With all the hullabaloo that has gone on with jumps racing really nothing has changed.

It still remains the poor relation to flat racing; if there has been any change at all it is not very conspicuous.

That is best illustrated with the prize money offered for both the Australian Hurdle, and Steeplechase meeting, tomorrow.

It remains the same as it has for years, no apparent signs of change, still hanging by a thread.

Jumping is a winter sport, it has to be recognised and if it is going to prosper it will only happen with additional prize money.

Saturday’s jumping double, the Australian Hurdle and Steeplechase, to be run at Sandown, each carry a stake of $100,000.

Formerly each race was run on a Saturday, a week a apart at Caulfield, that ceased in 1994 with the closure of the steeplechase course.

Roisel holds the unique record of winning the Australian Hurdle three times over a period of six years, in the latter two wins; he was ridden by Bill Murrell.

There was quite some controversy concerning the starting point of his third win in the race, while the horses were walking around behind the barrier it was noticed that Murrell had Roisel standing some distance away.

A message was sent around to Murrell, he would be fined if he didn’t bring the horse back to the start immediately.

Roisel duly won, correct weight was notified to the delight of those that backed him, while red faced officials of the Victoria Amateur Turf were searching for an explanation as to how the race could be started from the wrong barrier.

Nothing could be done, correct weight was declared, all bets were paid and the placings stood.

What a difference a week makes, this time last week it was Your Song grabbing all the headlines in the sporting pages of the regular dailies.

He was about the best thing around since sliced bread; however, he has since gone stale after his dismal performance in the Doomben 10,000.

Once he had a high price tag on his head as a potential sire after winning the Group 1 B T C Cup, those with a vested interest in the horse should have seriously considered a start in Doomben 10,000.

It was a hiding to nothing, and they copped the hiding, he had nothing more to prove, he had the Group 1 safely locked away, the risk was too great to punt on another, from that wide starting gate.

It was nothing more than commercial suicide as there is no rehabilitation, now with the breeding season commencing in September.

Your Song still has a future as a sire; however, he would have looked better going out as a winner.

Saturday was a red letter day in the life of Geoff Wheeler, his first city since taking out a trainer’s licence 25 years ago.

It just had to be at Caulfield where he and his wife, Debbie, settled to raise their family in Manchester Grove, a racehorse haven in years long gone.

The wait was all worthwhile when the filly he trains, She Can Skate, began to poke up on the inside as heads were turned for home.

After she reached the lead it took her just 12 seconds to reach the winning post, it seemed more like 12 minutes to Geoff and much longer before her number was finally semaphored.

A day in the life of Geoff Wheeler as trainer, wife Debbie as part owner, and jockey Reece, his son, a former leading apprentice, rode the filly, quite a special occasion they will never forget.

Maybe a few butterflies that’s all, the filly had form around her, a good win at Geelong and two placings at Caulfield from her only three starts.

She Can Skate winning at Caulfield

Geoff has never had any more than two horses in work at one time, for a good reason; there is no room behind the house for any more.

No room and the traffic hazards of crossing busy Neerim Road to work the horses each day is getting worse, with the result he is now leasing two boxes from Aquanita.

Geoff, born in Calcutta, came out from India in 1969 to join the stable of the late Angus Armanasco.

The family continue to live in Manchester Grove that has had a long tradition with racing; back in the fifties both sides of the street were lined with stables.

Phar Lap was stabled there before he won the Melbourne Cup, and just opposite, in James Street; the attempt was made to shoot the horse.

A decade later, a laneway leading off Manchester Grove was the path criminals took to shoot El Golea in mistake for Beau Vite.

Several notable winners have come from the street just off Glen Huntley Road, Joe Mulcahy won the Oaks with Triode, as did Bill Jeffries with Primavera and Harry Bird prepared Kind Link to win the Oakleigh Plate.

Geoff and Reece Wheeler

Riding tactics made little difference to the result of The Golden Fleece & Court Jester Plate at Caulfield, Polanski always had the wood on his opposition.

The same result that is all that counts, at his previous start he came from well back in the field to win, on Saturday he had the issue well stitched up before the home turn.

When the colt got a bit toey, and began to sweat up, the plan was changed to let him run along rather than attempt to fight him.

The plan worked out to the letter Polanski jumped well, he soon took over the running while Celeritas did all the chasing, but to no avail, Eagle Island battled away for third, not much could be said for the others.

Polanski has earned a spell now, there is not much about at present for him, and if he is going to make into a spring aspirant, he needs the break before it gets too cold.

The Caulfield Guineas is not in the plan at this stage, suitable races over 1600 metres leading into the Derby would be the preferred option.

Form at this time of the year does not always stack up, when the spring arrives however, there will always be exceptions.

Polanski wins again