Equiano filly Cleopatra’s Glory was primed for a first-up victory by Team Hawkes at Werribee on Friday. Backed from $11 into $7, she reeled in the leaders with a late rally to win the Better Solar Maiden Plate (1100m) with something in hand. It was a marked improvement on her only other start at Kilmore in September when midfield after easing from $7 to $12. “That was a comfortable win in the end,” jockey Michael Walker admitted. “She’s still pretty green and was all over the place when a couple shot around us on the home turn. But once balanced with clear running, she picked them off and was pulling up on the line. “There’s a lot of upside to this filly.” Cleopatra’s Glory (3f Equiano –

Destiny was served when Dodging Bullets landed the $100,000 Swettenham Stud Championship Final (1700m) at Caulfield on Thursday. The Symon Wilde trained gelding is a son of former Swettenham sire Dash For Cash and was conceived, foaled and raised at the Nagambie nursery. He was also part of the Swettenham consignment to the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale making $42,000. “We always liked him although he didn’t show much before racing,” Wilde recalled as Craig Williams brought the winner back to scale. “He’s only lightly-raced and I would love to keep him going through to the Warrnambool Cup.” Raced by a partnership comprising Bill Whitehead, John Emerson, James Irvine, William

Incision well and truly out classed his rivals at the iconic Australian Day meeting at Hanging Rock. Breaking his maiden in the TAC Be Ready Plate over 1000m, he was the short priced popular favourite amongst a big crowd of racegoers on track. Ridden by Daniel Moor, Incision jumped well and was driven forward to take the lead. He skipped away from the pack to be comfortably two lengths clear throughout the race. Turning from home, his lead had increased to three lengths and without any challenges late, Moor had an easy ride saluting on the line. Speaking to Incision’s trainer Paul Banks from Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds he was feeling very confident going into todays race. After galloping Incision

Equiano sprinter Final Venture will be set for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint following a brilliant first-up victory in Dubai. The Paul Midgley trained gelding struck gold with a narrow win in the valuable Jebel Ali Port Hcp (1200m) at Meydan on Thursday. Last seen finishing fifth at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day, he broke well for Pat Dobbs and held off a challenge from Sheikh Mohammed homebred Steady Pace to score by a nose. "I was a passenger for most of the race,” Dobbs said. “He took me along quicker than I wanted to go and when I gave him a squeeze, he kept rolling. He's very tough and tries hard.” Final Venture (5g Equiano – Sharplaw Venture by Polar Falcon) had been backed from $17 into

Swettenham Stud graduate Castelo is ready to climb the grades in city ranks after a last-start victory at Sandown. He settled at the back of the field before storming home to win the Mypunter Hcp (1400m) on the Hillside circuit last week. It was his third victory following early wins at Pakenham and Werribee. Swettenham sold him (as agent) at the Blue Riband session of the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. “He had good conformation and a frame that was going to need time to mature,” trainer Clinton McDonald said. “He’s a typical High Chaparral and we’ve been patient but we’re seeing the results of that now.” Castelo defeated New Elegance by a half-length at Sandown. The runner-up is an

Master Of Design 3yo Star Of Patch lived up to a promising Hong Kong debut in November with a stunning last-to-first victory on New Year’s Day. Racing second-up at Sha Tin, the Paul O’Sullivan trained sprinter speared through a gap in the straight to score by a neck in the Wong Leng Hcp (1200m). Winning jockey Zac Purton was taken by the effort after settling him at the back from a wide gate. “That was a good win. We decided to be patient but the horses I was following weren’t taking me into the race. “He’s still green but went about his business when I gave him a squeeze. He was all over the joint in the last 200 metres trying to get out and he bumped Joao’s horse on the way throug