A mere a short half head separated stable mates, Lessyd and Hey Doc, in the opening race at Flemington, the Better Beyond Plate.

Hey Doc was preferred in betting as he was a last start winner in Adelaide, where as Lessyd was having his third start having been placed at Moonee Valley and Geelong.

As the race was run, Moshway led the field onto the course proper, with Hey Doc close at hand, while Lessyd had to come from last, it was a sound performance.

Both horses are likely to go the Inglis Premier, a restricted race at Caulfield in two weeks, over 1200 metres with stake money of $250,000.

Tony McEvoy was pleased with the performance of Lessyd, saying, “ it has taken a little while for the penny to drop, however, his two previous runs have been full of merit, with the benefit of those two runs he was much more professional today, he had something to chase and he kept chasing right to the line.”

“I will have to a look at the race again, he did appear to jump a little awkwardly, as for his stable mate, Hey Doc, he may have been left in front a bit too soon, “ he added.

Lessyd and Hey Doc running out the Quinella

When second declarations were taken earlier this week for the Blue Diamond Stakes, 209 horses remained in the Group 1 for two year olds, to be run on February 27 at Caulfield.

David Hayes and Tom Dabernig still have 23 nominations in the race, followed by Goldolphin 20, Mick Price 18, Robbie Griffiths 12, Chris Waller 10, Team Hawkes 9.

Top sires Exceed And Excel 14, Snitzel 12, Sebring 10, Redoute’s Choice 9. Reward For Effort 8 and Sepoy 8.

Entries in the various States include Victoria 141, N S W 55, S A 10, W A 2, Qld 1 a Total of 209, with Colts and Geldings 117, Fillies 92.

There was plenty of melodrama about on the Gold Coast before racing commenced, throwing the starting times of the following races into disarray.

All was on track until Damien Oliver’s mount; Tango Rock was forced to be withdrawn after a veterinary inspection.

Then the even money favourite, Wolf Cry, began to get restless, he required an inspection, once cleared to run a further delay, he had cast a plate.

Whilst he was being re-shod many of the runners were beginning to get agitated, another two horses required inspections, finally all was completed to the relief of the starter.

Wolf Cry gave his rivals a short back and sides, winning by three lengths, and the first leg of a winning double for Blake Shinn, and the Snowden team of Peter and Paul.

A sight rarely seen on a racecourse was when the starter, at Quenbeyan on Saturday, started the races at ground level inside the running rail.

Even in the days when flags were in use at the Hunt Club meetings, the starter made sure he was well clear when he let the field get away.

The Hunt Club fixtures were marvellous, with a big patronage under the control of the Victoria Racing Club stewards.

Ballarat was well represented on the Gold Coast at the richest race day ever held in Australia. Darren Weir, based at Ballarat, took home a fair share of the prize money when Lucky Hussler and Mahuta both won the collective prizemoney of $1.8 million.

Mahuta has come a long way in a very short time, he has untapped potential, if he continues at the same rate of improvement he is currently showing, weight for age may not be beyond him.

He has shown great improvement since winning a Maiden race at Kyneton in October of last year, over 1450 metres in a field of eight runners.

Weir set him the task and he delivered , 20 at the gate and 58 to lump, a capacity field and he made light of the assignment.

Mahuta is by the same sire as Magnus, Flying Spur, he has enough pedigree, however, when he finally goes to stud he needs mares that will be accepted into a premier sale.

Mahuta - all class

Stay With Me, who emulated her dam, Miss Finland, when she won the One Thousand Guineas in the Spring, is coming to hand well in her preparation for the Autumn, but plans are in limbo at present.

The Sydney Autumn could be the better option, her likely target is the $1 million Group1 Randwick Guineas, sure she would be meeting the colt, but if Press Statement stays at home it will make it easier.

Really she cannot come to Melbourne and do justice to herself then go to Sydney that is just asking too much.

Stay With Me wins 1000 Guineas

Wolf Cry was the highest priced winner, sold as a yearling, to have won at the Gold Coast’s $ 10 million race day.

He was a maiden before the win costing $320,000 , War Jet sold for $46,000, Buffering $22,000, I Am Zelady $80,000, Tinto not sold, Lucky Hussler $100,000, Mahuta $35,000, Capitalist $165,000, Husson Eagle $42,500.  

