Sydney's all-conquering trainer Chris Waller tapped into the three-year-olds' spring riches when Kermadec won the Carbine Club Stakes. Having carved a reputation as a master with older and imported horses, Waller is slowly making his mark on the middle-distance scene with the younger horses. "We're learning about Carbine Clubs, derbies ... [Preferment] is my first runner in the Derby," Waller said. "I just know you've got to prepare your horses for the autumn as well and introduce them to this big boys' game." Waller will resist the temptation to press on to the Sandown Guineas with Kermadec, which profited from an astute Blake Shinn ride to collar Stratum Star in the group 3 opener on Derby day. "Realistically, races like the Randwick Guineas back in Sydney will be for him," Waller said. "He's won at Flemington and it opens up options for him."
Berry goes full circle en route to Oaks
Tommy Berry was quick to congratulate John Sargent in the mounting yard after Thunder Lady's Wakeful Stakes success, bringing the rider's Victoria Oaks tale full circle. A year after winning the Wakeful on Sargent's subsequent Oaks heroine Kirramosa before surrendering the ride to Nash Rawiller, Berry will this time take over for the group 1 on Thursday as Blake Shinn sits out through suspension. Quizzed on whether Thunder Lady, a maiden before Saturday, could win the Oaks, Berry said: "I think she can, but it's a pretty quality field. There's a lot of good horses that have come out in the last five weeks. History shows the form out of the Wakeful is always best for the Oaks. She doesn't have that brilliance about her, but she's got a lot of staying potential. She's pretty similar to the Oaks winner last year. It's a big circle this game." Thunder Lady kicked out and made a mess of Clarry Conners' face in the Hawkesbury mounting yard in late September – and then rubbed salt into Conners' wounds after beating home Yesterjoy in the Wakeful. "First she kicked me and now she is beating me," Conners quipped.
No decision on Emirates for Hucklebuck
Phillip Stokes was lukewarm about Hucklebuck starting in the $1 million Emirates Stakes (1600 metres) but jockey Dom Torneur welcomed the idea of the Adelaide star fronting up again on the final day of the Flemington carnival. A year after nothing went right for Hucklebuck as the Carbine Club elect on Derby day, Stokes returned with his stable flagbearer to score a comprehensive win in the group 3 Yellowglen Stakes (1400m). But was it enough to convince his softly spoken trainer to have a throw at the stumps in the Emirates? "I will just see how he pulls up and the back-up might be an idea, but I'll talk to the owner and we've also got Sandown," Stokes said. "We've just got to see where his rating is." Stokes' cautious approach to the richest mile during the Melbourne spring was fuelled by concerns he might struggle to run out a strong mile.
Close but no watch
Chris Waller might have a great team but his racing manager Liam Prior was the most disappointed when He's Your Man got beaten in the final couple of strides in the Mackinnon Stakes. The race is sponsored by Longines and Waller had promised to give his trainer's prize to Prior. When He's Your Man hit the front Prior was riding hard but Happy Trails got the better of him. "He has got a couple of those watches and didn't need another one. He said could have it and I was putting it on my wrist before the post," Prior said.
Deep Field continues dream run after scare
Boom unbeaten colt Deep Field had the thrill seekers holding their breath – however briefly – but kept alive his perfect record with a first group win down the Flemington straight. Sent out a $1.50 favourite and sticking like glue to the outside rail, the entire looked under a small threat rather than a siege inside the last 300-metres before drawing away to beat Driefontein by a length. It was his fifth straight win. "Dad [John Hawkes] said to [jockey] Dwayne [Dunn], 'if you're swinging at the furlong then just let him go'," co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said. "He wasn't in a hurry to let him go and to be fair, he's a baby this horse. He hasn't had a spell and only a freshen up for his little run in Sydney. These are not hacks." Deep Field is likely to skip next Saturday's group1 Darley Sprint – and a potential clash with stablemate Chautauqua. "You never make a decision on race day, but Chautauqua is sitting at home smoking his pipe and this bloke has just done it," Wayne Hawkes said.
