Racing Victoria would have been fully justified had they scrapped the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington on Sunday, after the poor response received with entries.

Obviously two year old racing in the spring no longer appeals to owners and trainers.

Formerly it was a race for the colts and geldings and the fillies were separate, this year the sexes were combined, making up a paltry field of nine runners.

It would come as no surprise if the race was excluded from the calendar next year, it is a non betting affair, the interest is not there.

In contrast that was not the case at Randwick on Saturday, 10 runners faced the starter in the time honoured Breeders Plate, and the Gimcrack Stakes had 14 runners.

Written Tycoon struck gold on Saturday with a prestigious double, siring Capitalist, who won the Breeders Plate at Randwick, and a few minutes later Dieters won the first two year old at Doomben.

Zabeel, who passed away just a week or so ago, set records too numerous to mention, his high fertility rating was just amazing, covering big books of mares up to 20 years of age.

He was always a fertile sire, that could never be questioned, but beyond that there are limits, however, Zabeel knew no limits.

At 25 years he covered the mare, Better Alternative, the result, the dual Group1 success, Perferment, who is pressing for favouritism in the Melbourne Cup.

The last yearling, by Zabeel, sold at Karaka appeared at the January sales this year, the result of his last mating at 27.

Whilst not making excuses for the defeat of Treve in the Prix De Arc Triomphe, she could not have possibly won as the race was run.

The pace maker was of no assistance, he faltered at an early stage of the race, while the rider of Treve, Thierry Jarnet, was out gunned and out manoeuvred by a wily Frankie Dettori.

Golden Horn raced wide for much of the trip, it was amazing how the horse adapted to the rising ground, with Dettori making sure he was not going to get boxed up at any stage.

In hindsight, as the race was run, Treve faced an impossible task, nothing was going to come from the back in the field and threaten the winner.

From the final 600 metres to the 400 was timed at 11.95 secs, from the 400 metres to the 200 an incredible 10.76 secs, whilst the final 200 metres to the winning post was 11.55 secs.

From where Treve was positioned in the field on the turn into the straight, she would have had to run a flat 10 secs. for each sectional to have had the slightest chance of overhauling Golden Horn.

Criquette Head – Maarek, the trainer of Treve, was gracious in defeat, claiming the mare was beaten by better horses.

The telecast of the Arc was an outstanding success, all about the race and the horses parading, a highly professional world class performance and free of comedy acts.

The lone diminutive figure of jockey, Vlad Duric, crossing the mounting yard after the first race at Flemington on Sunday, illustrates the competiveness of race riding.

Last week at Caulfield he was the toast of the town, winning the Underwood Stakes on Mouringo, but as we know a week can be a long time in racing.

The transition to open company in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley proved too much for Petits Filous, it was a big ask, yet she was not entirely disgraced.

She has gone to the paddock after jarring up, according to her trainer, Ciaron Maher, she is likely to return for the autumn, with the Oakleigh Plate a likely objective.

A Group win would not be beyond her when she returns to racing, it would increase her paddock value enormously, she is a lovely filly.

Adelaide’s leading trainer, Phillip Stokes, can boast quite an impressive record, each time he slips across the border, the last 12 horses he has brought to Melbourne he has won with six, the latest, One For One, at Flemington on Sunday .

Punters are now catching on, he is not bringing horses over to show them the sights, he is deadly serious, winning is the name of the game

Lady Luck certainly deserted Tony McEvoy, he had Alpine Eagle all primed up for the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, and a promising spring campaign ahead when he cracked a pedal bone. Which is in the hoof, and Don’t Doubt Mamma didn’t put in as well as expected..