Tulip secured a place in the 2017 Golden Slipper field with a win in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon, but she is no certainty to contest the world richest two-year-olds event.

Tulip made her Sydney racing debut with an impressive win in the Magic Night Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

It was Limbo Soul that went into the Magic Night Stakes as a clear favourite and Tulip was a drifter, but Limbo Soul was one of the first horses beaten and it was left to Alizee and Tulip to fight out the finish.

Alizee was in for the fight, but Tulip was too good in the final stages and she claimed a comfortable Magic Night Stakes victory.

Kerrin McEvoy could not have been more impressed with the performance of Tulip and he believes that her Magic Night Stakes form really enhances the form of the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes heading into the Golden Slipper.

“It is probably the strongest contest that we have had in the two-year-old races so far and it came to the fore there,” McEvoy said.

“She has done it quiet nicely.

“I was trapped a little bit on the edge of the group, but she handled herself perfectly this way of going.

“I always thought that I was the winner once I had Alizee in my sights and she was able to do it.”

The winner of the Magic Night Stakes earns ballot-exempt entry into the Golden Slipper field, but Tulip is no certainty to take her place in the race.

The Lindsay Park team already have three runners in the Golden Slipper field and trainer David Hayes said that the daughter of Pierro could be saved for the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 1.

Talented filly Foxplay overcame a number of hurdles to record a most impressive win in the 2017 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

Foxplay could hardly have been more impressive in the 2017 Phar Lap Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Foxplay was settled in the second half of the Phar Lap Stakes field in the early stages of the race and she looked as though she was under plenty of pressure under heavy riding at the 600 metre mark.

She eventually picked up, but she ran into the back of the main group and she was unbalanced for a number of strides.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was eventually able to balance Foxplay up and she flew home in the final stages and she ran down Zenalicious to claim victory.

McEvoy admitted after the race that not everything went to plan in the Phar Lap Stakes and he was quick to pay credit to Foxplay for getting him out of trouble.

“They ended up rolling along pretty solid I thought and I was just a bit worried that I was too far back,” McEvoy said.

“I ended up cutting the corner just to give myself options and I was finishing really well.

“I ended up following into a bit of a dead end and I asked her to steady for a few strides before I followed Timmy through on Zenalicious.

“Full credit to the filly, she picked up really well when I asked her and she got me out of trouble.

“She has a great attitude and that is why she has such a great record.”

Chris Waller stable representative Charlie Duckworth revealed after the race that he was not happy with the way that Foxplay was travelling heading into the straight, but he was delighted with the way that she found the line.

There are a host of different options for Foxplay heading towards The Championships and she has been included in the nominations for a host of Group 1 events, but he said the stable will wait until they see how the talented filly pulls-up before they make a decision on her next race start.

“I was just saying that I hoped Kerrin wasn’t in the same panic I was as they came to the turn.

“It was a brilliant victory and she has done well to pick herself up off the turn.

“She had to change course with about 200 left to run and it was really gutsy.

“It is easy to say to owners put a line through their last start, but when they actually come out and perform like she did today it all makes sense.

“She obviously has a serious turn-of-foot at this distance, but we could step-up her up in trip.

“I will leave that decision up to Chris and see how she comes out of today.”

Zenalicious lost no admirers with her second place finish and Comic Set produced a stellar effort for third.

Our Ivanhowe returned to the races for the first time since the Melbourne Cup to record an impressive staying victory in the 2017 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

Our Ivanhowe relished the wet track in the 2017 Ranvet Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Team Freedman have been searching for a wet track for Our Ivanhowe since he first made his Australian racing debut and that is exactly what they go in the Ranvet Stakes.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy settled Our Ivanhowe in the second half of the field as Antonio Giuseppe took up the running, but imported stayer was quick to respond when asked for an extra effort in the straight.

Our Ivanhowe clearly relished the mud and he quickly caught Antonio Giuseppe while he proved too strong for Hartnell in the concluding stages of the race.

An emotional Anthony Freedman was clearly delighted to see Our Ivanhowe make a winning return to the races in the Ranvet Stakes and he believes that the German import was more than deserving of his time in the sun.

“It panned out beautifully for us and the horse deserves his day in the sun,” Freedman said.

“He is a gentleman, he is an absolute pleasure to have and we are very lucky to have a horse like him because he is just so genuine.

“Even on hard tracks when he is feeling the ground he gives everything and I was just proud of the horse today cause he got his ground and did the job.

“The agent in Germany that sold him said that he is the best wet-tracker in the world and he may well be.

“We just need to find another one.

“He loves the country environment at Pinecliffe, he is an older horse and he likes a bit of room.

“We spoil him.”

Hartnell got a long way back with William Buick in the saddle and was able to make up plenty of ground late to finish second, while The United States maintained his consistent form with a third place finish.

