Jason Maskiell is back in town doing what he does best, riding winners; you better get use to him, as he is here to stay this time

Among the most naturally gifted young jockeys in the country, he went off the rails a couple of years ago and has paid a high price for those indiscretions.

Too much money too quickly is the problem; there are always those vultures about to prey on the unsuspected.

Drugs and alcohol are available in unlimited quantity, you don’t have to go far to find them, with young men vulnerable the temptation will always be there.

Riding percentages are paid into a trust fund, controlled by Racing Victoria, until the apprentice completes his, or her, indentures; a weekly allowance is paid by R V L. That does not include presents from owners, known as slings.

A young man living away from home, when he needs parental guidance, is not the ideal solution, sometimes you have no other option, as was in the case of Jason Maskiell, his parents are in Tasmania.

Racing has changed a lot with on course stabling; the complexes are closed from around 5pm, opening up at 3 am the following morning.

These are issues that Racing Victoria will have to look at, the locality where budding apprentice jockeys are currently living and how they can be billeted.

That was never a problem when we had the private stables, they lived and ate with the master, he told them when they could go out and when they could go to bed.

Jason Maskiell

Winter racing can have its dull moments; however, there is nothing dull about She Can Skate, an exciting filly as was shown at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

She has extended her winning record to four wins from six starts; she will now go for a break and let the future take care of its self.

A win on each of three city tracks is a testament of her sheer ability, her trainer, Geoff Wheeler, is riding on cloud nine, and why wouldn’t he? It has been a long time coming, 30 years to be exact.

She had to get off the carpet on Saturday; she looked gone on the turn when Octavia ranged up along side of her, while Nadeem Lass was also putting in her claim.

You could have thrown a blanket over the first four as they reached the line, with the inside runner, She Can Skate, receiving the nod from the judge.

It is a wonderful story of how a husband and wife persevered for three decades, a lifetime for some people, to achieve that elusive first city winner, it was just a matter of breaking the ice, as a further two have followed in quick succession.

She Can Skate on the inside

Star Rolling was just another name when he raced two months ago at Seymour, nothing to enthuse about, just another maiden and there are plenty of those about.

After a maiden win at Wodonga a month later there was a light at the end of tunnel, no one realised how bright it was going to shine.

Star Rolling is now the flavour of the month, he has won two races at Flemington and that is just the beginning.

It’s all up from here in; he is destined for stardom, the most exciting thoroughbred to be seen out in quite a while.

Star Rolling - Highly promising

Star Rolling is prepared by the training partnership of Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison, at Whittlesea, the property known as Talwood where Seattle Dancer stood as a sire, sold for a record $13.1 million as a yearling.

It is now decision time whether the gelding continues to race, on or goes for a short break in the hope he can come up in the spring.

He is a highly promising horse with untapped potential, it is a matter in which direction his connections wish to take.

There is still the autumn to be considered at this stage, he appeals as the ideal miler with a good future ahead of him.

Craig Widdison, Reece Wheeler and Peter Morgan

Lady Lakshmi is a class act judged by the manner in which she put the field away in winning the Ken Cox Handicap at Flemington.

She could have another run before going for a let up with the Thousand Guineas the prime target, on the middle day of Caulfield Cup carnival.

The 1600 metres should not be a concern; she finishes her races off well as was shown in her two Flemington wins, to be a serious threat in any three year old race selected for her.

She was never going to be beaten in the in the Ken Cox Handicap, she was in the box seat for most of the trip behind the leader, Bring Back.

After taking over the lead at the top of the straight she was not going to surrender it, she went strongly to the line.

Daniel Stackhouse proved a worthy substitute for Dwayne Dunn; it will be interesting to see who rides her next time she steps out.

Outside of the winner the best run in the race was turned in by Resistant, he got a fair way out of his ground; he was seen to be running on well.

The Yowie didn’t do much; he got a long way out his ground and failed to run on.

Lady Lakshmi improving with each run

Cooldini is quickly gaining a reputation as a pretty handy stayer after another fine performance in winning the Banjo Series over 2520 metres at Flemington.

He took up a handy position going out of the straight, where the pace was being set by Final Folly.

That was his third win on end, he is racing in great form but whether that form would carry him into the spring is debateable.

He was ridden a good race by leading apprentice, Chad Schofield, once he wound the gelding up he finished the race off nicely.

There are no signs of spelling him at this stage, while he retains his form Robert Smerdon will be looking for suitable staying races for the gelding.

He has not been over raced, having had just 12 starts for five wins, with no signs of showing he has come to the end of his tether.

His sire, Bernardini, is proving a useful sire of staying progeny, he is an Eclipse champion three year old, winning six races at that age from eight starts, including the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Maryland, the middle leg of the American triple crown.

Cooldini winning well