Those that supported Under The Eiffel in the Sky High Mt Dandenong, had a longer wait than usual before getting the O K to collect.

In what was a tight finish with Under The Eiffel on the outside and British General on the inner, there was no more than a lip in the result.

There was quite some speculation as to who had won in what a difficult result, but the judge, Lyndon Tymms, was again got it right.

Under The Eiffel has been racing pretty consistently, he was a last start winner of the George Adams in Launceston.

His rider, Stephen Baster, didn’t call on the gelding until well into the straight when British General looked to have an unassailable lead.

British General will be beaten in more photo finishers than he wins, as he has a tendency to carry his head too high, which is no advantage in a close finish when a photo is required.

The Irish bred Garub ran on fairly, it was first up for him since the Sandown Classic in November, the run will have done him no hard, he could win a moderate race at around the same distance.

Under The Eiffel wins close finish

No records were broken in the William Buck Joins VAFA Plate won by the Darley colt, San Diego, but that is not to say he won’t make a stayer.

A tall long striding colt by Exceed And Excel, a brilliant sprinting son of Danehill, suggests San Diego may be nothing more than a sprinter, however, after his win over 1600 metres he could easily get further.

His dam, Del Mar, is by Zabeel, she produced Soledad when mated to Commands, while he won four nice races he got no further than 1300 metres, at least San Diego has already won at the 1600.

Plans are to send San Diego to the paddock, giving him the benefit of the late autumn before the colder weather sets in.

The stable has a pretty good opinion of the colt who can do a few things wrong in a race, and the smaller field was selected to further his education.

He was on his best behaviour, when he ultimately found the lead he went as straight as a gun barrel to the line.

At least he is the first two year old to win over 1600 metres and race as if he may well get further.

San Diego winning well

When Jimmy Cassidy arrived from New Zealand in 1983 to win the Melbourne Cup on Kiwi, no one could have envisaged he would still be riding Group winners 30 years later.

The evergreen “Pumper”, as he is known, ranks among the best of any era we have seen on the Australian turf.

At 50 years of age he is now on the brink of that magical ton, 100 Group 1 wins, which will surely be achieved within a few weeks.

Cassidy is no stranger to adversity; he has seen plenty of ups and downs in a long riding career, yet has always risen to the occasion.

That was never more evident than at Rosehill on Saturday when winning the Ranvet Stakes on Foreteller, and the Canterbury Stakes on Pierro.

He has that magic touch, a big occasion jockey who has never ridden in better form.

The Inglis Sales ring was a buzz back in 2009 when the first foal of Makybe Diva, a colt by the English Derby winner Galileo, was offered for sale, later named Rockstardom.

After spirited bidding the colt was knocked down for $1.5 million, he has since returned his owners a mere $17,825, for one win and placed twice.

Strangely he was not the highest priced yearling of that year, Surrcosta by Encosta de Lago, from Surrealist, was sold for $2 million, he never won a race, all he returned was $4,150 for running one solitary placing.

The only yearling sold in the last two decades, for a seven figure sum, to return his purchase price was All Too Hard; he was sold as a yearling for $1.025 million, and has since earned $2.043 million in stakes.

Jet Away earned the seal of approval from trainer, David Hayes, after an authoritative win in the Golden Mile at Bendigo on Saturday.

And that will not be the last we will hear from him, it would come as no surprise to see him develop into a serious spring contender.

After an impressive trial, a week previously at Flemington, Hayes would not hear of the imported performer being beaten.

He is a similar type of horse to December Draw, he also found his form quickly after arriving Down Under.

The imported horses are becoming quite popular, they suit the syndicators, they can offer their clients the readymade product, no breaking in fees, horses are over the shin soreness stage and more importantly, you can invest in a horse that is a winner.

Trainers with their sights set on the major staying races are now looking towards the northern hemisphere for that type of horse.

Our trainers are now engaging well credentialed agents to locate suitable horses to suit our conditions and can also stay.

The imported horses are being accepted into racing and are going to play a major role from here on; you don’t find too many Melbourne Cup winners in yearling catalogues.

Jet Away - Golden Mile winner

The value of race experience paid dividends for Mezeray Miss in winning the Swettenham Dash For Cash at Sportingbet Sandown Park.

After four runs, plus a last start win at Cranbourne, she was on top of her game, leading all the way and winning with a bit in hand.

The filly is trained on the Mornington Peninsula by Matthew Laurie, he is putting together a nice team in a great environment that suites horses, well fenced half acre paddocks where they spend much of the day before being stabled at night.

A quite unassuming young man he is in no hurry to get to the top, he is just chipping away and getting results.

Mezeray Miss is by the South American import Artie Schiller, he is on a roll at present, he is siring winners at a consistent rate.