Penetrometre 4.71, Track dead 4, Rail out 3 metres, Rain for the week 34 mls

Flemington Track Report

Penetrometre 4.83, Inside 4.83, Outside 4.87, Track dead 4,Rail true, Rain for the week 27.2 mls.

Country Weekend Racing

Saturday Geelong, return to Healesville Picnics, Sunday Bendigo, Wangaratta Cup.

A fall at Goulburn yesterday from Inflatable could prove costly for jockey, Hugh Bowman, who is engaged for seven rides on the eight programs at Rosehill tomorrow.

Bowman complained of soreness to his left thumb, he will be required to have X Rays before he will be permitted to ride at Rosehill.

Furthermore, he will have to undergo an examination to satisfy the Club doctor.

Rodney Dawkins - Still about.

Rodney Dawkins, who seemed to slip out of circulation quite a few years ago, is hale, hearty and still just as chirpy.

He is working of a morning with Mick Price, pottering about the stables and enjoying it thoroughly.

Back in 1965 he gave bookmakers a skinner when teaming up with Tommy Smith, they won the A J C Derby with Prince Grant, starting at 50-1.

Rosehill heavy.

Racing will be on a heavy track at Rosehill tomorrow after 93 mls of rain this week, with a third of it overnight, the track at present is a heavy 8 .

 Racing can be a great leveller; we saw that at Caulfield on Saturday, when Miracles Of Life led the cream of the crop home to win the Blue Diamond Stakes.

The Cinderella filly, not much bigger than a pony, and the jockey we had hardly heard of, captured the imagination of those that braved the heat of a hot summer's day.

The story began to unveil back in early January, when we sat down in the press room at Caulfield witnessing this pocket Hercules winning a race at Morphettville, in Adelaide, by nine lengths.

Since then it gained momentum, particularly after her barnstorming win in the Blue Diamond Preview, hard heads were beginning to soften.

Miracles Of Life had come of age, as had her rider Lauren Stojakovic, and with it came the vultures, the jockey's agents trying to pinch the ride for one of their clients.

For Stojakovic it has been no picnic, she has handled it remarkably well, the past month has been like a pressure cooker and the media has been no assistance as well.

As race time drew closer she wouldn't have blown out a candle, cool, confident, ready to get on with the job when I spoke with her.

For trainer, Daniel Clarken, this was the big moment, he would now be judged by his peers, had he made the right decision?

As for the filly, Miracles Of Life, she entered the paddock without a care in the world, as she walked each round her head got closer to the ground, she was now beginning to look much smaller.

The Blue Diamond was played to script, the best horse by far won the race, 10 out of 10 for the ride, as for Daniel Clarken that was his biggest pay day, and the crowd, they loved the theatre.

Miracles Of Life returning to Scale

 All Too Hard made it look easy in winning the Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes, he began quickly having his head in front and may have easily led had Dwayne Dunn desired.

The improvement he has made from a two year old to the present has been nothing short of remarkable.

Pierro looked to have the wood on him in the Autumn but that all changed when Spring came around, with maturity All Too Hard blossomed, all he wanted was a bit of catch up time.

He turned the tables on his staunchest rival in the Spring when winning the Caulfield Guineas and again finishing in front of Pierro in the Cox Plate.

While the Australian Guineas, to be run next Saturday, has been mentioned, nothing has been set in concrete until a firm decision is made later today.

That was the last word from Wayne Hawkes,  a decision would be made on Tuesday and that is where it sits.

The only horse to win the Futurity Australian Guineas double was Reset, he went to stud unbeaten after winning five races, he currently stands as a sire at Darley.

All Too Hard  started at $1.90 in the Futurity, should he run in the Guineas he looks like starting the shortest priced favourite in the history of the race, with the opposition there only to pick up the spoils.

 All Too Hard wins Futurity

 Mrs Onassis's win in the Oakleigh Plate was overshadowed, to some extent, with the pre race scratching of the short priced favourite, Barakey.

After two outstanding performances earlier in the day by All Too Hard and Miracles Of Life racegoers were expecting something special from the Perth performer, a winner at his only 11 starts sending him out a $2.90 favourite.

It was noticeable in the paddock the gelding was beginning to warm up and was not settling all that well when going to the barrier.

Drama took over when the second favourite, Shamal Wind, got down in the starting gate, looking as if she would be scratched, but after a longer veterinary inspection than is usual Barakey then put on a semi rodeo act and was promptly withdrawn, after some deliberation Shamal Wind was declared a runner, she was never in the hunt finishing well back in the field

Barakey's mission was to be the $1 million Newmarket Handicap on Saturday week; he would now have to go into the race first up and would need to get the all clear from stewards concerning his barrier manners.

Mrs Onassis turned in a sound performance from an outside gate, she allowed Adebisi to  lead her up until the home turn when she took control of the situation.

She is by the former brilliant sprinter General Nediym, besides the Oakleigh winner he sired three successive winners at Canberra on Sunday.

Mrs Onassis returning to scale