Goulburn trainer Kurt Goldman will consider a Stradbroke start for filly Eckstein but is likely to keep her to her own sex after her classy win in the Glenlogan Park Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Whichever way Goldman goes - the Stradbroke or the Tatts Tiara - Eckstein has a real group1 chance in the next month.
The I Am Invincible filly had a bit in hand as she scored from Egyptian Symbol and Sold For Song on Saturday but not without a scare for Corey Brown.
"She was going to win by three [lengths] but she had a look and just stopped, and in the end I just helped her to the line," Brown said. "I was scared she [would] tuck up and throw it away. When she switches on she is going to be even better."
It is that immaturity that has Goldman happy to go to the Dane Ripper Stakes in a fortnight before taking on the final group 1 of the season, the Tatts Tiara.
"We know she handles this track now and it might scare a few off [from the Stradbroke] the way it has been playing. It is still an option but there is a group 1 for her a couple weeks later against the mares," Goldman said.
"She has got that group 3 so we can wait and see what happens but we know we have a very good filly and a shot at a group 1."
ORDER AGAIN TRIUMPHS
Brian Smith admitted to a tear after watching Order Again stave off South Australian Derby winner Volatile Mix to take the Grand Prix at Eagle Farm.
"He is still not there yet. He is so immature and what he just did is amazing," Smith said. "He is going to be a really good horse in the future but he can win a Derby."
It was Smith's second Grand Prix, the other coming 41 years ago with Balmerino, which would win the Brisbane Cup before going to Europe and being runner-up to Alleged in an Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe.
Larry Cassidy knew he was on "a hiding to nothing" when he hit the front at the 300-metre mark.
"If I got beat I would have been dirty on myself," Cassidy said. "BJ [Smith] says get there and count to 10 and maybe I got to eight. It could have even been a quick seven-eight but you have to go some time. He is still learning this horse and he just showed you how tough he is."
MELODY BELLE SKIPPING
On a day when Eagle Farm took many out of play before the pressure started in races, Melody Belle simply skipped across the ground to become JJ Atkins favourite.
The track was called awful by leading riders, who said it was shifty but it did not affect the New Zealand filly as she smashed her rivals in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes by four lengths, and jockey Opie Bosson believes the best is to come.
"She just skipped over that ground and there is improvement left in her," Bosson said. Melody Belle has already won the group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes in New Zealand as well as the Karaka Millions.
ALLERGIC EYES BRISBANE
Godolphin stayer Allergic could head to the Brisbane Cup after coming with a late charge to take the McKell Cup at Randwick on Saturday.
Allergic gave the leaders 10 lengths at the 800m, but reeled them in with ease to score by one length from favourite Broadside with Soviet Courage third.
"We were slightly worried when he was out the back there. There wasn't a huge amount going on in front of him but luckily Big Blue towed him into the race a little bit and gave him a nice run home," Godolphin Australia racing manager Claire Mackay said.
Josh Parr said Allergic was travelling like a winner 600 from home.
"I was confident a long way from home. He's got the runs on the board. I just had to point him in the right direction and he did the rest," he said.
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