Gippsland Region Hcp. 1400 metres Time 1.23.70

Royal Symphony kept his winning record intact with an impressive win in the opening agenda; he was the only one that punters wanted.

Whilst winter form can be misleading, this time it may be the exception, he won as if he had just joined into the race.

Tony McEvoy is not pulling up stumps yet with Royal Symphony, he will be back at headquarters in two weeks for a Listed race over 1600 metres that would most likely be his swansong for the present.

He is right on track for the Caulfield Guineas as he has loads of potential ,he made the race a one act affair, he doesn’t need to improve to win again, he is an exciting horse that will run the mile at least.

Royal Symphony is by Domesday, who now stands at Aquis Farm in Queensland, at a fee of $8,800 includes GST.

Barwon South Region Hcp. 1100 metres Time 1-03-47

Overstep provided Chris Waller with the first leg of a winning double, tipping out the favourite, Invincible Al, by the shortest of margins.

Joanne Taylor, representing the leading Sydney trainer, was impressed with the effort, it was a good solid run, the filly didn’t give up at any stage, she fought it out right to the line, winning by a short half head.

The stable has been loyal to Craig Newitt, he has ridden the filly ,she came from well back in the field, as did Invincible Al, who had previously won at Flemington two weeks ago.

The entire field came down the outside of the course, the rails were vacated, however, it did not influence the result of the race.

Had the race been a little further the judge would not have had any reason to call for a print.

Loddon Mallee Region Hcp 1400 metres Time 1-24-73

Schism, who was handily placed for most of the way, gave Beau Mertens an easy ride, as she strode away for a comfortable win, having raced in Adelaide recently without success.

Mertens is having a great duel, competing with Craig Williams for leading rider of the current season, each rode a double at Flemington, it is still a head and head contest.

Former jockey, Peter Mertons, can be proud of his son who is riding so well, he didn’t have those opportunities due to severe race falls.

In the absence of Ciaron Maher, his brother, Declan, saddled up the mare, while she is in form she could easily win again.

Shism is a good type of mare that has been racing consistently she is a pretty handy filly she has won six of her 14 starts and only missed the money four times.  

Grampians Region Hcp. 2000 metres Time 2-03-97

Encosta Line completed a double at Flemington for Chris Waller, plus a win with Religify at Doomben.

The betting was a bit high wide and handsome with no less than six runners all under $10, including the Damien Oliver mount, he started at $7, while the favourite was Sir Van Dyke at $6.

Oliver had Encosta Line handy when heads were turned in for the final run in; the winning margin was three quarters of a length.

Xebec was running on at long odds, and Portion Control is not far off a win in the right sort of company, he doesn’t need it too hard.

North East Region Hcp. 2520 metres Time 1-36 .5

David Hayes believes he will have Charlevoix ready for the Banjo Patterson Series Final over 2600 metres on Saturday week.

The aid of blinkers and jumping has turned the gelding right around, however, there is no chance of the gelding embarking on a jumping career in the immediate future, whilst he is a good jumper he will be targeted for early staying races in the spring, “he won’t be jumping for a long time,” said David Hayes.

“I am pretty confident about this horse, he is a front running staying horse, he has a lot ahead of him, in the spring we will keep him on the flat for the time being,” said Hayes.

2017 Country Achiever Gerald Egan 1100 metres Time 1-03.61

Ability started a warm favourite with punters and gave Craig Williams the second leg of a winning double, with the jockeys premiership going right down to the wire, with Beau Mertons who also rode a winning double.

The four year old gelding is by Reward For Effort, he raced in the colours of the late Phil Sly, a well known and popular figure, he left a hole in racing when he passed on.

The gelding won first up at Moonee Valley earlier this month, after a long layoff of nine months.

He started a pronounced favourite, even though he had the wobbles at the close of betting.

Husson Eagle finished stoutly, there was only a head in the result, he does love Flemington, he is not far off another win.  

David Bourke Provincial Plate 1600 metres Time 1-36.92

There was a lot of sentimental value attached to the win of Riyadh in the David Bourke Provincial Plate, the gelding has had 16 starts since joining the stables of Peter Healey, and never failed to return a cheque from each run.

Peter only has four horses in work, and that’s about all he wants, he has been based at Mornington for a long time with no thoughts of moving on, he is happy with the small team and while Riyadh continues to bring in cheques there won’t be much to worry about.

Riyadh was bred in New Zealand, he was purchased for $100,000 to race in Hong Kong, he is by Darci Brahma, once he began to lose form in the Orient he found a home with Peter at Mornington.

Brian Beattie Hcp. 1400 metres Time 1-23.25

Favourite punters quickly latched onto Cannyescent when he opened up favourite, he was by far the most consistent runner in the field, with an amazing strike rate of 50 per cent, he has now won seven of his 14 starts.

