Grass gallops reopened while Aussie-bound aces limber up on the July course

Aussie aims

There was an international flavour to Saturday morning when Harry Eustace gained permission to work three Australian-bound acquisitions on the July course just after 6.30am. The highest rated of the trio was the privately purchased former William Haggas runner My Oberon (Hayley Turner), who is bound for the Cox Plate and finished just ahead of the ex-Aidan O’Brien-trained Star Of India (Pat Cosgrave).

The latter, who won the Dee Stakes at Chester in May, is to run first for Eustace in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange in France next weekend before heading into quarantine. Also in the gallop was ex-French trained Night Endeavor (George Wood) who could have the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on his radar.

Star Of India (Pat Cosgrave) at the July course

Juveniles to note

The recent thunderstorms meant some grass gallops were open, but it depended on which side of town you were on with 66mm of rain shutting the Limekilns but only half of that on Racecourse Side, meaning the summer and peat moss gallops were in play.