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By Brad Gray
At Royal Randwick

More Sundays Flops In Opener
On the back of trialling like a jet, boom galloper More Sundays rocketed into Golden Rose calculations but the regally bred three-year-old failure to deliver on the hype at Randwick.

Kerrin McEvoy, who also rode him in that trial, wasn’t left with any real excuses apart from suggesting riding him colder in the future.

“He overraced in the first part, after we tried to put him into the race, but he showed he’d be a little bit better with some cover,” McEvoy said.

All credit to the winner though, Reginae, with Kris Lees suggesting she could be a spring sleeper once she gets out to the mile.

“She is really bombproof. She is a filly with a lot of upside and one with a bright future,” Lees said, “She has always shown she would get out to the mile so is probably looking at some better races down the track.”

The third-placed Ranier was brave in third having covered ground in the run and Hugh Bowman said he’d be better again once the blinkers go on to help him concentrate.

The blue blood More Sundays ahead of the opener at @royalrandwick!

$1.85 with @tabcomau. pic.twitter.com/uFcgAF4zWK

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 1, 2018

Still A Star In J-Mac’s Eyes
Invincible Star ran third in the Concorde Stakes, beaten by Redzel and the fast-finishing Kaepernick, but James McDonald warned punters to not give up on the four-year-old who is likely to head to The Shorts second up.

“She went brilliant,” said the hoop, “She had nine months off, and was taking on the best sprinter and the reigning Everest champion, but she paraded big and she’ll take plenty of improvement from that."

It was billed as a match race with Redzel holding sway in markets with TAB all week until minutes before jump where an avalanche of late support saw Invincible Star start favourite at $2.30 (over Redzel at $2.35).

“She is not keen, she is soft-mouthed, but once she gets up to six furlongs it’ll suit her because of the tempo. She won’t be able to get a soft lead in an Everest but it’ll be a different tempo to that of Redzel breathing down her neck and putting her to the sword,” McDonald continued.

Redzel was unmoved with TAB at $6 to claim back-to-back Everests and Kerrin McEvoy said the six-year-old feels just as good as the 2017 version.

“He has the beauty of travelling really strong at a good tempo and he can control what he is using,” said McEvoy.

And just quietly, how about the run of Boss Lane with Punters Intel revealing the evergreen sprinter clocked 32.16s for his last 600m split.

Can Invincible Star make a statement ahead of #TheEverest by toppling the reigning champ Redzel?

She’s a ball of muscle in the yard @GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/8OyQ1rZJoX

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 1, 2018

Tom Melbourne Runs Second, Again
“You’ve heard it all before.”

That was Corey Brown’s succinct quip after Tom Melbourne did what he is now infamous for, running second. It was the 11th time he has been runner up.

The eight-year-old was afforded every chance box-seating before popping out at the right time but stablemate Comin’ Through got the better of him.

The cruellest twist is that Christian Reith, who rode the third-placed Dixie Blossoms, fired in a protest against the winner Comin’ Through for interference at the top of the straight. It was dismissed but if upheld it would have seen Tom Melbourne promoted to first. What will it take to get Tom another win!?

Chris Waller signalled that Comin’ Through will now head to Melbourne for the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

Keep practicing those nose stretches Tommy…

Practising my nose extensions after this morning’s trial to help get me over the line this spring. Watch out, I’m about to put some noses out of joint when I get this mastered! Regards Tom M @SkyRacingAU @DufficyRon @OTIRacing pic.twitter.com/S4pHjvgQJP

— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) August 7, 2018

World Is Unforgotten's Oyster
“She is very special. She showed that in the autumn."

Unforgotten and Bowman (Pic: Steve Hart)

Chris Waller has his sights set on the Caulfield Cup for Chelmsford Stakes-winner Unforgotten after she overcame trouble to win in dominant fashion.

"There are so many options in the spring. I could have gone Epsom and Cox Plate with her bar for Winx. That is what we did with Winx and that was the making of her career. She won’t be taking on Winx I can tell you that," said Waller.

Hugh Bowman added, “I had the horse to take me places I wouldn’t go on many, she is pretty smart and she put the writing on the wall when she won the ATC Oaks, the world is her oyster."

Waller may have won the race but David Payne wore a smile as wide as any of the trainers post-race after Ace High ran second despite enduring a wide run and being left flat-footed at the 400m. Payne said the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) will be next for the four-year-old who is also on a Cups path.

Speaking of Cups, Youngstar's run in the Tramway Stakes earlier was a cracker with Punters Intel revealing a last 200m of 11.02s, the quickest in the race.

Click here for all of the results and replays for Royal Randwick.