It is Christmas time for racing fans. Out of a Cox Plate and into the Derby Day Golden Eagle double that kicks off the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

What a week it was for the fillies at BTX, Until Valhalla stormed to victory in a $100,000 Super Maiden, La Magia had her maiden jumpout in Victoria and Chloe’s Missile won her most recent jumpout in South Australia. On top of this, seasoned galloper Kettle Hill returns to the races next week on Ladies’ Day at HQ and Derby aspirant Jon Bon has returned from a spell and is now pre-training.

Keep an eye out for a one-time-only Monday Preview for BTX’s exclusive Melbourne Cup preview!

Plus read to the end to find Ciaron Maher’s FormCast!

FILLIES FOCUS

Until Valhalla Ready To Ignite Spring

Star Maher and Eustace filly Until Valhalla verified the hype, copying her Group 1 winning sister Sofia Rosa by winning at Royal Randwick. The striking daughter of Snitzel was backed by key form analyst Brad Gray to defeat $1.50 favourite Mogwai and did just that, storming away after jumping cleanly for Dylan Gibbons in the 1400m contest.

Gibbons was overjoyed by the result “a little bit surprised by how well she jumped, but she got to the front and just controlled beautifully”. The team are extremely excited by the progression of the well-bred filly with multiple options going forward for the third race of her maiden racing campaign.

Following the win, the obvious lure of the Group 1 Thousand Guineas worth $1,500,000 at Caulfield on the 18th of November is at the forefront of the team’s minds. The Thousand Guineas field has been blown wide open in the last two weeks with current race favourite and second favourite both failing at their most recent outings.

The other option for Until Valhalla is to head to Warwick Farm on the 22nd of November over 1400m again to build her confidence in preparation for a more ambitious preparation in the Autumn. The team will be guided by her and will continue to consider all suitable options in conjunction with post-race recovery, track conditions and suitable depths of the respective fields before finalising those plans.

La Magia Set to Follow In Trailblazer’s Footsteps

Pierro filly, La Magia, is steadily building towards a maiden race, following an impressive jump out at St Arnaud On Tuesday. Settling well midfield with cover under apprentice jockey Sarah Fields, La Magia was not asked for an effort over the 900m trip.

Whilst still on the heavier side, La Magia is expected to improve drastically between the first and second jump out and owners should be excited at the prospect of having a Melbourne-based debutant in the coming weeks. La Magia was seen in the Seymour Bloodstock silks, synonymous with Derby Week. 2017 Coolmore Stud Stakes victor and subsequent Royal Ascot hero Merchant Navy, wore the same famous silks when winning over 1200m, solidifying a stallion career. La Magia is due to have another jumpout before she makes her debut with a maiden trip to the races slated for the end of November.

La Magia’s stablemate a classy filly by Yes Yes Yes out of Luluoru is also progressing nicely, still a few weeks away from a maiden jumpout.

With only 100 shares left in the Fillies Pack and with two new Victorian prospects edging closer to racing debut. Now is the perfect time to get involved.

Smart Missile Filly Could Be The Star Of The Lot

Chloe’s Missile’s two recent trials create the discussion that she may be the next most exciting BTX horse in training.

Fresh off the win of Until Valhalla and Jon Bon over the past couple of weeks, the fast daughter of Smart Missile has been extremely professional and has mixed in her above-average ability whilst thriving at Will Clarken’s Murray Bridge facility.

Settling midfield in her most recent jumpout at Murray Bridge under jockey Ben Price, Chloe’s Missile idled up effortlessly to win the trial in what is an exciting prospect for her owners. Being based in South Australia gifts trainer Will Clarken with the opportunity to perfectly place the mare in potentially weaker grade for great prizemoney. Chloe’s Missile is due to race in the coming weeks and whilst she is showing high-class signs at home, the team are aware that with her breeding she has the ability to improve.

The attraction of South Australia’s prizemoney and her modest $75 ownership fee present great value for all owners.

Team Maher and Eustace will be charging to the front and hoping to stay there with Kettle Hill as a change in tactic looks to eclipse a run of good-looking runs. A flashing run over 1400m at Sandown was followed up by a dour run over 1700m at Caulfield with the team reverting to the open plains of Flemington on Ladies Day the target to spark Kettle Hill’s Australian career. The team will be taking the horse to the front and hoping his evident staying ability will offset his lack of a turn of foot in the Australian Childhood Foundation Trophy over 2000m. Whilst unlucky so far in his Australian starts Kettle Hill has been showing in training that he can mix it with the best. Training frequently with Group 1 horses the likes of Gold Trip and Duke De Sessa, the team are aware that once he breaks his Australian maiden, he has the ability to quickly work through the grades and back into stakes grade.

Australian Derby Aspirant Jon Bon returns to pre-training this week with the Waterhouse and Bott camp following a 4-week break and gelding operation at Evergreen Stud Farm on the New South Wales Central Coast. The first BTX racing winner, Jon Bon has long-term ambitions for this preparation and will be brought up slowly and steadily to prepare him for the staying trips he is expected to undertake, whilst also monitoring his feet and shin soreness that cut short his spring campaign. There are a variety of potential lead-up races for Jon Bon this campaign including the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas, both Group 1 races. Whilst the Tulloch and Phar Lap Stakes are also commonly used lead-ups to the Derby. Waterhouse and Bott 2023 Derby winner Majorbeel and 2021 Derby winner Quick Thinker also by So You Think both came through the Tulloch Stakes before taking out the major on the first day of The Championships.