AMALGAMATION. When the Australian Jockey Club, and the Sydney Turf Club, amalgamated in 2011, it was agreed that no racecourses would be closed for at least 10 years.

The situation now is one race club administering four race courses, plus the upkeep that continues to increase.

Most thought that Canterbury would go as it is no longer used for training purposes, but that now may not necessarily be so.

That was before the advent of the Championships last year when there was no suitable quarantine facility available in Sydney, visiting horses coming from abroad had no option but complete their quarantine at Werribee, then be transported to Sydney.

An equine veterinary hospital has since been built at Canterbury, and while the Championships are being sponsored, there is not likely to be any changes now.

Whilst the BMW was an actioned packed race at Rosehill on Saturday, resulting in a nail biting finish, the most exciting weight for age of the season, with the exception of the Cox Plate.

The winner, Hartnell, and runner up, the Japanese visitor, To The World, were superb, however, they over shadowed a few disappointments, not the least the Melbourne Cup winner, Protectionist, he didn’t flatter at any stage of the race.

He didn’t run on as expected over 2400 metres of the BMW, it is hard to imagine he is going to perform any better at 2000 metres of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The Sydney Cup of 3200 metres appears to be his best chance of winning a race in Sydney this Autumn, he is rising six and entires rarely improve at that age.

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the excellent telecast by Sky Channel of the Golden Slipper day, plenty of action, lots of colour and free from boring tipsters.

Every punter worth his salt is well armed long before he reaches the racecourse, he has done his homework and all the idle chatter is not going to sway him away from his selections.

There is an old saying, never advertise anything for free; by the time you get there it will be all gone.

WIDE BARRIERS mean little to good horses that was illustrated again in the Golden Slipper Stakes on Saturday; good horses can overcome wide barriers, because they are good, as was seen with the winner, Vancouver.

Tommy Berry was chock full of confidence before he left the mounting yard, he was a man on a mission, he quickly turned a negative into a positive.

When the gates opened he was there where he wanted to be, sitting a shade wide as expected, but free of any likely interference and a lot of horse underneath him.

Berry rode a masterly race, did every right at the right time, while Gai Waterhouse was the architect of it all, she continues to write the record book.

The run of Ready For Victory was very encouraging, he was new to the Sydney way of going, he has quite a lot of potential, he may even wait for the Sires Produce Stakes now that Vancouver is unlikely to run.

IT’S EASY TO KNOCK a sire but first you have to know the facts, there is a case in the defence of Oamaru Force, sire of the runaway winner, The Big Dance at Bendigo, on Saturday.

Oamaru Force has now had his time but did he ever have a chance, the opportunity that every sire deserves but not always receives.

He was a horse with a great turn of foot, he broke two records on separate courses, winning the Group 3 Shorts at Randwick over 1100 metres, he ran a race and course record of 1.3.47, and a race and course record of 1.3.14 at Canterbury.

Every sire needs good mares to support him and a minimum of 50 foals on the ground after his first season, as thereafter it becomes a matter of attrition.

NO INTEREST IN RACING, that was apparent when they raced at Newcastle last week, when two young women were seen walking down the road while the field was lining up at the 1600 metres start.

Just as the horses were ready to jump, the women could be seen walking away with their backs to the racecourse, going down a side street.

The racecourse is encircled by a three metre cyclone fence, but obviously the girls were not fans of the Sport of Kings.

I AM NOT CONVINCED YET that Contributor is the saviour to our ailing weight for age problems; it is getting a bit like boarding house soup it doesn’t get any better.

He is rising six, at best there is another season, he will need to get to 2000 metres before I can warm to him.

That is the recognised distance where we measure the best weight for age horses, nothing has changed, that is when a racehorse earns his stripes.

RON QUINTON was interviewed after winning the Sebring Stakes with his highly promising filly Peeping.

Always the consummate gentleman lavishes praise on others before himself, and what a great rider he was indentured to Theo Green, among the most respected identities the turf has known.

