Maurice McCarten was remembered and honoured with the running of the Maurice McCarten Stakes Group2, at Rosehill on Saturday

He came across from New Zealand to Sydney in 1926 to ride Limerick in the Carlingford Mile at Rosehill; it was his first ride, first winner in Australia.

Limerick soon proved he was up to the weight for age scale when defeating Pantheon, quite a few times, and also Windbag, which was no mean feat.

It was the potential that Limerick had shown as a young horse in New Zealand that encouraged McCarten to come to Sydney, he had ridden over 100 winners at that time.

Dothraki winning the Maurice McCarten Stakes 

Later he rode Ajax in the majority of his two and three year old races, winning the Rosehill and the Caulfield Guineas on the chestnut son of Heroic; however, he was committed to riding basically in Sydney so Harold Badger rode Ajax thereafter.

Ajax had won 18 races in succession under Badger, and was about to join elite company as Desert Gold and Gloaming had each won 19 races apiece, and that was more than 20 years ago.

A couple of years later in 1939 he rode in the three horse Rawson Stakes at Rosehill, Ajax was 40-1 on, ridden by Harold Badger , Spear Chief, ridden by Maurice McCarten and Allunga, a slow stayer, ridden by Darby Munro, both were at 33 -1.

Munro always considered Ajax was a corn beef champion, he could be rolled and Darby was out to prove it, he was at Ajax’s girth all the way.

Ajax had no peace in front, Munro made sure of that, Spear Chief had the last run at the pair and won by a half length.

McCarten had a unique record that is likely to stand the test of time, he won the jockey’s premiership in 1938-39 with 88 winners, and was champion trainer four times, giving way to T J Smith who won the title 33 times.

Among his best horses would have been Delta, Knave, Deep Diver, Prince Cautanld , Wenona Girl, Todman Noholme, Columnist ,Sweet Chime, he was never short of a good horse in all those years.

Maurice McCarten was a great jockey, a great trainer, and a great gentleman.

Neville Sellwood alongside his mate Maurice McCarten

Redkirk Warrior kept his record intact as a straight track specialist, when he won his second Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

He was coming off a win in the Lightning Stakes, and he had also won the Bobby Lewis Stakes in the spring, at Flemington.

After drawing barrier 15, the extreme outside of the field, that was no deterrent, he followed the outside rail as straight as a gun barrel, he didn’t waiver at any stage of the 1200 metres trip.

It would be best described as the perfect ride by Regan Bayliss, pity it had to be soured by an indiscretion that has proved costly for him.

Brave Smash ran a good race, he was clattered up with nowhere to go, it was a good run under the circumstances.

The favourite, Merchant Navy, was too far out of his ground to be a definite threat until the race was almost over, you cannot give starts away to good horses, he came from second last, to be beaten by a short half head.

There is some thought that Redkirk Warrior may return to England, for what? Stake earnings are much better in Australia, and also he is a gelding.

David Hayes quoted” he is the best straight horse I have had”.

Redkirk Warrior wins the Newmarket Handicap

Harlem completed a winning double for the Hayes team when he put paid to the favourite in the Australian Cup, Gailo Chop, who shortened considerably in the close of betting.

The Taj Mahal took up the early running, carting the field along at a good clip, Gailo Chop was within ear shot, and Harlem was perched ready to have a crack at the leaders.

Gailo Chop quickly issued the challenge; it looked a case of all over red rover, until Harlem appeared on the scene.

After a head and head issue, the two imported geldings had it between them, with Harlem the victor by a half length.

Harlem lands the double

The Blue Diamond Stakes was a great result for the Begg family, as the winner, Written By, was destined to be sold as a yearling, but failed to reach the reserve.

Written By remains unbeaten after winning at Sandown and Caulfield; bookies were taking no further risks after he was heavily supported in pre post betting.

“He is a pretty special colt, he is yet to taste defeat, his work leading into this race has been fantastic, he has thrived on racing and never leaves an oat, he is a gem to train,’’ said Graeme Begg.

In reality he never gave his rivals the slightest chance, he left the gate quickly and was soon in control of affaires, and was coasting from there on, no serious challenges were forth coming.

He has already earned $1,133,000 in prize money including the trophy; there are no decisions yet if he will press onto the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Written By wins Blue Diamond

 Neville and Yvonne Begg opted for the comfortable lounge, in their Sydney home, watching the race on the screen rather than the trip to Melbourne.

It was the biggest win in the career of Jordan Childs, an extremely likeable young man whose father, Greg, rode Riva Diva to win the Blue Diamond Stakes in 1992.

The wide barrier draw didn’t appear to bother Childs, he never pulled the colt about, he had planned to be where he was and he remained there.

There was no ducking or weaving about, he wasn’t looking for any inside runs, or being held up in traffic, it was simply a great piece of strategy.

“That was three runs for three wins, he is a very special colt, as for the Golden Slipper we will let the horse do the talking, he will tell us, he will have a very easy week coming up, we will see, “said Grahame Begg.

As the horses were going up the straight to the barrier the Chief Steward, Terry Bailey, asked the Track Manager, Jason Kerr, if the noise level could be reduced, with some fool banging on a drum, he responded immediately but there was no response.

Racecourses are no place for drums or tin whistles, get rid of the fools before damage is done, before a horse or jockey is injured.

Race clubs are completely oblivious to the ramifications if such an incident occurred.

The winning team - Jordan Childs and Graeme Begg 

Frankel, acclaimed as the best racehorse in the world, sired his first Australian winner in Tangmere, when he won a Maiden race at Randwick earlier in the week.

However, there is still a fair way to go if he is going to balance the budget, his purchase price was $1.3 million, the stake earnings from the win were $ 21,970.

The race proved a great result for leading Sydney trainer, Chris Waller, as he trained the three placegetters of the race.

Tangmere comes from an excellent family, his dam, Our Echezeaux, is by Zabeel, whilst her dam, Richebourg , an amazing producer, she had nine foals ,six were winners, Romanee Conti ,Ethereal, the dual Cups success, Seraphim and Uberalles, dam of four winners.

 Tony Williams with Frankel

Winx’s return to racing could be delayed after her regular rider, Hugh Bowman, failed to have a suspension reduced.

The mare was due to meet an engagement in the Apollo Stakes on February 17 that is in the balance now, the decision is whether Chris Waller would engage another jockey, or delay the mare’s return to racing

After Winx finished fifth in a second barrier trial earlier in the week, no decisions have been reached at this stage.

Bowman has ridden the mare in 20 of her 22 wins, however, Waller is not going to be rushed into hasty decisions, there is a lot at stake, he is juggling a time bomb at the moment, he cannot afford to make a mistake.

“Do we risk another jockey? Or does she have to run in the Apollo Stakes, that is the other question, that is what we have to work out,” said Chris Waller.

The Chipping Norton could be the decider; all parties should be comfortable with that, another couple of weeks may be the best decision.

Chris Waller