Sofia Rosa pleases
THE Turnbull Stakes looms as a crucial race for Sofia Rosa who will be out to press her Caulfield Cup claims in the Group I feature at Flemington today.
The Australian Oaks winner has finished 10th and ninth respectively in her two spring starts in Melbourne in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh believes a step up in distance is key for the mare in today’s Turnbull.
‘‘I think she’s really gone ahead since her last run.’’
‘‘She’s looking good and the step up to 2000 metres now just looks perfect.
‘‘We would have loved a good draw but unfortunately we can’t do much about that. But she goes in a lot better horse than she has in her last couple.’’
Manhattan Street is returning home after disappointing in Friday night’s Group II Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley, Melbourne.
The Awapuni-trained 3-yearold had a lovely run in the trail but was struggling before the home turn and faded to last of 11.
Jockey Jonathan Riddell said a veterinary examination, requested by stewards, didn’t find anything wrong with Manhattan Street.
‘‘No excuses . . . he went average and we don’t know whey,’’ Riddell said. ‘‘He’s coming home.’’ Manhattan Street, whose New Zealand record is four starts for three wins and a second, is trained by Lisa Latta.
Rising Romance, formerly trained at Ruakaka by Donna and Dean Logan, boxed on okay for fourth in another race on the Moonee Valley card. About 400m out, she looked like being in the finish but couldn’t quicken in the final stages.
Three-year-old Extreme Choice made a stunning return to racing to upstage an elite field in Friday night’s Group I Moir Stakes, including the world’s highest rated sprinter.
The Blue Diamond Stakes winner had Chautuaqua on his back coming to the home turn but left him in his wake. Extreme Choice reeled in the frontrunners with an explosive finish.
Chautauqua ran into fourth, just over three lengths from the winner, while Buffering battled on for fifth.
The performance left Extreme Choice’s jockey Craig Newitt glowing in his praise.
‘‘I think he went to a whole new level tonight.’’
Meanwhile, New Zealandowned horses featured at Randwick on Saturday - Antonio Giuseppe (second, Metropolitan) and Mackintosh (third, Epsom Handicap).
In other racing news, the second group of international horses being set for the Melbourne spring carnival has entered pre- Trish Dunell export quarantine in centres in England and Ireland.
The first shipment was scheduled to arrive in Melbourne yesterday with five Melbourne Cup entries among the six horses preparing for the next shipment.
They are Big Orange, Bondi Beach, Heartbreak City, Secret Number and Beautiful Romance along with the Peter Chapple Hyam-trained Arod.
Those six are scheduled to arrive in Melbourne on October 15, two days before Japanese Mel- bourne Cup contender Curren Mirotic and his stablemate Curren Glass Jaw who is expected to contest a lesser race.
The two Japanese horses are scheduled to start pre-export quarantine today.
The first international contenders from Europe will complete two more weeks quarantine at Werribee before being able to compete.
There were 15 horses scheduled to arrive on Saturday, including returning Australian sprinter Holler and five Charlie Applebytrained Godolphin-owned horses including Scottish.
Cox Plate invitee Vadamos, the Willie Mullins-trained Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave, Aidan O’Brien-trained Sir Issac Newton and Andreas Wohlertrained Articus are among the first consignment.
The Melbourne Cup is on November 1.
Russian Revolution has stamped himself among spring’s heavyweight colts with a shock victory in the Roman Consul Stakes.
Yesterday’s Group II at Randwick loomed as a match-race between Astern and Capitalist but Russian Revolution had other ideas.