Russian Revolution overcame a great deal of drama to claim a maiden Group 1 victory in the 2017 The Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

Russian Revolution was extremely well-backed in the lead-up to The Galaxy, but punters that had taken the short-price were left reeling as the horse sweated-up and lost a shoe in the lead-up to the Group 1 event.

The Snitzel colt overraced badly throughout The Galaxy and Redzel looked as though he had the race won, but Russian Revolution kept on finding the line in the final stages and he fought-off his stablemate to win the race.

Co-trainer Paul Snowden admitted that he lost plenty of confidence leading into The Galaxy and he was clearly relived that the three-year-old had been able to get the job done on the track.

“It was very frustrating when you see those sort of things happen,” Snowden said.

“It all ended well, so who cares.

“We knew that the weight was going to kick in at some stage and it did in the last 100 yards, which was probably the only difference at the end of the day.

“Both horses have run terrific and we couldn’t have asked for any better.

“He nearly threw the rider yesterday and he threw her this morning, so we have been handling him with kid gloves over the past 72 hours.

“He has been ready to go and he has been that full of himself, but everything that could go wrong did and it happened again.

“He has got away with it and this will tone him down now, so he will be right.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy admitted after the race that not everything went right during The Galaxy, but he was quick to pay credit to another outstanding training performance from Team Snowden.

“They have delivered him her first-up against the older horses,” McEvoy said.

“He had the weight pull, but he had to do it the hard way and I was four deep the trip.

“I asked him for a supreme effort over the last 100 metres and the horse dug deep.

“His star is on the rise.

“That run will settle him down and he is only going to improve into this prep.

“He might go to the TJ now and you will see a better horse there as well.”

Redzel capped off the Team Snowden quinella and Jungle Edge ran out of skin to finish third.

Equal favourite Our Ivanhowe has to be cleared by Racing New South Wales’ vet before he can take his place in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Our Ivanhowe, above, has to pass a vet’s inspection before being cleared to run in The BMW at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Our Ivanhowe found the wet conditions at Rosehill last week to his liking and he ploughed through the mud to score a comfortable win in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

Co-trainer Lee Freedman has been chuckling all week as the wet weather has continued to plague Sydney with another heavy Rosehill track looming for this weekend, but the Hall Of Fame trainer has to make sure that the German import is fit to run after he floundered shortly after the winning post in the Ranvet Stakes.

Freedman is confident that Our Ivanhowe has recovered from the slight setback, but Racing New South Wales Senior Official Veterinarian Dr Craig Suann will inspect the seven year old before giving him the green light to take his place in the 2400m weight for age contest.

“He was just a bit ginger trotting up after the race and we just iced his front legs and that’s standard practice with these old horses,” Freedman told The Daily Telegraph.

“My guys said he was as good as gold Sunday morning.”

Freedman, who trains in partnership with his brother Anthony, also informed Racing New South Wales Stewards that Our Ivanhowe has responded to treatment for some lameness to the off fore leg.

The following statement appeared on the Racing New South Wales website.

“He (Lee Freedman) advised that Our Ivanhowe has been treated to manage the lameness and the horse had been inspected by Dr Allan Frogley who has certified to Racing NSW Stewards that the lameness has continue to improve. Mr Freedman advised that the horse has continued with its usual training regime of swimming and light exercise, particularly backing up in 7 days on Saturday.”

Our Ivanhowe has been dogged with endless foot problems since he arrived from Germany at the beginning of 2015 but Freedman said that the seven year old stayer’s feet are now the best they have been thanks to the skilful work of his stable farriers.

“Touch wood, his feet are excellent and they have been the best they ever have this campaign,” Freedman said.

“He actually has conventional plates on now which we’ve never been able to use on him before, so it’s great.

“It’s a lot of work by our farriers and many shoeings just gradually getting the horse’s feet back to the shape they should be.

“It’s also leaving him barefoot when he spells to allow the hoof to breathe and grow and he has a totally different shape foot (now) to what he had two years ago.”

Golden Slipper winning jockey Ben Melham takes over from the suspended Kerrin McEvoy on Our Ivanhowe who has drawn barrier seven in the nine horse BMW field.

The Ciaron Maher trained Jameka heads the market order for The BMW at $3.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au but Our Ivanhowe continues to firm and is challenging for favouritism at $3.90.

Australian Cup winner Humidor is also well in contention at $4.60 just ahead of last start Sky High Stakes winner Tavago at $5 and Exosphreic at $9.

Trainer Robbie Laing is hoping his smart colt So Si Bon has what it takes to turn the tables on the two gallopers that beat him home last start when facing off in a rematch at Royal Randwick in the Australian Derby.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy rides So Si Bon in the 2017 Australian Derby field in Sydney this Saturday. Photo: Daniel Costello.

On March 18 at Rosehill as part of Golden Slipper Day, Laing’s nicely-bred son of So You Think ran two and a half-lengths back for third in the $600,000 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

It was a tough staying test in the Rosehill Guineas this autumn, the race run on a Heavy (10) track.

