A rematch is likely between Precedence and Sertorius when they meet in the Zipping Classic at Caulfield on Saturday.

Last week they had a battle royal at Flemington in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with the honours going to Precedence after he had to retain the race in the steward’s room.

The vanquished, Sertorius, had the odds in his favour last week when he was in receipt of 2.5 kg from Precedence.

This week both are on equal weights of 59 kg, that evens up the issue quite a bit and the shorter distance could be in favour of Sertorius, the Bendigo Cup winner.

Trainer, Jamie Edwards, is hoping for a reversal this time when he fronts up in the Group2 Zipping Classic, at Caulfield on Saturday.

“Precedence is the horse to beat again,” said Edwards, he came from behind at Flemington and he will be hard to keep out again,” he added.

The Melbourne Racing Club can consider themselves fortunate to have both horses in the Zipping Classic, as the remainder is not over strong.

None of the internationals were interested in stopping over, most would have been on a time schedule, they all like to get home before the cold weather begins in the northern hemisphere.

Precedence and Sertorius going head to head in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes

An old adage - the more they win the better the price - worked in favour of Buffering when he ran his rivals ragged to win the $1 million V R C Sprint Classic.

After his win in the Manikato Stakes two weeks ago he was expected to start near favourite, instead he was fourth in the line of favouritism, drifting from $8.00 to $11.00, at which price he started.

Lucky Nine, who ran second to Buffering in the Manikato, was the preferred favourite, he was shortening as each call came in, there is no doubt he caught the eye in the post parade with punters keen to support him.

Buffering anticipated the start to a nicety, bounding clear as the gates opened, he was never headed thereafter.

Buffering leads all the way in the V R C Spring Classic

The gelding is racing at the top of his form with two Group1 wins in two weeks, it does not get much better than that, Robert Heathcote has done a great job with the horse.

“Little Buffering has done the job as I said to the boys earlier, there’s no Black Caviar, Hay List or Sepoy, there’s a Buffering,” said Robert Heathcote.

“He just gives us a 100 % every time, I had a runner in Brisbane, before the race I never even spoke to Damian Browne about instructions, because I didn’t have to, he knew what to do and went right out there and did it, when he put the pressure on coming to the 400metres I started to smile then,” he added.

The winning team - Damian Browne and Robert Heathcoteeathcote.HeaHHHH

Boomwaa’s win in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Maribyrnong Plate capped off a huge week for trainer, Robbie Laing.

It has been a long process in the making, first selecting yearlings from out of some of the bargain basement sales and then syndicating them.

Laing has been lucky, he has had some loyal owners that have stuck by him and are finally reaping the rewards they deserve.

The Derby winner, Polanski, is a perfect example; he has turned a $4,000 purchase into a $1.2 million stakes earner within a few months.

Now Boomwaa has appeared on the scene, a highly promising colt, he led all the way to win the Maribyrnong Plate, basically untouched.

The colt was purchased out of the Inglis Classic Sale in January for $ 43,000, and has since earned stake money of $110,000 in record time.

Boomwaa winning well

Boomwaa is eligible to run in the Inglis Classic of $250,000 at Rosehill, in January, he is the most promising two year old to go through the stable, and likely to get further.

He had a bit on his opposition having raced twice previously, which is a great advantage in windy conditions.

His sire, Mutawaajid, by Redoute’s Choice, from Elated Lady, by Vain, was well above average as a racehorse, he won five races in Sydney, one of the tallest thoroughbred sires at 17.2 hands.

Robbie Laing with Vlad Duric

Chris Waller described Boban as a superstar after his impressive win in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington, a quote that could not be questioned.

Boban was the excitement machine over the spring carnival, first at Caulfield in the Moonga Stakes when he came from last, after missing the start, to win comfortably, and winning again on Saturday.

His future will be carefully monitored, he certainly will be entered for the Doncaster, weight would determine whether he ran in the mile, with its attractive prize money, or he goes down the path of weight for age.

Whilst drifting in the betting he remained favourite, however, you would have received much better odds in running when his chances of winning looked forlorn with 200 metres to run.

Boban winning the Emirates Stakes

He arrived here with a good reputation having won at his three previous starts, including the Epsom Handicap when he was left at the barrier and had to come right down the outside rail to get a crack at the leaders.

Waller admitted he gave up on the horse before he was gelded, he has since gone from a benchmark 90 to a Group1 star.

He certainly has weight for age potential and a likely leading contender for the Cox Plate next spring, all going well.

Glyn Schofield with Chris Waller

Gai Waterhouse squared the ledger on Tuesday in winning the Melbourne Cup with Fiorente.

A life’s ambition has finally paid off, to follow in the footsteps of late father, Tommy Smith, who won the Cup twice.

Gai treated the Cup as unfinished business since she trained Te Akau Nick to finished second in 1993, and Nothin’Leica Dane two years later

The Melbourne Cup was like the last frontier to be conquered, she has won every other major race on the calendar, some twice or more, but that three handle Cup has been the elusive target, like one that got away.

Gai altered her normal pattern this year; she brought her main arsenal, in the form of Fiorente, to Melbourne much earlier than she had previously.

This time she had followed the pattern of her late father Tommy, he always said “the Cup is run at Flemington that is where we should be to prepare.”

He bought private stables up in Edinburgh Street, towards the Newmarket Station; his horses had to cross Ascot Vale and Epsom Roads, under the care Darcy Christie, on route to the Flemington stripping sheds.

Gai didn’t have the facilities her father had all those years ago, they are long gone, the next best thing was to arrive early at Flemington and allow her Cup favourite time to settle in to the new surroundings.

A lot has changed about Flemington with the on course stabling, but the environment has never changed, those long gallops that suits horses in their arduous preparation for the supreme test, Melbourne Cup.

Last year Fiorente hardly saw Flemington, except for running second in the Cup, all the preparatory work was completed at Werribee, which does not suit all stayers on a track resembling a saucer.

The long range plan was one autumn run, the All Aged Stakes, and then concentrate on the spring, the prime objective being the Melbourne Cup.

Gai played it to the letter as Tommy would have, she came down early with Fiorente, he did the rest, after a good run in the Memsie Stakes, at Caulfield, he soon had tongues wagging when he came from last on the home turn to win the Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Many thought he’d had a hard run in the Cox Plate sitting outside of the leader for most of the way, Gai thought differently, again she was right.

The Melbourne Cup is now an international event; it is firmly implanted on the world stage, greatest 3200 metres (2 mile) handicap race on the planet.

Syndicates are already being arranged, millions are being invested on proven overseas horses, just to have a runner in the race, the list continues to grow.

Bloodstock agents here, and abroad, are having a field day, with an all expenses account, if they can just find that horse.

Overseas bred horses accounted for 19 starters in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, that figure could even increase next year.

The first 10 horses in finishing order, all bred overseas, received the lion’s share from the purse of $6 million which amounted to $5,625,000.

Our major breeders, particularly those in New South Wales, are satisfied breeding fast precocious thoroughbreds, that are the demands of the market place, yearling sales remain solid, they always are, plus the obvious factor of a quick return.

Service fee, and the sale of yearlings, maintain the vast studs in Victoria and New South Wales.

Fiorente winning Melbourne Cup with Damian Oliver