A drier racing surface at Doomben is expected to help sprinter Sir Donald erase memories of his failure first-up on a wet track.

Trainer Anthony Freedman believes Shoals is ready to produce a peak performance this spring when the filly takes on the mares in the Group One Myer Classic.

Regular runner-up In Times Of War has another opportunity to end a frustrating sequence of near misses at Rosehill.

New Zealand trainer Murray Baker is no stranger to winning Classic races and is hoping to add another when he saddles up Weather With You in the Victoria Derby.

After winning the Cox Plate aboard Winx, Hugh Bowman would now like to add a Melbourne Cup to his record on Marmelo.

Sydney jockey Tye Angland has three Group One chances to salute for the first time in Melbourne, including Victoria Derby favourite Ace High.

Craig Williams is not about to dismiss Justice Faith as a Derby chance saying the 2500m-Classic is an open race.

Glyn Schofield likes what he sees after riding his Melbourne Cup mount Nakeeta in trackwork at Werribee for the first time.

Statistics indicate Tiyatrolani will race well at Doomben but trainer Tony Gollan isn’t getting carried away with summer plans.

Legendary jockey Lester Piggott says French horse Tiberian is the one to beat in the Melbourne Cup, a race he never had the chance to ride in.

Sir Michael Stoute says the booking of Frankie Dettori for Ulysses in the Breeders’ Cup Turf is a positive.

Trainer Stuart Kendrick believes good barriers are the key to brilliant but sometimes erratic galloper Tarzan who is likely to back up at Doomben.

If Winx doesn’t run in the Emirates Stakes, her jockey Hugh Bowman will ride Gingernuts in the Group One race.

Barring a successful appeal, Regan Bayliss will miss the chance to ride in his first Melbourne Cup because of a careless riding suspension.

Trainer Mike Moroney has lamented a wide barrier draw for import Radipole in the Group One Kennedy Mile for which the gelding has the limit weight of 52kg.

Sky Boy is bound for the spring carnival in Melbourne with two options after winning convincingly at Canterbury.

Facts about the Group One $1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington.

Hartnell has been confirmed as a Melbourne Cup starter after a strong track gallop at Flemington.

After wins in the Geelong Cup and Sandown Cup on a previous visit, Godolphin galloper Qewy has added the Bendigo Cup to his record.

More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington featuring 37 races with combined prize money of $19.1 million.

Trainer Chris Waller will be chasing his second Victoria Derby when he saddles last-start Caulfield Classic runner-up Tangled in the 2500m Flemington race.

Five-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Lloyd Williams could have up to a quarter of the field in the famous 3200m race

A look at the facts and figures relating to the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes for three-year-olds at Flemington.

Catchy has been freshened for the 1200m Coolmore Stud Stakes and co-trainer Ben Hayes is leaning to her as the stable’s leading chance in the Group One race.

Mark Newnham will have his first runner as a trainer for breeder and owner George Altomonte when Anatola races at Rosehill.

Trainer Peter Snowden says Redzel has been flying under the radar for some time but deserves to be the best sprinter around after his $10 million Everest win.

Victoria Derby Day is considered Australia’s premier day of racing featuring nine black-type races with a combined purse of $5.3 million.

Craig Williams is learning as much as he can about his Melbourne Cup mount Wall Of Fire.

Ron Quinton has decided to spare his apprentice Andrew Adkins from the pressures of Derby day by booking Melbourne jockey Ben Melham to ride Daysee Doom.

French import Tiberian has a pedigree unlike any other Melbourne Cup contender, being the son of a teaser pony used at stud for Hartnell’s sire Authorized.