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3.50pm
SOUTHERN MOON SECOND IN VIC DERBY
Stand-out grey Southern Moon has given Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman a special moment with second in the group 1 $2m Victoria Derby.
Southern Moon ($21) finished hard from mid-field, with only the Anthony Freedman-trained and Damien Oliver-ridden Warning ($9.50) ahead of him on the line.
Billy Egan have the son of Puissance de Lune one of the runs of the race, settling eighth in the running line after jumping from gate seven.
Stamping himself as a stayer of the future, Southern Moon earned $360,000 to take his earnings to $460,00 with career standings at one win, three seconds and a third from six starts.
Ballarat's other hopes finished in the second half of the 15-strong field - Thought of That 10th for Ciaron Maher/David Eustace, Sign Seal Deliver 11th for Matt Cumani and Translator 12th for Nigel Blackiston.
3.05pm
Young Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman has had to settle for a midfield finish with his first group 1 runner of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Filly Broadwayandfourth settled at the tail of the field in the $1.5m Coolmore Stud Stakes, 1200m, and was never able to get into contention in the straight race.
She finished eighth, eight lengths off the pace.
Team Hawkes saluted with star colt Exceedance.
1.45pm
ALLEN GUIDES ENGLISH STAYER INTO CUP
Ballarat's adopted Irish jockey John Allen has ensured English stayer Downdraft a run in the Melbourne Cup by guiding the 5yo to victory in the Horsham Stakes, 2500m.
Downdraft ($5.50 favourite) was sitting right on the cusp at 24 in ballot order before the win.
This ensures trainer Joseph O'Brien four starters in the Melbourne Cup as he strives for a second triumph in the race.
Allen had previously ridden Downdraft to third in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
"We were on the fringe of getting a run without running today, but he has confirmed it today," Allen said.
"Hopefully he backs up good and he'll be in there with a great chance.
"He seems to have a great attitude, obviously I don't know a whole lot about him," he said.
I believe Joseph (O'Brien) was pretty confident he could handle it.
"The race last Saturday was only really a piece of work to him. It got him spot on for today and he never looked like getting beaten today," Allen said.
Ciaron Maher/David Eustace-trained duo of Azuro and Wall of Fire, which needed wins to get into the Melbourne Cup, missed out. Azuro finished third.
1pm
CHASING CUP STARTS
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have two runners in the upcoming Hotham Stakes, 2500m, chasing victory and a start in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup - Azuro and Wall Of Fire.
Each is well down the ballot order, with Azuro 36th and Wall Of Fire at the bottom of the 40 horses still in the hunt for a spot in the field, but yet to pass the qualification clause.
The stable has import Southern France already guaranteed a run.
12.15pm
DERBY MARKET LATEST
Thought of That from the Caulfield/Ballarat stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace is second favourite for the group 1 $5m Victoria Derby.
He is rated a $4.20 chance behind Shadow Hero $3.20.
Ballarat's other runners are Southern Moon (trained by Mitch Freedman) $19, Translator (Nigel Blackiston) $51 and Sign Seal Deliver (Matt Cumani) $101.
Noon
THE VALLEY PROVIDES STRONG LEAD IN
Archie Alexander will have to wait until later in the Flemington carnival for his stable to shine.
However, he provided the ideal lead into Melbourne Cup Carnival for Ballarat stables when Ambleve ($3.30 favourite) saluted in the last - the Antler Luggage Handicap, 1200m, at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
The Ballarat operation of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace also tasted success.
Heart of Puissance ($2.90), with John Allen in the saddle, made it two wins from two starts in the Queest Moonee Valley Handicap for 3yos, 1600m.