Al poised for Winter Cup test
Chris Waller believes Al Aabir has returned a better horse this preparation and can atone for a luckless last start defeat when he tackles the Listed Winter Cup on his home track.
The four-year-old was held up behind a wall of horses in the straight before eventually getting clear and steaming home for a close third behind Outlandos and Sir Lamorak over 2400m at Rosehill two weeks ago.
While Al Aabir will have the bar raised to stakes company for the first time on Saturday, Waller is convinced the lightly-raced gelding is ready for the challenge.
“Al Aabir was very unlucky last start but seems to have gone to a new level this preparation,” Waller said.
“On Saturday, the conditions, barrier draw (three) and distance all look to suit and therefore he should be very hard to beat.”
Al Aabir is a $3.20 unibet favourite to deliver Waller back-to-back Winter Cups (2400m) following the win by Irish Sequel last year.
He will also be represented in the race by topweight Desert Icon and dour staying mare Shameless Miss and expects both to be competitive.
Desert Icon has been slightly below par in two runs since his excellent first-up second in the Hawkesbury Cup, but Waller has toyed with his training regime and added blinkers for the first time.
“Desert Icon has been racing OK. We have mixed his work up since his last run, including a bit of jumping which has seen him bouncing on and off the track so if that is any guide, I think we can see him improve,” he said.
“Shameless Miss seems to have come back better this preparation and is getting up to a more suitable distance on Saturday.
“It would be nice to see her run top-three and gain some important black-type.”
Shameless Miss was doing her best work late when coming from near-last to finish just over three lengths from Bois D’Argent in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) last start and has a strong 2400-metre record with two wins and a placing from four attempts at the journey.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef
Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...