M att Laurie was the most relieved person to be back in the winner’s circle at Moonee Valley on Friday night, winning the World Racing Tours Handicap with Master Reset.

It was just a matter of when the rider of Master Reset, Mark Zahra, was going to put the leader, Leveraction, under pressure before he would crack.

There is no plan of action for Master Reset, he will take races as they come, country cups would be a good option, Bendigo, Kyneton, Ballarat, and plenty more, and the stake money is now excellent,

Laurie has had few issues to sort out, but with the aid of his parents, who are a close knit family, all the issues are behind him.  

Fallen jockeys, those that had lost their lives as a result of injuries sustained in falls, were remembered last Saturday at Caulfield.

Families that had lost a loved one, and there have been many, at least now they have been recognised.

A jockey’s Memorial for the fallen was the brain child of the late Ned Wallish, he was secretary of the Bookmakers Association for several years before taking over a similar role for the jockeys.

Ned worked hard, he received little assistance, he was out on his own, it was his inspiration, vision and passion that resulted in the original Memorial, to fallen jockeys, being created in 2005.

Even when the original Memorial was completed with its 296 inscribed names, finding a home was an issue, the race clubs showed no interest, finally it was the Melbourne Racing Club the Memorial was placed at Caulfield, near the race day office, in full view of the members coming in from the car park.

The re-designed Memorial, with 877 names of fallen jockeys, was unveiled by Victoria’s Minister for Racing and Attorney General, the Hon Martin Pakula.

The skilful art of Jennifer Mann, as sculptor, will be much admired for generations, as a lasting tribute for Australian jockeys that have paid the ultimate price in their chosen profession.

A statue above the memorial features Hughie Cairns, an ex New Zealander, the most versatile jockey the turf has known, he mixed riding over jumps and on the flat with equal skills, he lost his life in the late twenties, when Quick Deal fell in a hurdle race in front of the grandstand at Moonee Valley.

Cairns had won the Grand National Hurdle on Maranqua , the Cox Plate on Heroic, and the Melbourne Cup on Spearfelt, for Vin O’Niell.

It was not long before another talented New Zealander, Keith Voitre, crossed the Tasman to ride for Lou Robertson.,

The spring of 1935 was a stellar period for the partnership, they combined to win the Cox Plate with Garrio, the Derby with Felspar, Melbourne Cup Marabou and the Oaks with Nalda, a record that has never been equalled.

Voitre met the same fate at Cairns, a decade later he was killed in a fall from Frill Prince, just before the turn into the straight at Moonee Valley.

About the same time, Ray Wilson and Stan Kyte were both killed in a tragic fall on Adelaide Cup day at Morphettville.

The late Neville Sellwood, among the most successful jockeys we have known, winning two Melbourne Cups, three Caulfield Cups, plus a host of feature races, lost his life in a fall from Lucky Seven at Maisons-Laffitte in France.

Fortunately race falls are less frequent than in previous years, race riding has been improved greatly with patrol films of races a necessary innovation, and jockeys have the benefit of Des O’Keefe, he is conscious of their overall welfare, providing great assistance to all riders.

With jockeys now wearing protective vests and better head gear, jockeys are not as vulnerable to severe injury as in former years.

The versatile Hughie Cairns

What has become a stellar season for three year old fillies, Don’t Doubt Mamma joined that select group when she put paid to her opposition in the MRC Foundation Plate, at Caulfield, on Saturday.

The win was quite impressive, she was travelling mid field for much of the race until it was time to get busy entering the straight, she finished her race off strongly and was drawing away when the post was reached.

Most likely she will miss the Prelude next Saturday at Caulfield and go to Flemington for the Manifold Stakes the following week, and the Thousand Guineas would then be ideal two weeks later

Don't Doubt Mamma with Luke Currie up

As a rule Tony McEvoy prefers to space his horse’s runs two weeks apart, it is a pretty sound formula.

Don’t Doubt Mamma is by Not A Single Doubt, purely a sprinter when he raced, yet it is not beyond him to get a runner up to a middle distance.

Her female line is beyond question, this is the family of Denise’s Joy, a wonderful dual purpose mare, she won a Derby and an Oaks, among the best families in the stud book, a filly from any of her daughters could be likened to a rare gem.

Tony McEvoy with Don't Doubt Mamma

Fell Swoop continued on his winning way at Caulfield yesterday, but not before a few unnecessary incidents that had connections a bit stirred up, as well as the horse.

After travelling from Canberra, Melbourne was to find they had been here previously, but finding Caulfield was another matter, they were hopelessly lost.

When they finally reached the course things didn’t get any better, Fell Swoop became agitated in the paddock, then on the way to the start he cast a shoe and proved a handful to reshoe.

That was enough for one of the partners, he couldn’t handle it any more, he was off to the bar to steady his nerves, he would watch the race from there.

Fell Swoop overcame all the problems, not all from his own doing, recording his fourth win on end and his eighth from 10 starts.

He looked as if he may be in a bit of bother on the home turn; the others seemed to have his measure until Damian Oliver got to work.

His trainer, Matthew Dale, was full of praise for the horse; he was concerned at one stage when the horse didn’t get cover down the railway side.

He is by Not A Single Doubt, who does not receive the publicity he deserves, he is a consistent sire, he got a double at Caulfield yesterday

Fell Swoop winning the Testa Rosa Stakes

Seven trainers, located at Newmarlet, were seen and heard in an unusual and novel role, with each calling a race on Rowley Mile course yesterday.

Willie Haggas, Charlie Fellows, Lucy Wadham, Hugo Palmer, John Gosden, Sir Michael Stoute and David Simcoc .

Jim McGrath, the BBC commentator, was on hand to do a touch of tutoring, how much was heeded is not known.

Haggas drew the short straw, he opened up proceedings, he was represented in the race by Wrapped, “it’s a bit of fun, I’m trying to be the next Sir Peter O’Sullivan,” he said.

Lucy Wadham said,” she did not know where the commentary box, Lucy was in need of directions”.

Sir Michael Stoute was not that enthusiastic about it, he was heard to say, “ I will be pleased when it is all over.”