Four races were named at Flemington Saturday in honour of those that served with distinction at the Victoria Racing Club.

Murray Cox joined the Victoria Racing Club in 1970 as secretary, after spending time with the Moonee Valley Racing Club in a similar position, where his father, W S (Bill) Cox, had also served time as secretary, when the Club’s offices were located in Bourke Street Melbourne.

Cox retired in 1986, he was the sixth secretary to have served at the VRC since its formation in 1864.

Sir Alec Creswick, a prominent pastoralist and businessman, was a member of the V R C from 1959-83, he served as Chairman from 1969-77, he was a highly respected racing administrator and leader.

His racing colours of black, blue sash, were carried by numerous good horses, Centreway, Midlander, Clear Springs, Jury, and the great filly, True Course.

To win the Derby was his ambition in racing, he almost achieved it when Jury was beaten a short half head by Stormy Rex in 1977, his father had won the race in 1935 with Felspar, ridden by Keith Voitre and trained by Lou Robertson.

Rod Johnson had the unique distinction of joining the Victoria Racing Club in1946, (the year of Bernborough), as an office boy and retiring 48 years later as Chief Executive Officer.

At the presentation on Saturday he said “I am proud to have a race named in my honour and enjoyed my time at the V R C, and would do it all again”

Johnson was much more than just a racing administrator, he was always approachable and often there was a helping hand for a jockey who may have fallen on hard times.

L V (Leon) Lachal C B E, was recruited from the Sydney Turf Club to join the Victoria Racing Club in 1960, he retired in 1970.

He knew what racing was about having spent 13 years as secretary of the S T C, he was among the architects involved with the inaugural Golden Slipper Stakes in 1957, won by Todman.

Rod Johnson

She Can Skate was the pin up girl at Flemington yesterday, as she was at Caulfield two weeks ago, in winning the Listed A R Creswick Stakes down the straight six.

After 30 years training, without a city winner, most would hang the bridle up, but obviously not Geoff Wheeler, it is a great story for a man that has finally gained the recognition that he is entitled to.

Two city wins in a fortnight hasn’t changed Geoff, he is still smiling hail, rain or shine, success has been a long time coming but he has never complained.

She Can Skate is the sort of horse that trainers dream about; when you have a small team you don’t always have that many options.

And the filly has rejuvenated the career of jockey, Reece Wheeler, he is now riding in great form and never been short of ability.

He had the filly in the box seat from the outset; she was on the fence for most of the trip and was always going to be the one to beat.

She will remain in work for the present, most likely she will have another run, possibly at Moonee Valley, before going for a spell.

Geoff and Reece Wheeler after another great win

El Magico lived up to his Adelaide reputation when he accounted for the field he met in the All Victorian Sprint Series at Flemington.

Whilst it was his first sight of the straight six it didn’t deter form followers, he was sent out a firm favourite, coming in from $3.80 to start at $3.30.

It took him a little time to settle down after drawing wide with no rail acting as a guide, he soon produced his Adelaide form thereafter.

He looks like coming back for the spring he will be meeting tougher opposition admittedly, but you cannot knock winning form.

The gelding is trained at Morphettville by Lloyd Kennewell, he admits to some disturbing nights worrying as to what could possibly happen to the horse next.

Whilst the gelding is rising five he has gone amiss three times, he now hangs in a bit due to the injuries sustained to his near foreleg.

He has had just the seven starts for five wins and two placings, to win at Flemington was a huge thrill, taking into account the ongoing problems the horse has had to overcome.

Much of the credit for the win goes to promising apprentice Jake Duffy, he gave his mount time to settle down before asking him for the big effort.

El Magico with Lloyd Kennewell

There is plenty of upside to Lady Lakshmi, as was shown in winning the Murray Cox Handicap at Flemington.

A lightly raced filly, she was there to be counted whether she would measure up to some of the rich spring races for three year old fillies.

She answered the challenge, the question had been answered, maybe another run, then a short break in a warm paddock for what could become a lucrative spring.

The Thousand Guineas is the race she is likely to be set for, she handled the 1400 metres at Flemington with ease, the extra ground looks to be just a formality.

She looks the ideal miler at this stage, being by Lonhro out of Dashing Granada, a daughter of Keltrice, a former smart sprinter.

The filly is prepared by the joint training partnership of David Brideoake and David Feek, he was the spokesman for the stable on Saturday.

He was pleased with the way she was ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, a competent young rider he gave his mount plenty of time to settle, it was well into the straight before he asked the filly for her effort, she responded quickly and had the situation under control within a few strides.

Lady Lakshmi winning the Murray Cox Handicap

Reward For Effort was clearly among the best of his age as a two year old, it was this brilliance that saw him win the $1million dollar Blue Diamond Stakes.

With that Group 1 safely on his C V, he returned at three to give a polished display in winning the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes, also at Caulfield.

A stud career was looking very attractive, he was retired with an impressive record that had not been tarnished.

He has since taken up residence at Chatswood Stud, Seymour, one of our leading thoroughbred nurseries.

An exciting young sire, with a brilliant pedigree, he has had the support one would expect with mares that are likely to produce early winners.

His sire, Exceed And Excel, is by far the leading sire of two year olds this season, he has also had success when shuttling to the U K.

The dam line is just as impressive in Miss Prospect, she won six races in the best of company, she is a proven matron, she produced nine foals, eight were winners including Barhia, the dam of the Golden Slipper winner, Overreach, a three quarter relation to Reward For Effort.

It will be those early winners that count, our racing and breeding is geared up to early maturity, in his first two seasons Reward For Effort covered 323 mares, with a fertility of 88 per cent.

He has the numbers on the ground that is where his winners are going to come from; he is on the threshold of an exciting stud career.

Reward For Effort - A promising sire