Flamberge, who has a habit of mixing his racing between Melbourne and Adelaide, with more success in the latter, remained at home on Saturday to win the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield

He had the steadier of 58 kgs, yet made light of his impost to score by the narrowest of margins, a short half head.

That was his tenth win from 32 starts, with his stake earnings nudging $1.5 million, and while he is as sound as a bell, no doubt he will continue to race on for at least another season.

A lot of the credit for the win goes to Damian Lane, the gelding drew 17 at the gate, before they had raced 100 metres he was one off the fence and travelling smoothly.

Flamberge winning the Oakleigh Plate

The winner was friendless in the market, drifting from $26 to $31; naturally there was very little support for him.

Support was mainly for Heatherly after her all the way brilliant win at Caulfield two weeks ago and her likeable rider, Katelyn Mallyon, has quite a following.

However, the filly that started a warm favourite didn’t get the breaks she got two weeks ago, this time it was a much bigger field and a lot more pressure.

Although she ran a gallant race and was far from disgraced, in her defence it was a much hotter field.

Damian Lane and Peter Moody with the Plate

Mick Price quinellered the Blue Diamond Stakes with Extreme Choice and Flying Artie, they were the best backed in the race, and each drew a double digit barrier number.

Most would have expected Extreme Choice to bounce quickly from the gate, but that was not the case, he came out as he didn’t have a care in the world, until they reached the home turn, then he poured on the gas.

He now remains unbeaten after three runs; he has ticked all boxes he now faces up to the supreme test, the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, in three weeks.

Extreme Choice wins the Blue Diamond

He has all the tools of trade, he has settled down remarkably well, plus a huge advantage as he has raced and won at the reverse way of going.

There will be a very much awaited dress rehearsal when the Slipper favourite, Capitalist, faces up to the impressive Flemington winner Weatherly and Astern, who is yet to taste defeat after two starts, they will also face up in the Todman Slipper Trial on Saturday.

Weatherly could be the one to topple them all out, he was very strong at Flemington in the Talindert stakes, run over 1100 metres.

No announcement has been forthcoming as yet concerning Flying Artie, whether he will continue on further into the autumn.

Mick Price with the Owner's Trophy

Godolphin struck with a vengeance, landing a winning double when Tally won the Caulfield Autumn Classic, and Bow Street took out the weight for age Peter Young Stakes, both were Group 2 races and each horse wore number 8 saddlecloth.

Bow Creek was particularly impressive, as he missed the start and was a fair way off the pace when the field reached the railway side of the course.

From there he steadily made up ground to be in a handy spot on the home turn, he finished full of running, it would appear the distance of the Australian Cup would not be beyond him.

That was just his fourth start since arriving from Ireland, and his first this preparation, he will be right on target for the Australian Cup.

Former leading apprentice jockey, David Charles, now in charge of the Godolphin operation in Melbourne said, “We’ll see how he pulls up after this run but the Australian Cup is his definite target.”

He will take great benefit from the run as it was second up since the Emirates Stakes, there is a lot of upside to him, as he did finish second in the Crystal Mile at his first start after coming direct from Ireland.

Fenway turned in a good run, she beat all but the winner, and she is more than handy, however, Fawkner seems to have lost all form, he is struggling at present and while Happy Trails looked good in the paddock, he was never a chance

Bow Creek winning the Peter Young Stakes

Turn Me Loose returned to form at Caulfield, with a sound performance, winning the time honoured Group1 Futurity Stakes, the 118^th series of the race.

He had won four races in the spring by leading most of way, however, this time he took a sit behind Hucklebuck until the straight was entered, before issuing a challenge that saw him draw away to win comfortably.

No future decisions yet, they are in the melting pot at present, until trainer, Murray Baker, returns to Melbourne after he had Mongolian Khan running in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick.

T he odds are that Baker may opt for Sydney, that is where the big fish are, the George Ryder, the Doncaster and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

It was surprising to see Hucklebuck lead and drop out of the race completely, he wound up finishing among the tailenders, his run was out of character.

Stratum Star, who generally races well at Caulfield, didn’t let his supporters down, he ran his usual good honest race, he is not far off, he is just about ready to return via the winner’s circle.

Suavito, who won the C F Orr Stakes in dashing fashion, didn’t come into the race with her usual finish, she just held down third money.

