Everyone knows that William Pike is a winner in Perth, with the star jockey well clear on the premiership ladder. His treble at Belmont last Saturday took his season’s tally to 69, 30 wins clear of a distant chasing pack headed by Troy Turner (39).

The Thoroughbred’s Perth form analysis is a winner, too, with Josh Rodder naming every winner in his Verdict commentary for the Belmont meeting, published in The Thoroughbred E-Letter. 

Perth Racing’s Rodder named three winners first: Spitfire Ace ($2.60), Golden Act ($2.60) and Kim Currency ($5.20). And his Reverend Lovejoy-Star Encounter quinella paid $5.50.

His big Watch, Grand Nirvana, won the main race first-up at $5.60.

The quaddie – all winners named in the commentary – paid $4252.50 on SuperTab, $5331.60 on NSWTAB and $5124.20 on Unitab.

The Thoroughbred E-Letter is published each Friday. To read this week’s Belmont preview CLICK HERE.

Belleluia pleased me yesterday morning when running fourth in an 800 metre barrier trial at Cranbourne Training Complex. She jumped well from the starting gates under Ivan Culliver and held her position behind the leaders although struggling in the very heavy conditions. She did a good job to finish fourth and both I and Ivan were very happy with her performance. She has pulled up in great order and if everything goes to plan this week she will have an official Trial at Cranbourne next Monday over 800 metres. I will update later in the week with trial times.

A press release from Racing Victoria

Jumps racing will continue in Victoria, with Racing Victoria Limited announcing today (March 18) that it would adopt changes it believed would make hurdling and steeplechasing safer, and that a full review would be held as planned at the end of the jumps season.

RVL halted all jumps racing after the death of three horses at the Warrnambool carnival, including Clearview Bay in the Grand Annual Steeplechase on May 7.

RVL Chairman Michael Duffy said today the decision to continue was unanimous after all submissions from industry participants supported going on. It had intended to announce its verdict last Wednesday but delayed the announcement until today after pro-jumps supporters rallied outside their Wednesday meeting at RVL headquarters in Epsom road next to Flemington racecourse.

 ”After extensive consultation, in particular with jockeys and trainers, the board will adopt a range of recommendations from the Jumps Review Panel which it believes will make jumps racing safer for jockeys and horses,” Duffy said. “The Board understands accidents will occur and the changes are aimed at making jumps racing less hazardous.”

Changes will include:?

STRAND starts to be trialled in consultation with the Victorian Jockeys Association;

ALL horses to be schooled in the presence of stewards from June 1 before being permitted to participate in trials for the first time;

NEW strict qualifying conditions for entry into premium jumps races with prize money of $70,000 or more to be adopted from June 1 with the following policy – a  condition of entry for this race requires horses to carry a jumps rating of at least 115. The horse must also have either won a jumps race or been placed 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th in a jumps race other than a maiden jumps race. All entries are subject to AR50;

FURTHER and ongoing education of jumps riders regarding race tempo and their obligations under LR62 (9) to retire a fatigued horse and the strict enforcement of the rule and imposition of appropriate penalties for any contraventions including suspension;

THE current final obstacle in all jumps races to be removed (so that the second-last obstacle becomes the last;

PROTOCOLS and standards to be implemented to conduct heart rate checks of all horses after they complete their final qualification trial to ensure they are fit to race;

RACES beyond 3600 metres to be programmed to provide lead-up races to feature jumps events, including increasing the distance of the hurdle race scheduled for 25 July 2009 at Moonee Valley from 3200 metres to 3700 metres and the creation of a new 4000-metre race in the lead up to the Warrnambool Grand Annual.

Duffy said jumps racing would be monitored and a full review of jumps racing would be held at the end of the 2009 jumps racing season.??

“The Board recognises that this issue divides some sections of the community and all these views are valid and respected. In making this decision the RVL Board is mindful of its primary obligation to the racing community and its stakeholders,” Duffy said.

NOTE: The concept of seeking safety for horses and jockeys in jumps racing is nothing new. We discovered the following, published in The Herald newspaper, in June 1928. The more things change …

“EXTRA JUMPS

AT FLEMINGTON

Five More Fences Likely

Less Speed; More Safety

The sub-committee of the V.R.C appointed to inquire into the question of making the steeple course at Flemington safer will recommend the erection of five extra fences!

