2008 January | Australia Melbourne Cup and Racing News

Melbourne’s Festival of Racing kicks off this Saturday with a top class program at Flemington. Headlining the day is the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) - the first leg of the 2008 Global Sprint Challenge. The race features a superstar field including Gold Edition, Miss Finland, Magnus and Apache Cat.

Maldivian makes his long awaited return to racing in the Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night, while the Blue Diamonds Stakes Previews, Zeditave Stakes and Kevin Hayes Stakes headline Saturday’s program at Caulfield.

The Listed Chester Manifold Stakes and RDA Victoria Stakes at Flemington, together with the Festival Stakes at Rosehill, headline this weekend’s dynamic racing program. Early Bird markets for Saturday open Friday Afternoon.

Caulfield headlines a quality weekend for the gallops - the Group 3 Rubiton Stakes will be a hotly contested event; Here De Angels, Let Go Thommo and Lucky Secret are all in with a chance. In the Listed John Dillon Stakes, Cocinero steps up to 1400m and punters will be interested to see how the Christmas Stakes winner performs in only his second attempt at the distance. Early Bird markets for Saturday open Friday afternoon.

After victories in the Arrowfield Stud and Razor Sharp Quality so far this season, Takeover Target has his sights set on a third consecutive win in this Saturday’s 1400-metre Group 2 Villiers Stakes at Randwick. The sprint sensation will carry the topweight of 61kg against a strong field which includes Alverta (52kg), who almost ran him down in the Razor Sharp, and US Group 1 winner Honor In War (54.5kg).