Stormy Marco lands Victoria Derby as Defiantly scratched

Stormy Marco wins Victoria Derby under McDonald

Stormy Marco ($3.50) won the $3 million Group 1 Howden Victoria Derby at Flemington, finishing clear of Cold Shower and Quick Finish. James McDonald said he and Mark Zahra on Vallice had agreed to let their horses relax in the run, and credited Chris Waller for backing the colt up. Earlier on the card The Next Episode ($3.20) took the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, with De Armas winning the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes, Private Eye the Group 2 Damien Oliver, and The Roaring Sun, Regal Ambition and Ndola the three Group 3 events. McDonald was then set to ride the $2.15 favourite Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes.

Pedigrees: Stormy Marco, Cold Shower, Quick Finish, Vallice, The Next Episode, De Armas, Private Eye, The Roaring Sun, Regal Ambition, Ndola, Lady Shenandoah, Surfin Burd, Concord Connie

Sun Goddess seals O'Brien four-timer at Keeneland

Sun Goddess, a daughter of Sioux Nation, won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland for her fourth top-level success and seventh win of the season, completing a Group 1 four-timer on the day for a record-breaking Aidan O'Brien. Green Empress chased her home for the third time this campaign. Libertango, by No Nay Never, won the opening Grade 1 Juvenile Turf Sprint, while Haffner also scored for Europe. O'Brien said the filly was likely to change a lot through the winter.

Pedigrees: Sun Goddess, Libertango, Haffner, Green Empress, Lake Victoria, Rumplestiltskin, Misty For Me, Minding, Happily, Precise

Defiantly out of Melbourne Cup on vet advice

Defiantly has been withdrawn from Tuesday's $10.2 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup after failing Racing Victoria's final veterinary examinations, with Kizlyar promoted into the field. The Joseph O'Brien-trained five-year-old was re-inspected at Werribee on Saturday morning and stewards acted on veterinary advice, Racing Victoria stating he "remains unsuitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup". Wine Dark Sea and Enfjaar were also re-examined and gained approval. The decision follows the earlier withdrawals of Saint George and Japanese runner Stinger Glass under the same protocols. Vets had detected a change in gait and sensitivity in a hind foot earlier in the week.

Pedigrees: Defiantly, Kizlyar, Wine Dark Sea, Enfjaar, Saint George, Stinger Glass

Two Flemington runners withdrawn after Ryan charge

Flemington trainer Nick Ryan has been charged under AR 250(a) with possessing a substance on Prohibited List A after stewards allege two syringes of Darbepoetin Alfa were found in the glove box of his car during an inspection of his stables on the morning of 31 October. He reserved his plea. Acting under AR 23(d), stewards ordered his two Derby Day runners withdrawn at noon: Anglais from the Wakeful Stakes and Doubt Time from the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. The statement concerns an allegation of possession only, with no allegation that either horse was administered the substance or returned a positive test. The inquiry was adjourned until Monday 2 November.

Pedigrees: Anglais, Doubt Time

Vinery secures controlling interest in Warwoven

Vinery Stud has acquired a controlling interest in dual Group 1-winning colt Warwoven, who will join the stud's stallion roster when his racing career ends. Breeder Kia Ora Stud retains an ownership interest and the Bjorn Baker-trained son of Sword Of State is set for an autumn campaign. Warwoven won the Group 2 Run To The Rose, Group 1 Golden Rose and Group 1 Caulfield Guineas this spring, the first horse to complete that treble, and recorded the fastest winning times in both Group 1s. His Golden Rose run earned a Timeform rating of 123, equalling the best figure in the race over the past decade alongside Beiwacht and Bivouac.

Pedigrees: Warwoven, Beiwacht, Bivouac

McLachlan defends Tabcorp's One Pool at AGM

Tabcorp chief executive Gillon McLachlan defended the company's One Pool tote initiative at its annual general meeting. Launched on 2 October, One Pool consolidates Australia's three tote pools and the company says it beats fixed-price odds in about 60 per cent of races, though fixed odds beat the tote in 13 of 20 races at Randwick and Flemington on its first major weekend. Tote betting has been declining about 5 to 6 per cent annually, with parimutuel falling from half of Tabcorp revenue in 2021/22 to roughly a third in FY26. McLachlan also addressed the proposed $283 million BetMakers acquisition, which targets $30 million in cost synergies by the end of the second year.