Racing
A look at the action on Makybe Diva Stakes Day
A brief look at the stories from Makybe Diva Stakes Day at Flemington.
Griffiths colt Bound for Coolmore
Melbourne's wet weather will keep Legacy Bound to a sprinting campaign for the spring after the colt maintained his unbeaten record with a first-up win in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m).
Legacy Bound won at Ballarat and in Stakes company at Morphettville in his first campaign and trainer Robbie Griffiths had plans of stepping the colt out in trip as a three-year-old.
But only having access to tracks with give in them made it hard for Griffiths to get the colt fit and for that reason he will keep Legacy Bound to races up the straight at Flemington.
Next on the agenda will be the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) on October 4 followed by the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) four weeks later.
"He hates the wet and he won't prepare well on it," Griffiths said.
"He won't let down on it hence his trials are okay, but they're not exciting like his race day form.
"We thought he's a big horse, he hasn't fully matured, so we'll keep it simple, run him in the sprints, and we can stretch him in the autumn."
Vinrock bounces back
A Group 1 assignment in Sydney is back on the agenda for Vinrock after he returned to winning form in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m).
The Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 27 is likely to be the next assignment for Vinrock who won the Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in the autumn on a previous trip to Sydney.
That race will then allow Vinrock to return to Melbourne for a tilt at the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11.
Vinrock was outsped when resuming at Caulfield a fortnight ago, but jockey Mark Zahra pressed forward on Saturday, and the colt showed grit in landing his fourth win from five starts.
"I think he's a pretty tough horse," trainer Matt Laurie said.
"You put it to him, he tries pretty hard, so I think when the going gets tough he'll give his best.
"I was hoping we'd be going to a Golden Rose third-up. I still think we should be looking at that path, but we'll have a good chat about that tomorrow."
My Gladiola on course to tackle the colts
Trainer John McArdle will look to test My Gladiola against the boys after her victory in the Listed Cap D'Antibes Stakes (1100m).
The Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on October 4 will be the next race on the agenda for the filly after she returned to winning form.
My Gladiola was beaten into second place in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
"She was unlucky in the Quezette," McArdle said.
"She's won here today, so the plan will be to take the colts on in the Danehill.
"That's why she came here, to get a look down the straight, and then if she acquits herself well enough against the colts, we'll head to the Coolmore."
Longer term, McArdle thinks the filly will stretch out in trip, but for the spring My Gladiola will be kept to sprinting.
"I think maybe in the autumn she'll be a 1400-metre horse, but at the moment, myself, Luke Wilkinson from Kia Ora, Paul Johnson and Brent Clayton, we've all sat down and worked out a plan with her and so far, so good."
Big plans for Cafe Millenium
Cafe Millenium has been a mainstay over the winter months and continued his excellent form with a typically fast finishing win in the Listed Tontonan Stakes (1400m).
Ridden by Celine Gaudray, who also partnered the five-year-old to victory in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville last start, Cafe Millennium scored narrowly to land his third victory since joining the Lindsay Park team.
"To be honest, he came down a great product," JD Hayes said.
"John O'Shea and Tom Charlton did a great job with him, just a little bit of a change in environment, I think he's found his rhythm here.
"He's been very consistent for us, and he's just getting better with age. So that was a terrific win that gave us a big thrill."
A rich prize could be the target for Cafe Millenium, with a Group 3 race in Melbourne pencilled in for his next start before a possible trip interstate.
"The Sandown Stakes on (AFL) Grand Final day. My team's knocked out, so I'll be there, but then Cafe Millenium could possibly be a Big Dance horse as well, so we'll just see how the dust settles," Hayes said
The co-trainer hinted that the Dubbo Cup on September 28 could be the Big Dance qualifier Cafe Millenium targets.
Lazzura too tough in Let's Elope
Chris Waller and James McDonald weren't going back to Sydney without a win having been turned over with Via Sistina in the Makybe Diva Stakes, landing the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) with favourite Lazzura.
Heavily supported in betting, Lazzura tracked the speed for McDonald but had to dig deep late as eventual placegetters Oh Too Good and Abounding ($9.50) surged late.
Waller praised the four-year-old's toughness, giving weight to key rivals and finding when challenged.
"She's tough," Waller said.
"She puts herself in the race, James gave her a lovely ride. She was good over the concluding stages. She's building a good resume."
Now a dual Group 2 winner, Waller is keeping Lazzura's options open, with numerous races, including the Group 1 Empire Rose (1600m), potential targets.
"She's still in the mix for an Epsom, also a Toorak, then you've got the Golden Eagle as well, and obviously Group 1's you want to put on the CV as well," Waller said.
"The mile will certainly suit, so it's a good problem to have and there's a lot to think about."
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