The form line was there, he was entitled to be favourite, a last start winner at Sandown, and before that he had won at Rosehill.

It completed a double for Beau Mertons, he rode the gelding a treat, travelling in the box seat for most of the trip before slipping away with 800 metres to run.

Tom Dabernig, with a grin from ear to ear, stood in for the Lindsay Park team said, “we were pleased with the run, he will go around again in two weeks here if he pulls up well,” he added.    

Bay and Ranges Region Hcp 1600 metres Time 1-38.64

Thaad may have slipped under the guard of punters, when he came from well back in the field to take out the thick end of the prize in the final race at Flemington.

He is obviously a very adaptable gelding, as he handled the reverse way of going as if he had been foaled there.

He came from well back in the field and was running on strongly, he was neglected in betting, starting at double figure odds.

When questioned about the win Wayne Hawkes was a bit surprised, the gelding will now be rested and set for a likely race in the spring, as he has had only six starts in his entire life.

The win completed a winning double for Dwayne Dunn, he is a very accomplished horseman and a credit to the racing industry.

Friends of Epworth Hcp 1200 mtrs. Time 1.12.02

Lightly raced filly, Pure Emotion, opened her winning account with an impressive win in the opening race on the card trained by Clinton McDonald, there was a lot of merit in her win as she had to do all the chasing from the outside and was off the track for the majority of the race, she was second up from a break and is sure to be improved by the outing.

She had previously chased the Blue Diamond Stakes winner, Tulip, home at Moonee Valley.

Punters may have been a bit sceptical when she drifted from $12 to $16, Josephine Sea started favourite at $3.80.

The run of the race was surely turned in by Magic Mila; she led the field a merry dance and was only down in the shadows of the post when beaten, you can be sure she won’t start again for a while at $151.

Bidfood Hcp. 1000 mtrs. Time 58.55

The race tuned into a family affair with the winner, Unique Lovely, trained by Frankie Stockdale, and ridden a superb race by his son, Brandon.

This young man is going places in his chosen profession, he rides very well, the winner came home nicely, she is likely to get further.

The favourite, Airona, didn’t do much, after being handy early she failed to run on, Miss Vesper was handy for most of the trip, while If Not Now When was running on, she may need it further.

Zouki Hcp. 1000 mtrs Time 58.54

Essence Of Terror was never far off the pace set by Petites Reward, when it came to the hard slog affair the Flemington trained filly was there for the fight, it was a deserving win as she has been a model of consistency, never far away in her last half dozen outings.

Miss Vista, who has had more publicity than she deserves, due to her unusual markings, again disappointed, she was beaten for pace and never a treat at any stage of the race, while Appalahian Annie will be looking for another Moonee Valley –meeting, she seldom runs a bad race at the Valley.

While the Hawkes trained Zara Bay is back from Sydney, she is ready to win a similar type race when next produced.

Kane Constructions Hcp. 1600 mtrs Time 1.37.36

Stylish Miss led her rivals a merry dance by leading all the way another couple of hops and the result could have easily gone the other way.

She was basically friendless, drifting from $26 to $31, bookmakers found it hard to lay her, she continued to drift.

Another hop the result could have been different as Mamzelle Tess was closing quickly; there was only a short half head in the winning margin

The race proved a skinner for bookies as the favourite Soho Ruby, after being handy in the early stages of the race finished absolute last.

GJK Facility Services Hcp. 1200 mtrs.Time 1.11.28

Tasmanian trained performer, Lord Da Vinci, showed his rivals a clean pair of heels and a galloping lesson, putting paid to the opposition as if he had just joined into the race.

The Lonhro gelding is likely to pay us another visit; however, it may have to be another venue as Moonee Valley is not racing for some weeks.

It was his tenth win from 33 starts, his stake earnings took quite a leap, his earnings were a little under $200,000, they are now over $250,000,he could even return and add more to the kitty, the gelding is trained by Scott Brunton at Seven Mile Beach, his father trained at Ballarat before moving to Tasmania.

Military Reign led early but he was giving ground as heads were turned for home, Lord Da Vinci was coming off the pace, he went strongly to the line and could easily win again.

The favourite, Whistle Baby, never got into the race at any stage, she was boxed in all the way, forget the run.

Epworth Medical Img. Hcp.1200 mtrs. Time 1.11.14

Revolving Door completed a winning double for Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald, after winning earlier in the day with Pure Emotion.

The Sebring gelding travelled well in the run for Mark Zahra, and was always going to play a strong role in the finish.

However, the favourite, Highland Beat, was never travelling well, Craig Williams was niggling at the gelding a fair way out, he did not respond, he raced a bit flat.

