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A brief look at the undercard at Sandown on Saturday.
Right You Are continues winning streak
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Right You Are landed a fourth consecutive win when taking out the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2100m).
After a tendon injury halted Right You Are's progress in 2021, the gelding has had eight starts for his current campaign dating back to September last year.
And Maher is confident Right You Are's winning streak has not yet come to an end with the trainer contemplating stretching the gelding out to 2400m in coming starts.
"His pedigree would suggest that he should handle it," Maher said.
"I'm pretty interested to see what Ethan (Brown) reckons. It was a bit of a dawdle early, not a true test.
"He's a stayer that's obviously in really good form with a lot of confidence so now would be the time if we're going to do it."
Shuffle Dancer takes next step
Lightly raced Shuffle Dancer has graduated to stakes company with her hard-fought victory in the Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m).
Shuffle Dancer was having her first run in five weeks when she took the step from success in benchmark 70 grade at Moonee Valley on January 21 to her win at Group 2 level on Saturday.
The filly had the second widest gate which was a pre-race concern for trainer Peter Moody and his assistant Catherine Coleman, along with jockey Ben Melham.
"We thought it might be a bit sticky from that gate, but he did a good job getting her into that spot," Coleman said.
"She has had a little freshen up between runs and I think she'll improve from this, but she was still strong through the line today."
Coleman indicated the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 11 was likely to be next on the agenda.
Espiona strikes back
Jockey Jye Mcneil received simple instructions when riding Espiona in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes.
Even though Espiona was facing just five opponents in the 1400m contest, McNeil's instructions were to keep the mare away from the rail.
Espiona had large expectations placed on her following a Melbourne Cup Carnival victory as a three-year-old, and she revived some of those memories with her win on Saturday.
McNeil explained instructions were to give Espiona plenty of galloping room.
"It was my first time riding her and it was all a new experience to me," McNeil said.
"She seems as though she can let down with a pretty good turn of acceleration. That's her biggest asset.
"So, ridden with a bit of cover you get to see that finish and that's when she's most effective."
Sydney stable lands stakes win
The ability to easily transfer horses between states has paid off handsomely for the connections of Recommendation.
Having had four of his five starts out of the Sydney stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, his other run was in Brisbane, Recommendation was swung south for a tilt at the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Maher said the gelding, now a winner of four of his six starts, had put the writing on the wall with his last start win at Canterbury on February 1.
"He's gone to another level now," Maher said.
"Its last race put the writing on the wall, and he's gone on with it again. I think he'll improve again off the back of this.
"His work had improved, and we were confident he'd be an each-way chance here, for sure."
Guineas chance for Pericles
Godolphin has some thinking to do with Pericles following his win in the Group 2 Autumn Classic.
The James Cummings-trained three-year-old is entered for the Randwick Guineas, the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby.
The conundrum for the team is do they drop Pericles back in trip from Saturday's 1800m journey for either the Group 1 Australian Guineas or Randwick Guineas which are both run over 1600m next Saturday.
Winning jockey Jamie Kah said Pericles has an electric turn of foot and would not hear of the gelding being beaten after riding him in work at Sandown earlier in the week.
"I know the team were talking about backing him up and I don't think that would be an issue dropping back in trip," Kah said.
"The turn-of-foot he showed today was electric so wherever they go he will be competitive, but I think he's such a versatile horse he can drop back, step up, so whatever you want and that's what you get with these really proper horses."
Steinem salutes in Peter Young
A decision to bypass the Perth Cup has provided Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and a one-two finish.
Steinem led home Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip which could see both horses bound for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) in four weeks' time.
Maher said it was the right decision to get Steinum back from Perth and have her prepared for the Australian Cup.
"It was the idea to have her right for the Australian Cup and have that residual fitness," Maher said.
"That's why we didn't go to the Perth Cup. We wanted to bring her home and target these races."
Maher was equally as thrilled with the effort of Gold Trip who was having his first run since winning the Melbourne Cup last November.
"The last month he's really come on," Maher said.
"John, his farrier, is here working with him. That's the main thing with that horse, his feet, so first-up on a track like that was amazing."
Quote of the day
"Going back to the start of the prep you would never have thought he'd be $1.50 in a stakes race but that's how good Ciaron (Maher) and Dave (Eustace) are" - Ethan Brown after guiding Right You Are to victory in the Victoria Gold Cup.
