A look back at Andrew Ramsden Race Day

Golden Cup Ticket for Basilinna

Former New Zealand trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne will potentially have their first Melbourne Cup starter after Basilinna scored in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m).

Basilinna won her connections a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington with her success.

Emma-Lee Browne said the victory on Saturday, combined with the ballot exemption into Australia’s greatest race, means a lot to both her and her husband along with their entire stable.

“I’m a little bit overwhelmed,” Browne said.

“She’s a horse that means a lot to me and I can’t believe that she did it.

“When the rain came we were pretty confident, but she is a proper princess and it might have been too much rain, but she just handled it so well.

“We’ve just got to wrap her in cotton wool now and we’ll be back here in November.

“It’s a massive thing for our whole stable.

“Right from the start today, she was handling the track great and I think I will be the only one hoping for rain in November.”

Tom Prebble lands first Stakes success

The son of former jockeys Brett Prebble and Maree Payne registered his most important win to date when taking out the Listed Straight Six (1200m).

Tom Prebble was lining up for just his third ride in a Stakes race and after guiding Title Fighter to victory in Saturday’s sprint has now logged 110 winners since starting his career in November 2022.

“This means a lot,” Prebble said.

“I thought the win was mine, but I didn’t want to go too soon and be smiling and cheering when I didn’t get the winner, so it’s pretty awesome now that I do realise I’ve won.”

Prebble was keeping a level head after the victory delaying any potential celebrations until he had finished riding for the day.

“I just see every race as the next and I just learn from them,” Prebble said.

“I got the opportunity to ride in a Listed race and took it on the chin and it turned out awesome.”

Brisbane bound Highvol scores again

A trip to Brisbane is on the agenda for Highvol after his win in the Trevor Clarke Handicap (1400m).

Highvol is booked on a plane to Queensland on Tuesday evening and will head north providing he recovers well from Saturday’s outing.

The Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 will be the gelding’s first assignment in Brisbane followed by the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) two weeks later.

“Fingers crossed he pulls up well and he’s on the plane into Queensland on Tuesday night,” Ryan said.

“We’ve just ticked a box getting through soft conditions today and he can put himself in a winning position, so that’s a second box ticked.

“Now we’ve just got to get him up there healthy and fit.”

Politely Dun books Brisbane trip

The Danny O’Brien-trained Politely Dun has booked himself a trip to Brisbane with victory in the Sir Henry Bolte Handicap (2000m).

The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 is on the agenda for the three-year-old after he missed a start in another Derby two weeks ago.

O’Brien had Politely Dun engaged in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville which would have been the gelding’s first run since chasing home Statuario at Caulfield over 2400m on April 5.

“He was scratched from the South Australian Derby just off a blood irregularity,” O’Brien said.

“We didn’t want to put him on a float and travel. He might have been OK to run if the races had been here instead. It was something minor.

“That was a really good trial today and he’s got two weeks now until he has to travel up and hopefully run really well for us in Queensland.”

Makram delivers another knockout blow

Lindsay Park galloper Makram may not be a favourite with punters, but he certainly is with trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes.

Makram is now a four time winner at Flemington after adding the L V Lachal Handicap (1600m) to his record.

All four wins at Flemington have been at long odds, including his $151 success in the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) in February last year when he lowered the colours of Jimmysstar.

Makram scored at $31 when relishing the wet conditions on Saturday.

“He ran into Pride Of Jenni last start,” Ben Hayes said.

“He’s just been looking for a track with give, and that’s what we got today.

“He had a beautiful run the whole way and Luke (Currie) didn’t have to go around a horse.

“I was just laughing with a few others that we love him as he always wins at big odds, and today he was able to win and win really well.”

Adelaide local prevails

Richard Jolly may reside permanently in Adelaide but he notched a win for local Flemington trainers when Star Sirius scored in the Eugene Gorman Handicap (1200m).

The majority of the Jolly team, which he prepares with daughter Chantelle, are prepared out of Morphettville, but in March the pair was granted six boxes to prepare horses from at Flemington.

Losesomewinmore scored for the team at headquarters on Anzac Day.

“We’ve had some boxes here since March and we’re slowly filtering a few across,” Jolly said.

“It’s been a slow start, but we’re just trying to pick the right horses to bring over.

“With our Carnival on back home, the races were probably a bit hard the last couple of weeks in Adelaide for Star Sirius.

“She’s probably not quite at the Listed level, so we decided to come over here, keep against her own sex and we’ve won a Flemington race with her.”

Rain suits Madame Maserati

While patrons may have been sheltering from the chilly conditions, Madame Maserati relished the rain that fell during the morning to register a third straight win, taking out the TAB We’re On (1100m).

The track was downgraded from a Good 4 prior to scratching to a Slow 7 by the time the first race was held.

The Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained filly had scored previous wins at Kyneton and Pakenham and Yeomans conceded she was a little surprised by Saturday’s victory.

“She had won her last two on the bounce but we didn’t think we would be here with this filly, but then we thought she deserved the chance being a three-year-old at a distance that suits her,” Yeomans said.

“The straight was always going to be a query, but once it started raining, having won her debut on a heavy track, we thought that might slow everyone else down.

“She’s a bit of a brat this filly, but she is a stable favourite, so everyone will be delighted.”