Champion jockey James McDonald has been charged with the task of getting speedy filly Dipsy Doodle to settle.

In what proved a headline-writers dream Shiraz continued to mature with age returning a narrow new peak in taking out the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington.

Former Sydney-trained sprinter Pampelonne will stay in Victoria for Friday’s $100,000 Golden Topaz at Swan Hill in preference to a return to Randwick on Saturday.

Chris Waller’s Winter Challenge winner Coup Ay Tee can claim what promises to be a tightly contested Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) this afternoon.

Scone trainer Paul Messara has opted for Thursday’s $150,000, Group 3 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup at Hawkesbury with his in-form Mic Mac over taking on an avalanche of resuming Group winning horses in the Group 2 WFA Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday.