With the autumn carnival ramping up at Randwick, SALSONIC, YOU MAKE ME SMILE and SIREN'S FURY faced tough assignments at group level this weekend. Tempo was against SIREN'S FURY in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes over 1400m, with moderate speed upfront making the finish difficult for the backmarkers. The mare was fanned wide coming into the straight but ran on well, her performance better than what was reflected by her 9th placing, finishing 4.4 lengths off the winner.

In the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup, YOU MAKE ME SMILE wasn't given any favours, taken on by DREAMFORCE from the start. The pressure took its toll on the four year old who dropped off in the straight, but still ran a creditable fourth place - a solid run for his first race in group company. Meanwhile, it was a nice return by Group 2 Queensland Guineas winner SALSONIC who was aided by the tempo upfront and kicked well in the straight to finish third, 1.8 lengths from the winner.

At Goulburn, jockey Jess Taylor was able to get a maiden victory for LORD HERON in the Jamala Wildlife Lodge Showcase Maiden Handicap over 1300m. Breaking well from an inside draw, the gelding was placed in a handy position. When asked in the straight, the four year old didn't shirk the task and responded well to riding, holding off a fast closing SAKURA. The son of ALL TOO HARD started his preparation with a close placing at Newcastle first up, so it was good to see him break through at his fifth race start. Jess also partnered RED BROCADE, who just missed coming third by 0.11 lengths after a strong rails run.