Juvenile racing will kick off Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday with an early start at 10.45am for the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) with nine colts and four fillies engaged.
Six of the runners have raced already, but nine of those have won although Spirit if Boom colt Shining Smile and Zoustar filly Price Tag have valuable experience up the Flemington straight having filled the placings in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial last month.
Fresh from siring his ninth Group I winner at the Breeders’ Cup meeting in the US courtesy of three year-old colt Starlust (GB), winner of the BC Turf Sprint, Zoustar has three runners and they include the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained colt Space Rider, who has been prepared at their Sydney stable with two recent trials sure to have him well seasoned.
A $500,000 Magic Millions purchase from Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Space Rider is from Group III winner Fuddle Dee Duddle and is a full brother to Brereton, who won the Maribyrnong Plate in 2021, The family also features the $22million earning sprinter Bella Nipotina.