That benefited the New Zealand-trained winner Gingernuts who came off a lead-up win back home in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m).

So Si Bon meanwhile came off a tenth to Hey Doc at Flemington in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and caught the eye of his trainer in his first run the Sydney way of racing.

On Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ at Randwick this Saturday, So Si Bon faces off against Gingernuts once again as well as the Rosehill Guineas runner-up Inference in the $2 million Group 1 BMW Australian Derby (2400m).

It will be the horse’s first run back up over a mile and a half since his fourth to Beautiful Romance at Sandown-Hillside last November in the Group 2 Sandown Classic (2400m), which followed a fourth to Prized Icon the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in late October.

So Si Bon will have taken good benefit from his lead-up Sydney assignment and the Rosehill Guineas has produced three of the past four Australian Derby winners.

“There’s little between them,” Laing said of the first three past the post in the Rosehill Guineas speaking to the Herald Sun on Sunday.

“In the Victoria Derby, Inference finished third and we finished fourth, but we missed the start by three lengths and went back to last and had a troubled run while Inference got inside runs throughout.

“Last start in the Rosehill Guineas there was only a short half-head between them and that was So Si Bon’s first run that way of going.

“We were third-up in that race. Also I think the New Zealand horses, which have contested the New Zealand Derby, have a fitness advantage over us at their first run here but that will even up at their next start.”

The Rosehill Guineas – ATC Derby double was last achieved by Criterion in 2014 and this season the Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards-trained Gingernuts if favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au to be the next.

A son of Iffraaj prepared out of Matamata across the Tasman, Gingernuts has won his past four on the trot and is out to continue the gun recent record of New Zealand gallopers in the ATC Derby results.

The Hawkes Racing-trained Inference won the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) before his Rosehill Guineas second and is the current second elect to take out the Derby on Saturday handing co-trainer John Hawkes with his fourth success in the classic.

So Si Bon meanwhile pays around $11 in the pre-field Australian Derby betting markets and will be Laing’s maiden runner in the race.

Laing is keenly awaiting Tuesday morning’s Australian Derby barrier draw and hopes So Si Bon gets the advantage of an inside draw after doing it tough from gate nine of twelve in the Rosehill Guineas.

“I’d love him to get a good barrier on Tuesday. He’s ­always drawing out in these big races,” he said.

“He ran over 2400m and 2500m last spring, so he’s had good grounding.

“I don’t think the distance will be a problem.”

Barrier one has produced the past three straight Australian Derby champions, while the last to salute from a double-digit draw was Roman Emperor (16 of 16 in 2009).

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride on So Si Bon, due in Sydney on Thursday, this weekend chasing his first win in the race.

Lightly raced three year old Russian Revolution is ready to explode when he lines up against the older sprinters again in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.

Russian Revolution, above, is ready to explode when he lines up in the T J Smith at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Russian Revolution was able to make it five wins from six starts with his narrow victory over stablemate Redzel in the Group 1 $700,000 Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 18 and co-trainer Peter Snowden said that the colt had taken huge benefit out the run.

“He is like a bomb ready to explode,” Snowden told racing.com on Tuesday morning.

“He needed that (run) and he is very very well in himself. His work has been really good and he is a sharp as a tack this morning (Tuesday).”

“I can’t fault him. He needed than run to get him further on. The benefit of that run and his work this morning says to me that he is bang on for Saturday.

“He went with a mate and ambled up beside it and finished his work off very strongly.”

“I am confident the horse will run very well.”

While Peter Snowden is confident that Russian Revolution will be fighting out the finish again, his race day jockey Kerrin McEvoy is a bit more guarded as the Snitzel colt is facing a significant weight rise.

Russian Revolution was handicapped to carry 50.5kg against the older horses in the Galaxy but under the weight for age conditions of the T J Smith Stakes he is up significantly in weight to 56.5kg and McEvoy can see this as one his major obstacles.

“That (weight rise) is obviously going to make it a little bit tougher, no doubt, but he’s a good quality horse and he’s in top shape,” McEvoy told Racing.com at trackwork on Tuesday morning.

“It’s a tougher test again on Saturday, but he’s won around Randwick and showed that he enjoys it so that gives us another tick as well.

“Peter and Paul have had him just primed to improve a bit into his second run and his work showed me this morning that that was exactly what he’s done.”

Russian Revolution has drawn barrier ten in the fifteen horse T J Smith Stakes field and is at the single digit odds of $7 at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua is the $4.60 favourite to claim his third straight T J Smith Stakes trophy ahead of John O’Shea’s colt Astern at $6 while Spieth is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $8.50.

