Summer to Autumn, the period of the racing calendar when the better horses are in the spelling paddocks, resting and waiting for the call to arms, with the major races still some weeks away.

Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud Summer Series of races has filled the void, injecting additional interest back into racing instead of taking it out.

Known as the Summer Championship, with the final won by the Brian McKnight trained, Le Remas, a much improved gelding, from winning a rated 70 class race at Sandown, to the Listed Swettenham Stud John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield.

The ten race series is on again next year with the same stakes distribution, which has proved great benefit to all sectors of the racing industry.

Sadly the New Year Day’s Standish Handicap -Bagot double is about dead on the vine, there is little interest shown nowadays, certainly since they ceased being feature doubles races.

Fortunately the Swettenham Summer Series is a winner and putting back some of the spirit into racing.

The sale of Lindsay Park, considered as sacred ground by the late Colin Hayes, where so many wonderful racehorses first saw the light of day, is moving into a new era.

It is as if the soul has been wrenched out of, not only South Australia, but the bloodstock industry as a whole.

The late Colin Hayes purchased Lindsay Park, as it was known in 1965, from the original owners, the Angus family, who migrated from Newcastle in the North of England.

Buying Lindsay Park was a dramatic step which he could not finance alone.

A syndicate was formed among friends, some of whom were clients, including Don McKay, vice chairman of the S A J C, Wyndham Hill Smith, chairman of Yalumba Wines, Harry Cornell, a businessman from Mildura, and prominent jockey Ron Hutchinson.

Back in 1965, when Lindsay Park was purchased, there were no facilities for breeding or training horses.

Colin Hayes was an extraordinary person, he succeeded where so many had failed, combining the training and breeding of thoroughbreds

His success rate was exceptional, the secret being he kept each identity separate, best illustrated winning the Victorian trainer’s 13 times, besides being premier trainer in the 1984-85 season with 66 winners, his Lindsay Park stud offered 51 yearlings at the Adelaide Sales in1985.

Durnford, a promising young staying four year old out of the Pat Carey yard, is armed and ready for the local Mornington Cup.

His win in the National Jockey’s Trust Mornington Cup Prelude was the performance of a horse just hitting his straps, coming off a Maiden win at Sale to Listed City Company.

A lightly raced horse with his future ahead, and possibly the best is yet to come, time and patience is now being rewarded.

Carey loves nothing better than training stayers, of course winners is what it is all about, yet he does have a strong affinity for the staying breed.

That was again seen on Saturday at Caulfield with the win, Durnford, by Helenus, the top three year old of his spring season in 2002, a Derby winner like Blackfriars, banished to Western Australia.   

Carey could see the value in Helenus as a sire; with lot of strength in the bottom half of the pedigree, and being by Helissio, who showed a touch of brilliance when winning the Arc at Longchamp.

Durnford on the outside getting the better of Tuscan Fire

His success rate has been extraordinary with the progeny of one particular sire line Ethiopia, Cedarberg and Ulundi provide the answers.

Durnford was ridden the prefect race on Saturday by Kerrin McEvoy, he allowed the gelding to find his feet, let the others lob along until it was time to get down to the business side of the job.

Tuscan Fire came around the turn in what appeared to be a winning lead, he was worn down in the shadows of the post by the winner, Durnford, a promising stayer.

At the presentation 

Peter Snowden declared Metastasio as a definite starter in the Blue Diamond Stakes after having earned $120,500 in prize money from her only two race starts.

A late declaration fee of $ 55,000 will be paid before noon on Monday the 18^th of February.

It would have been an easy decision to make for Snowden after the brilliant win of the filly at Caulfield on Saturday.

She has improved greatly since winning at Flemington; she has now won over 1100 metres, the longest two year old race leading into the Blue Diamond, and most likely would not require another run prior to the race.

Darley will have at least two runners in the Diamond, Metastasio and Guelph, while Monsegur would have to earn her stripes in the Prelude next Saturday before she would be considered a likely runner.

The fillies have proven to be head and shoulders above the colts and geldings at this stage, and unless something can pop out of the woodwork quickly, that will be an ultimate conclusion.

Peter Snowden admitted he was a little bit disappointed with Metastasio, she did a few things wrong, such as a wobble around the corner, he may forgive that fault as she did put a space on them when she let down in the straight.

Metastasio wins in a breeze 

Winta Chiller was about to go to the paddock for a break after winning at Werribee, but a decision to give her just one more run paid dividends for the filly, and her group of owners, when she won the Toorak Toff At Rosemont Stud Handicap.

It was a red letter day as well for trainer Ross Pecora, his first city winner with a filly bred and raced by the members of his family, and a few friends.

Pecora mixes training horses at Cranbourne besides operating a cheese stall at the popular Dandenong market.

There will no quick decisions made after this win, “we will wait a while to see which direction we take when I speak with jockey, Dale Smith,” he said

The filly was well ridden by Smith, he was in an awkward position at the top of the straight while waiting for a run, once it appeared he was out in a flash.

Smith is riding on the crest of a wave since coming from Western Australia several years ago, with 48 wins to his credit this season.

Drawing the outside at the barrier didn’t assist the favourite, Spending, she jumped too well at the start with Craig Williams having little option but to let her stride, hence she just weakened in the run home.

Winter Chiller - Another winner for Dale Smith