Big day for Weir

Darren Weir had a field day on Saturday with a training treble at Caulfield, a double at Donald, the JRA Cup at Doomben, plus the South Australian Derby.

Even when Tommy Smith was running hot with 33 premierships, he never put away seven winners at four separate venues, including two Group winners in Real Love, and the S A Derby success Howard Be Thy Name.

Weir has got his finger right on the pulse, it is a gift, he knows what every horse is doing and there is more than a 100 of them to keep an eye on.

He doesn’t mess about with small talk; he is down to earth calling a spade a spade that is how it is with him.

Weir has the perfect formula, the very best training facilities in Australia bar none, even out of range of the wealthy Sheiks.

Time to stretch 2 Y O’s out

With two and a half months of the current racing season remaining, our two year old races are not increased in distance as they should.

Caulfield on Saturday was another example, catering for two year olds in races at 1100 metres, at this late stage of the season, is ridiculous, the distance needs to be increased.

The Sires Produce Stakes run in March over 1400 metres, and the Gibson Carmichael Stakes over 1600 metres, that followed soon after, has since been moved back to the 9^th of July, which is getting too close to the Spring.

Even if a likely colt emerges out of the Gibson Carmichael Stakes, it doesn’t assist trainers much when the Derby is still five months away.

Surely there has to be some logic used, as there is little at present, you don’t frame race programs from a pick out of a hat.

Saturday’s winner at Caulfield, Blue Tycoon, has won twice and placed once, all at less than 1200 metres, it becomes a guessing game as to whether he will make a stayer, as he was beginning to fold up when the post was reached.

Blue Tycoon is by Written Tycoon, who remains third on the Australian Sire’s List, with the highest progeny earnings of $8,617,283 for a single season, of any stallion ever to stand in Victoria.

The City winner for Cumani

The midnight oil would have been burning at Bedford Lodge, Newmarket, by Luca Cumani and his wife Sarah, for good reason, their son, Matthew, trained his first city winner in Melbourne, when Show A Star won the Peter Jackson Handicap at Caulfield.

Luca is a well known and respected figure in Melbourne, he has made several attempts to take the three handle Cup back to the United Kingdom.

The closest he has come was two years ago with Mount Athos, when he finished third to Fiorente and Red Cadeaux.

Matthew has barely had his licence nine months and has produced his first city winner, and it’s all up from here, with the Ballarat Turf Club providing additional stabling he will be able to accommodate 40 horses in future.

It didn’t take long for Cumani adjusting to the climate of Ballarat; it is quite similar in some respects to Newmarket.

Jordan Childs gave Show A Star the run of the race back on the fence, waiting until before moving out on the home turn and going out after the leader, Airalign.