a quality handicap so you'd have wanted to see him run well.

"Ben (Melham) gave him a lovely ride, got him into a nice rhythm and he finished it off well.

"For a first-up effort you could not be happier."

Williams said his father and racing manager Malcolm McLaren will plot a path to the Melbourne Cup.

"He'll probably have a light campaign into the race but Dad and Malcolm will work that out," Williams said,

"He's an eight-year-old now and he's going to get a lot more weight in the Cup this year, probably around 56kg," Williams said.

"He had 51kg last year so it's going to be a big ask and not many do it. The horse will tell us how he's going and it will work out from there."

Foundation ($41) led at a solid clip and stayed on for third, beaten 1 1/2-lengths.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).