Tomorrows Villiers Stakes, at Randwick, brings back memories of a golden era in racing.

Peace had been declared, but three months after World War 11, when the greatest phenomenon since Phar Lap appeared on the Australian Turf.

The Villiers Stakes was the launch for Bernborough in Sydney, one of the best loved, best remembered, and devastating gallopers, the turf has known.

He won the Villiers in a mere canter, by five lengths, from Good Idea, Victory Lad was a further three lengths away, they were both quality milers.

Bernborough was the greatest box office attraction racing has ever known, it was evident when 108,500 fans saw him run in the Caulfield Cup 67 years ago, when the population of Melbourne was only a quarter of what it is at present.

There was nothing quite like the era of Bernborough, no one could argue with that.

Whether Saturday’s winner, Lord Of The Dance, continues his current preparation, or goes back to the paddock, was in the melting pot.

The colt looked a bit tucked up returning to scale, his trainer, Robbie Laing, seemed apprehensive, he needed a little time to sort the issues out.

It is now business as usual, Laing will now press on, after the colt worked this morning he was as bright as a button, all fears have been erased, however, he will not run again until the New Year.

The Adams Handicap and the Rubiton Stakes, at weight for age, are being pencilled in; form from there would determine whether he pressed onto the Oakleigh Plate.

Thoughts of the Christmas Handicap at Caulfield are out; it was nothing more than a shot in the dark.

Saturday’s race didn’t prove a lot when the horses, with the best form around them, were all scratched, punters had nothing to hang onto but Lord Of The Dance at odds on.

Lord Of The Dance is by Danerich, previously trained by Laing, a sire that is getting a host of winners over a variety of distances every week, but the auction houses don’t want to know about

The Derby winner, Polanski, returns to the stable next Monday, his mission, the Australian Guineas, on route to the Derby, at Randwick.

He will most likely open his autumn campaign in the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield. 

Lord Of The Dance winning first up   

Don’t Get Excited is something to get excited about, certainly for those that race the gelding, he turned in a sterling performance at Caulfield carrying 60 kg to his seventh win from 14 starts.

He is now likely to go to the next level, again at Caulfield when he faces up to the open age sprinters in the Listed Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day.

The 60 kg didn’t turn punters off, he was always favourite throughout betting, his time was a second outside of the Caulfield track record of 1-09.15.

Don't Get Excited wins with 60kgs

He was never further back than third in running, however, whether he was going catch Solsay in the straight, who had the benefit of a two kg claiming apprentice, was a concern.

Don’t Get Excited responded well, as good horses often do, they always seem to find that little bit extra, the difference between winning and losing.

The gelding was ridden a great race by Jamie Mott, one of the most underated jockeys in the business, if only he could ride a couple of kgs lighter there would be more trainers knocking on his door.

Much of the credit for the win goes to Stephen Theodore, a young man from Berrigan, he is putting together a pretty useful team down at Pearcedale.

 Jamie Mott - A much underated jockey

Vatican proved too quick for his rivals in the Listed P F D Food Services Doveton Stakes, at Caulfield.

He made a one act affair of the race, leading from barrier to box winning comfortably, never in danger at any stage of the 1000 metres trip.

The win was a pick up ride for Michael Rodd replacing Billy Egan, the gelding’s usual rider, who was indisposed after a fall at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

It was bad luck for Egan; he has been working well doing all the hard yards with Vatican, who didn’t win a race out of his turn.

The five year old gelding is prepared by Byron Cozamanis, he has generally had a good horse in the stable, he won 10 races with Grand Duels, a good handy sprinter, and now Vatican is out to equal that, he has won eight times.

Vatican has proved an easy horse to train, he is as sound as a bell, explosive from the starting gate and is best suited racing on a turning tracks such as Caulfield and Moonee Valley; he has rarely raced at Flemington, certainly not of late.

He is by God’s Own who is having success as a sire at present, he is really on the crest of a wave.

Vatican winning easily at Caulfield 

Patience is paying dividends for Harquila, a lightly raced filly, who is beginning to put it all together after racing greenly in winning a Maiden Handicap at Bendigo back in July.

It was back to the drawing board after that first win for a refresher course, she has ticked all the boxes now as was shown at Caulfield on Saturday, in winning the Cotton On Group Christmas Handicap.

The ultimate aim with her is a mile, there are a lot of options at that distance and Black Type has to be seriously considered.

She raced kindly and has learnt a lot between both of her wins, beginning well she settled in behind Mother Grace until well into the straight before Dwayne Dunn called upon her.

Greg Eurell has shown a lot of patience with the filly believing she still has a lot to learn, “I liked the way she did it, she is coming along nicely,” he said.

“I thought the run was encouraging at 1400 metres, it should be ideal for her next start, that is the direction we will take, that will give us a good guide if we should continue racing her through the summer, or give her a let up and look for a race in the early autumn,” he added.

Harquila - A promising filly