The Observatory April 3

With one invite locked away for The Racing & Sports The Rising Sun, a second has been issued, with exciting three-year-old Always Hot being offered a place in the field.

Unbeaten in eight career starts, the two-time Group 1 winner last raced when claiming the New South Wales Derby for trainer Emma Stewart and driver Greg Sugars.

At Bathurst, there were several Constellations hopefuls in action across the week for the time-honoured Gold Crown Carnival.

Here is a look around the Australian and New Zealand from the past week at the performances of potential Constellations Contenders

Air Express

Grant Dixon’s Group 1 winner made it successive wins as his four-year-old season starts to take shape.

Favourite backers would have been reaching for the smelling salts after the gelding made an error soon after the start, however he regathered and was powerful to the line to claim a 1.53.7 victory.

Justcallmemiki

Remaining unbeaten since arriving with Team Bond, the four-year-old produced a strong effort in victory at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Sent forward from gate seven to sit parked, Deni Roberts was in control and allowed the gelding to slide from the 400, running home in 27.8 for an effortless victory.

Jacks Ultimate Fury

The Bathurst Gold Chalice Final produced a quality line up which included three runners from the 2024 Protostar, with Hesitate, My Ultimate Barney and Sweet On Lexy all finishing behind the winner Jacks Ultimate Fury.

Trained by Russell Jack and owned by Mick Boots, the gelding won a heat of the Gold Crown as a two-year-old before finishing fifth behind Fox Dan in the final.

The Gold Chalice victory followed a 1.51.9 win in his heat and extended his career record to eight wins in 12 starts.

Message Bank

David Hewitt claimed a breakthrough Group 1 driving victory with Captaintreacherous two-year-old Message Bank taking out the Bathurst Gold Crown Final.

Recording the fastest time from the seven heats with his 1.53.7 victory, which was also his first race start, the gelding worked to the front and then held them off over the closing stages.

The performance would certainly have piqued the interest of slot holders for the Ladbrokes Protostar.

Chase A Dream

 The bets version of Chase A Dream was on display at Cambridge in the Waikato Flying Mile, with the four-year-old claiming some well-credentialed open age scalps.

Strong to the line, the Mark Purdon driven gelding was impressive after a pair less than impressive returns at Auckland and another strong showing against the ‘big-boys’ in this week’s slot race will see him a potential force for the Constellations.

Eye Keep Smiling                                                             

The defending Garrards Golden Girl Champion was back in business at Menangle last week and was untouchable in a 10-metre demolition of her opponents.

Now a winner at 19 of 30 starts, the Luke McCarthy trained mare will provide a handy one-two combination alongside the reigning Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo.

Rylee Rhayne Bow

With races like the Rising Sun and Golden Girl in her sights, the Chantal Turpin trained mare put her case forward as being the best mare in Queensland with another dominant victory.

Pressing on to find the front soon after the start, Pete McMullen kept a solid tempo in front as the mare made it three successive victories and edged within one win of $300,000 in race stakes.

Not As Promised

Graham Dwyer’s trotting star was having his first real open class test when stepping out in the Waikato Trotters Flying Mile last Friday.

Finding the front in the small field, the five-year-old held on for second place behind Oscar Bonavena and will further test press hi Inter Dominion credentials when tackling the trot slot race this week.