When Joan Walker, and her late mother, raced Reckless, it was an exasperating time, a long wait before a win, yet it all happened after his 31^st race start.

A remarkable sequence of wins followed in 1977, Reckless defeated Gold And Black in the Sydney Cup, then he won Brisbane and Adelaide Cups.

It was just by a length that Gold And Black got his revenge, over a gallant Reckless, in the Melbourne Cup of 1977.

Had Reckless won that Melbourne Cup nearly 40 years ago, it would surely have stood the test of time.

Joan was back again, but quicker this time to the winner’s circle, when Amadeus, the colt she bred, having his first start in a race, won at Pakenham yesterday.

He swooped upon leaders within a few strides and had the issue put away quickly, he is capable of winning better races than that.

It was a very encouraging win, he is by Amadeus Wolf, who was possibly the best two year old of his season in the UK.

Amadeus winning at Pakenham

Melbourne Racing Club is to be applauded in continuing to name a race remembering Manfred.

Manfred raced during the mid twenties, 90 years ago, for 50 years thereafter stories were related to how he stood flat footed at the barrier, yet still won the AJC Derby.

That story was refuted some years later, when discussing the incident with Bill Duncan who rode Manfred in that memorable Derby.

Duncan’s version was that Manfred didn’t stand flat footed, he ran down the barrier which was a strand start, and was likely to jump into the public area.

He was unpredictable, a saint one day and a villain the next, he had a mood for every season, he would try the patience of all that came in contact with him.

From his 28 starts he refused to take part six times, on four of the occasions he started at odds on, he was not always a favourite with punters.

Raced by Ben Chaffey, former Chairman of the Victorian Amateur Turf Club, he was trained at Bendigo by Harry McCalman, in stables opposite the members drive way to the racecourse.

Manfred was a very good racehorse with an unusual temperament, he was downright wilful, you could not bounce him as he would bounce you back, possibly inherited via his sire Valais, as was Heroic, he would not take any fooling around with, nor would his son Nuffield, who often gave his trainer, Jack Holt, a hard time.

Manfred finally went to Leslie Aldridge’s stud in South Australia, where every foal in his first crop died due to soil contamination.

Aldridge moved to Kismet Park Sunbury with Manfred, where he met with success, siring Red Manfred, a very good performer in New Zealand, The Trump, dual Caulfield and Melbourne success, Manrico, Manolive and Mildura, plus he proved an excellent brood mare sire.

The Victoria Racing Club honoured Doriemus with a race named after him last Saturday, he won both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups 20 years ago, and two years later finished second in both Cups to Might and Power.

He was a grand stayer, he may have found the 2000 metres in his honour a little short, but you could be sure he would be running on.

The ultimate winner, Tashbeeh, ridden by young Tom Marquand, had to virtually win the race twice on the track and in the steward’s room when Damian Oliver threw in a protest that his mount had been inconvenienced in the straight.

Young Tom is quite a mediator, he had a hard nut to crack with Damian, but ultimately he won the decision.

He is attached to the stable of Richard Hannan in the U K, and is on loan to the training partnership of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig at Flemington.

Tashbeeh has struck a purple patch having won three of his last four starts, and the first leg of a double for his sire, Commands, who passed away last year.

Star Rolling is proving frustrating for the training partnership of Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison, again he looked a winning chance at the top of the straight before giving in, finishing fourth.

Real Love, from Perth, ran her race in patches, she will be better when she settles down, she was pretty hot in the paddock with trainer, Darren Weir, having to assist her strapper in leading the mare around

Tashbeeh - A narrow winner

King’s Command was in winning form at Flemington, coming off two previous wins at Geelong.

That was his first city win and it possibly won’t be his last judged by the quality of horses he beat, there was quite a lot of form about the race as betting indicated.

The son of Commands was never far off the pace, Damien Oliver who had ridden him in his previous win, had him perched up on the fence for the final assault.

Pattern, the favourite, was very disappointing, it was quite out of character to his previous win, he started favourite this time and was never in the hunt at any stage of the race.

King’s Command responded gamely to a determined challenge thrown out by recent Flemington winner Duibio, who failed by three quarters of a length.

Trainer, Troy Corstens, said, “if the gelding could run third or fourth in that company we would have no hesitation in going to another level.”

“We were hoping he would take that next step, but you never know until they do, there is no certainty. “

King’s Command is part owned by successful syndicator, Brad Spicer, it could have been a double if Siegester had won the final race, he was beaten by a length.

King's Command at Flemington

Headwater displayed a return to the form he showed as a two year old, with a slashing win in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

He looked like a world beater when he won at Moonee Valley about this time last year, and was not disgraced in running fifth in the Golden Slipper Stakes.

A loss of form in the spring is behind him, now he is right back on track for what promises to be a successful autumn campaign.

As a two year old he won those two races with sheer pace, he is racing now in a more relaxed manner, suggesting that he may get further than 1000 metres as he matures.

He came from a fair way back in the field, he still retains that pace, mixed with a touch of stamina, certainly will do him no harm.

There are few horses that could match him on pedigree, he is bred in the purple, his sire, Exceed And Excel, champion racehorse, champion sire, won a Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, his dam, River Dove, won the Group1 Oakleigh Plate, whilst his maternal grandsire, Hurricane Sky, won the Group1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

Headwater returns to racing with a vengeance

Headwater is a three year old who will follow along the path of the major autumn sprint races, with Group 1 status, if that is achievable he is likely to go to stud soon after.

The majority of potential sires are now generally going to stud as four year olds, that might have its critics, but fortunately those critics don’t control the industry.

Vinery is currently riding on the crest of a wave, enjoying another great season, chalking up a number of multiple winners.

Peter Orton looks pleased with the win

Punters didn’t miss Supido

Supido stifled betting when he opened up favourite at odds on $1.60, and that is where he was quoted and remained at that price throughout betting.

Punters have long memories, they recall his last win, also at Flemington in July of last year, when he also started favourite at $3, but this time the bookies were not as charitable, no fancy prices were bet.

Supido is a highly talented racehorse as was shown when he picked the field up and put the issue beyond doubt within a few strides.

The entire is trained by Michael Kent, at Cranbourne; he is keeping his feet on the ground, not getting carried away, but acknowledges he has a pretty handy horse in the stable.

“We have had a lot of issues with this horse that required some ironing out, he lacked seasoning, I feel these sprinters need racing and perform better with a bit of age on them, he needs just a lot of racing,” said Kent.

However, Supido is an entire which might make a difference as to how much racing he can cope with. 

Supido - A brilliant winner