That steeplechasing is being made safer by giving the horses more fences to jump suggests a paradox, but most experts agree that the policy is sound. The first essential is to reduce the speed at which the horses travel, and the only way to do this is to put more obstacles in their path. Greater skill will be necessary, and the sport will be put back on the level of former days, when speed was a less important factor than it is today.

If the proposal is adopted the events will take longer to run, but they will be more spectacular.

PLACES FOR NEW FENCES

It is not intended to trim any of the existing fences, none of which stands more than 4ft.1in. What is proposed is that there shall be one more fence, and also at the abattoirs treble, thus making groups of four instead of three, and two additional obstacles over near the scraping sheds, making another group of four on that part of the course where “Jumbo” stands. At present there are only two here – a brushed post and rail, besides “Jumbo.”

The fifth fence suggested is one of the movable type to be placed on the course proper, to be jumped by the horses in the run home. From the last fence on the course, as at present laid out, the horses have a run home of nearly three furlongs, and there is no reason why this long run should not be broken by a jump. It may trap some of the horses racing at present that have been used to making their final fight before turning into their final straight, but they would soon become reconciled to it.

In all hurdle races at Flemington there is a final jump in the straight. Doubtless, the moveable fence would be an easy jump in comparison with some of the others. It would certainly give greater variety to the course.

There is no suggestion of increasing the number of jumps in what is known as “the lane” in front of the stands.

THE STEEPLE COURSES

Steeplechases at Flemington are run over three distances – “about two miles and half a furlong,” “about two and a half miles,” and “about three miles and one furlong” – and the last named is the National distance.

There are 14 fences on the course now but one of these is jumped twice in a round and this makes 15 jumps, in the shortest race. Over the intermediate distance there are 20 jumps, the horses starting from a point near the seven furlongs post and clearing the abattoirs treble first.

In the National, the starting point of which is on the course proper, is in front of the public stand, the first jumps being along the river side, the horses make 23 jumps, in a 2 ½ mile race 28. With five additional fences on the course the National horses would be required to make 32 jumps, in a 2 ½-mile race 28, and in a two mile race 20.

Under these conditions steeplechases would undoubtedly be more spectacular, and no longer would we see Nationals run at Melbourne Cup pace.

Whether or not the scheme be approved, nothing will be done before the “National” meeting next month.”

WE SAW IT

Although the Takeover Target versus Rocket Man sprint – that turned out to be Sacred Kingdom versus Rocket Man when TT flopped – showed that jingoism rules in world racing almost as much as it does in world team sports, the 1200m Krisflyer actually wasn’t the main race at Kranji in Singapore on Sunday.

Look and listen beyond the local commentary gushing about Rocket Man and the Australian guests pushing up Takeover Target – pre-race, at least – and you discovered that the Singapore Airlines Cup (2000m) was an international Group 1 worth $S3 million ($A2.7 million), three times the prizemoney of the Krisflyer, rated a Group 1 only in Singapore.

And you saw another “winning” performance from rising star Presvis (B g 2004, Sakhee (USA)-Forest Fire (SWE), by Never So Bold (IRE)). Coming from last, the favourite had no luck in failing by a head to overhaul outsider Gloria De Campeao (Br h 5, Impression (ARG)-Audacity (BRAZ), by Clackson (BRAZ)), who was strong and brave on the pace and then in leading after last year’s winner Jay Peg was eased out of the race almost 1000m out.

Asked pre-race how Presvis would go, jockey Ryan Moore told the Singapore Turf Club’s commentator he hadn’t a clue because he’d only arrived four hours earlier. A few minutes later, Presvis and Moore – who had ridden for luck from the 800m – arrived one stride too late to overtake the French-trained (by Pascal Bary), Brazilian-bred and -ridden (by Tiago Pereira). The commentator was smart enough not to seek another interview post-race from Moore, and thick enough to question a deliriously happy Pereira, who told him he had little or no English.

