Australia  

Blake Shinn left Randwick on Saturday pleased with his final Sydney winner, Haut Brion Her, and looking forward to his next challenge of stepping up as a part-season Hong Kong Jockey Club contracted rider at Sha Tin.

The wagering review of Saturday's fixed odds betting for races at Randwick and Flemington - Randwick Race 7 The majority of punters were left to ponder after Smartedge registered an upset win - expected to be a battle between Ljungberg and Notation who finished second and was reasonably solid in the market ($2.90 to $3.20 late) - Ljungberg was an unplaced favourite after being backed late from $3 to $2.30

Chris Waller and Brenton Avdulla had successful doubles at Randwick on Saturday with Waller winning with Haut Brion Her and Avdulla with Excellent Proposal and the two combining with the versatile Wu Gok in the Eremein Handicap (2000m)

The Chris Waller trained Zoustar filly Haut Brion Her defeated the well-supported Sir Elton in the Book Spring Hospitality Bm 74 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday drawing rave reviews from jockey Blake Shinn and taking her record to three wins in succession from four starts.

Lindsay Park unveiled yet another possible Derby contender ahead of next season when Huntly Castle won the $135,000 Byerley Handicap (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Positioning is everything and while co-trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Brenton Avdulla expected to be close to the front, if not leading, with Excellent Proposal in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1400m) for two-year-old’s at Randwick on Saturday, a mid-field slot on the outside of the field worked just fine

Saturday’s meetings include Randwick, Flemington, Eagle Farm, Kembla Grange, Gold Coast, More, Townsville, Lismore, night meeting at Toowoomba, France’s Clairefontaine and La Teste de Buch, South Africa’s Turffontein and Kenilworth, UK’s Market Rasen, Ripon, Newbury, Newmarket and Ireland’s Cartmel and Curragh.

Imported stayer Lord Belvedere (GB) will be given a chance to sneak into the Melbourne Cup after enjoying a soft win over 2500 metres in the $135,000, Harry White Handicap at Flemington on Saturday

Racepal's Best of the Day - head to Odds & Updates

Track conditions, form and scratchings for Randwick - Track Soft 6 - rail out 12m from the 1600m to the winning post and 10m for the remainder - no irrigation and rain for the last seven days - weather sunny 20c - 14 scratchings - FINAL

Track conditions, form and scratchings for Flemington - Track Soft 6 - rail out 4m for the entire circuit - no irrigation for the last 24 hours, no rain for the last 24 hours, 14mm for the last seven days - weather windy mostly sunny 17c - 16 scratchings - FINAL

It might be the middle of winter in Sydney, if 19c and continuous sunny skies can be called winter, but the two-year-old’s commencing the programme at Randwick on Saturday can hardly be called mid-winter fare if granted they are not the speedy precocious types out and about in the autumn.

A handful of international gallopers will be able to compete in Melbourne from as early as the first Group 1 race of the new season on August 31 after Racing Victoria confirmed the first wave of European raiders will arrive in Melbourne in mid-August

Winter racing in Sydney is always a happy hunting ground for progressive three-year-olds chasing BOBS Bonuses and Ljungberg heads to Randwick on Saturday looking to claim his second victory this campaign

The latest Sky Racing news update on Friday with Richard Haynes –Mandela set to avenge debut defeat, Sir Elton set to maintain unbeaten run–– plus more of the latest racing news.

Follow the fixed odds market movers for the meetings at Randwick, Flemington, Eagle Farm and Morphettville Parks - Randwick Race 3 Sir Elton $2-$1.70 $1000, $800 and $600 @ $1.95, $1500 and $1000 [thrice] @ $1.90, $4400, $1300 and $550 and @ $1.85, $1100 @ $1.75 - Haut Brion Her $3.20-$3.30-$3 $500 @ $3.30, $1700 @ $3.10 - Misteed $14-$15-$13-$17-$15 $500 @ $15

Rosehill hosted trials on Friday with the first over 900m on the Course Proper containing a battalion of Godolphin stars and returning names in the saddle.

The odds are against Michael Moroney continuing his winter winning run in Melbourne but the trainer is optimistic of a Group 1-performed miler improving into the placings at Flemington this Saturday

It's very much off-season fare at Flemington on Saturday but it is a good betting card with plenty of chances and angles in each of nine races.

The announcements this week of slots in the invitation $14m, The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19th, means that there are now only two avenues for runners to gain slots to make the field, either through James Harron Bloodstock or the Melbourne Racing Club/Australian Turf Club combined slot

Follow the fixed odds market movers for the meetings at Randwick, Flemington, Eagle Farm and Morphettville Parks - Randwick Race 1 Roman Wolf $8.50-$11 - Excellent Proposal $11-$9 - Mandela $2.40-$1.90 $4000 @ $2.40, $500 @ $2, $500 @ $1.95, $500 @ $1.90 - Frosty Rocks $8.50-$10 - Starla $6-$7

Early track conditions, form and scratchings for Flemington - Track Soft 7 - rail out 4m for the entire circuit - no irrigation for the last 24 hours, 1.2mm of rain for the last 24 hours, 15.2mm for the last seven days - five scratchings

Another piece of the zig saw puzzle of the field for the $14 million The Everest (1200m) was put into place on Wednesday after Chris Waller Racing announced that former Western Australian sprinter Enticing Star has been secured to race in the Waller slot for the invitation race on October 19th at Randwick.

Wednesday's wagering review of fixed odds markets for feature races at Eagle Farm and Morphettville on Saturday

The eighth slot for the $14m, TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 19th has been confirmed with Enticing Star now regarded as a $15 chance with TAB.com.au.

In a promoters dream Godolphin’s Shooting To Win filly Special Snap won her maiden race in the Shooting To Win @ Darley Handicap (1200m) for two and three-year-old’s at The Farm on Wednesday