All sectors of racing came forth to pay their final respects at the passing of Ned Dougherty who died last week at the age of 86.

Ned was a unique man, his knowledge of racing and how it should be administered has stood the test of time.

He entered the racing game as a jockey, mostly in the country, there were those periodical trips to Sydney courses, Randwick, Rosehill, Canterbury, Moorf ield, Roseberry, Ascot, or Victoria Park, these were all metropolitan courses at that time, many have faced away since then.

Ned was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth; it was a competitive era, competing against the top jockeys, Darby Munro, Billy Cook, Jack Thompson and numerous other outstanding riders.

He rode countless winners on a wide variety of courses throughout New South Wales; he held a record at one stage of having ridden 20 plus winners consecutively during periodical trips to Sydney.

On retirement Ned joined the administration of racing, the Central Districts of New South Wales as Chief Steward.

With a no nonsense attitude Dougherty had an impact on innumerable people on and off the track, including his former apprentice, Terry Bailey, who acted as a pallbearer at his memorial service.

“He taught me more about life in general than racing, and about how to be a better human being, “said Bailey, Racing Victoria’s Chairman of Stewards.

“You could never go to a university and receive the kind of training that Ned Dougherty gave me.”

“Just to be alongside him for that period was special, he treated me like a son, he was an icon in this area.”

“He ruled with an iron fist, and that is the way it has to be, but he never asked anyone to do anything that he couldn’t , he earned a lot of respect for that,” said Terry Bailey.  

Jalan Jalan, the impressive winner of The Flemington Family Handicap, at headquarters, could be suffering from a split personality.

Her manners vary quite a bit, when she is at home in the stable, and strutting her stuff on the racecourse.

Trainer, Colin Little, who prepares the filly, is not complaining, nor should he, bad manners can be accepted at home in the stable, but never on race day, she has to be on her best behaviour.

She may have a short let up after the win, her second, the first being at Mornington back in mid May.

Little has never been all that keen on taking horses out of the winter into the spring, but a short break may not do her any harm.

The Quezette Stakes at Caulfield, over 1200 metres, is a month away, that is pencilled in as her next engagement, when several spring aspirants will be embarking on their future campaigns.

Jalan Jalan was given all the favours when Little engaged Damien Oliver for the ride, he has stood the test of time among his peers, and riding in great form.

Cairon Maher could be following in the same direction as Colin Little, favouring the Quezette for his smart filly, Petits Filous, who donkey licked a field at Moonee Valley earlier in the week

Jalan Jalan winning at Flemington

Herstory turned in a sound performance in winning the Chicquita Handicap, giving her trainer, Peter Moody, a running double, having won the previous race with Il Cavallo.

Whilst she is not likely to emulate the deeds of Chicquita, she is proving a consistent filly, having won three of her 10 starts.

She was bred and offered for sale as a yearling by Canning Downs Stud at Warwick, once owned by Cec Barnes.

Ironically the race following the Chicquita Handicap was the Dalray Handicap, named after a great racehorse and a successful sire, after breaking down in the Carbine Stakes at Flemington; he was purchased by Cec Barnes as a sire for Canning Downs.

Dalray carried the highest weight, above weight for age, as a four year old, to win the Melbourne Cup since Phar Lap.

There was no time for celebrations after the win of Lilly Dazzler, the first Flemington winner for her trainer, Monica Croston.

It was a case of early to bed and early to rise, she had to be on the road again by 5 am with two horses running at Casterton.

The win of Lilly Dazzler was an emotional one, certainly for Monica, dark glasses helped to shield the tears of joy from prying cameras.

Naturally, she was overjoyed with the win at Flemington, her first, it was a big occasion, all the time and hard work has been rewarding.

The mare owes her connections little, she has been in the money 13 times from 18 starts, her five wins have netted $114,375 in prize money.

She will be back again at Flemington in three weeks time for a fillies and mares race over 2000 metres, a decision then will be made as to which direction she takes from there.

Croston began training five years ago; she currently has six horses in work at Cranbourne.

Her mother, Pat, is not short of horse experience either, she was foreperson for Gai Waterhouse, Brian Mayfield Smith and Peter Moody, in Brisbane

Lilly Dazzler, on the outside, winning at Flemington

When trainer, Bryce Stanaway, called for a sandwich recently at Pakenham,
and was told the cupboard was bare, he didn’t take it lightly.

After complaining to an official of the racing club, and further discussion, the three horses were scratched with Stanaway incurring a fine of $2,000 .

Food problems are not entirely isolated to trainers, jockeys are also airing their views, Danny Mullins was beefing about the situation at Killlarney last week, he ordered a salad for 5 pounds that wouldn’t feed a rabbit.