Frankie Dettori joined elite company when he rode his 3,000^th winner at Newmarket on Friday evening.

He joined Sir Gordon Richards, Pat Eddery, Willie Carson, Lester Piggott and Doug Smith; all have ridden 3000 winners in luminary careers.

There was a touch of sentiment about the venue; he knocked back rides earlier in the week saving himself for Newmarket, his favourite racecourse.

His contract with Godolphin lasted for 18 years; he is now attached to the stable of John Gosden.

While financially secure and at 45, there is no talk of retirement, at least he wants to move off the bottom, passing Doug Smith, who rode 3111 winners.

Darren Weir’s 20 runners, resulting in five winners at Flemington on Saturday, is a record that surely will take some beating, let alone equalling, and has already taken the 2016-17 by the scruff of the neck and given it a darn good shaking.

He has already won the last three premierships and has broken away from the field with six winners to his credit in the first week.

Flushed with success it was Sandown with nine runners, yielding the major prize of the day, the Grand National Hurdle with Zantego, at the other end of the state, Echuca, where he had four runners and settled with a double.

He never inherited two stables, but now has one at Ballarat and the other at Warrnambool, housing 240 horses, or was he handed a silver spoon, he did it all through hard work, there has been no hand outs, he has done it all his way.

Saturday was a busy race day, busier than most with 20 runners, there is a lot of preparation to be arranged long before the team set out from Ballarat to Flemington.

Nothing is left to chance, on race morning all the gear that each horse will be wearing is carefully packed the night before, every member of the staff is conscious of the fact there can be no slipups or mistakes, stable foreman, Jeremy Rogers, makes sure there are no hiccups, or nothing is left behind, you can hardly borrow gear on a racecourse.

That has been pretty well organised, there has been plenty of dress rehearsals, the stable had 75 horses trialling at Donald a few weeks back, that was a test on its own.

Darren Weir was born in the Mallee at Berriwillock, the last watering hole before you reach Sea Lake.

In a good year, when the rains come at the right time of the year, the Mallee can be the most fertile region in the state of Victoria, but can change to the opposite in drought.

Some marvellous horseman have come out of the Mallee, including Curly Burns, the Fisher’s, Jack and Austy Coffey, and the O’Sullivans, however, I would dip my hat to one Darren Weir, the finest horseman we have seen, evidenced on what we saw at Flemington on Saturday.

When Gun Case was giving apprentice jockey Ben Allen a hard time in the mounting yard, until the master trainer came to the fore.

It was no easy task, the gelding was not going to give in easily, nor was Weir, finally the trainer won the battle of strength, leading the horse onto the track.

That is not the first time Weir has been involved in a similar encounter, and he has won each time.

He is the only trainer that constantly compliments his staff at home, each time he is interviewed, after winning a race, he is a popular boss.

Maybe that’s the reason you never see a the sign on the gate. (Vacancies Apply Within)

Darren Weir

Racing and the breeding industry have lost a great character, and a gentleman, with the passing of Colin McAlpine.

Colin was a true Queenslander; he lived on the Darling Downs at Cambooya, near Toowoomba, taking over Eureka Stud in the early 60s, after it was founded by his father, Andy, twenty five years previously.

Son, Scott, has since taken over the reins at Eureka, one of the few thoroughbred studs that have survived three generations, with the exception of the Thompson’s at Widden, and the Kelly’s at Newhaven.

Queensland racing and breeding prospered on the back of Colin’s vision and leadership, he
had a passion for both sides of the industry, he had some issues thrown at him, it wasn’t all just a matter of fact, he could handle both sides of the many issues that plagued the industry in those early years that were thrown at him.

He was one of the first to shuttle stallions into Australia and certainly Queensland, it has since become quite popular.

Stallions today are now covering mares in both hemispheres; it has become quite popular and very lucrative.

The first sire to see the light of day at Eureka Stud was Iliad by Swynford, he was beaten a length by the H. H. Aga Khan’s Blenheim in the Epsom Derby, starting at 25-1.

St Constant followed on, he was beaten by Buzalong in the 1938 Caulfield Cup, he proved a good sire, as did Lumley Road and Semipalatinsk, by Nodouble, a son of Noholme by Star Kingdom.

Our sympathy goes to his wife Grania, son Scott and daughter Jenny.  

