Mates, Steve Richards and Steven King, were back in business at Flemington Saturday, doing what they do best, training and riding a winner.

It has proved a successful partnership between the pair, going back several years, long before they won Group races with the good filly Rostova.

They combined again Saturday at their favourite stamping ground, Flemington, winning the first race on the card, the Saintly Handicap with Lazumba.

That was her second win, having previously won at Werribee, she will make into a nice filly during the autumn and seems certain to get further, at least a mile, there are a lot of handy races about at that distance at this time of the year.

The filly had recovered from a virus and had worked well since, with the stable confident she would run a good race, and the market indicated that.

In a field of nine she sat about sixth in running, until the top of the straight, from there she improved her position remarkably, that saw her in a positive spot for the final run in.

She drew right away; the result was never in doubt thereafter, she won by a length and a quarter, recording a welcome change of luck for the stable.

Lazumba winning the Saintly Handicap

Capitalist Disappointing

There can be no excuses tendered for the defeat of Capitalist in the Group 2 Todman Stakes, except to quote, the long break since his win on the Gold Coast has not done him any favours.

He looked listless at the barrier before the event, and that is how he raced, there was no spark about him whatsoever.

Weatherly looked pretty good winning at Flemington and pretty ordinary at Randwick, he can be best left home in the stable, he could hardly win The Slipper now on that run.

Mick Price has a firm grip on the Slipper now with the unbeaten Extreme Choice; he has a high cruising speed and can accelerate at the drop of a hat.

If Flying Arties can draw a gate he will give the race a shake, he has done nothing wrong in his preparation leading into the race.

Kiss And Make Up goes into the race with a sound pedigree, More Than Ready, who has already sired two winners will go into the race with his record intact.

More Than Ready has previously sired multiple Golden Slipper winners in Phelan Ready and currently leading sire, Sebring.