A look at some of the other angles from the 7 Stakes meeting at Randwick.
Cummings colt a Beauty
Anthony Cummings says El Castello is reviving memories of former Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation following back-to-back wins to begin his campaign.
Cummings put the early polish on Beauty Generation when he was known as Montaigne and like El Castello, that horse broke his maiden in midweek grade before scoring over a mile in Saturday company.
The former went on to place in the 2016 Rosehill Guineas three starts later before heading overseas, and El Castello will also be given his opportunity at the highest level with next month's Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on his radar.
"The last time I had success with this sort of routine a few years ago, the horse turned out to be Beauty Generation, so he's got big shoes to fill if that's the way it works out," Cummings said.
"He's goes to the Gloaming (Stakes) and the (Spring) Champion Stakes, and depending on what that looks like, we might have a look at the (Victoria) Derby. But we'll go to the Champion Stakes first."
As he did first-up at Warwick Farm, El Castello ($2.90 fav) didn't win by far, edging clear of Extreme Freedom ($18) to take out the Midway Handicap (1600m) by a half-length, but Cummings and winning jockey Tim Clark agreed there was plenty left in the tank.
"He was always going to win the race. He got there and clocked off a little bit," Clark said.
"But really promising three-year-old who is going to make his presence felt in these staying contests."
El Castello is from the same family as Cummings' 2012 Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar.
Perennial stakes Kosciuszko claims
Co-trainer Leah Gavranich is hoping Perennial has done enough to claim one of the remaining slots in the Kosciuszko after posting a classy first-up victory in Saturday's Highway Handicap (1000m).
Carting topweight of 60kg, the Scone gelding took his record to four wins from seven starts on Saturday in an effort Gavranich felt was full of promise considering Perennial had scores of improvement to come.
While he is yet to be tested beyond 1100m, she has no qualms about him stretching to the 1200m of The Kosciuszko and feels can acquit himself well if selected for the October 19 feature.
"He's a horse that appreciates consistency in his racing prep and with the 60 kilos first-up, at probably eighty per cent fitness, I think he throws his hat in the ring for a race like the 'Kosi'," Gavranich said.
"I think he just put the writing on the wall then."
Perennial ($3.30) sat handy to the speed for Zac Lloyd and while he took a few strides to find his gear, he accelerated nicely once he did, doing enough to hold on and deny the late-closing Ticklebelly, despite his condition giving out late.
Lloyd says the four-year-old is still learning but has the hallmarks of a nice horse.
"He is extremely raw still, he's doing a bit wrong," Lloyd said.
"When the penny drops, he is going to be a serious horse."
Smith gelding Floating towards Big Dance
Under-rated gelding Floating has collected a bonus victory at Randwick as he continues his march towards the $3 million Big Dance on Melbourne Cup day.
Qualifying for the feature with his Nowra Cup success in December, Floating is a winner up to 2000m but has been trained specifically as a miler this preparation with the Big Dance (1600m) in mind.
Following his 1-1/2 length decision over Bear On The Loose in Saturday's Peachester Lodge Shoot Out Mile (1600m), trainer Matt Smith will look at the Epsom Handicap as a possible springboard, if the horse can sneak into the race.
But he says all roads lead to the Melbourne Cup day meeting at Randwick.
"He will be at the mile that day for sure. We won't be going anywhere else," Smith said.
"We will probably have a look at an Epsom now, he might scrape in….he can go there on the way."
"We've kept him sharp and just let him race himself into fitness.
"We have always thought he was better on softer tracks, but this time in we haven't had any issues and he has been sound. He's shown a good turn of foot on a couple of occasions, and he was good today."
Gong could sound for Well Timed
The Gong looms as a potential target for Kembla Grange-trained local Well Timed after his successful transition to benchmark company in Saturday's Nick Moraitis Trophy (1400m) at Randwick.
A winner two starts ago in Midway grade, Well Timed ($3.40 fav) unleashed a powerful finish under Nash Rawiller to score by a length over Sharp Shock, prompting trainer Kerry Parker to consider loftier targets down the track.
"Today was our next stepping stone, to win out of that Midway grade, and he has gone and done that really well today,"' Parker said.
"It's just a matter of what they do with his benchmark now as to where I go next."
While Well Timed is yet to be tested over 1600m, Parker says his strength at the end of his races suggests he will see it out, bringing The Gong onto their spring radar.
"That's in the back of my mind, if we can take our time and get him through to that, that would be a nice result," Parker said.
"I think he will run a mile the way he attacked the line today."
Quote of the Day: "He is just going about his work better and better all the time, he's relaxing better and in time, he can definitely stretch out (in journey). He's got the Metrop in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to that." – jockey Tim Clark on Kingston Town Stakes winner Eliyass.
