All the attention was on the unbeaten Royal Symphony at Flemington last Friday but there were still plenty of other names to take note of.
The Tony McEvoy-trained Royal Symphony cruised through behind the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Spring Choice in heat one with the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Odeon having a gentle time in the same heat.
The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Booker made our list after her first jumpout and she again trialled well, shading the Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained Shoals in heat two while Cool Chap, now with Lindsay Park Racing, again went well winning heat three in 48.20 seconds.
Friday's jumpouts were on the steeple grass, starting from the 800m with the markers out four metres and riders reporting the ground in the good(4) range.
Racenet has listed three horses it might pay punters to follow in coming weeks.
Click here to watch the 12 heats.
MR SNEAKY
Settled second in heat five, three lengths behind the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Dental to the turn. Allowed to come through under his own steam and shaded Dental by half a length in 48.89 seconds with the Mike Moroney-trained Shadow Fighter cruising through just behind in third. Won his last two starts at Flemington and Caulfield for Lee and Anthony Freedman so now rated 78 - has developed physically and looks as though he has improved so should find an opportunity early in the spring.
Career (11-4:3:2)
SUMMER WIND
Four-year-old mare by Stratum, trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra. Jumped from the outside and raced the widest all the way to finish second in heat 10. Last early in a compact field, joined in off the turn still well on the bridle and went to the line untested a neck behind the Steve Richards-trained Peppino in 49.38 seconds. Won her maiden at Sandown and placed at Caulfield last preparation - still only rated 61 so can be placed to advantage.
Career (11-1:3:1)
SQUAW VALLEY
Unraced three-year-old gelding by Zoffany and trained by Mike Moroney. Landed straight on the lead in heat four, never headed and winning the heat in 49.22 seconds by 1 1/2-lengths over the Danny O'Brien-trained Lycurgus with the Hawkes Racing-trained Smokin Pierro third. Squaw Valley has had a bit of practice and handles himself well. Spring maidens are never easy but he is certainly ready to go to the races.
Career (Unraced)
