Quartet settling in well to new surroundings
The Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) bound Magic Circle (Makfi) went round Side Hill gallops once in company with fellow Cup contender Marmelo (Duke Of Marmalade), while John Gosden’s impressive Ebor Handicap (1m6f) winner Muntahaa (Dansili) went up Newmarket’s famous Warren Hill gallop a sole time.
Hughie Morrison’s Marmelo had a gentle cancer once more around Side Hill, this time without Magic Circle for company, while Iain Jardine’s Nakeeta (Sixties Icon), fifth in last year’s renewal of the Melbourne Cup, was the only horse not to exercise.
All four horses have reportedly settled in well to their new surroundings in quarantine and have only enjoyed light to moderate exercise since they arrived at the facility on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, the plane carrying 19 international runners that was forced to spend around 20 hours on the tarmac at Sharjah to repair a cracked windscreen, has now arrived safely in Melbourne almost a day later than planned.
Racing Victoria is hopeful it can get a special dispensation from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to allow the horses housed at Werribee to run on Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) day.