Trenchant made short work of those that opposed him in the Bay and Ranges Handicap at Flemington.

That was his third run and he is improving with each outing, he came off a third to Artie Dee Two at Moonee Valley, the previous week.

There is not much doubt that he appreciated 1400 metres better than the 1200 metres at the Valley, he didn’t have to be bustled along, he was able to find his natural gait and he responded to a great ride by former New Zealand apprentice, Michael Dee, who is making a definite impact on racing since his arrival in Melbourne.

Trenchant, by Medaglia D’Oro, proved a quality horse at three and four years, winning seven races from 14 starts, earning just over $9 million in stakes.

The dam line, Cara Bella by Seeking The Gold, she produced nine foals to race, six are winners  including Trenchant.

Trenchant ridden by Michael Dee

Sydneysider too good for locals

Spieth was the pick of the paddock in the pre post parade, and didn’t let his supporters down, with an authoritative win in the Goulburn Murray Handicap at headquarters.

The straight track held no fears for him, or the reverse way of going, he was quite adaptive having raced twice in the anti clockwise direction, winning at Pakenham and had raced back in September and raced soon after at Caulfield.

Bookies were taking no chances with him; he opened up favourite and hardly moved from his initial quote, the only other runner that could have threatened him was Crystal Dreamer, who weakened after being handy early.

This was the first time that he had seen the straight track, he was right there at the top of the straight, and without having to be pressed right out, it was a pretty fair win for a horse making his debut at headquarters.

Spieth is a good style of colt, you could say was a complete replica of his sire, Thorn Park, he won a Stradbroke Handicap for his Sydney trainer, Les Bridge.

The colt is one of 12 horses trained by Bryce Heys at Warwick Farm, while horses are getting individual attention it is hardly viable, a team of around 30 would be ideal.

Spieth winning the Goulburn Murray Hcp giving Michael Dee a winning double

Star Hong Kong apprentice, Kei Chiong, is set for a spell in Adelaide.

The 23 year old, who rode 45 winners in New Zealand during spells with Graham Richardson and Allan Sharrock, will team up with leading trainer, Phillip Stokes.

Chiong is expected to join the leading stable for a month after the Hong Kong season ends on July 10.

She is enjoying an outstanding season on the colony, there with 33 winners and is currently second to champion jockey, Joao Moreira, in the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s most popular jockey’s poll.

Onceuponatime on the board

New Zealand based stallion, Onceuponatime, has opened his account in Singapore where he earned champion two year old honours during his racing career.

Moonraker is from the first crop of the Belmont Park Stud sire, and she was successful at Kranji on Sunday evening for David Hill, who prepared her sire to win five races, including two at Group 3 level.

“It’s a great thrill to see the first winner by Onceuponatime here, or anywhere for that matter, “he said.

Kiwi mare Tiara fancy

Azkadellia is already a short priced favourite for Saturday’s Group1 Tattersall’s Tiara.

The New Zealand bred five year old has opened up a bit better than even money for the weight for age feature at Eagle Farm.

Azkadellia will be looking to bounce back from her last start failure in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, in which her trainer, Ciaron Maher, believed she was caught in the wrong part of the track.

New Zealand’s top colt, Xtravagant, is heading directly to Melbourne in early August to campaign, with a view to running in the Cox Plate.

“We will probably trial him on the better tracks and look to kick him off at Caulfield on the 27^th of August, most likely in the Heath Stakes over 1100 metres,” said Te Akau principal, David Ellis.

“We will then be looking to run in races like the Toorak Handicap, and hopefully he will finish up in the Cox Plate,” he added.

The dual Group 1 winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas was up against the older horses in the NRM Sprint, he won both by wide margins, Xtravagant hasn’t raced since his clear cut victory in the Group3 Cambridge Breeders Stakes in April.

He made a hit and miss trip to Melbourne for the Australian Guineas, and whilst he led into the straight he folded up very quickly, finishing in the middle of the field.

The only excuse tendered was he didn’t settle in the paddock, he was inclined to run his race before it actually started.

There is no question that he is a very good horse at home in New Zealand, let’s hope we see the best of him when he performs in Melbourne.

Xtravagant - Looking for a berth in the Cox Plate

Eye Liner was remembered by the Bundamba Race Club, when the annual race named in her honour was run at Ipswich on Saturday last.

The best filly ever bred in Queensland was foaled 54 years ago on the Darling Downs at Lyndhurst Stud; she was by Smokey Eyes from the Newtown Wonder mare, New Venn.

There was lots of speed in her pedigree and Eye Liner used it at every opportunity, she was simply brilliant.

It was ironical that her first race start was at Eagle Farm in the Mac Dougall Stakes,as the MacDougall family had once owned Lyndhurst Stud where she was bred years earlier, it was where The Buzzard stood as a sire.

Eye Liner won that opening race, it was more like a procession, her winning margin was seven lengths, starting at 3-1, she had a further nine runs as a two year old starting at odds on thereafter.

After her fifth start she was allotted 60 kg, 9 stone 6 pounds, she raced on three successive Saturdays, the following week it was 66 kgs, and the next week 69 kgs,10 stone 12 pounds.

It would seem as if the handicapper of the day was hell bent on crucifying her, but they couldn’t break her heart or her spirit.

The Champagne Stakes at Randwick was her next assignment, Reisling had just won the Golden Slipper Stakes, and Citius had finished third.

This was to be her greatest test to date, she had won eight races in succession, surely she must have been coming to the end of her tether.

She had an advantage over her two rivals as the Champagne Stakes was run at set weights, which would have been a luxury for her.

The race created more attention than the Doncaster that year, Eye Liner defeated Reisling by a neck, with Citius a half neck away third, run in record time.

Finally the bubble burst when she took on open company in T M Ahern Stakes, failing to run a place at 3-1 on.

As a brood mare she left nothing of any note, the hard campaign of racing with big weights had taken its toll, as you are aware horses are not made of steel.  

Udyta Clarke is not afraid to tell you her age, she is 68 and trains at Cranbourne; she won her first race at Flemington on Saturday with Rich Charm.

She acted up if it was no different to a Maiden race at Balnarring or Woolamai, there was no shouting, yelling or screaming, she accepted the win as a true lady.

I’m taking poetic licence when referring to her by her christian name Udyta, she was entitled to more accolades than she received, a lovely lady.

The day for her commences at 4.15 am preparing for track work, she has seven horses in work, by the time hay up at 9.00 pm is completed she can call the day her own.

Udyta Clarke, with part owner Craig Rumble and Patrick Maloney

Rich Charm has always been a special horse since a foal, he has developed into a lovely horse, from seven starts previously he has been in the money five times, earning $46,300 in stakes, the Flemington win increased that by a further $44.000.

Originally she was only granted a Picnic licence, after four years and winning the trainer’s premiership each year, she was granted an open licence to train.

Saturday was the second time she has picked up prize money at headquarters, when Arama Dancer finished second in a hurdle race.

She is sure to pick out another suitable race for Rich Charm as he looks certain to get further than Saturday’s 1000 metres scamper.

Rich Charm winning by a slender margin