Falcon Eight is still at $26 (up to $31 at Ladbroke's) despite his win this weekend in The Escher Stakes (3264m). His trainer Dermot Weld said after the run:

"That was only the fifth race of his life. I look forward to training him for the next couple of years, that’s why I’m in no hurry this year. There is a big race in this horse.

"He has got a big future ahead of him, as he is just a work in progress. I think he will go all the way to a Group One in time. The Melbourne Cup would be under consideration, but whether this year comes too soon, we will see how he progresses in the autumn".

He was in a tight dual with Mekong, the pair putting 4 lengths on the rest of the field. Racing Victoria's handicapper Greg Carpenter was also impressed by his performance: "Another step taken by Falcon Eight on the road to the 2019 Melbourne Cup winning the Marathon Stakes over 2 miles @Sandown overnight for Dermot Weld and ridden by @FrankieDettori".

Also on the Sandown program - the first of Channel 10's international racing broadcasts leading towards The Melbourne Cup - was the Eclipse, a 2000m Group 1 race that saw the triumphant return of Enable. Joining her in the field was Zabeel Prince who Paul Bloodworth, Racing Victoria’s general manager of international operations, had previously name-dropped as a potential raider flying under the radar. Odd choice, as he came last in this field of eight and with a record that looks like he'll struggle to make any distance over 1800m.

Wells Farhh Go was another of Bloodworth's nominees and seems a likelier candidate, resuming this season in a Listed 2400m and winning by 4 lengths in late June.


At Sunday's Deutsches Derby in Hamburg, a Group 1 for 3yos over 2400m, the Australian-connected (Suman Hedge Bloodstock) horse Django Freeman came second. Apparently he'll soon be on his way to Robert Hickmott, following much the same path as Schabau took: who is 3 from 3 in his Australian runs since arriving this Summer. They're going to assess how best to time Django Freeman's journey with a view of setting him for a Spring target: both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups have been mentioned as possibilities. Today's race was his first over the distance and - per the radio call - he finished off strongly.