English stayer Polarisation can secure a place in the Sydney Cup field with a win in the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, above, will ride English stayer Polarisation in the Chairman’s Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Charlie Appleby trained, Godolphin owned Polarisation is weighted close to the minimum with 50kg for the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday week and a win in the Chairman’s Handicap would see the five year old gelding exempt from the ballot for Randwick two miler on day two of ‘The Championships’.

Polarisation hasn’t raced since finishing fourth over 3000m in an Open Handicap at Doncaster in England on September 9 last year but assistant trainer James Ferguson said that the gelding was fit and ready to perform.

“He’s settled in very well here, he’s in great form and has come to hand very quickly,” Ferguson said.

The prospect of another heavy track in Sydney this weekend doesn’t worry Ferguson with Polarisation having handled rain affected back home in England.

“He handles the soft well, we don’t mind if there’s more rain,” Ferguson said.

Polarisation has drawn barrier seven in the nine horse Chairman’s Handicap field and Kerrin McEvoy will be wearing the Godolphin royal blue colours.

The John O’Shea trained Alegria will also be carrying the royal blue Godolphin colours in the Chairman’s Handicap and will jump from barrier six with Hong Kong’s leading jockey Joao Moreira in the saddle, taking over from Corey Brown.

Alegria has been unable to find the winner’s stall from three starts this campaign with two placings and a last start fourth to in the Group 3 $150,000 Bradford Black Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March 18 but O’Shea said that the five year old mare is ready to breakthrough for an overdue win.

“Alegria’s been set for this race, she’s ticking over very well and she’s very effective in the ground, so there’s no reason why she couldn’t be competitive again,” O’Shea said.

Alegria at $9 is slightly ahead of Polarisation at $9.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Chairman’s Handicap while the Darren Weir trained Big Duke sits at the top of the market order at $2.50.

In Sydney Cup betting Polarisation is listed as a $9 chance while Alegria is one of the outsiders at $101.

Jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and Corey Brown will be instructed to take up forward positions on Godophin’s visiting stayers Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation in the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on the second day of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, above, rides English stayer Penglai Pavilion in the Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Newmarket trainer Charlie Appleby’s assistant James Ferguson is looking for a true staying test and he thinks his two English stayers are tough enough to test out the fourteen horse strong Sydney Cup field.

“They’ll go forward. We’ll try to keep it as simple as we can. Whether one goes in front of the other, we’re not bothered. We’d like it to be a gallop if we can and use that to our advantage,” Ferguson said.

“Corey Brown and Kerrin McEvoy are far more experienced in this game than I am and they know exactly how the race is going to be run. The advice that we’ll give though is go forward and don’t let anything dominate you.

Ferguson is happy with the way his two horses have settled into the Australian environment and isn’t concerned that Polarisation had to miss a run in last Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick because of a minor superficial leg injury.

It hasn’t pegged him back at all. The plan all along was to run in the Sydney Cup and not necessarily to run in the Chairman’s. We were running him there because we could win another race and he comes to hand very quickly,” Ferguson said.

“On Saturday you’ll see he has a very slim profile and doesn’t take that much work.”

“The horses love it here. They thrive on a flat surface. It’s a completely different environment for them.

“The main thing just to get them fit and keep them ticking over. We’re really looking forward to running them and I think they’ll run well. They have settled in well and I can’t ask for much more.”

Penglai Pavilion hasn’t raced since finishing eleventh in the Group 1 €350,000 Prix Royal-Oak (3100m) at Saint Cloud in France on October 23 last year but was a winner at his previous start in a 3621m Handicap at Newmarket in England on September 17.

While Polarisation has been out of the winner’s stall since his win at Hamilton Park in England in August 2015 and hasn’t been to the races since finishing fourth in a 3000m Handicap at Doncaster in England in September last year.

Penglai Pavilion is the better fancied of the Appleby trained Sydney Cup runners and is marked at $10 at Ladbrokes.com.au with Polarisation listed as a $15 chance.

The Darren Weir trained Big Duke dominates the market order at $2.80 with his nearest rival being the Chris Waller trained Who Short Thebarman and Robert Hickmott’s Assign who share the second line of betting at $7.

Five times Melbourne Cup winning trainer Lee Freedman said that Exospheric has earned his chance to take on super star mare Winx in Saturday’s Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on day two of ‘The Championships’.

English import Exospheric has earned the chance to take on Winx, above, in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Exospheric has been placed at his last two Autumn Carnival runs with a third to Humidor in the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 11 followed by a third in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on March 25.

Freedman, who trains in partnership with his brother Anthony, said that those efforts were enough to warrant Exospheric running in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes but admits it will be virtually impossible to beat Winx.

“Look, you are probably kidding yourself that you can beat Winx, but there’s only one way you definitely can’t and that is to not turn up,” Freedman told racing.com.

“He’s (Exospheric) a high-class horse. He’s been placed in Group 1s at his past two starts so he’s not out of place in that field.

“But she kind of stands over it like a monolith.”

