Sport

Chris Roots

Racing writer for The Sydney Morning Herald

Scottish works past Francis Of Assisi in trackwork at Werribee.

Appleby enjoys Australian rich pickings

The first experience of Australian racing for Charlie Appleby has been a profitable one and the success of his team has the Godolphin trainer coming into Melbourne a couple days earlier than expected.

Ready to shine: Star Turn is in great shape to take on the best in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Hawkes chasing another couple of group 1s

Team Hawkes started the spring with a sprinter, a miler and a couple of stayers looking for group 1 glory, they have already banked the Caulfield Guineas with Divine Prophet and will look to add a Victoria Derby and Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Blue army: Melbourne Cup favourite Hartnell could be one of six runners for Godolphin.

Godolphin, Lloyd to play numbers game as Cup hopefuls dwindle

Sheikh Mohammed's globe-trotting Godolphin team and Melbourne Cup fanatic Lloyd Williams could boast more than a third of the field for Australia's great race as officials bank on dwindling entries being enough to avoid the embarrassment of not catering for the capacity 24 runners.