Lone Eagle got punters off on the right leg in winning the opening race at Caulfield, he is a good average two year old, at this stage whether he can graduate into the spring we will have to wait and see.

The colt had the services of Damien Oliver; he didn’t hurry the youngster allowing him to find his feet before pulling out on the home turn

The result was never in doubt, when heads were turned for home the favourite was always going to win, except it took him longer to put Evil Cry away than expected.

Kiwia is classes above those that he met in the Dream Thoroughbreds Handicap; he had the perfect form line, never out of a place after four runs, winning twice.

He was right on the pace for most of the way, he had the run of the race, it was just a matter of releasing the brake and the issue was soon put to bed.

The gelding was ridden the perfect race by Jordan Childs, unfortunately his rides are limited due to his weight, however, he makes the best of his opportunities.  

Kiwia is by Reset, he has proved a great sire, while his fertility can now be questioned, his ability never was, he remained unbeaten after five starts as a three year old.

Jeremy Rogers discussing the win of Kiwia with the boss Darren Weir

Racing is mourning the sudden death of jockey Roger Booth, presumably after a heart attack at Darwin races on Saturday.

It is believed after dismounting from his mount, in the second race, he collapsed, the on course medical staff was able to revive him, he was then rushed to the Darwin hospital where he died some time later.

Booth was a popular jockey and a likeable person, he was a New Zealander, he migrated from Palmerston North to Mornington several years ago.

He was always an obliging person, nothing was a trouble to him, he helped a lot of trainers out with riding work.

Father and son team of Frankie Stockdale, and son Brandon, combined as they had at Moonee Valley two weeks ago, with a repeat performance winning the Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap, with the filly Unique Lovely at Caulfield on Saturday.

She drew 14 at the gate yet she was never further back than three off the fence at any stage, once Brandon set her alight she sprinted very quickly, as did Princess of Queens, who was charging home at the rates of knots.

Frankie Stockdale is a great character in the nicest terms, he is training winners, and young Brandon is booting them home, what more do you need?

There are no false impressions about Frankie, he is fair dinkum, he took on fighting, had 9 amateur bouts, won them all, when it was time to turn professional he answered the challenge, but only once, that was enough.    

He turned his hand to jumps riding with a good deal of success; he rode several winners over the tall timber including Hennessy Blue, an excellent jumper.

We need more fellows like Frankie Stockdale in racing; he is a refreshing character, he makes up for the long faces.

Frankie senior and Frankie junior

The decision to run the last Caulfield race at 4.40 pm on Saturday was welcomed by racegoers, it worked so well, the other race clubs should take heed and follow the same direction.

Patrons need to be considered before any thoughts of cross betting are mooted, this is Australia not Hong Kong, if there needs to be any change, let it come from the other side.

Good business is generated by keeping the customer happy, let it stay that way.

Snitzel is already leading sire with the aid of his four winners on Saturday, Rustic Melody and Calanda at Rosehill, Seattle Boom at Morphettville, and High Conviction at Belmont Park, the leading sire has demolished the fifteen million dollar barrier with progeny earnings of $15,113,177 for the 2016-17 season, and it isn’t over yet, his service fee for this season is $160,000, he will cover selected mares.

Snitzel - Champion Sire 

 Population increasing, racecourse attendances decreasing, what is the answer?, or is there any answer?, or does anyone really care?

Race clubs are turning people away because of the overcharging of food and liquor; it has reached a stage where it is becoming ridiculous.

A well known brand of wine selling in the super markets at $10 by the dray load, is selling on the racecourses at $40 a bottle.  

The race clubs have encouraged the punters to patronise the pubs where the beer is cheaper as well as the food, and the betting is the same.

Racing clubs have lost a lot of patrons, those that were regulars once luring them back won’t be easy, what is lost is never recovered.

Tom Dabernig described Sullivan Bay as a pretty tough mare, tough as old boots in fact, that was shown at Caulfield on Saturday when she led for much of the way to win the Tile Importer Handicap on Saturday.

She certainly deserved the win as she has occupied fourth placing in her last four appearances.

The favourite, A Lotta Love, was pretty disappointing, she settled back among the tail enders and was never a chance at any stage.

Grey Street did all the chasing, and to her credit she didn’t give an inch, she is a handy mare.

Sullivan Bay is likely to run at Caulfield again on Saturday week, there is a suitable race for her.

Dean Krongold was the toast of Caulfield, and some time later, in the evening at Kyneton, on the occasion of training his very first winner in Nesbo.

A young man with a bright future as a trainer, he is not short of experience either, he first worked with Robert McGuiness (now retired) Cliff Brown, Luke Oliver, Macedon Lodge and a stint at Newmarket in the U K.

Formerly trained by Mick Kent the gelding has been off the racing scene for 12 months, and was never likely to race again.

It was some training feat, first up at Caulfield, that doesn’t happen all that often at a city race meeting; it was an exciting time for the young trainer.

He is set up in stables just 200 metres off the Kyneton Racecourse, in an idyllic setting in central Victoria.

Currently Dean has just four horses in work, that number will be increased coming into the spring, sometimes that is an advantage, horses can get individual attention, a pick of green grass each day adjacent to the Campaspe River.

Dean Krongold - Trainer of Nesbo