The picture told the story anyway, and the photo finish provided English-based, Italian-born, world-travelling trainer Luca Cumani with yet another second to go with the swag he has had in recent years, including the 2007 and 2008 Melbourne Cups with Purple Moon and Bauer. Cumani hasn’t been entirely out in the cold, of course, with Presvis winning the Group 1 Audemars Piquet Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup (2000m) in Hong Kong last month.

Ironically, Gloria De Campeao, which means “glorious champion” in Portuguese, broke the track record by 1.6 seconds held by Endless Hall, Cumani’s 2001 winner of the race. Gloria De Campeao ran 1:59.2.

 Cumani repeated that the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October would not be on Presvis’ program, preferring instead to go for the Breeders’ Cup in the US in the same month.

The Australians in last night’s main race, Pompeii Ruler (Ch g 6, Genuine (JAP)-West With Night (NZ), by Pompeii Court (USA)) and Sarerra (B g 8, Quest For Fame (GB)-Zamsong (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)) ran honest races for fourth and sixth. Pompeii Ruler had the run of the race, one out one back, and challenged on the turn without having to track wide; Sarerra was in the box seat on the rails throughout, but could not accelerate. Neither was particularly suited by the firm track.

Dwayne Dunn’s one-off return trip to Hong Kong on Sunday to fill the “Aussie gap” with Brett Prebble and Darren Beadman in Singapore, paid off with a win on Aashiq for New Zealand trainer Paul O’Sullivan. Dunn had a double at Flemington on Saturday before flying out – Wallinger in the 2YO race and Phaze Action in the two-miler, the Andrew Ramsden Stakes.

There was a big field of stayers in the Ramsden, but the one genuine Melbourne Cup prospect to race at Flemington some six months before the big race finished 13^th of 15 … in the 1200m sprint. Efficient (Gr g 5, Zabeel (NZ)-Refused The Dance (NZ), by Defensive Play (USA)), the 2007 Cup winner, who missed last year because of injury, ran on nicely in his only start before the spring.

Australian sprinters Red Arrow (formerly with Anthony Cummings) and Dehere Again (formerly with Gai Waterhouse) impressed in a Grade 3 (Group 3) race in California at the weekend. Red Arrow  (B h 2003, Red Ransom (USA)- Lady Jakeo, by Last Tycoon (IRE). Lady Jakeo won the 1993 Blue Diamond (Gr1.)) won the $US100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (1200m) at Hollywood Park at 8/1 on a cushion (artificial) track, running 1:08.92. His only win from 10 starts in Australia was in a Wyong Maiden (1100m) at his debut, but he was placed in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last year. Cummings paid $225,000 for Red Arrow at 2005 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. He has won three from five in the US.

Dehere Again (Ch g 2005, Dehere (USA)-Let’s Rock Again, by Chief’s Crown (USA)) was having his first run in the States. His two wins from four starts in Australia were over 1200m at Newcastle last December and over 1250m at Canterbury in January.

Court Command, whom we saw as a beaten favourite in the Caulfield Guineas in 2006 and then run some so-so races before going to stud at Wattle Brae Stud on the Darling Downs in Queensland (where he served 109 mares with a reported fertility rate of 90 per cent), was super impressive in winning Saturday’s Group 3 BTC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben second up after 14 months without a race. Court Command (B h 5, Commands-Court House Lane, by Zoffany (USA)) could go around in the WFA Doomben 10,000 (1350m, Gr1) on Saturday and should be a chance in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6. If he were to win it, he would not be the first to do so after a stud season – Daybreak Lover (B h 1980, Namnan (USA)-Rising Sun, by Latin Lover (GB)) did the deed, so to speak, in 1986 when the Stradbroke was known as the Elders Handicap. And so did Innisfree (Br or bl h 1971, Rego Lass-Miss Aladdin, by My Aladdin (FR)) in 1978. Court Command’s win under Michael Rodd took his record to 5-12 and his race earnings scraped past the million. He started at $41 and won like a 6/4 chance.

