The top three performers of the Spring Carnival

The Wednesday Agenda panel of Troy Corstens, Calvin McEvoy and Gareth Hall have revealed their top three training performances of the spring, with Andrea Leek, Ciaron Maher and David Payne all earning recognition following memorable campaigns.

Troy Corstens

3 - Corstens placed Andrea Leek's preparation of Cosmic Crusader at number three, praising her work with the horse following his Cox Plate and Turnbull Stakes victories.

“She’s done a magnificent job with that horse,” Corstens said.

2 - At number two was Ciaron Maher, who created history by becoming the first trainer to quinella and trifecta the Melbourne Cup.

1 - However, Corstens saved his number one selection for his own stable, naming co-trainer Will Larkin following an outstanding Flemington Carnival.

“I never beat my own chest, but we had twelve runners over the Flemington Carnival, we had a winner, two seconds and three thirds.”

“I'm super proud of what my team has done over the carnival, while I've been busy doing a lot of media and ATA stuff.”

Calvin McEvoy

3 - McEvoy had Chris Waller's Birdman at number three, describing the Group 1 winner as an underrated performer who continues to fly under the radar.

“I think Birdman is an underrated horse. He has held his form by picking up two Group 1s and he is always overlooked for some reason,” McEvoy said.

2 - Maher's Melbourne Cup success with Point Of Law was his number two selection, highlighting the remarkable preparation that saw the horse deliver two peak performances in Australia.

“He went 15 weeks from his last run in Europe to the Geelong Cup and then 13 days to the Melbourne Cup. To produce two peak performances in its first two starts in Australia is super impressive.”

1 - Cosmic Crusader rounded out McEvoy's selections at number one, with the toughness and consistency of Leek's preparation earning high praise.

“He is tough as nails, been to every dance and it's a remarkable training effort.”

Gareth Hall

3 - Hall placed David Payne's unbeaten filly Proxima Dea at number three, recognising the trainer's outstanding placement of the filly following her Spring Champion Stakes victory in Sydney before claiming the VRC Oaks.

“He has placed her perfectly, winning the Spring Champion in Sydney against the boys into the Oaks, she is perfect,” Hall said.

2 - Cosmic Crusader was Hall's number two selection, with Hall also acknowledging the role of owner Bob Peters in providing the horse with a successful preparation.

“Bob Peters deserves credit for giving him the preparation that was so successful.”

“Just a perfect example of knowing your horse from back to front.”

1 - At number one was Maher's Melbourne Cup triumph with Point Of Law, with Hall praising the trainer's patience and ability to execute a plan under pressure.

“Shows the genius of Ciaron Maher, he didn't panic and worked out a plan.”

“He galloped him well leading into the Cup, it was unbelievable courage.”

With three different perspectives and plenty of deserved recognition, the panel's selections highlighted the planning, patience and horsemanship behind some of the spring's most memorable performances.