John Thompson is delighted with the way Epsom placegetter Hooked has come back from a week on the water walker and will target a group1 mile in Melbourne and Perth next month. Hooked will line up in Saturday's Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley before the Emirates Stakes and possibly the Railway Stakes. "It is the run he needs to have before the Emirates," Thompson (left) said. "We took him to the Valley on Tuesday ... and he had a good look at everything, but got around the track all right."
Punter in early on English star
The big money is arriving two weeks out for Slade Power after BetEasy wrote a $10,000 bet at $7.50 in the Darley Sprint for the star English sprinter. "We had heard he had been working well at Werribee but this [bet] was a bit of surprise so far out," BetEasy's Rob Cumbrae-Stewart said. "We are now $5.50 and he could challenge for favouritism if the money keeps coming like it has in the past 24 hours." Slade Power won the Golden Jubilee-July Cup double this year.
Newgate closes in on Dissident deal
Newgate Farm has agreed to buy triple group1 winner Dissident, securing his future at stud. The son of boom sire Sebring has won five of his 17 starts and has a rare mix of speed and stamina, being a listed winner on debut at two before taking out the Randwick Guineas at three. He was the star of the early spring winning the Memsie and Makybe Diva stakes before suffering a bleeding attack when sixth in the Caulfield Stakes. The deal is subject to the usual veterinary checks but it is likely Dissident will go to Newgate next winter to join Foxwedge, The Factor, Eurozone and Sizzling.
Caravan Rolls On not certain of Cup start
Danny O'Brien's imported stayer Caravan Rolls On still needs help to get into the Melbourne Cup field despite being handed a 1.5-kilogram penalty for his Geelong Cup win. Caravan Rolls On will now carry 52.5kg in the Cup but is still only 36th on the order of entry. "He remains 7kg below the benchmark and thus he will need to secure a ballot exemption via the Lexus Stakes, or rely upon a heavy attrition rate among final acceptances to secure a Melbourne Cup start," Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said. Meanwhile, Zanbagh is doubtful for the Cup after bruising a heel at Geelong.
