Odds on favourite, Madeenaty, had just beaten off Sam’s Image after a determined challenge in the 3AW Football Stakes, when along came her stable mate, Ploverset, and blew both of them away to score by a long neck.

The winner, Ploverset, was having her first start, obviously she has some ability as it was a good effort, she drifted in the market to start at $21, whereas her stable companion, Madeenaty, was always favourite starting at odds on.

David Hayes offered some excuses for the beaten favourite Madeenaty saying, “she got a bit upset before the race and never got a lot of peace in front, we thought the winner was a nice filly but may have needed the run,” said David Hayes.

Ploverset defeating her stable mate 

A sunny autumn day of 28 degrees did little to attract patrons to Flemington, the crowd numbering 8,443, compared to 11,660 at the corresponding meeting of last year.

With standing room in the mounting yard very much reduced, it was packed to capacity with just the one entrance, previously there were two.

It may not be a true reflection on current race crowds; however, the Victoria Racing Club will need to burn plenty of mid-night oil, as there is a lot of sorting to be done before the spring carnival arrives.

Bookmakers have suffered badly where they have been positioned, it is a bit like the passing parade, the only time they see people is when they are coming onto the course and going home.

Frances Tressady is a revered name at Flemington, and why not? She won the Derby and the Oaks in 1923, she was from the same family as Carlita who also won the Derby and the Oaks nine years earlier, both were from the same tap root, White And Blue, foaled in Germany in 1876.

The win of Turbo Miss earned the mare Black Type, while her pedigree cannot be altered her price tag can, she is now a very saleable mare, her value would at least tripled in the time it took her to run 1400 metres of the race.  

Former jockey, Darren Murphy, was standing in for the boss Darren Weir, who was absent, having a short break after a busy time at the various yearling sales.

Turbo Miss deserved her win; she has had a break of nine months off the scene and has been placed at Caulfield and Moonee Valley since returning to racing

Turbo Miss wins the Frances Tressady.

 Ciaron Maher was the major buyer at the Premier Yearling Sales in Melbourne, he settled on 11 lots for a total of $2,780,000, with the highest Lot 259, a colt by I Am Invincible, for $1.4 million, he was sure to top the sale when bidding opened at half a million dollars.

The colt, a bay, was a half brother to the Newmarket winner The Quarterback, trained by Robbie Griffiths who was the under bidder on the colt.

The sale grossed $53,957,000 over the three days, the average being $120,000.

Four months have passed and still no decision has been reached in the cobolt episode, it is dragging on with no obvious decision in sight.

The pressure on both trainers is enormous and quite unnecessary, surely they are entitled to know where their future stands, both are married men with families, they are entitled to a better deal than they are receiving.

Hey Doc had a bit on his rivals with a convincing win in the Australian Guineas, he was surely the form horse in the field and that was how it worked out.

He was given the gun run by Luke Currie, the only time he came off the rails was momentary on the home turn and it didn’t take him long to get back there, on straightening up he soon had the issue under control.

Tony McEvoy has visions that Hey Doc will develop into a weight for age horse, he can run a strong mile and there are more wins in store with no studs to pick him up as he is a gelding.

Hey Doc wins Guineas 

 Houtzen remains unbeaten after four starts, winning by four lengths at Eagle Farm, but whether she goes to Sydney for the Golden Slipper Stakes is doubtful.

The filly, by I Am Invincible, carried 63 kg (9 stone 13) in the old, but not a record as some may think.

That is safely held by Eye Liner, she had won seven races in succession when facing the starter in the Danndine Handicap with 69 kg (10-st 12lb), winning by six lengths at Eagle Farm.

A record crowd assembled for a final day at Randwick for the Champagne Stakes, just the six runners with the three best fillies in the land, Eye Liner, Reisling and Citius, and that is how they finished.  

Ducimus, a $700,000 yearling, winner of the Talindert, kept his record intact, but only after having to retain it in the steward’s room.

Craig Williams, rider of the third horse Sanadaat, fired in an objection against Ducimus, being declared the winner of the race, due to interference occurring in the closing stages of the race, after a reasonable hearing the protest was thrown out and correct weight was declared.

While Ducimus has a clean sheet, as far as his race record is concerned, but the balance was still very much in the red.

A Ballarat win yielded just $12,650, while the Flemington win was an improved pay day of $72,000, there is still a fair way to go.

However, Ducimus has loads of potential, he is an improving youngster, he is good hands with the Hawkes team, they will access the best path to take.

He was well supported starting at half of his opening quote, best backed to beat him was the Sydney colt, Taking Aim, out of the Snowden stable from Sydney.

