Monaco does us proud in AJC Derby

No winners on Saturday but an outstanding run by Monaco Consul in the Gr.1 AJC Derby had everyone in the stable smiling.

Travelling much better during the run than he had at recent outings in New Zealand, the high class three-year-old was stuck in a bit of traffic in the straight but once clear he really powered to the line.

Making up many lengths in the final furlong, Monaco Consul finished a gallant third beaten just 1.6 lengths by Shoot Out. It was an all High Chaparral finish with Descarado running second.

"It was an excellent run," enthused jockey Damien Oliver - "he finished off very well. The muddling pace worked against him."

Michael Moroney was also pleased.

"He wanted to lay out coming down the straight but he's a lot better back in Australia than he was in New Zealand."

"The Queensland Derby is the aim," he continued - "He has only had four runs and we have been purposefully spacing them out."

Another great run on Saturday was that by Mission Critical who was resuming over 1400m at Flemington.

Having his first run since being gelded, the talented five-year-old - a full brother to Brilliant Light who earlier in the day won the Listed Doncaster Prelude at Randwick - Mission Critical ran a really cheeky race, getting to second in the run home and boxing on gamely for a 2.6 length fifth.

We really expected the 1400m to be too short for him so to see him run such a nice race was great. Let's hope he is back in winning form soon!