Liberty Song led for much of the trip, and was far from disgraced, he is not far off winning a race, this time up it was a handy run.

Silverthomas Hanley Plate 2040 mtrs Time 2.05.44

Black Tomahawk gave bookmakers a skinner, he rolled home at any old price, not even the owners cheered, they were even surprised, it has been a long time between drinks, not too many horses trained by Darren Weir come in at those odds, he not only opened at $21 but drifted to $51.

The winning margin may have been slender, but winners are grinners and that’s what counts, he finished a fair way back at his previous start, but he certainly made amends on Saturday.

Favourite, Coldstone, compounded after leading and was running on empty when the post was reached.

Megablast could be an improver, he was running well, don’t discard him, it was his first start in Australia.

Wm Hill Travis Harrison Cup 1600 mtrs.Time 1.37.60

Petrology turned in the run of the day, coming from near last to win the Travis Harrison by a short half head.

Best backed runner in the race was Heart Starter, yet he hardly gave a yelp, he never had a chance in the race after the starter pulled the lever.

Data Point was seen to be running on, this was his third in from a spell, he can win another race provided it’s not too rich.

Onpicalo loomed up as if he was going to take a hand, but wilted once the pressure came into the race.

Embassy Print Solutions Hcp.1200 mtrs Time 1.11.61

Another brilliant ride from Brandon Stockdale, he drew the fence on Catch That Cat, and that is where he was trapped, it was just a matter of waiting for a run, when it finally came it was all over red rover, Stockdale darted Catch That Cat through the gap, Niminypiminy finished well, but the bird had flown.

In Fairness was a scratching for good reason, while working on the track at Bendigo he was startled by a rabbit, he dumped the rider before completing two rounds of the course.

Racing mourns the passing of Geoff Torney, A M, at the age of 82.

He was great administrator, a former chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club, a genuine man, and did a lot for country racing when he was a member of the County Racing Council.

Geoff was good for racing, his wife, Janet, backed him all the way; they made a great couple and were very popular at Moonee Valley.

He took a leaf out of Bill Stutt’s book, he always moved around the course on race day, speaking with people, looking at new ideas how racing could be improved, he was always approachable, a great asset to racing.

Claims that Royal Ascot was not a level playing field were sounded out by Sheikh Fahad.

Visiting American trainer, Wesley Ward, was given permission to gallop King’s Stand Stakes favourite Lady Aurelia down the straight, prior to the Group 1 on Tuesday.

Maybe the curator of Royal Ascot was caught between a rock and a hard place, when visiting horses from the U S were given permission to gallop on the track, and the locals were not.

The Sheikh’s trainer, Michael Bell, claims it was unfair, when on face value it was, while it can be claimed it sets a precedence that can often be dangerous, we all like to see that no favours are given to horses, provided they have not raced on the track surface.

Racing administrators have to see there are no favours given to any runner, if a horse is engaged in the King Stand Royal Ascot, it must be seen that no favours are given, and common sense must prevail.

Royal Ascot is the show case of horse racing in the U K, and Europe for that matter, races are time honoured events, names of races are rarely changed, it’s about tradition and let’s hope it always is. We must preserve the heritage of our racing and the thoroughbred.

Scrapping of the 457 Visa program will have grave repercussions for the Queensland Thoroughbred Breeding Industry.

The TBQA is currently working with the federal body, the TBA, to highlight an impending crisis for racing and breeding, if the recently announced changes to the Visa program are implemented.

The category of Horse Trainer has been abolished.

This previously allowed for highly trained and experienced staff to be recruited from overseas as managers.

This affects not just horse trainers, as we know them, but virtually all horse people in the industry, strappers, foreman, stud staff, track riders etc.

Horse breeders remain on the list, however, under the changes, staff will only be eligible for a two year visa, and will be unable to apply for permanent residency.

This is going to discourage the best and brightest people from around the world, from taking up senior management positions in Australia.

A large number of Thoroughbred Breeders in Queensland have fears that if this matter is not resolved, it could spell the end of their business.

Federal Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce, has said the government is committed to supporting the thoroughbred breeding industry.

Mr Joyce, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, was speaking at an announcement to confirm the approval of government for an industry led research and development levy.

“The breeding and racing industry is something that is very important to regional Australia and to me personally, “he said.

“The breeders made it very clear to me that this levy was something they needed, and I went into bat for it in Cabinet, there was some opposition but I’m glad I was able to deliver on it,” he added.

Under the levy, which was included in the budget, and will be in place in the new financial year, breeders will pay $10 per mare and $10 per stallion return.      

This will be put into a fund for R&D, with the government then matching every industry dollar.

It is expected this could lead to some $1 million being spent on research that benefits the thoroughbred breeding industry.