As well as filling the minor placings twice during the Autumn Carnival, the English import finished third at his first run on Australian soil behind Jameka and Scottish in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

“We’ve been delighted with the horse,” Freedman said.

“He ran a terrific race in the Australian Cup without luck and then he didn’t handle the ground really in The BMW.”

Kerrin McEvoy takes over from Damien Oliver on Exospheric who has drawn barrier two in the nine horse Queen Elizabeth Stakes field.

Exospheric is listed as a $34 chance for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au while Winx dominates the betting at $1.09.

The John O’Shea trained Hartnell is the closest to Winx in the market order at $11 ahead of Doncaster Mile runner up Happy Clapper at $19 and last start Ranvet Stakes third placegetter The United States at $21.

Foxplay stormed home in the concluding stages to record a maiden Group 1 victory in the 2017 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Foxplay finished over the top of her rivals to take out the 2017 Queen Of The Turf Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Silent Sedition pressed forward in the early stages of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes before she was challenged for the lead by First Seal, while Kerrin McEvoy elected to settle Foxplay in the second half of the field.

Silent Sedition and First Seal kicked clear at the top of the straight, but they were sitting ducks at the 100 metre mark and Foxplay finished stronger than Zanbagh and Dixie Blossoms to record an impressive win.

McEvoy admitted after the race that not everything went to plan in the 2017 Queen Of The Turf Stakes, but he was quick to pay credit to the turn-of-foot showed by Foxplay as well as the training performance of Chris Waller.

“She is so honest and game and she deserves a Group 1,” McEvoy said.

“She has put up some great performances – last prep and this prep – and that was a great performance.

“I wanted to be a bit closer given the lack of speed in the race and I ended up being parked without much cover, but she travelled like a dream.

“I was a little bit worried at the top of the straight as they kept coming out in front of me and I had to keep going out wider and wider, but full credit to the filly she showed a great turn-of-foot there to get herself on top and prove how good she is.

“It is handy to be knocking them in on the big days and I am getting good support from trainers like Chris Waller.

“Fair play to him and his team.”

Foxplay had previously won at Group 2 level in the Furious Stakes, Tea Rose Stakes and Phar Lap Stakes, but her Queen Of The Turf Stakes win was her first victory at Group 1 level following her fourth place finishes in the Thousand Guineas and the Vinery Stud Stakes.

Zanbagh absolutely stormed home for second in another excellent performance, while Dixie Blossoms was far from disgraced in third.

The Darren Weir trained stayer Big Duke is set to take his place in the re-scheduled Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) which will now be run on April 22 at Randwick.

Big Duke, above, is set to take his place in the re-scheduled Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Big Duke was sent out as the $2.60 favourite for the Sydney Cup last Saturday but the feature two miler was abandoned mid race after the Lindsay Park trained Almoonqith and the Chris Waller’s veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman fell just past the winning post on the first lap of the track.

Racing New South Wales stewards declared the Sydney Cup a no-race and Racing NSW along with the Australian Turf Club have made arrangements for the Sydney Cup to be re-run on Saturday week.

Big Duke’s senior owners Australian Bloodstock’s representative Luke Murrell confirmed via twitter that their promising stayer will still get his chance to win a Sydney Cup.

“Big Duke will run in the Sydney Cup April 22nd @ Randwick,” Murrelll tweeted.

Godolphin’s visiting stayers Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation are still in the mix to have another attempt at winning the Sydney Cup and Charlie Appleby assistant trainer James Ferguson said that he will see how the horses progress after having completed the 3200m last Saturday.

Polarisation was actually first across the finish line after Corey Brown didn’t receive the message that the race was being called off and Penglai Pavilion with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle also completed the course to finish unofficially third.

“James Ferguson (assistant trainer) said both horses seem fine (Sunday), but we will monitor them this week before deciding whether to run. There will be no rush,” Appleby said in a statement.

“This is not an ideal situation, but we are taking a serious look at having another crack at the race.

“The main consideration is the horses themselves. If they are bouncing again by Friday, then there is every chance they will run on April 22.

“If they are not, then we will bring them back home to the UK and wait for the Melbourne spring.”

The new Sydney Cup field will be limited to fourteen runners, firstly made up of horses from the original field who want to go around again plus supplementary entries to make up the numbers.

“We wanted to give all entrants a chance to compete for the $2 million and we believe 22 April strikes a balance between varying views of owners and trainers, whilst achieving a competitive field size for punters and racegoers,” ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said.

A statement from Racing New South Wales was released explaining the new conditions of the re-programmed Sydney Cup.

“Weights for the race will be the same as those which applied to the original final acceptors on Tuesday, 4 April 2017. Any supplementary entries will be weighted by the Racing NSW handicapping panel with a limit weight of 51.5kg being applied,” the statement read.

“The closing date for supplementary entries is midday on Monday, 17 April 2017 with race acceptances due by 9am on Wednesday, 19 April 2017.

