The unbeaten gallopers Philippi and Callanish are among more than 100 autumn prospects to be put to the test in what promises to be Melbourne’s most revealing set of trials of the season at Werribee on Monday.
The 23 trials also include four Darley-owned two-year-olds from the Peter Snowden stable, the highly promising Group winner Shanghai Warrior and Shamal Wind from the Robert Smerdon team.
Philippi winning the UCI Stakes at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Shamal Wind is one of 25 Smerdon-trained runners entered from a selection ranging from his brilliant young jumper Brungle Cry to stakes-winning filly Members’ Joy.
Also on show will be a dozen of Lloyd Williams’ magnificently-bred up-and-comers, including Wales, a son of Redoutes Choice and Makybe Diva’s half sister Valkyrie Diva.
A winner at Caulfield last year at his only start, Wales holds an entry for the Newmarket Handicap.
Williams has also entered the magnificently-bred Thornton, an unraced son of Zabeel from the seven-time group-one winner Seachange.
Caulfield trainer Mick Price entered his Blue Diamond Stakes winner Samaready for a trial, but will keep her at home for a jump out on Tuesday morning.
Price is contemplating what looks like the ultimate challenge for Samaready’s return to racing – a clash with Black Caviar in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington in two weeks.
“She’s come back in terrific order, she’s a different horse to what she was in the spring,” Price said.
“It’s either the Lightning or the Oakleigh Plate, but I’m leaning towards the Lightning.”
With Australia’s greatest-ever sprinter having galloped at Caulfield on Saturday, it was the turn of a stayer who could be one the best in a while to make his first public appearance since the spring on Sunday.
Puissance de Lune, the reigning Melbourne Cup favourite on the strength of his Queen Elizabeth Stakes win of last November, strode out between races at the Terang Cup meeting.
The magnificence of Black Caviar, meanwhile, had some more polish applied with the analysis of Saturday’s gallop.
According to experienced clockers, the champion mare who appeared to be out for a stroll at Caulfield, turned in some astonishing sectional times.
After moving into her stride at the 800m, Black Caviar clocked 11.10sec from the 600 to the 400m, 10.94sec for the next 200m and 10.99 for the final section – all of it under a hold.