The Saturday Wash-Up

Bolter takes out the opener at Flemington

Flemington’s opening race delivered the first surprise of the day, with Persian Spirit ($61) storming home to score comfortably.

The Symon Wilde-trained galloper is nothing if not consistent – he’s now placed in all 13 career starts – but most of his best form had come over longer trips than today’s 1100m. That makes the win a promising sign for what’s to come this campaign.

Punters came hard for She’s An Artist, crunching her price from $2.70 into $1.90, but the flashy mare didn’t justify the support. She weakened late and had to settle for fourth.

Vinrock bounces back

Mark Zahra made light work of the wide draw, rolling Vinrock forward in the Exford Plate (1400m) – a move that proved decisive.

The Matt Laurie-trained Group 1 winner travelled sweetly throughout before putting them away with ease. The talented colt is now three-from-three at 1400m, a perfect platform heading towards the 1600m Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, where he is currently an $8 chance.

Punters #Wallered in Ming Dynasty

Punters were #Wallered in this year’s Ming Dynasty, with Chris Waller’s second elect in the market, Sixties, taking out the race after finding the rail and controlling the tempo throughout.

Autumn Boy lost absolutely no admirers with an outstanding effort off a somewhat average tempo. His run against the pattern was full of merit and stamped him as a horse to follow.

The eye-catcher from the back was the race-fit Grand Prairie, who charged home from an impossible spot in transit and looks primed for the right race.

Arkansaw Kid goes back to back

The past two editions of the Bobbie Lewis Quality have been taken out by Arkansaw Kid and Star Patrol and they fought out today's edition. Ultimately, it was the consistent Hayes-trained galloper Arkansaw Kid who got the cash.

The win brought up a double for the Lindsay Park team after Café Millennium continued his terrific dry-track, 1400m record with a narrow victory over Transatlantic in the Tontonan Stakes.

Arkansaw Kid went around a well-backed favourite, but there was a sting in the tail for World Pool punters. They copped $2.85 about the winner, who was $3.20 with local bookies and closer to $3.50 on the Exchange. It’s becoming a recurring theme with World Pool races – favourites are heavily targeted and, combined with the higher take-out rate, those backing the market-elect are often getting the worst of it.

Revelare books Melbourne Cup ticket

Robert Hickmott has another Melbourne Cup contender after Revelare extended his hot streak by claiming the Archer.

The gelding has now won seven of his past eight starts, continuing to rise to each challenge as the bar is lifted.

Post-race, jockey Declan Bates was glowing in his assessment of his Cup mount: "I wouldn’t be swapping him for anything. He’s got more improvement to come."

Hickmott was quick to credit his former boss, Lloyd Williams, for shaping his career.

"It’s all due to Lloyd Williams, I can tell you that. I’m lucky to have ever met Lloyd and have that experience and exposure to good horses."

Revelare’s breeder, Colleen Bamford, is no stranger to Cup glory, having shared in the ownership of 2010 winner Americain.

Godolphin's stranglehold on the Run To The Rose continues

Emerging 3YO filly Tempted put her rivals away in devastating fashion to claim the Run To The Rose.

The win continued Godolphin’s extraordinary stranglehold on the race - they’ve now won the past five editions, and six of the last seven. It’s a serious honour roll, too: Traffic Warden, Cylinder, In Secret, Anamoe, and Bivouac have all saluted in that stretch.

The win was an outstanding audition for the Coolmore/Everest later in the spring, and the win had even more merit given the filly got very hot pre-race.

Punters didn’t miss her, with Tempted heavily backed from $5.50 into $3.90 before justifying the support.

Now in the care of Ciaron Maher, the filly also kept Godolphin’s momentum rolling in the post-James Cummings era.

Skyhook and Wodeton were the eye-catchers, neither had the right run in transit but found the line impressively late.

Williams, Brightside take out the Makybe Diva

Most speed maps had Mr Brightside controlling the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes - and control it he did, taking out the race for a third time.

Craig Williams rolled forward to the early lead and was allowed to dictate as he pleased, with none of his rivals keen to apply any pressure. The race quickly became a sit-and-sprint, and Mr Brightside kicked strongly early in the straight to put away a field of high-class rivals.

Much like in the Winx Stakes, there was little between Aeliana and Via Sistina, who filled the placings, with Antino back in fourth. For Via Sistina, it was déjà vu - beaten as a short-priced favourite in the Makybe Diva for the second consecutive year.

For the data orientated, they went about 30L below standard (what's considered average) to the 800m mark. The overall time of 1.38.75 was about 20L outside standard for this class of galloper, highlighting the farcical tempo.