“A $15,000 payment will be made to all horses that faced the starter on Saturday, 8 April 2017 and do not start on Saturday, 22 April 2017.

“Further, a $4,000 payment will be made to the connections of all horses that faced the starter in the no-race on Saturday, 8 April 2017 and contest the Sydney Cup on 22 April 2017.”

“We believe running the Sydney Cup two weeks after the no-race is the fairest outcome for all participants with those included in the no-race to receive compensatory payments,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said.

English visitors Pengali Pavilion and Polarisation are still in the mix to compete in the re-running of the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 22 at Randwick.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, above, rode Penglai Pavilion in the Sydney Cup no-race at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Sydney Cup was abandoned mid race last Saturday after the Lindsay Park trained Almoonqith and the Chris Waller’s veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman fell just past the winning post on the first lap of the track and Racing NSW along with the Australian Turf Club have made arrangements for the Sydney Cup to be re-run on Saturday week.

Polarisation was actually first across the finish line after jockey Corey Brown didn’t receive the message that the race was being called off and Penglai Pavilion with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle also completed the 3200m course to finish unofficially third.

Godolphin’s English trainer Charlie Appleby said that if Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation get through their run over the 3200m last Saturday okay and if assistant trainer James Ferguson reports back to him that they have progressed well during the week, they are likely to take their place in the second running of the Sydney Cup.

“James Ferguson said both horses seem fine (Sunday), but we will monitor them this week before deciding whether to run. There will be no rush,” Appleby said in a statement.

“This is not an ideal situation, but we are taking a serious look at having another crack at the race.

“The main consideration is the horses themselves. If they are bouncing again by Friday, then there is every chance they will run on April 22.

“If they are not, then we will bring them back home to the UK and wait for the Melbourne spring.”

Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation are currently stabled at the Canterbury Park Quarantine Centre and Racing NSW has been granted permission from the Department of Agriculture to proceed with the Easter Monday meeting at Canterbury Park on 17 April 2017.

The two English stayers preparation will receive minimum interruption and they will be allowed to be stabled in special isolation while the Canterbury Park meeting goes ahead.

The new Sydney Cup field will be limited to fourteen runners, firstly made up of horses from the original field who want to go around again plus supplementary entries to make up the numbers.

“We wanted to give all entrants a chance to compete for the $2 million and we believe 22 April strikes a balance between varying views of owners and trainers, whilst achieving a competitive field size for punters and racegoers,” ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said.

“Weights for the race will be the same as those which applied to the original final acceptors on Tuesday, 4 April 2017. Any supplementary entries will be weighted by the Racing NSW handicapping panel with a limit weight of 51.5kg being applied,” a statement from Racing New South Wales said.

“The closing date for supplementary entries is midday on Monday, 17 April 2017 with race acceptances due by 9am on Wednesday, 19 April 2017.”

Redzel led from start to finish to return to winning form in the 2017 Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Redzel returned to winning form in the 2017 Hall Mark Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Redzel was narrowly denied by English in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on March 4 and Russian Revolution in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 18, but there was no denying him in the Hall Mark Stakes.

Kerrin McEvoy went straight to the lead in the Hall Mark Stakes and he was able to control the race from the outset, while both Hellbent and Takedown settled just behind the speed.

Counterattack challenged Redzel at the top of the straight and Hellbent loomed on the outside, but Redzel was too strong for his rivals and raced away late to record an impressive victory.

McEvoy was delighted to see Redzel return to winning form following his two close second place finishes and he believes that there are some nice races for the Snitzel gelding during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

“It was a trip that he hadn’t been good at before – he had a couple of goes without running a placing,” McEvoy said.

“The conditions suited off a nice second in The Galaxy and he was able to dictate it today.

“Peter and Paul have handled him well and he had a nice freshen-up coming into today.

“He does better in the stable and he is a nice horse to do anything with.

“It is pleasing to see him win here today and there are some races up there during the Carnival in Brisbane.”

Counterattack returned to a semblance of his best form with a second place finish in the Hall Mark Stakes and he is another horse that could make the trip to Queensland for the Winter Carnival.

Hellbent was not disgraced in third and continued his run of running well without winning throughout his Autumn campaign.

Third past the post to his stablemate Polarisation in the abandoned Sydney Cup a fortnight back, Charlie Appleby’s English raider Penglai Pavilion will don winkers in the rerun on Saturday.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride on Penglai Pavilion who dons winkers in the Sydney Cup 2017 rerun on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Costello.

After the tragic fall of Almoonqith in the original $2 million Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m), only a handful of runners continued on to finish the eventual no race at Royal Randwick.

Appleby’s luckless autumn raid continued as his Godolphin-raced stablemates finished first and third before the original Sydney Cup results were voided shortly after.

This weekend the duo return looking to net the same results in the rescheduled edition of the two mile autumn feature that has attracted a new-look capacity field of fourteen stayers plus two emergencies.

