The Nation Celebrates

 The lucrative Spring carnival opened with a hugely successful Derby Day on Saturday, with 90,000-plus race goers donning black and white in ideal conditions following the disastrous Cox Plate weekend of wild weather beforehand.

The racing was just as splendid, with a form guide highlighting Australia’s best converging to fight for riches and guaranteed stud deals should an entire salute.

For Pfieffer, just the thought of a runner on a carnival day was enough, but he had managed to produce his newfound star Denmagic for what would be the race of her career in one of the nation’s best Group 1 challenges for mares.

“To even get a runner in the Myer is a huge thrill” said the trainer from his Sydney base on Monday morning.

Pfieffer welcomed his second child to the world on late Friday night, dashing any plans for a trip to Flemington that weekend. The wait for his son was well worth it as a healthy baby boy was delivered safely for him and partner Lizzie at 10:51pm.

“I didn’t need to be reminded that I missed a great day of racing, but to have a healthy baby is certainly worth it”.

Denmagic went above and beyond her call to run a tremendous third, closing hard to just miss the light weighted filly I Am A Star and French Emotion, who had lovely runs in transit.

“The fact she was stopped in her tracks when everything else was getting going, balance back up and sprinted was incredible.

“It showed us all just how good she is and hopefully now with a Group 1 third on her resume she can command the respect she deserves as one of Australia’s top mares in racing”.

Denmagic might well be given the opportunity to reign supreme over 2000m in the G2 Matriarch Stakes on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

"We will see how she goes this week, depending on how she pulls up and what the field shapes up as".

The focus now turns to the big one, as across the nation millions of one-off punters of $2 bets will march to their local hotel or TAB for a flutter on a day that hosts some 40 race meetings to compliment the famous Flemington card.

Not one to miss a party, Pfieffer will saddle three runners at Canberra, Royal Randwick and Muswellbrook. The first Tuesday in November has readily become an Australian icon and is recognised worldwide as one of the sport’s greatest spectacles; making it a day that every owner wants a runner.

Sworn In will be set for Canberra, Pelethronius will represent the team at Royal Randwick and heading to Muswellbrook is the handsome Brilliant Meteor who is looking to find the winner's stall this campaign in the Mayor's Cup.