It was hard to wipe the smile off the face of Mitchell Beer, after winning his first city race at Caulfield with Jacqui’s Joy.

Yet he is no stranger to racing, having followed his father, Les, about while he was riding at country meetings over various courses in Victoria and the Riverina.

Mitchell has since joined a training partnership with Max Hinton at Mornington; he acted as the silent partner in the operation.

The filly remains unbeaten since coming from New Zealand, she was coming off an impressive win at Kilmore and it was no surprise to see her well supported at Caulfield.

She had been racing on heavy tracks in New Zealand, that really didn’t suit her, and while Caulfield had a fair bit of rain in the early morning, the track was basically unaffected.

There looks to be exciting times ahead for Jacqui’s Joy, with suitable races, extending in distance, leading into the Adelaide Oaks.

She is by the former smart two year old Real Saga, a winner of four of his six starts at that age, defeating the subsequent Golden Slipper winner, Phelan Ready, in the Group 2 STC Todman Slipper.

Real Saga has an exciting draft to represent him at the Magic Millions Sales, in particular lot 357, the half sister to the crack two year old Capitalist.

Mossvana, the dam of Jacqui’s Joy, is by Mossman, she has a double cross in her of Star Kingdom, through Biscay and Kaoru Star.

Jacqui's Joy - First city winner for Mitchell Beer

Colt Lives Up To His Name

Hell Of An Effort lived up to his name and kept his unbeaten record intact, winning the Joe Brown Plate at Caulfield.

The success of the colt momentarily took some pressure off Peter Moody, and the satisfaction as he trained the colt’s sire, Reward For Effort, to win the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Hell Of An Effort improved dramatically on his previous win at Geelong, if he shows the same improvement by the end of January, he may have to be considered as a worthy Blue Diamond Stakes contender.

Surprisingly, he was the only winner in the field of nine runners, yet two unraced youngsters were preferred to him in betting.

The colt was well ridden by Linda Meech, a very much underrated jockey, she has never been afraid to travel the length and breadth of Victoria to ride, and she has proved a successful jockey trainer combination, Peter Moody has supported her at every opportunity.

Moody has also supported the progeny of Reward For Effort well, the horse he trained to win the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Hell Of An Effort wins with ease

Weir’s Boxing Day Treble

Darren Weir trained a treble at Caulfield on Boxing Day, but it was the quinella of Signoff and Lidari, in the Swettenham Stud Lord Stakes, that gave him the most satisfaction.

There was a case to be proved with both horses, whether Signoff had fully recovered from an injury sustained during the autumn, and Lidari has had a change of stables.

It was not a crash hot field by any sense of the imagination, however, both horses came through without a scratch; it is press on from here now.

Signoff’s could be on a trail to the Adelaide Cup, and Lidari could follow him on there are no firm decisions set as yet.

Signoff defeating his stable mate Lidari

Weir describes himself as a bushie, but soon recognised the best of both worlds, the excellent training facilities at Ballarat with its straight track and Warrnambool, by the sea, that has worked miracles.   ,

He has a huge advantage over the city trainers, the facility of salt water has great healing powers, but city beaches have long been off limits for animals.

Darren Weir can lay claim to being the most successful trainer we have known, training outside of the city limits at any one time in Australia.

Tuscan Sling splitting the second leg of Weir"s treble receives a pat from her owner Gerry Ryan