Polarisation has Corey Brown aboard again on 51.5kg and drew gate eight, coming into six if the two spares Rock On (3) and Self Sense (4) fail to gain a start by race morning.

Last year’s Sydney Cup winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy is on Monsun seven-year-old Penglai Pavilion who Appleby is hoping will be more focused with the gear change for ‘take two’.

“It is not questioning his genuineness, it is more a matter of helping him to focus. We tried them on him a couple of days ago and he reacted favourably,” the Newmarket-based horseman explained on the Godolphin website.

A dour stayer, Penglai Pavilion has winning form up to 4220m in Europe and proved the two miles was an ideal distance with his performance on April 8.

Both horses came through the shambolic first run in good order and were on track to perform again on the weekend sitting prominently in the Sydney Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au led by the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke once again.

“Both lost a minimal amount of weight, and they ate up well afterwards,” Appleby said.

“[Assistant trainer] James Ferguson and the team on the ground in Sydney have been very happy with them, and we expect both to acquit themselves well on Saturday.

“If the ‘on his game’ Penglai Pavilion turns up, he has the class to go very close. Polarisation, on the other hand, wears his heart on his sleeve. He is tough and genuine, and he stays very well.”

Penglai Pavilion jumps from the outside barrier (16 into 14) and if successful will see him be the first from outside of gate eleven since Daacha (18 of 18) back in 1995.

Polarisation meanwhile passed a veterinarian check on Tuesday that cleared the Echo Of Light gelding to take part this weekend after he was found to have heat in his off-fore fetlock.

The bookies are taking no chances with one of the new Sydney Cup horses Lasqueti Spirit with Lee Curtis’s Crown Oaks winner out to be the first three-year-old to win since Tie The Knot for his first back in 1998.

Lasqueti Spirit, coming off the ATC Oaks third from Day 2 of ‘The Championships’, drew barrier ten and will start from eight with the emergencies out with Bobby El-Issa in the saddle.

The Chris Waller stable can’t see the consistent Egg Tart having any problem stepping up in distance for the Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes Oaks (registered as Australasian Oaks) over 2000m at Morphettville on Saturday.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, above, rides Egg Tart in the Schweppes Oaks at Morphettville. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Egg Tart is the winner of her last four starts, three this preparation as she worked her way up through the classes and is stepping up to the 2000m of the Schweppes Oaks following her win over 1600m in a three year old fillies Handicap at Flemington on April 25.

“The step up from the mile to the 2000m won’t be a hindrance,” said Charlie Duckworth.

“She has been a model of consistency, doesn’t seem to know how to come second.”

“She has won her three starts this prep, gone from strength to strength.”

“She went to the beach this morning, she travelled down overnight, settling in at Morphettville.”

The Morphettville track was rated a soft 5 on Friday afternoon and Duckworth said that would suit Egg Tart perfectly.

“She loves the softer track, I think it is a soft 5,” Duckworth said.

Egg Tart drew barrier five in the original draw but could move in one spot at jump time if second emergency Lilymorn, who draw barrier two, fails to gain a start and will have Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.

“Good barrier in barrier five, Kerrin McEvoy aboard, there is no one riding better than him,” Duckworth said.

“He knows her well, won her maiden. Should be certainly a top three chance, even hard to beat in a Group 1.”

Egg Tart is on the second line of betting at $4.40 for the Schweppes Oaks at Ladbrokes.com.au behind the Darren Weir trained Kenedna who heads the market order at $3.20.

The Danny O’Brien trained Toffee Nose is the on other runner under the $10 mark at $6.

Egg Tart flew home in the concluding stages to record an impressive victory in a truly memorable edition of the 2017 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville this afternoon.

Egg Tart finished over the top of her rivals to record an impressive win in the 2017 Australasian Oaks. Photo by: Jenny Barnes

The Australasian Oaks was billed as a battle between Chris Waller (Egg Tart) and Darren Weir (Kenedna) and it proved to be just that, but not before a memorable cameo from Danny Laws-trained Tiffany’s Lass.

Katelyn Mallyon took up the running on Tiffany’s Lass and at the 200 metre mark it looked as though a repeat of Lasqueti Spirit’s Crown Oaks victory may have been on the cards.

Sadly for connections it was not to be and it was left for Kenedna and Egg Tart to fight out a truly epic finish.

John Allen saved plenty of ground on Kenedna in the Australasian Oaks and that looked as though it would be the difference when she hit the front at the 100 metre mark, but Kerrin McEvoy got it perfectly right on Egg Tart and her superior turn-of-foot enabled her to hit the front in the shadows of the post.

The exciting thing for punters is that we could be treated to a rematch at Eagle Farm on May 3 as both Egg Tart and Kenedna have been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m).

Ana Royale was unwanted by punters in the lead-up to the Australasian Oaks, but she hit the line in impressive fashion for third and she is another horse that could head north for the Queensland Oaks.

