Spring Classics Previews Showcase Potential Stars

A host of Melbourne Cup Carnival candidates put themselves forward at Flemington Racecourse on Sunday as Spring Classics Preview Day lived up to its billing as a stepping stone for future stars. With the Melbourne Cup Carnival fast approaching, finding Flemington form can be crucial and, for Sunday’s winners, they now boast a victory at Headquarters ahead of Australia’s premier race week. For Penfolds Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) winner Gold Bullion and Kennedy Oaks Preview (1800m) victress Harlow Mist, success on Sunday has earned them an automatic berth into their respective Melbourne Cup Carnival features. A big weekend for Flemington-based trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott continued as Gold Bullion (Savabeel-Gold Rush, by So You Think) entered Penfolds Victoria Derby calculations with his Preview victory under Blake Shinn. Meanwhile, trainer John Sargent, who won the Kennedy Oaks Preview last year with So Dazzling, is daring to dream of further Oaks glory with Harlow Mist (Contributor-Sila Jasak, by Cullen) after her gutsy win in this year’s Preview with Michael Dee in the saddle. Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Chief Executive Steve Rosich said that Spring Classics Preview Day was a fantastic day of racing and he was looking forward to the Melbourne Cup Carnival. “Trainers like John Sargent and the Waterhouse/Bott partnership know what it takes to win our Melbourne Cup Carnival features. They have had success in the Previews before too and I can’t wait to see them back in just over a month for Australia’s greatest race week,” said Rosich.