Mackinnon Stakes (Group 1)

LAST Saturday’s Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes over 2,000 metres delivered the result many thought they’d see in the Cox Plate two weeks earlier.

Strongly supported, Arcadia Queen could only manage fifth at Moonee Valley but made amends at Flemington.

With Luke Currie taking over the ride from Willie Pike, the Pierro mare ran out a two-length winner from the Sea The Stars horse Fifty Stars and New Zealand’s 12-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle.

“She was too good. She’s all quality,” said Currie. “I think she’s pretty special. She’s so big and imposing. Just the way she comes out. As soon as you ask her, she goes. She was amazing today.”

Trained by Grant and Alana Williams from Perth for owner Bob Peters, the trio have done very well with their team over Melbourne’s spring.

“It’s been another challenge for us. It’s just good to know that the team at home, we can get everything ready, and we can come here,” said Grant Williams. “It’s like the AFL (Australian Rules) footy. We’ve got good horses at home and it’s good to know that we can come here and get the job done like this.

“I think everybody strives to be the best we can and we’ve got two Group 1s now. It’s bloody great.”

Bivouac blasts home in the Darley Sprint Classic

Darley Sprint Classic (Group 1)

THE James Cummings-trained Bivouac put in as good an audition for Royal Ascot as we’ve seen over the spring.

Sent out as favourite just ahead of the speed machine Nature Strip, the Godolphin-bred Exceed And Excel horse put on a straight six masterclass winning by three lengths over Nature Strip in the slick time of 1:08.69, with the I Am Invincible mare Libertini third.

“It was a very impressive performance from the horse. Bossy [Glen Boss] rode him back here in the autumn when he won the Newmarket and he said when you sit on these colts you just feel like they’re ‘on’ and that’s what we thought when he came off the float from Sydney this week,” said Cummings.

“He’s got an extremely good nature and that’s why we see him racing as a four-year-old. He’s just come back in great condition and he’s got the temperament to go with it.”

Pressed as to whether international plans were in play, Cummings’ best was: “It could be.”