Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg can start planning a path towards this year’s edition of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup with Saturday’s VRC Andrew Ramsden Plate (2800m) winner Zakouma.

Speed machine Straight Charge (Written By) has been signed to cover his first book at Westbury Park in Western Australia.

Gingerbread Man’s sixth winner this month arrived on Sunday and this time it was the turn of his Hong Kong expat Perfectday in the Siu Ma Shan Hcp (1400m) at Sha Tin.

Class prevailed in the G3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on Saturday when Western Empire powered home to post his 11th black-type victory for leading trainers Grant and Alana Williams.

Ascot trainer Josh Brown took a shine to the first crop of Splintex at the 2025 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale and it began paying off on Wednesday when She’s A Splinter was an impressive winner of the Sound Telegraph Maiden (1200m) at Pinjarra.

Ciaron Maher has an enviable record as a Group 1-winning trainer since Jameka (Myboycharlie) turned the 2016 Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) into a procession and he’s progressed to another level with a network of bloodstock agents combing catalogues and auctions around the world for his clients. 

Geisel Park has announced the relocation of three stallions from its roster ahead of the 2026 breeding season, with Aysar, Manhattan Rain and Winning Rupert all set to continue their stud careers at leading Western Australian farms.

Trainer Kris Lees has elected to keep Tavi Time (NZ) closer to home for the Scone Cup (Listed, 1600m) this afternoon instead of sending him north for the Group 1 Doomben Cup meeting on Saturday.