While Byron Cozamanis was away in Port Lincoln, he had a worthy stable representative, April Matthews, in charge of affairs at Caulfield.

Whether it was a woman’s touch that did the trick, Vatican showed plenty of tenacity to defeat It Is Written in the Vintage Photobooths Plate.

The start of the race was delayed for a couple of minutes when Dusty Star was withdrawn after suffering an injury in the starting gate.

Vatican began quickly but was soon headed by Dream Face who had set up a handy lead just before the turn; the winner was now in hot pursuit.

Once Vatican reached the lead he looked to be set up for a big win, until It Is Written appeared on the scene, he was running on at the rate of knots.

When the judge called a holt there was just a long head between them, another couple of hops, the decision would have been reversed.

The price about the winner was surprising as there was form around him, with $21 each way it was attractive value.

African Pulse started favourite after coming off two recent wins, he was disappointing, maybe he is looking for a break, he has been up a fair while. 

Vatican just defeating It Is Written   

The 1997 Cox Plate was no joy for punters with the 40-1 winner, Dane Ripper, forcing a passage through half way up the straight, between the running rail and the 11-8 favourite, Filante.

There was little to celebrate for punters, but the bookies didn’t complain, it was drinks all round, the race was a skinner for them.

The following year Dane Ripper was acclaimed Champion race mare in 1998, with four Group 1’s to her credit, 12 wins and $3,151,833 in the bank.

Now rising 20 years of age she cut a lonely figure when paraded in the Inglis Sydney sale ring last week, being purchased for $50,000.

Maybe it was a sentimental bid, surely not an investment, she has had just six foals for three minor winners, she has produced two foals to High Chaparral in the last two breeding seasons, but failed to get in foal to him in 2012.

Written Tycoon, after a season in Queensland, is returning to Victoria where he will stand at Woodside Park Tylden.

A sale believed to be in the vicinity of $3 million was paid for the handsome son of Iglesia, he was never far away in those major sprint races, winning the Group 2 Todman Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.

He has a proven sprinting sire line in Iglesia, a prominent source of winners by Last Tycoon, a brilliant horse himself winning eight of his 13 starts, with five of those wins at Group level.

His dam, Party Miss, by Kenmare, was more than handy as a race mare; she won four times, leaving six foals to race, with five winners.

She was from Miss Entertainer by Vain, thus a half sister to Anthems, Yell, Sung and Verse whilst she was unraced she produced Lamasery.

Written Tycoon 

There are certainly better races in the offering for Shoreham after his emphatic win in the Galilee Series Final at Flemington on Saturday.

Whilst he didn’t defeat a flash field, that doesn’t come into the equation, it is how he beat them that counts.

In on the fence at the 800, with nowhere to go, it required some quick thinking from Chris Symons to turn a negative into a positive, in a flash an opening appeared, he was out full of running.

It is decision time now; he is a promising stayer, whether the next move is the St Leger at Flemington, or the South Australian Derby at Morphettville.

Trainer, Saab Hasan, could be persuaded to go for the Derby, he could follow the lead set some years ago by Lee Freedman, he won the Derby and the Melbourne Cup in the same year with Subzero.

Saab has put in the hard yards, there has been some tough going along the way, it is now all falling into shape, a win Sunday in the Puckapunyal Army Cup, with Compound, completed a satisfying week-end double.

Shoreham with Chris Symons up

Coins soon gave her rivals the slip, once the straight was entered in the Riding For The Disabled Plate, to record quite a convincing win.

Flemington suited her to a tee; she had time to settle down before it was time to get busy.

She had the race safely in her keeping with 200 metres to run, giving the impression she will get further.

No doubt Darley would have thoughts of a possible spring campaign, should that be the intention she is likely to be off the scene for a few months.

She is a good strong filly with a lot of scope; there will be further improvement in her when she steps up in distance.

Whilst Mybenz didn’t look like winning at any stage, she is never the less promising and should not be far off a win.

Nautical was another to be seen running on, she is a maiden to date, this was just her third start in a race, she came from a long way back with Mybenz.

Lady Of Harrods seems to have lost all form she showed in the spring, after beginning well from her outside draw and leading until just before the home turn, she punctured, thereafter finishing near last.

Coins - Performing like a stayer

Banca Mo was on trial for the Warrnambool Cup that is the direction he will take now after winning the National Jockey’s Trust Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.

The Tasmanian gelding has quite an impressive strike rate having won 10 of his 20 starts, including the Pakenham Cup at his previous outing.

He looks the ideal horse for Warrnambool, he will sit right on the pace, and if the event develops into a dog fight, there is plenty of stamina if required.

The gelding is prepared by the father and son team of, David and Scott Brunton, at beautiful Seven Mile Beach east of Hobart.

David originally trained at Ballarat, he had a long association with the late Noel Kelly, it was Kelly’s silks of green, white sleeves and cap, that were carried by Banca Mo when he won at Flemington.

Adelaide Cup winner, Norsqui, was seen to be running on fairly in a race much too short for him, while Black And Bent was racing midfield early, he compounded thereafter.

Banca Mo is by Tough Speed, an American sire by Miswaki, his three wins in the U K included a Group 3 at Doncaster, the home of the St Leger.

Banca Mo - Set for Warrnambool