Long John had a lot on those that opposed him in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington.

He now goes for a spell with an unblemished record having put together three wins on the trot, with the promise of a bright future ahead.

From the outset he was the one to beat, taking up a prominent position, one off the fence, for most of the trip, with Steven Arnold making sure he was not going to get boxed in.

He opened up in the red with his price never altering, he was the only one the punters wanted, there was little support for any other runner in the race.

Form at this time of the year can sometimes be taken with a grain of salt; however, Long John could be the exception.

He is a good on pace horse with a nice turn of foot; he had the race safely in his keeping when called upon.

There is definitely a future ahead for him; he has done everything to this stage on one preparation.

He will be all the better for a break now, and being a gelding his continued racing career is assured, he won’t be lost to any stud.

Long John looks good in winning

There were quite a few teary eyes at Caulfield on Saturday, an emotional scene seldom seen on an Australian race course.

This was the occasion when the curtain finally came down on the illustrious career of an Australian icon, Black Caviar, (Nellie).

She has left a legacy to thoroughbred racing that grew with each of her 25 wins, she never failed to deliver.

A marvellous career that had to be seen to be believed, she was the magnet that attracted people that had never frequented racecourses previously, to what was a phenomenon, a truly great experience.

That was illustrated clearly at Flemington, Caulfield, Moonee Valley, Randwick, Eagle Farm and Morphettville; she was clearly racing’s most popular ambassadress.

There were very few people at Caulfield before the first, second, or third races, but how the waves rolled in thereafter in their thousands, all wanting to be a part of the action.

The great mare was paraded, before being mounted by Luke Nolan, and trotted down the entire length of the straight.

After the speech by the Premier, Denis Napthine, and the applause that followed, she was led away to the race stalls, then to the Peter Moody stable that has been home to her for much of her life.

Farewell Nellie

In form filly, Hazard, extended her winning sequence to four wins, when she easily accounted for Elite Elle in the Cath White Memorial Handicap at Caulfield.

She took up an early position in running, sitting back in fourth place behind the odds on favourite Elite Elle until the home turn was reached.

From then on she accelerated, quickly having the issue beyond any possible doubt with 200 metres left to run.

In the absence of Anthony Freedman the filly was saddled up by Ash Yargi, suggesting the stable would be looking for a Black Type race.

She is capable of getting further the way she finished the race off, but a doubtful quantity as far as a Stakes race is concerned.

Mareeza having her second run in from a let up battled fairly, coming from mid field she is worth some thought next time she steps out in a similar type of race, preferably at her home track Caulfield.

Hazard wins well

Darren Gauci was seen at his brilliant best again, in an all the way win on Lucky Penny in the Victorian Hardwood Floors Handicap.

After drawing a good gate he was giving nothing away, he had the fence, and that is where he remained until it was time to get busy in the straight.

The mare responded well to the role of pacemaker, there was plenty left there when she was called upon.

Overall it was a pretty good effort, when taking into account she was first up since August of last year.

Lucky Penny is prepared by the joint training partnership of, Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison, at Talwood Park Whittlesea, a former stud property.

The plan to bring her back to racing in the late autumn has worked well, as she won three races this time last year.

Elfina did most of the early chasing, but she had had enough by the time the home turn was reached.

Nothing much impressed outside of the three place getters, Sweet Ella was running on after being a fair way back in the field early.

Lucky Penny is by Keep The Faith, his sire Sunday Silence left 871 winners, with 171 Stakes winners and progeny earnings of $779 million.

Lucky Penny with Darren Gauci up

Cosmic Causeway saves his best for Caulfield, where he is trained, when he put a space in the opposition in winning the Story Landscaping Handicap.

He was stepping up slightly in distance from his previous Caulfield win over 1700 metres to the 1800 metres, which was no matter for concern.

The gelding was sitting on the pace for most of the trip; it was just a matter of Daniel Stackhouse shaking him up to record a comfortable win.

“He has found form well and has been consistent through this preparation, Daniel took him over early after drawing wide, it was a good winning ride” said Peter Moody.

Whisper Downs seldom runs a bad race; he was again running on but doesn’t help the cause by getting so far back in the field.

Last start Moonee Valley winner, Finiguerra, ran an honest race to fill the minor placing.

As for Precedence, he looks a light of other days; he will need to do a lot better than beating two home if he is going to increase the credit balance.

C’est La Guerre is in the same category, he showed some pace early, once in the straight he was looking for a cab.

Cosmic Causeway - An easy winner