The colours, red, blue cap, carried by Platinum Spin in his maiden jumping win at Sandown, have a long and successful history.

They are the silks that were prominent in the Riverina more than fifty years ago, worn by the late Roy Higgins when riding for Jack Freyer.

They proved a formidable team, when Higgins was still a claiming apprentice it was Freyer that discovered Higgins, he was responsible for giving the young rider his first winning ride on Tauri at Flemington.

City trainers would never go out of their way to engage a little known country based apprentice that nobody had heard of, even city apprentices were soon forgotten once they out rode their claim.

In most instances apprentices in those times were nothing more than cheap labour, mucking out boxes, grooming horses for a dollar a week and your keep, if you were lucky.

That is where Higgins was lucky; he was with the right man in Jack Freyer, he gave him the opportunity to become a success, Roy’s career blossomed thereafter.

Sires Winner For Sires

Zululand, winner of V R C Sire’s Produce Stakes, will be out to emulate Tulloch when he runs in the AT C Sire’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Tulloch was the last dual Sire’winner at Flemington and Randwick when he defeated Todman who had won the Golden Slipper Stakes at his previous start.

Zululand went into the Sires as a maiden at Flemington; it will be quite unique if he can repeat the win at Randwick.

Zululand wins the Sires at Flemington

Zoustar Doubt If Track Is Slow

Zoustar is unlikely to run in the $2.5 million T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday if the track is on the slow side.

No chances will be taken with the expensive colt who is destined for stud duties in the coming spring.

Whether he is bomb proof or not is another question, he didn’t show up for long in the Galaxy, in fact he was disappointing.

If he does not run on Saturday there is nothing much left for him, Brisbane may be an option, and if its Royal Ascot there will need to be some quick decisions.