Not a busy day at all at the track, with a couple of horses having a turf gallop, but most either confined to their stable after Thursday gallops or cantering on the dirt. I’ll cover a couple from Thursday morning here as well.

Exultant

Tony Cruz’s 2018 Vase winner worked Thursday morning on the dirt track. Initially I underrated his win last year, but the race has since produced an Arc winner (Waldgeist) and Lys Gracieux also won the Cox Plate. Exultant himself has also been very consistent, winning four of six since last December, including a last start win in the Jockey Club Cup.

On Thursday he galloped over 800m on the larger all-weather track, clocking 56.3s (30.0, 26.3). Trainer Tony Cruz said: “I was happy with that work. All he needed was a regular, routine gallop.”

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Ka Ying Star

A winner of only two from eleven, Ka Ying Star has however been very consistent, placing in the top three on six other occasions. He’s been Beauty Generation’s nemesis in the last two occasions, contesting for the lead and giving the champion miler no respite. He has drawn low, so should be able to get forward easily enough, with Beauty Generation on his outside. Last start he was second to Waikuku in the Jockey Club Mile, sticking on very well.

On Thursday he was ridden by trainer Tony Cruz’s assistant Cody Mo, he stepped out over 1200m on the main all-weather track in a time of 1m 28.7s (33.4, 29.0, 26.3). Trainer Tony Cruz said: “He did a nice gallop and I’m happy with that. He’s fit and he’s in good form.”

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Admire Mars

He is a winner of five from eight races, Admire Mars went undefeated in four starts as 2yo last year including the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m). Forth to Saturnalia in G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m) earlier in the year, but bounced back against his 3yo peers to win G1 NHK Mile Cup in May. He then returned from a summer break with a sub-par 9th to Normcore in the G3 Fuji Stakes (1600m) in October.

Yesterday he worked three quarters of a lap around the all-weather course over 1200m in 1m30.9s (31.7, 30.7, 28.5) and finished the morning with a bit of paddock and gate schooling. Assistant trainer Yusuke Oe said: “He is relaxing nicely and when we neared the track, he took hold of the bit, so he is ready to run. His schooling went very well.”

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Zaaki

He was a little reluctant to go for his turf gallop initially, but was fine after In Her Time galloped by. He had an easy breeze on the turf covering 1200m in 1m 27.5s (29.3, 32.5, 25.7), followed by a visit to the parade ring. Work rider Fabien Guilois said of the four-year-old gelding, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore on Sunday: “He did a normal canter on turf today, just like yesterday. He has done nothing but improve all through the year and comes here at the top of his game.”

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In Her Time

The Australian mare has had an easy time of it this week, having done her preparation at home. Yesterday was her only visit to the turf course, covering the final 800m in 59.7s (34.0, 25.7). Trainer Kris Lees said: “She looks good, I’m happy with her. She’s pretty relaxed and settled in well. Obviously air travel is a little different but she’s coped. She’s been to Melbourne four times and box to box Newcastle to Caulfield by road is not dissimilar time-wise. She’s stabled alone here but that hasn’t bothered her. The old trick of the mirror in the box and I had her stabled on her own for 10 days at home, before she left, just get to used to it. She’s fine.”

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