REPRESENTAVIES of both the Queensland breeders and the Magic Millions will meet on Thursday at the Ipswich race course to discuss the success of the sales, and what areas can be further improved, as the sales in Queensland continue to go from strength to strength.

Royal Ascot is high on the agenda for Brazen Beau after his demolition job of those that opposed him in the Newmarket Handicap.

While his win was no surprise, he had won the Coolmore Stud Stakes here on Derby Day against his own age, but whether he could measure up to the older brigade was unknown.

Lankan Rupee had the wood on the colt in the Lightning Stakes and generally that was expected again in the market place.

That was the prime reason that Lankan Rupee started favourite, all the pre press comments swung heavily in his favour, he started favourite running well below his previous form.

Brazen Beau winning the Newmarket

The question is whether Brazen Beau goes to the T J Smith Stakes or be eased in preparation for Royal Ascot, only Chris Waller knows that.

He will go over well prepared, he is so adaptable, the straight track would hold no fears for him.

The colt will be well supported when he reaches the U K as he is syndicated to a large group of owners.

A win at Royal Ascot would be the ultimate as England is short of quality sprinters at present, they have concentrated possibly too much on staying blood

Chris Waller with Joao Moreira

Suavito showed a touch of class when missing the start, then leading all way, for a convincing win in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at headquarters.

Given credit Damian Oliver allowed her to run to the lead instead of having her racing wide, another Group win following on from the Futurity Stakes.

Oliver generally doesn’t like leading in races, it is not his normal style, on this occasion discretion was the better part of valour.

She travelled well for him, when he called for a little extra in the straight the mare responded, the issue was well and truly settled before the clock tower.

Suavito under Damian Oliver winning the Blamey Stakes

Her stakes earnings are slowing closing on the magical million, there is not much left for her here now, whether she goes to Sydney is yet to be decided.

The lure of the Doncaster Handicap is always tempting with its high stake money, it has always been a tough assignment, she has to take on the best milers about, still not guaranteed to make the final field.

Nigel Blakiston has done a great job with the mare winning four races in succession, this is no mean feat, she has been carefully placed and that is an art in its self

Nigel Blakiston with a firm grip on the trophy

FLEMINGTON looked a great program on Saturday, the good horses were there, the sun shone brightly on a beautiful Autumn day, yet the crowd was a poor reflection on the occasion.

The attendance of 25,016, against 26,048 last year, with a population nearing four million it is hardly any sort of result to jump up and down about.

Simply! racing has lost its popularly, for whatever reason, there is no apparent solution, except that the punting public seem to prefer to bet in the clubs or in the comfort of their homes, rather than go to the races.

EARTHQUAKE has paid the price for winning last season’s Blue Diamond Stakes; she was lumbered with 60.5 kgs at Flemington on Saturday.

She emerged from the Blue Diamond with the perfect score, three starts for three wins, that has been stained somewhat, she has now raced 11 times for five wins.

She has failed in open company, and in races restricted to her own age she is getting too much weight.

With her stakes earnings of $1.7 million she has little left to prove, she is a lovely filly, her future is now at stud.

WINNERS CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME for Glenlogan Park Stud at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Winners by the stud’s resident sires, Show A Heart, Falvelon and Jet Spur, arrived on schedule with the Magic Millions March Yearling Sales today and tomorrow, all three sires are well represented with some quality lots.

With 20 lots by Show A Heart, Falvelon 9 lots and Jet Spur 12 lots, while Upstart was in the winner’s circle for his sire Turf Ruler, he has 4 lots for Clear Mountain Fairview Stud.

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED, the Sire Produce Stakes, once the premier two year old race in Melbourne, sported 12 starters on Saturday, with the field made up of seven maidens.

It was the maidens Jameka and Lazumba that held the balance of power, filling the first two placings.

Jameka gave her sire, Myboycharlie, a good taste of Black Type when she finished strongly appreciating the further ground.

Lazumba was not disgraced either, she was running on nicely, Steve Richards will put her away until the spring.