Spring Classics Preview Day Highlights

After Summer set for Oaks

Dominic Sutton will look to plot a path towards November’s Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) with filly After Summer, who led throughout to win the Crown Oaks Preview (1800m) at Flemington on Sunday.

Sent out as the $14 outsider with just four rivals to beat, Billy Egan landed in front aboard The Autumn Sun filly and was able to sprint off a pedestrian tempo to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Seychelles ($4.20) with Classic Gem ($5.50) just a further half head away in third.

The young trainer tasted Group 1 success with Feroce in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) last year and will consider the best way to get After Summer to 2500m, admitting that the slowly run affair was more of a trial than a race.

“She got a very soft time in front and when he asked for at the top of the straight, she never looked like getting beaten,” Sutton said.

“I'd say it'd be more like having a trial than having a race with the speeds that they went, so she doesn't look like she's had a tough run.

“We’ll get her home and plot a path, and if she takes us there, then great. If not, then we'll put her away and save it for autumn.”

Spring plans for She’s A Hustler

Grahame Begg has earmarked a Group 3 race at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day for progressive mare She’s A Hustler.

Giving away weight and fitness to her rivals in the Living Legends Trophy (1800m) at benchmark 78 level, She’s A Hustler ($) was afforded every chance under Jordan Childs, putting a length on Morrissette ($) with ¾ of a length back to Brave Miss ($) in third.

Now a winner of five from eight, Begg said the five-year-old is still improving from her Winter coat having raced into the Adelaide May carnival

“She's got a very good record. The owners have been great to deal with,” Begg said.

“We've earmarked the race like the Tesio Stakes on Cox Plate Day as real target for a 2000-meter mare’s race. 

“It was pretty vital that she started off today, and we marked this race some months ago that this was going to be a starting point, and then we'll give her another lead-up race into that.

“She sweated up quite noticeably, but that's not uncommon for her, and that's a little bit too because she's still carrying a good bit of residual winter coat, so that's nothing uncommon for her.

“But she’s got a great will to win, and Jordan rode it very well.”

Patient ride Federer’s Ace

Impeccably bred Federer notched up the third win of his career, with Ben Allen slicing through the field aboard the Ciaron Maher trained five-year-old to take the Vrc Member Leslie Birrell (2000m) at benchmark 70 level.

By Dundeel and out of Caulfield Cup winning star mare Jameka, Federer always had a boom on him however had gone winless this preparation.

A cool ride helped the $4 second elect run down $41 chance Kokoro to win by a long neck, with a head back to Chocolate Royal ($26) in third. Race favourite Jareth, backed into $1.80, finished fourth.

I've actually I've been hustling Jack Turnbull (National Assistant Trainer) a bit to try and get back on him just to gallop him so I can put my hand up,” Allen said.

“At the jump outs the other day, he was down to trial. So I asked him again and got back on, and then here we are today. So it worked out well.

“The plan was I just wanted to follow the stable mate everywhere, I anticipated us being that little bit closer, but obviously there were a few other horses that wanted to be positive.

“I thought I'd just follow Zahra everywhere, and he didn't take me too far, and then we got the gap at the right time.

“I thought he did a good job because he had to sprint with a big weight.”

Derby Dream for Hunter

Rory Hunter notched his first city winner in style as Autumn Mystery outstayed his rivals to take the Howden Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington on Sunday.

Having shown glimpses of ability over shorter trips as a two-year-old, it took a rise to 1800m for gelding by The Autumn Sun to break his maiden, doing so under a desperate late lunge by leading jockey Blake Shinn.

Sent out a $4.60 chance, Autumn Mystery prevailed in a three-way go to the line, edging out Engine Of War ($6) by a short half head with $3.10 favourite Options just a half head away in third.

Saddling up just his sixth runner for the season and winning his first, the Mornington based trainer said the win was very special, especially considering the offers the owners had received for the horse.

“What a stage to do it on,” Hunter said.

“It's been an incredible journey to this horse. We've believed in him from day one, and it's just great for it to finally come off.”

The win came after Per Sempre won Race 6, the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Fancy A Gallop (1100m) for trainer Charles Cassar, his first victory at Flemington.

Hunter said Autumn Mystery would indeed be set for the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 1^st, provided he pulls up well.

“That’d be the ultimate dream but we'll just see how he pulls up the next few days,” Hunter said.

“I think he's got a very big future, but I'd say we'll be heading that way at this stage.”