MAGNIFIQUE Soleil might be bound for the Queensland Winter Carnival.
Ballarat trainer Darren Weir raised the possibility after the four-year-old scored at Caulfield on Saturday.
Magnifique has made an astounding return from a 16-month lay-off in which a tendon injury was treated with stem-cell therapy.
He has had seven starts this campaign for six wins.
Weir is already committed to a Queensland trip, with Wangoom Handicap runner-up Wealth Princess to head the travelling party.
Robert Smerdon is another with Queensland on his mind.
He is considering the group 1 Queensland Oaks as a target for Red Typhoon after his win in the group 3 South Australian Fillies’ Classic, 2500m, at Morphettville on Saturday.
Smerdon said the SA feature had been Red Typhoon main target this preparation.
• DARREN Weir had a double at Donald gallops on Sunday.
He saluted with Royal Butler ($2.40 favourite) in a maiden, 1350m, and Rhodehaven ($4) in a 0-82 handicap, 1200m.
Royal Butler is by Scandal Keeper and out of race-winning mare Deyarra (4 wins).
The three-year-old has raced four times for the win and two minor placings.
Rhodehaven began his career with Craig Conron and this was only the four-year-old’s second outing for Weir.
He has now won three of 13 starts.
• JADAHSON is positioned to land his first group 1 victory and Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart’s second of the year.
In career-best form, Jadahson has drawn gate three in the $100,000 Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old entires and geldings, 2240m, at Melton on Friday night.
Jadahson ($3.30) stretched his winning run to five in a blanket finish in a $20,000 semi-final at HRV HQ on Friday – arguably the biggest performance of his career.
He sat three-wide with a trail from the 1400m and then four-wide for the last 400m before driving at the line with a wall of horses.
Jadahson edged out the Peter Tonkin-trained Ronald George ($15.50), which dived through in the sprint lane after sitting of the leader’s back.
Jadahson has won 17 of 36 starts, but has only contested three group 1 events, with his best finish being a second in the Australian Pacing Gold final for three-year-olds.
The son of Falcon Seelster has never raced better and will be one of two Stewart runners in the VSS final.
The lightly raced Mister Sheedy qualified with a fifth in a semi-final.
Emma Stewart and partner Clayton Tonkin did not stop there.
They had a running treble at Bendigo on Saturday night.
They won with:
? Mickey Mac ($6.20) off 10m in a discretionary handicap, 2650m. This was the nine-year-old’s first win since November last year and only his third in an injury-interrupted stretch since December, 2008. He did not race for more than two years from January 2009.
? Shake It Mama ($1.40 favourite) in a Vicbred Super Series heat for three-year-old fillies, 2150m. She led and outclassed her rivals with a last 800m in 56.7 in scoring by 11.5m.
? Philadelphia Man ($1.20 favourite) led to win for the third time in a row in a VSS heat for three-year-old colts and geldings, 2150m. He ran home 56.1 seconds for his 10 win in 26 starts.
• JUSTALITTLELOOSE ($2.40 favourite) rated 1:58.8 in bring up his first career win in a restricted three-year-old pace, 1650m.
Trained by owner-breeder Craig Knowles, the son of Metropolitan had been unplaced in four previous starts.
Justalittleloose is the third winner out of broodmare Miss Devine, which has also left Queensland-bred duo Curry An Rice (14 wins) and The Bullionaire (9 wins).
• SOUTH Australian Derby winner The Night Pearl ($1.10 favourite) outclassed his rivals to return to winning form in a C1 pace, 2080m, at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Dunnstown trainer-driver David Murphy landed the front from the pole and scored by 18m. This gives the group 1 winner four wins in nine starts for more than $37,000 in earnings.