THEY SAID IT

“I’m not worried about nothing. It’s going to take a racehorse to beat her.” Jockey Calvin Borel states the obvious, but we get his drift as he praises Rachel Alexandra after the filly won the Preakness Stakes (1900m) at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland, and looks ahead to the third leg of the American Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes (2400m) at Belmont in New York on June 6. Borel won the first leg, the Kentucky Derby (2000m) at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the 50/1 shot Mine That Bird, before jumping on to his Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra (B f 3, Medaglia D’Oro (USA)-Lotta Kim (USA), by Roar (USA)) and relegating Mine That Bird (B g 3, Birdstone (USA)-Mining My Own (USA), by Smart Strike (CAN)) to second in the Preakness. RA (9-5 favourite) is the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924. Mine That Bird showed his Derby win was no fluke, with a last-to-second flashing finish.

“I guarantee you he loves the pain. He just thrives when it hurts.” Jockey Shane Scriven praises Rampant Lion (Br g 8, Lion Hunter-La Gypsy, by Celestial Dancer (IRE)), winner of the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup  (1615m) at Doomben on Saturday. Rampant Lion has had his fair share of pain, too – he had a serious neck injury at trackwork earlier this year and trainer Lindsay Gough thought the horse would die. He was nursed back to health and the old boy now has won 13 of his 55 races and more than $730,000.

(Scriven also won the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on West Australian Scenic Shot, his fourth Group 1 but his first since September 1992 when Prince Salieri (Ch h 1986, Salieri (USA)-Caitie’s Kingdom, by Planet Kingdom) won the Underwood Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. Scriven had said he would retire if he won another Group 1, but quickly said he enjoyed it so much he wanted to win more. Can’t blame him for changing his mind.

Scenic Shot (B g 6, Scenic (IRE)-Sweepshot, by Dr. Grace (NZ)) is the “lesser Scenic” trained by Dan Morton in Perth – Scenic Blast (B/br g 4, Scenic (IRE)-Daughter’s Charm, by Delgado (USA)) won the Group 1 Lightning  Stakes (1000m) and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), both at Flemington, in the autumn, and is off to England for Group 1 sprints in June and July.  He has won seven from 17 for prize money of $1.54 million. Scenic Shot has won 12 from 47 and earned $1.48 million. Morton has three Group 1 wins this season, level with Peter Moody and Bart Cummings and behind David Hayes and Peter Snowden (both four) and Gai Waterhouse and Mick Price (both six).)

 ”He’s a world champion sprinter and he just got back on the pedestal.” Jockey Brett Prebble on Krisflyer winner Sacred Kingdom, back to his best after being rated world champ in 2007 and 2008.

“A lot of credit must go to the jockey – he’s ridden a fantastic race.” Sacred Kingdom’s trainer Ricky Yiu praises Brett Prebble, the HK-based Australian who is also one of the world’s best.

WE’LL WATCH IT

Doomben is the focus of home-turf racing again on Saturday with the $650,000 Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at WFA. TAB Sportsbet has Apache Cat favourite at $3, with Bank Robber and Danleigh at $8 and Ortensia at $9. Court Command is $12.

Caulfield has a 1000m heat of the Victorian Sprint Series and a 2000m heat of the Banjo Paterson Series.

The next international focus will be Royal Ascot from June 16-20, with the Group 1 King’s Stand (1000m) on Tuesday the 16th and the Group 1 Golden Jubilee (1200m) on Saturday the 20th. At this stage the Golden Jubilee is Takeover Target’s goal and the King’s Stand is Scenic Blast’s, with the West Australian also down to run in the Group 1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on July 10.

The hopes that the great Takeover Target (B g 9, Celtic Swing (GB)-Shady Stream, by Archregent (CAN)) would continue to defy his age, fell back to earth in under a minute at Kranji in Singapore on Sunday night.

Australia’s champion, coming off remarkable Group 1 wins at Randwick and Morphettville in the past month, was struggling before the field turned into the 400-metre straight in the KrisFlyer (1200m) – a Singaporean Group 1 but not given the same status internationally – and the doubts about his future are now as big as the “are you hurting?” questions jockey Jay Ford was asking during the race, and again after it, when he wondered how his favourite horse would be when he cooled down.

Trainer Joe Janiak is not one for hasty decisions, and has until Saturday to decide if Takeover Target will  fly on  to Royal Ascot in England to run in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) to try for a breakthrough after finishing second, third and fourth in his other trips, which also included a win in the then Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) in 2006.

