Following a continued hearing into the running of Number One Gun on the Kensington Track on the 20^th of December, stewards took action in suspending Glyn Schofield for five weeks; on the grounds he did not give his mount full opportunity to win the race.

His suspension will commence on Sunday 12^th January and will expire on Sunday 16^th of February, on which day he will be permitted to ride.

In assessing the penalty, Stewards took into account that he had not previously offended under the rule in 30 years of race riding, and that the penalty had been suitably discounted to recognise his unblemished record with regard to the offence.

In addition stewards took into account that the dates would encompass Group races at the start of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Glyn Schofield has since lodged an appeal and has been granted a stay of proceedings until the date of the appeal which is yet to be set.

Dennis Marks was back at Flemington as the proud owner of Outback Joe, the horse he bred and races, winning the time honoured Bagot Handicap.

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 1991, 23 years ago, he was basically an unknown in racing circles, however, it didn’t take him long to make his presence felt.

His barnstorming campaign with just two horses in that spring of 1991 was unprecedented, winning seven Group1 races and Group 2; it cannot get any better than that.

Both horses, Richfield Lady and Let’s Elope remained undefeated that spring, each winning four races, the ones that count, all Group events.

Unfortunately Richfield Lady, who was clearly the superior three year old filly of the spring, died a few weeks after winning The Oaks.

After winning both Cups in the spring Let’s Elope retained her form in the autumn, she was still the star at weight for age, winning three times, including the Australian Cup.

When the mare retired, to the credit of Dennis Marks, he spared no expense having his mare, Let’s Elope, mated to an elite group of sires in various parts of the world, including Danzig, Seeking The Gold, Danehill, Red Ransom and Storm Cat

Outback Joe returning to scale.

She has produced 10 foals, 6 have raced, all have won races but nothing anywhere near in the image of their illustrious mother.

Generally the very best of our race mares are good breeders, there are no fertility problems, except the progeny rarely inherit the racecourse ability of their mothers, man is still out with that one.

It is appropriate that Dennis Marks selected Nigel Blackiston to train Let’s Elope’s second last foal, Outback Joe, the Bagot Handicap success.

Nigel was employed by Bart Cummings after coming from the U K; he was on hand when Let’s Elope, and Richfield Lady, arrived at the Flemington stables after coming from New Zealand.

Outback Joe might have just inherited that touch of staying ability from his dam, if so Dennis and Nigel could be back in the winner’s circle shortly.

There a quite a few options open for the gelding, Hobart, Sydneyand Adelaide Cups are all under consideration, it will be left to Nigel; he is a very competent trainer.

The winning combination -  Dennis Marks, Oisin Murphy, Nigel Blackiston 

Racing NSW Stewards have continued their inquiry into leading jockey, Glyn Schofield’s, handling of second placegetter, Number One Gun, in the On Sale Now Handicap on Friday 20^th December, at the Kensington track.

Further evidence has been taken from Glyn Schofield and John O’Shea, trainer of Number One Gun; in addition all wagering transactions from betting entities across Australia were examined, with no irregularities being apparent.

Stewards gave consideration to the sectional times set by the leader, Number One Gun in the Kensington event that the horse had gone through its first 1000 metres in 56.62 secs., being .02 outside of the course record for 1000 metres.

Further, that Number One Gun went through the first 800 metres 3.22 secs (or 20 lengths) faster than the average, for all events conducted over 1400 metres on a good track, since the reopening of the Kensington track in October 2013 (excluding one maiden event).

Glyn Schofield was charged under AR135(b) with failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the 2013 race to give his mount full opportunity to win the race.

After being ridden forward from barrier (7) and crossing to the lead at the 1000 metres, and with the pace extremely fast, he failed to make a concerted effort to restrain his mount to set a slower and a more sustainable pace.

Such omission by Glyn Schofield resulted in his mount, Number One Gun, setting a pace between the 1000 metres until passing the 600 metres, which was so fast that it was detrimental to the gelding’s chance of sustaining its effort and being given full opportunity to win the race.

The Stewards acceded to a request by Glyn Schofield for an adjournment to prepare a defence to the charge, the hearing will resume at 2pm on Tuesday 7^th January 2014.

One To Watch

Primitive Man was noticed running home at the rate of knots at the conclusion of the Flemington 1840-2014 Handicap.

The lightly raced gelding was first up since May, he is sure to derive great benefit from the outing.

After winning well at Caulfield, when coming from last, he returned to the venue of his only win two weeks later finishing out of a place, he sustained an injury in the race.

Trainer Wins Four

Albury trainer, Brett Cavanough, had a field day earlier this week when he trained four winners on a seven race card at Corowa.

Since being based in Albury life has blossomed for him, with 40 horses in work he now has the biggest stable in the district.

Albury has always been a great racing centre with strong clubs on both sides of the Murray, it provides trainers several options where to race.

That is about how you would sum up Vihanna Victory, the brave winner of the Chandler Macleod Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

She was the pin up girl and a good reason to celebrate for those that race the mare, her trainer. Terry O’Sullivan, breeder, Alan Harvey, and a group that call themselves the Battlers Tavern Synd,a hotel at Ballarat.

The win was a courageous effort her first start at 2500 metres, she had been failing at 2000 metres at provincial races previously, for an obvious reason, she was ridden too far out of her ground.

Patrick Moloney used a bit of nous on Saturday, when she jumped from a near outside gate he didn’t reef her back to last, he allowed her to stride up closer to the lead, she was in her comfort zone, travelling sweetly, minus the pressure.

Passing the winning post first time round, the diminutive mare was matching strides with the leader, Master’s Degree.

Vihanna Victory winning at Moonee Valley

Positions didn’t alter much until the top of the straight was reached, the favourite, Master’s Degree, still held sway by a neck.

He was in no hurry to give in, nor was Vihanna Victory, to her credit she fought out the result tooth and nail.

Trainer, Terry O’Sullivan, has always had a soft spot for the mare, she has never run a bad race in her life, a mare that always puts in and is as honest as the day is long.

She is likely to race at Flemington on Saturday week that could be the testing material as headquarters can be a tough assignment.

Vihanna Victory was bred by Alan Harvey, former mine host of the Racecourse Hotel at Werribee, and former Chairman of the Werribee Racing Club.

Vihanna Victory returns to scale under Patrick Moloney

Those that supported Chivalry, at odds on, when beaten at Flemington, were a bit field shy at Moonee Valley, preferring the unraced Adelaide gelding, Éclair Choice, as the popular elect at $2.50.

There were no favours shown to Chivalry, he had to win the Quest Moonee Valley Plate on his merits.

He is a highly promising colt, whilst he won over 1000 metres on Saturday he is not your average speed horse, it is doubtful if we will see the best of him until next season, as a three year old.

When owners pay big sums of money for horses, as in the case of Chivalry, $280,000, it is natural they like to see if they can run.

Those that had attended Moonee Valley would have been pleasantly pleased, the money has been spent wisely, the colt is a sound investment.

No firm decision has been made as to which direction Mark Kavanagh will take with the colt, whether he will look towards the Blue Diamond, at the moment no firm decision has been made, it will depend how the horse pulls up and what progress he makes in the coming weeks.

Stephen Baster didn’t hurry the colt early, he gave him time to settle after having to change course at the top of the straight, he sprinted quickly putting the field away with ease, he is a highly promising young horse.

Chivalry - He looks the goods.