Godolphin’s newly appointed Australian trainer Darren Beadman believes he has Moher cherry ripe to contest the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) at Scone on Friday.

Trainer Darren Beadman said that he has Moher, above, cherry ripe for the Scone Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.

Moher will be having his third run back from a spell and will meet Fabrizio 1.5kg better after running a length second to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained five year old in the Group 3 $200,000 Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury on April 29

“His run was a beauty the other day,” Beadman said.

“He ran up to win a race that was run at a very solid speed. He’s cherry ripe and he’s going to be hard to beat.”

Kerrin McEvoy will stick with Moher who has drawn midfield at barrier nine in the Scone Cup while Michael Dee takes over from Tommy Berry on Beadman’s other runner Duca Valentinois who drew nicely at gate five.

Beadman can see Duca Valentinois getting a better run in the Scone Cup from a good alley after having no luck from a wide barrier when tenth in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.

“The draw is the key to this horse. He had a torrid run at Hawkesbury, but he should be able to get nice cover from a good gate here,” Beadman said.

“The run has brought him on nicely and I think he’ll certainly look the winner at some stage.”

Beadman was quick to find the winner’s stall after only being granted his trainer’s licence last Sunday and saddled up two winners at Canterbury on Wednesday when Malahat beat his stablemate Kementari in the 1200m two year old Maiden while Bratislava scored a narrow win in the 1250m BenchMark 72 Handicap.

Fabrizio has been installed the $4.20 favourite for the Scone Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au with Moher at $6.50 and Duca Valentinois at $7 the next two in the betting.

Also under the $10 mark is the Rodney Ollerton trained Royal Tudor at $8 and Chris Waller’s Amovatio at $9.50.

Chris Waller appears to have unearthed another star in the making as Tangled flew home to win the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben Racecourse this afternoon.

Tangled was a smart winner for trainer Chris Waller in this afternoon’s Group 2 Champagne Classic. Photo: Daniel Costello

The start of the Champagne Classic was almost five minutes behind schedule after leading fancy Ours To Keep burst through the barriers and required a vetting, but the field jumped evenly when the race eventually got underway.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy elected to take a position towards the tail of the Champagne Classic field with Tangled as Ours To Keep, She’s Our Star and Snitzkraft traded early blows at the fore of the group.

Experiencing a carefree run in transit, the son of Snitzel received a good trail into the race turning for home, but appeared to have just too much to do as the leaders strode away with 300m to run.

Producing a strong turn of foot when he was asked for an extra effort, Tangled barrelled into the race on the outside of the field and found the line a comfortable half-length ahead of All Too Huiying; Italia Bella boxing on to finish third.

Tangled had only made three competitive appearances at the races prior to being crowed the Champagne Classic winner, but the colt has shown plenty of ability since making his debut in December and was extremely well placed this afternoon.

Having just held on to win the Volvo Commercial Vehicles Handicap (1350m) on April 19^th, the colt out of Bramble Rose arguably proved that he is best suited to a 1200m with this afternoon’s pleasing win, but could now be set for the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) in a fortnight.

All Too Huiying has steadily built to the task this time in; running sixth in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), fifth in the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) and third in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) prior to this afternoon’s second.

Italia Bella was considered an outsider in the Champagne Classic field and performed extremely well to prove that she is far better than her $26 quote suggested.

Stampede has justified his clear favouritism at Doomben Racecourse this afternoon; jogging home to comfortably win the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m).

Gai Waterhouse saddled Stampede to a second-consecutive race win in this afternoon’s Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap. Photo: Daniel Costello

A smart winner of the Listed Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) last weekend, Stampede jumped from the barriers will in this afternoon’s Chairman’s Handicap and was second behind Chocante as the field passed the post the first time.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy elected to take up the running when the field rounded onto the back straight and settled into a lovely rhythm; setting only a fair tempo for the talented field of stayers.

Skipping clear upon arriving at the final straight, the High Chapparal entire never appeared in doubt and attacked the line well to finish more than two length ahead of closest rival The Chairman, who is sure to take plenty of benefit from this afternoon’s hit-out.

Having remained close to the pace from the outset, there was plenty of admire about Chocante’s ability to continue to the line to finish third.

Stampede has been a strong and consistent performer for Gai Waterhouse through his short but impressive racing career so far and added a fifth win in what was only his ninth start, with success in this Chairman’s Handicap.

The Chairman continued his impressive run of form when finishing second at Doomben this afternoon, having placed third in each of the Bravo Greg Miles Handicap (1600m) and Treasury Wine Estates BM90 (1600m) at his two starts prior.

Kiwi raider Chocante has been set for the major staying features during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and is sure to have taken plenty of benefit from what was his Australian debut this afternoon.

Fellow Kiwi horse Zambezi Warrior was luckless rounding onto the final straight, but later found clear running and placed fourth.