Snitzerland gave her rivals the slip a long way from home to impressively win the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

Whether she would have gone much further is questionable, the first and second placegetters, Shamexpress and Samaready, were closing rapidly.

The time, on a good track, was 57.16 secs, well outside the record created by Black Caviar of 55.42 and remarkably, she always seemed to be only cantering when she established that record.

From his outside gate Brilliant Bisc was quickly into stride appearing to be leading clearly when the field came onto the course proper, then Snitzerland took over control.

Whilst the win was convincing there has to be doubts whether she will get much further, the logical choices for the Newmarket at this stage look to be Shamexpress and Samaready.

Bernabeu, a winner here in the spring, was heavily supported, he was in a winning position at one stage but once the pressure came on he compounded within a couple of strides.

As for the two year olds they would have been better off had they remained at home in the stable, neither did much at all 

Snitzerland has inherited the speed of her sire, Snitzel, a brilliant horse over a short course, he won the Oakleigh Plate, her female line is quite strong with two Golden Slipper winners within the immediate pedigree.

Snitzerland winning the Lightning Stakes 

Mandla is proving a model of consistency, he went into Saturday’s Lawn Handicap after having won three times at the Provincials, plus a sound run when running second to Decircles at Flemington in mid January, he was ready to win in the city as the price indicated.

The gelding, by Bel Esprit, was never far off the pace it was just a matter of sitting and waiting until the course proper was reached before his rider, Dale Smith, asked for the acid test.

With the benefit of having been lightly raced to this stage, this will stand him in good stead for he is likely to go on from her

The Lawn Handicap has in the past been a reasonable good guide to the Newmarket Handicap; whether Mick Price would take that course is not known.

Mandla is raced by his breeder Ms J Nicholson, she also races his dam, Queen Kahuna by Rustic Amber, she has been a long time client of the Mick Price stable.

Tigerland may not be far off a win, he was seen to be running on nicely, he had pretty good form last time in, he has had a nine months break from racing and will take benefit from that run, he is trained Matt Laurie.

Mandla by Bel Esprit winning the Lawn Hcp 

Moment of Change was better suited under the conditions of weight for age racing; he was hard up against the rail leading all the way to win the Sportingbet C F Orr Stakes.

His immediate mission now is the Futurity Stakes over his pet distance of 1400 metres, to be decided on Saturday week. 

Moment of Change controlled the traffic from the outset, Cox Plate winner, Shamus Award, was never far away, at one stage he looked like bothering the winner but had enough when the home turn was reached.

The Orr success was the middle leg of a training treble for Peter Moody, after a leaner trot than expected 

He explained the stable has been beaten 10 times this season in Group 1 races, it can be frustrating, you just have to pick up the pieces and march on.

No firm decision has been reached whether Shamus Award will take on the three year olds in the Australian Guineas, or wait a further week and run in the Australian Cup.

Eurozone gave a good sight suggesting there is a nice race for him this preparation, there is a lot of upside to him, he is a winner of four of his six starts and will be greatly improved by the run, his first start since September.

Moment Of Change winning the Orr Stakes

The Blue Diamond Stakes has seen several changes since the first running of the race in 1971.

Tolerance was the winner ridden by Roy Higgins, trained by Angus Armanasco, the stake was $12,500 with the winner’s share $8,750.

The race was such a success with an attendance figure of nearly 21,000; the club increased the stake to $20,000 the following year.

For the next decade stakes continued to increase, as did the attendances, with a record crowd of 30,835 in 1973, who witnessed New Gleam, ridden by Terry Finger, take out the diamond.

By 1989 the stake had been raised to $500,000, however, the attendances were well down on previous years, for reasons unknown.

The magical million was reached in 1997 when Lee Freedman quinelled the race with Knowledge and Rose Of Danehill.

The record for the race stands to Hurricane Sky; he ran 1.08.10 to equal the track record, while Midnight Fever, on a heavy track, was the slowest time 1.14.3.

Mick Price has set his sights on the Oakleigh Plate for Lankan Rupee after the gelding’s win in the Group 2 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield 

The race was never in doubt from the outset, the all the way win was recorded in the smart time of 1min .02.50.

Four wins from his last six starts gives the gelding an impressive record; he will no doubt be improved by the outing, after a let up, since winning at his home track, Caulfield, back in mid November.

Surprisingly the bookies let the punters on at $ 2.90; there was money about for Better Than Ready at $4.00, and Lion Of Belfort, a stable mate of the winner.

Lankan Rupee is a big strong gelding; he is racing with more determination than previously after being gelded, it took just the one trial to set up his impressive win on Saturday.

It looks as if he will develop into a Caulfield specialist; he loves the place according to his trainer Mick Price, who seldom misses out preparing a winner at “The Heath”

“The gelding is ticking over nicely at this stage, he is going to derive great benefit from that run, he will strip much fitter the next time he steps out,” said Price.

Lankan Rupee - A brilliant winner