Shaun Dwyer’s speed machine Miss Leonidas is ready to return to the races after a slashing trial at Cranbourne on Monday.
Dwayne Dunn partnered the daughter of I Am Invincible for a soft 2½-length trial win in 47.46 seconds for the 800 metres.
The four-year-old has not raced since her six-length triumph at The Valley in mid-June. 
“She couldn’t have done any more and pulled up well so she’s pretty much where I need to be,” Dwyer said this week.
“I had her a little underdone at Sandown last campaign first up but she has to be wound up heading into the spring races.”
Miss Leonidas’s kickoff point will be at Caulfield on Sunday September 30 in an 1100-metre benchmark 90 for mares. 
Dwyer’s mare completed an exhibition gallop at Bendigo between races last Thursday (September 13) and will do a serious piece of work on Saturday.
A listed mares race on Caulfield Cup day and a race over the Flemington carnival are also on Dwyer’s radar. He will also be entering her for the Group 1 Darley Classic on Flemington’s final day.
Dwyer also saddled up unraced Dundeel two-year-old Entente at Monday’s trials. The colt finished a strong second and is heading for a spell with stable expectations high.
Dwyer decided not to accept with Savaju this Saturday at Caulfield and will run her instead at Benalla next Friday in a $50,000 benchmark 78 over 1200 metres.
Violate looking great
Stablemate The August was hogging the headlines prior to last Saturday’s meeting at Flemington, but it was Violate who had them talking afterwards.
Trained at Sutton Grange by Brent Stanley, Violate ($10) scored an impressive first-up win under Noel Callow in the listed $120,000 The Sofitel (1400m).
The Group 3 placegetter had been gelded during his spell.
Violate will now be aimed at a series of country cups, his campaign hoped to culminate at Flemington in cup week.
Stablemates Mig Energy and The August finished 11th in their respective races.
McKnights’ day out
Racedays don’t come much better than Echuca last Saturday for Maldon’s Brian and Ashley McKnight. The McKnights saddled up four runners for two winners, a photo-finish second and a third.
The wins came from Lone Soldier ($16), a son of Magnus who broke his maiden status at start four under Michael Poy, and the well supported Yarrayne Lass ($16 into $8), who stormed home to win in 0-58 company under young gun Teo Nugent.
Hot Seat would go within a nose of making it a treble while Exceder was a gallant third.
’Go the go for Furrion
Prominent Bendigo-born owner Gerry Ryan will again target the Jayco Bendigo Cup this year, with Saturday’s Flemington winner Furrion targeted at the race.
Ryan won his hometown cup with Puissance de Lune in 2012 and was a runner-up with Kiwia in last year’s edition. 
The British-bred Furrion has had six runs, all in Australia, for five wins.
“Obviously Gerry is from Bendigo so we’re trying to go towards the Bendigo Cup,” trainer Darren Weir said.
“We’re hoping he ends up in a really good race later on.”
Black-bookers
Two Bendigo horses caught the eye in heat five of Monday’s Cranbourne trials behind the smart You’ve Been Had, who clocked the quickest 800m time of the morning (46.85 seconds).
Like to Think So looks to have freshened up well after rising to prominence during his winter campaign. Under light riding he hit the line strongly for second.
Huge Action was kept ticking over with a mid-campaign trial fourth under riding. With a rating of 68 he should be winning in benchmark 70 company soon.