Affirmation, having just his third start in three different states, put payed to his opposition with an impressive win in The Grand Hotel Handicap at Caulfield.

It didn�t take him long to put the field away once his rider, Mark Zahra, made the move, he soon had the leaders covered halfway up the straight.

His immediate future is the Up and Coming Stakes at Randwick, and the Golden Rose, would then look a pretty attractive option.

It is winter form and he still has to take the next step, there is little doubt he is well above those he met at Caulfield yesterday.

John Cornel, who was standing in for trainer Tony McEvoy, said �the gelding will return to Sydney and continue his campaign towards the Up And Coming Stakes, much will depend on that run as to where his future is, �he added.

Affirmation has been sparingly raced, he has had just three starts, he was gelded after finishing fifth in the Inglis Classic at Randwick in January, and returned to racing at Morphettville three weeks ago to record an easy win in Maiden company.

That was obviously not sufficient to enthuse on course punters as he was a pronounced drifter in the market.

Club Star, out of the Moody camp, could pick up a city race before being turned out; he finished his race off nicely.

Affirmation winning well

Trainer, Michael Moroney, was not short in his praise of apprentice jockey, Damien Thornton, on his ride in winning on the filly, Jemerica, after her all the way win in the Champagne Pommery Masters Handicape

�It was a great ride, only experienced riders can do what he did, he rode this filly perfectly,� said Michael Moroney.

The young rider had the filly coasting along in the lead with obviously still plenty in reserve, it was just a matter now of pressing the button.

Once the straight was entered it was only a matter of how far, she had a lot on her rivals, as shown by the winning margin.

The aim now is to get some Black Type for her, she is capable of that as was shown with her excellent all the way win at Caulfield.

Her dam line is current being out of the unraced mare Nishaani, by Gold Brose, formerly raced by Ric Smith.

Nishaani has proved an excellent mare; she has left five winning foals, including four full sisters all by Captain Rio.

Jemerica winning at Caulfield

Peter Moody calls the shots as he sees them, admitting he was surprised with the win of Tan Tat Diamond in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap and the strong support in betting for the gelding.

It was certainly not stable money; Moody admitted the gelding had not done enough at home to suggest so much support for him.

He was not backed by the stable when he won at Geelong, nor at Flemington Saturday, the backing in both wins has been surprising.

The race was a pretty hotly contested affair with the first four placed horses looking strong possibilities over the final 100 metres of the race.

Tan Tat Diamond took a little time to muster speed, he reached the lead coming onto the course proper and whilst he never got far away from his opposition, he retained his lead to the line.

Whilst the Caulfield Guineas would not be a serious consideration at this stage, the gelding might just have untapped ability and continue to improve.

There was a touch of nostalgia about the win, Moody trained his dam, Tan Tat de Lago, she won quite a few races including a Group 11.

Raposo, a winner at his only start at Mildura, will not going back to the Mallee in a hurry after being beaten by a mere head at Flemington.

Tan Tat Diamond on the outside winning

Backbone completed a brilliant win in taking out the Ascot Racecourse Handicap at Flemington.

Since the gelding�s previous win at Caulfield in the spring he has had a stable change, from Michael Kent at Cranbourne, to Darren Weir at Ballarat.

This was his third start under Weir, at his two previous runs at Moonee Valley and Cranbourne he looked a bit ordinary.

The horse was first sent down to the Warrnambool among the sand dunes and the beaches; it was soon discovered though this horse is not a beach baby.

Weir is blessed with excellent facilities, with the best of two worlds, Warrnambool suits most horses but when it doesn�t there is no beating Ballarat.

A change of tactics may have also been a telling factor in the win of Backbone; he was sent over 1000 metres at 7am on Thursday morning and was sent out for a repeat at 11am.

The straight 1400 metres is the best training track in the land, it lessens the pressure on the near side foreleg which is a great asset.

Ballarat training track is unique and testing, the first 1000 metres there is a rise in the ground of 3 percent and the last 400 metres a rise of 16 percent.

Backbone by Mossman

Aeratus has gone to the paddock for a well earned rest after winning four races during his winter campaign.

There could have been another win in the pipeline, however, that was the decision, there is no turning back when Mick Price makes decisions.

He generally sends his horses to the paddock when he believes they need a break, not when they have to tell him.

When horses are turned out still feeling well he expects them to return to the stable in the same order, ready to go on with.

Aeratus has proved a great advertisement for his sire, Magnus, who has really come of age; he has proved one of the most consistent sires in the state.

The gelding is the home bred product, solely owned by his breeders, Frank and Karen Butler; they tasted success earlier in the day as share holders in Free Of Doubt, who won earlier in the program.

Price is taking a realistic attitude with Aeratus, whilst he is not a spring horse there are still some nice races about and the Cups season is still attractive.

Glen Boss, who had been having a lean day up to the last race, made sure he was going home a winner; the issue was never in doubt.

Aeratus has earned a spell