There were no new revelations in the cobalt affair, you could have taken forty winks and missed nothing.

The case entering its third day is dragging on, with a telephone hook up questioning a female, an employee of the Flemington Equine Clinic.

Much of the day was taken up grilling Dr Ian Church, also employed by the Flemington Equine Clinic.

Dr Ian Church told the Victorian Civil Administration Tribunal that when he saw a photo of a bottle sent to trainer Sam Kavanagh in Sydney, he became suspicious that it was not just a complex mix.

Soon after the lunch break, Dr Church became emotional after a question from Danny O’Brien’s and Mark Kavanagh’s council, Damien Sheales.

Later at the hearing, Tom Brennan took the stand for no longer than a quarter of an hour, late in the day.

Punters got off on the right leg when Khutulun was quickly installed favourite; in preference to last start Moonee Valley winner Turbo Street.
The form was very much similar, however, Beau Mertens, the claiming apprentice, did the mare no wrong when he rode the mare at Flemington last week; hence he retained the ride at Caulfield.
Khutulun deserved her win, she has been there about in several races, ultimately the tide has turned in her favour.
She is a handy mare that has filled placings in 14 of her 26 starts, earning prize money of
$280,000.
The win was a welcome change of luck for her Caulfield trainer Luke Oliver, and her connections.
Margins 1.1/2 lengths – 2 lengths Time 2-03.99

Khutulun

O’lonera is becoming a Caulfield specialist as we have seen; he has developed an affinity for “The Heath,” having won there at his last two outings.
Saturday’s race carried a good stake for a winter staying event, prize money of $150,000, plus a VOBIS bonus of $30,000, taking his total prize money earnings to $268,000, from nine starts.
“He is really a great horse with a really good temperament, when Nick Hall asked him to go forward, from an inside draw, he had the race won a long way from home, once he got clear at the 600 metres they were not going to get him, ” said trainer Cindy Alderson.
“He is a revelation at this distance, he has the makings of a pretty handy stayer, Nick understands him, we will probably push on if he comes through this in good order,” she added.
O’lonera is certainly creating quite some interest in his sire O’lonhro, standing at Neville Murdoch’s Larneuk Stud at Euroa.
Margins 3.1/2 lengths – ½ length Time 2. 32.12

O'lonera

Derryn is worthy of a spot in that little black book, if for no other reason than his mind boggling run from last, to win the Brian Reckas Handicap over 1000 metres.
We seldom see those performances by a two year old, is he something special? The Hayes & Dabernig stable think he is, while the jury is out at present.  
He did brake the minute, and in his claim he started from the extreme outside gate, and had to travel wide around the turn to get a fair crack at the leaders.
He had had just the one previous start when finishing sixth at Flemington to Selenia, back in March.
His path will lead into the Caulfield Guineas if it is warranted, it was certainly an impressive run, however, the quality of the opposition may be questioned.

Derryn

The reason he had just the one run in the Autumn was being a little immature requiring extra time, there is no doubt that has been proved since.
Tom Dabernig said, “the stable held a high opinion of the colt but were a bit concerned how he would handle the ground”.
“He was ridden quietly, he worked home well indicating he is an above average horse,” said Tom
Derryn is by Hinchinbrook who is currently booked out for this season, his dam, Munhro. The pedigree is a bit light on the dam side at this stage, but if he wins the Guineas, or a Group 1, that will put a lot of icing on the cake
He was purchased for $110,000 as a yearling, reared at Bylong Park.
Margins ½ neck – ½ length ¾ length Time 58.49

The lack of fitness was given as the excuse for the poor run of Lord Of The Sky in the Sir John Monash Stakes, when he missed a place after leading to the home turn.
A much fitter horse, aided by the wizardry of Damian Oliver, who was able to control the traffic to the home turn, before dashing away to a comfortable win in the 1200 metres of the Bletchingly Stakes.
It is 12 months ago since he was severely injured in the Bletchingly, from herein his races will be extended to 1400 metres in search of a Group 1 win.
He is now a six year old entire showing signs that he is reaching maturity, and most likely go to stud next season.
While he remains fresh, the Memsie Stakes is likely to be his best chance to secure his Group 1, that helps to open doors to the better studs, otherwise it is all a battle up hill. Margins 1.1/2 lengths –1.1/4 lengths Time 1.11.62

Lord Of The Sky