Ducimus winningthe Talindert Stakes

Kenedna continued the winning spree of Darren Weir, when she put paid to the opposition in the Group 3, The Vanity.

It was a pretty even field with exception of Legless Veuve who started favourite, yet she was still backable ahead of Harlow Gold and Extra Olives, while the winner, Kenedna, blew like a north wind.

With the aid of blinkers, which did the trick, she settled well in the field and was not asked for an effort until entering the straight, she didn’t shirk the issue either.

Darren Weir explained the use of blinkers, there is a time to use them, usually when a horse has had a couple of runs, when they are rock hard fit otherwise they can race a bit too fiercely.

“She has shown us at home that she has the ability to run a mile and we a very happy with her.”

It was the perfect win, the perfect ride, that’s about how you sum up the result of the Group3 The Vanity. won by Kenedna and ridden a great race by Damian Lane, the most improved jockey to come out of Western Australia in quite a while.

Kenedna winning in a breeze 

Hey Doc put punters in the right mood when he saluted in the C S Hayes Stakes, named in honour of a great trainer and a popular racing identity.

It was a fitting result as the winner is trained by Tony McEvoy, who was foreman for the late Colin Hayes for 30 years.

Hey Doc has proved an excellent money spinner, winning five times from 11 starts, and only out of a place three times.  

He is the type of horse that retains people in racing; he has never run a bad race, a model of consistency.  

He flew the gates and was never far away in running, he was ready when called upon, “he has to go to the Guineas now we will try him again at a mile, he deserves it and Luke Currie rides his so well,” said Tony McEvoy.

Hey Doc wins the C S Hayes

There was quite some mellow drama associated to the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes when three horses had to be withdrawn at the barrier.

All the runners appeared in the gate and a start eminent when The Quarterback seemed to crash down, causing a chain reaction effecting Faatinah and also Orujo, who were in adjacent barrier positions.

The original field of 12 runners was soon reduced to nine, with three late withdrawals at the barrier, all three were outsiders, it hardly affected betting.

Weather it affected any of the others runners is hard to say, although the favourite, Flying Artie, was throwing his head about a lot in running.

However, he didn’t really appear to be settled in the post parade, his mind may have been on something else.

The winner, Terravista, staged a great performance; he was friendless in the market place drifting from $10 to $15, with few takers

Terravista has won 11 of 25 race starts, and near $2.5 million in stakes, be hasn’t been duly over raced, he had to bow to Chautauqua last year, but there was no bowing in this time in the Lightning.    

His trainer, Joseph Pride, wanted the gelding to be held up and wait for a late run with Corey obliging to the letter.

Terravista gets up in Lightning  

Champion galloper Winx showed she was in to give Sydney racegoers an autumn to remember, with an awesome first up win in Monday’s Group 2 Apollo Stakes, over 1400 metres at Royal Randwick.

In emulating the legendary Phar Lap with 14 consecutive wins, Winx cruised to the line ahead of Hartnell by two and three quarters lengths.

At her first start since the record breaking eight length win in the Cox Plate, Winx couldn’t have been any more impressive racing clear of a class field, as if it was a mere walk in the park.

The highest ranked turf horse in the world she will continue on now to three Group One races, the time honoured Chipping Norton Stakes, George Ryder Stakes, before her grand final this preparation, the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

If she remains unbeaten at the conclusion of the autumn racing in Sydney, she will seriously threaten the all time stakes winning record created by Makybe Diva of $14,526,685.

Connections are not getting carried away with future plans, except the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October is a strong possibility.

“A very humbling experience to say the least,” a proud Chris Waller said, “it’s a huge privilege to be a part of her career.”

“Hugh does such a fantastic job, he’s Mr Cool, he makes it so easy, with a field of 14 runners he has to get out at the right time and unleash his challenge”.

For winning rider Hugh Bowman the fairy tale story of Winx continues, he is very proud of the achievements of his best four legged friend.

“She’s a racehorse; she’s an athlete, she’s an exciting piece of work and it’s a privilege to be a part of it,” said Hugh Bowman.

Winx was a $230,000 purchase at 2013 Magic Millions Sales on the Gold Coast, and since earned $9,493,425 for connections, which includes the Apollo trophy.

She is a daughter of the former outstanding international sire Street Cry, she was included in the draft of Coolmore on behalf of the Camilleri family of Fairway Thoroughbreds, and is from their Stakes winning Al Akbar mare, Vegas Showgirl.

Winx wins the Apollo Stakes

Catchy only has to draw a favourable barrier position to start favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes in two weeks time after her impressive win in the Group 2 Prelude.

The margin may have been slender, just a short head, but there was nothing wrong with the performance, she remains unbeaten after three starts.