The run of race saw The United States was impressive, but he likes it much longer, he has not raced since the Melbourne Cup.

Boban bled, finishing second last, there will be an automatic ban placed on the gelding, he has paid his way winning 11 races and 3 seconds, returning $2,818,663 in stakes earnings.

Turn Me Loose winning the Futurity

All Cerise led from barrier to box scoring a narrow win, her second at Flemington since coming from Sydney in the The Curragh Racecourse Trophy.

She was in control from the outset, the pace was set by her, she dictated the terms while there no challenges early; she was travelling along in her comfort zone.

Much of the success of the Waller stable at Flemington can be attributed to Justine Hales, stable manager, an excellent horsewoman that does a magnificent job and always approachable.

She spoke in glowing terms about the winner, All Cerise, “a favourite about the stable, a popular horse with all the staff and easy to look after, nothing troubles her,” she said.

All Cerise is raced by Ms Debbie Kepitis, she also owns the champion mare Winx, winner of the Cox Plate who returned to racing last Saturday, with a win in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick.

Ms Kepitis inherited the love of horse racing from her father, Bob, and her late uncle, Jack Ingham, the most successful owners the Australian turf has known.

Whilst Ms Kepitis races horses in her own colours, she named her mare All Cerise in memory of the silks carried by Octagonal, his son, Lonhro, and the many others that bore the Woodlands brand.

All Cerise winning at Flemington

                            A Serious Challenger For Slipper

A serious challenger to the dominance of the Golden Slipper Stakes favourite, Capitalist, has emerged after Flemington on Saturday, Weatherly could be the one to ruin the party.                

While there were no world beaters in the field, they were hardly a classy lot opposing him, but he did give them a short back and sides.

There is room for improvement in him; a decision has to be made as to the next step the colt will take.

John Messara is adamant that he will be directed to the Golden Slipper Stakes, however, son Paul, the trainer, wants to chew it over a bit longer, he is not giving up yet on the Blue Diamond Stakes, there is still time.

Caulfield can be a grave yard for Sydneysiders, it was Kingston Town’s waterloo.

Craig Williams allowed Weatherly to remain on the outside of the track after he drew wide at the gate, no point dragging the colt about having him unsettled.

Weatherly looked a picture when he was stripped after the race, he is a very nice colt with a lot of quality; he has only been out twice and has impressed each time. .

He is by Beneteau, who stood at Arrowfield for just two seasons before dying, he was a great loss to the breeding industry.

Beneteau won the Blue Diamond Prelude and finished third to Star Witness and Shaaheq in the Blue Diamond of 2010

Weatherly on track for the Slipper

Don’t Doubt Mamma back in form

Don’t Doubt Mamma was back in form, after a short break, since being placed in the Sandown Guineas behind Mahuta in November.

She obviously appreciated being back among her own sex and fresh since mid November, she settled and with the aid of a good ride from Dwayne Dunn she ran on well

Discussing the merit of her win, Tony McEvoy said,” she was really good I was running her in those shorter races, we elected to go this way when it came up so strong, I double checked myself, she really excited me today.”

“She is a high quality filly and to beat those fillies as she did, there is a lot to look forward to, the Australian Guineas will be looked at.

She is a more than a handy filly but taking the colts on is another dimension, she would be sure to bump into a few stumbling blocks along the way.

Don't Doubt Mama - Looks to have a good Autumn

Superlatives flow for Chautauqua

Those that race Chautauqua would have been searching for their heart tablets, as the gelding made one desperate lunge to safely secure the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

The field of six split, only two runners remained on the inside of the track, both were Sydneysiders, Exosphere and Va Pensiero, while the other four went to the outside rail, with Dunn, on Chautauqua, appearing to drag the gelding extravagantly over behind the other runners.

It was hard for some little time to line the runners up as they charged down the straight, Exosphere had the better of Va Pensiero, but the winner was going to come from the outside, Terravista was going great runs with Japonisme, Chautauqua was not even in the hunt

Terravista looked certain to have his name inscribed on the trophy, when the grey gelding, by Encosta de Lago, lunged to the amazement of the crowd, numbering 11,110.

The original plan was to take Chautauqua to Hong Kong before heading to the U K, after that Royal Ascot with its straight track looks attractive.

If he takes his A game with him and stands up to the travel and acclimatises, he will give them some curry.

Chautauqua about to claim his opposition