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Turn Me Loose, who came to Melbourne as a second string to stable mate, Mongolian Khan, is on track to return for the Autumn.

Plans are to kick off his campaign in the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 13, then press on to the Australian Cup.

He had a barn storming spree here in the Spring after winning the Seymour Cup and the Crystal at Moonee Valley, he then put the icing on the cake when he won the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington.

The Murray Baker trained entire improved with every run when last here, he only needs to return with that same game plan to be a force to be reckoned with again.

“If he shapes up well there in Melbourne, Sydney has plenty to offer the George Ryder Stakes, and the Doncaster Handicap cannot be ignored, “said Murray Baker.

Turn Me Loose - Getting ready to return

Winx remains at home

There are no plans to take champion mare Winx, to Royal Ascot, it is a hiding to nothing, there is little to achieve.

Chris Waller knows that, he is a great trainer with that rare ability to place horses to their best advantage.

Instead she will be directed towards the Sydney Autumn, naturally she will be heading towards the prestigious Group1Doncaster Handicap, the greatest mile race in the Southern Hemisphere.

Royal Ascot is beginning to wear a little thin, it does not suit all horses, no doubt Waller learnt a lot when he took Brazen Beau over last year, it was no walk in the park.

Really there is no point taking a mare to the U K when our stake money is so good, particularly in Sydney during the championship series.

An entire is a different question, if he performs to the optimum it is a huge boost to his potential.

Even then if he doesn’t appeal to the purists, who can be fastidious, then his goose is about cooked.

Winx winning the Cox Plate

Delicacy future in the balance

The future of Delicacy, the Perth Cup heroine, is in the balance as to which direction she will take, it may not be known for some time.

Her owner, Vic Peters, has had an amazing success as an owner, he doesn’t owe racing anything, he has promoted the sport to the highest level.

The Perth Cup could have been her swansong, it does not get any better than that, you can take the pitcher once too often to the well.

That Cup run was a tough one, 59kg, coming from well back in the field over 2400 metres and even blocked for a run at one stage, that was then the ultimate performance .

A gallant mare who will be best remembered for that win, than a defeat.

The future of Randwick’s Kensington track is up in the air, but it won’t be used for racing any time soon.

Another set of trials will be run on the surface next month before a final decision is reached on its future.

The track has not been used for more than a year, because of problems with the root system not connecting with the mesh underlay.

Five trials were held on Tuesday but a section of the track again was chopped up.

The Australian Turf Club, and Racing New South Wales, are in discussions about replacing the Green grass.

Barry Griffiths loves the girls, in particular the four legged ones, the latest edition of his success was Heatherly, a highly promising fill by Lonhro.

She is one of many, but nothing quite compared with Mannerism, high on the list of the best mares we have seen race, however, Northwood Plume and Azzurro would figure prominently on the list.

His biggest win was with Tawrrific in the 1989 Melbourne Cup, he carried the yellow, light blue checks, red cap, the first of the five Cup winners trained by Lee Freedman.

Delicacy, the superlatives continue, a remarkable mare, who defied logic when she lumped 59 kgs to win a thrilling Perth Cup over 2400 metres.

Weight of money saw her start favourite at $2.40, there was a lot against her drawing the inside gate 59 kgs, or in the old scale of weights, 9 stone 4, she wasn’t going to get treated with any favours.

On the home turn with a run in of 300 metres she had the task ahead of her, she was back in the ruck, you would not have backed her with counterfeit money.

While Delicacy holds all the accolades, spare a few for jockey Peter Hall, he copped ten out of ten, an excellent ride, a true professional.

What the future holds now for Delicacy is yet to be decided, it has been a hard summer campaign and thoughts of the Melbourne autumn are coming up too soon.

New Years Day proved a mixed day for Matt Laurie, he went to Flemington with recent Geelong winner, Coup De Beel, she ran below what was expected.

However, all was not lost, Lee Dunstan was stoking up the fires leading in a winning double via Pavdayada, who payed $5.50, and Gaily Mill, who started favourite at $3.80.

Matt has a pretty good set up for training at Moorooduc, an area where Norm Francis prepared Tudor Hill, the very good miler who won the Doncaster Handicap twice in successive years.

It is a good area for horses providing ample fresh air, it was never intended for horses to be caged.