She had to chase another good filly in Limestone, who didn’t shirk the issue at any stage in the straight, and a winner at her two previous starts.

“We were a little arrogant with our instructions in how to ride her, she went wide in the field to keep out of trouble, yet finishing her race off nicely, we are happy with her,” said David Hayes.

“The race to follow will be higher pressure, we are happy she can come off a fast pace and get the job done, “he added.

“She won’t have to get back that far in the Blue Diamond, there is lots of improvement in her, we are not concerned, she hasn’t been squeezed yet,“ he said.

Limestone lost no admires with her gallant run, however, whether her connections pay a late entry fee is yet to be decided.

Arctic Angel, who set up the pace, races in the same ownership as Limestone, but in different stables, she is hardly likely to be a final acceptor.

Catchy on the outside of Limestone

Property not certain of a start

Property is a case of wait and see after his win in the Colts and Geldings Prelude, he is another on the waiting list, whether connections pay a late entry fee to enable the gelding to take his place in Melbourne’s premier two year race at Caulfield.

The gelding was a drifter in the market place, although he had previously won the Preview, yet still there is no certainty if he will be a definite runner.

“It was well documented that he had been sold to Hong Kong, but he failed the X Rays to our benefit, he is racing well,/9 he is a free striding gelding and travelled well one off the fence,” said Robert Smerdon.

“Our thoughts were from a good gate drawing three, yet he was three wide all the way, I was scratching my head why Craig went further out, however, there are no complaints now, all is well now though,” he added.

While the Sydney colt, Pariah, was no match for Property in the straight, he will gain benefit from the run and can be improved.

Property winning the Prelude for colts

Big finish gone missing

The big finish expected of Chautauqua was missing in the Rubiton Stakes, he had a clear passage all of the way, he could only manage to finish third in a field of eight runners.

His failure was debated long after the race, a lot of questions will be asked, how many can be answered is another matter.

Those barn storming performances must ultimately come to a conclusion, they cannot continue indefinitely.

Caulfield was never going to suit his style of racing, at any rate even Moonee Valley comes into question, he has been seen best on right handed tracks, and Flemington also suits him.

Those performances coming from last in the T J Smith at Randwick, and the Chairman’s Sprint at Sha Tin, were outstanding performances that will take some repeating.

However, let’s not overlook the winner of the Rubiton Stakes Super Cash, she was first up since November, she is certain to be improved by the outing, and is more than capable of capturing a major sprint during the autumn.

The mare is prepared by Andrew Noblet at Caulfield, and ridden to perfection by Katelyn Mallyo, her grandad, Mick, would be proud of her.

The mare surprised her trainer, Andrew Noblet, as he didn’t go into the race with a lot of confidence, it was a place chance at best, hence the win was a pleasant surprise.

Super Cash is by Written Tycoon, Victoria’s leading sire by a mile, with 83 winners and progeny earnings of $4.693 million this season, he still $2 million shy on last season.

Super Cash ridden by Katelyn Mallyon

Black Heart Bart back in business

Black Heart Bart stamped his authority on the weight for age scale after an impressive win in the C F Orr Stakes.

He was the preferred favourite ahead of Malaguerra who was hunted up to lead from his wide gate, whereas the favourite settled well back in the field with the run of the race.

Malaguerra had run his race coming to the home turn, while Black Heart Bart was coasting along just about ready to come into the race.

He finished stoutly; it was a very strong win, taking his earnings beyond $3 million and another likely pay day coming up in the Futurity Stakes again at Caulfield.

Turn Me Loose is not far off a win, he led for much of the trip, finishing the race off in great style. his hoof is edging closer to the till.

Jameka ran a slashing race from a clear last, with 800 metres to run she came home at the rate of knots, first up since the Melbourne Cup; there is something special in mind for her.

Palentino will be all the better for the run, and the advantage of less poundage.

Black Heart Bart winning the Orr Stakes 

Walter Swinburn, who won the Epsom Derby on Shergar, died after falling from a bathroom window in London.

Known as the boy wonder he was just an apprentice when he won the Derby on Shergar, there were two more wins to come, one on Lammtarra and Shahrastrani, plus wins in the Irish Derby, King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders Cup in the United States, on turf.

Swinburn suffered what was proved fatal head injuries; his father believes this was precipitated by one of the epileptic fits that had become common in the years following the Hong Kong racecourse crash that almost killed the popular jockey in 1996.

Hundreds of mourners came together in a Newmarket church to remember and honour the jockey, that was fondly known as the Choirboy, whose achievements in the saddle assured him of favourable comparisons with the best flat riders of any era, he was 39 years of age.