Eloping is shaping up as a definite Blue Diamond prospect after her convincing win in the Preview, she started as the preferred favourite ahead of Golconda who was quite disappointing, she would need to vastly improve to have any chance in the better races of the autumn.

It is possible Eloping could go straight into the Blue Diamond Stakes without having a prior run, she is a clean winded filly having won two races a month apart, she obviously races best when fresh.

Eloping winning the Blue Diamond Preview

While the pedigree suggests speed being by Choisir, from Runaway Jesse, by Rory’s Jester, she doesn’t appear to be simply a speed horse.

She jumped well from an inside gate and was in front from the outset, she maintained a steady pace throughout and was travelling as well at the winning post as at any stage of the race.

The training partnership of Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison are playing it cool, everything is ticking over nicely with their filly, she has not turned a hair since her Caulfield win.

There could be plenty of pre discussion leading into the Blue Diamond Stakes as the filly is raced by 10 ladies, and it might be pretty hard to split the trophy.

The Winning Team

After an enforced lay off of nine months, with a broken foot, Steven King returned to the saddle today at Seymour.

He joined forces with his staunch mate, Steve Richards, winning on Timah, with the gelding starting a short priced favourite. He was the pinup boy, at least for a while with punters, and received a big ovation on returning to scale. 

Whilst a little older, and a shade heavier, King has not lost the touch, that unmistakeable crouch is still there, he rode the rails as if he was reared there.

He is getting fitter riding for several trainers at Flemington, he has returned to the saddle at the right time of the year, he will soon shed the excess poundage.

Nostradamus made an impressive debut to racing at Flemington yesterday when he won the Nursery Plate in the easiest possible fashion.

Whilst he was a little bit ungainly in jumping from the starting gate, it didn’t take him long to get the hang of what he was there for, he soon put the issue beyond doubt.

He will benefit greatly from that initial outing, but no one is rushing, making wild predictions at this time, especially Wayne Hawkes, he has his feet firmly planted on the ground.

As the race turned out it was nothing more than an exhibition gallop, he was a class above his rivals, as was shown in the betting ring.

“While the plan is the Blue Diamond Stakes, he needs at least another run, maybe two, then there could be a complete change of plan, he could go straight up to Sydney for the Golden Slipper, anything could happen, we will have to wait and see,” said Wayne Hawkes.

Nostradamus is a $500,000 colt purchased at the Easter Sales, his value has already tripled after Saturday’s win, he is now a colt with a high price tag on his head.

His value will continue to increase with each win as he has an outstanding pedigree with definite sire potential.

He is by Medaglia d’Oro, who is hailed as the world’s best commercial sire, this is his first crop bred in Australia. 

Nostradamus - An outstanding colt winning the Nursery Plate

The brilliant Lord Of The Sky served notice that he is going to be a hard nut to crack in the major sprint races over the summer and the autumn.

Starting at odds on he quickly beat his rivals into submission in winning the 1000 meters of the Guinot International Handicap, without as much as raising a sweat. 

He put the 1000 metres away by six and a half lengths, in the time of 57.12 under extreme conditions.

The Oakleigh Plate is high on the agenda for the son of Danerich, it will be either the Adams Stakes, in two weeks, or the Rubiton Stakes, a week later.

Lord Of The Sky has brilliant early pace, obviously passed on from his sire, Danerich, who won a trial at Cranbourne by 15 lengths. 

Danerich is doing a great job, he is getting a good share of winners, he has the promising Kaiser Sun, engaged at Flemington today in the Listed Kensington Stakes.

Yet, for reasons unknown, Danerich has no yearlings to represent him at the yearling sales to be held in early March.

To some extent his talents have been ignored, his stats are quite favourable, to date this season from 84 starters he has 34 winners, a strike rate of 40 .5 per cent and 25 placings.

Lord Of The Sky - by Danerich

Eminent veterinary surgeon, Percy Sykes, passed away peacefully in a Sydney hospital on Monday at the age of 93.

Sykes was a brilliant veterinary surgeon; his skills were acknowledged in many parts of the world, after migrating from England he set up a veterinary practice at Randwick.

He will always be remembered as the man that saved the great Tulloch, who was lingering at death’s door for several months, with what appeared an incurable stomach ailment.

Sykes didn’t give in, he was persistent, he never let anything beat him, he finally won over a period of 23 long months before the great horse raced again.

Tulloch was a champion in the true sense of the word, the best male three year old since Poseidon, back in 1905.

Sykes, long standing veterinarian for the late Tommy Smith, was awarded the Order of Australia and inducted into the Hall Of Fame, not only for what he did for Tulloch, he also repaired a broken jaw on Baystone, who went on to win the Melbourne Cup.