If TT does go it will be in hope rather than with confidence – hope that, unlike at Kranji, the track is not too hard and that he can be nursed to the starting gates as he was in The Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide. Chiropractor Gary Christou, a good mate of Janiak and a regular travelling companion of TT, said at Morphettville: “He’s 9½ years old. We worry about his legs (because) he puts in 110 per cent every time … is he going to finish in one piece?”

Before Ascot is confirmed, that question, surely, will be the one Janiak asks – not, “We’re halfway there, our expenses are being paid, should we keep going?”

If the horse does make the trip it might be simply as a hugely valuable publicity tool for the Royal Ascot meeting, even if he is scratched on race eve. He won’t start if Janiak is concerned about him breaking down because the whole TT fairytale, from dispersal sale buy for $1250 (plus GST) in 2003, through world trips and eight Group 1 wins, has been built around Janiak’s care of  (and caring for) what was an unwanted gelding.

Whether it is go and run, or go and not run, or come home, the evidence is that youth has gone past our champ – at least outside these shores – and Australian-bred youth at that. The Krisflyer winner, Hong Kong’s  Sacred Kingdom (B g 2003, Encosta De Lago-Courtroom Sweetie, by Zeditave), has been ranked the world’s champion sprinter for the past two seasons and, after a period in the wilderness is back on his pedestal after his scorching win in one minute 7.8 seconds, almost a second faster than Takeover Target ran in winning last year. Hong Kong-based Australian Brett Prebble, who rode Sacred Kingdom, told the South China Morning Post that his mount should go to Ascot for the Golden Jubilee: “My advice would be to go, without reservation. He’ll give them some swish over there, I promise you.”

And this time next year – or even in the International Sprint at Sha Tin in Hong Kong in December – yesterday’s runner-up, Singapore’s Rocket Man, will give Sacred Kingdom “some swish”.

Rocket Man (Br c 3, Viscount-Macrosa (NZ), by McGinty), a $60,000 buy at the Magic Millions Winter Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast in 2007, was seven from seven at Kranji before going under by a neck. “Now that he’s had a battle like that, I’m looking forward to a rematch.” said Robbie Fradd, RM’s jockey. South African Fradd used to ride Hong Kong champion Fairy King Prawn (B g 1995, Danehill (USA)-Twiglet, by Twig Moss (FR)), so he knows his onions.

Sacred Kingdom was sold for $200,000 by his breeders (Andy and Julia Calvert and Andy’s mother Noel, of Kornang Stud Farm near Streatham in Western Victoria) at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne in 2005. Trained by Ricky Yiu, the gelding has won 11 from 17 and has earned almost $HK22 million (about $A4.4 million), after a name change from Jumbo Star – he trialled in Sydney under that name.

Whether Sacred Kingdom or Rocket Man (earnings of about $S900,000 – about $A800,000) can top TT’s $6 million matters not – their stories will never match Takeover Target’s. With or without another chapter, it is pure gold.

NOTE: Eliza Park has withdrawn Sweet Octagonal (by Octagonal), an eight-year-old half-sister to Sacred Kingdom, from the Inglis Great Southern Sale in Melbourne, but the stud will offer Sweet Octagonal’s Delago Brom weanling filly on Tuesday afternoon as Lot 302.

Trainer Robbie Griffiths admits he is surprised how much speed Belleluia, The Thoroughbred Magazine Club’s filly, is showing on the track.

“When I first inspected the filly last year, she hadn’t been broken in,” he said. “She looked very immature, but she was athletic. I expected that she would develop into a nice, staying filly as a 3YO.

“I trained her close relation Midnight Blues, who ran second in the Tasmanian Oaks and went on to win a Stakes race in Sydney over 2400m, and the filly’s dam Song Of The Sun, a half-sister to Midnight Sun, ran second in the 1600m Listed Morphettville Guineas before running a good fifth in the South Australian Oaks over 2500m.

“It was safe to think that this filly, with all her leg and length, would also be a stayer.”

Griffiths believes another factor in Belleluia’s pedigree is the source of the speed.

“She has a double cross of the great Vain, one of the best sprinters we have ever seen and a fabulous sire. I believe the Vain factor is kicking in.”

Belleluia is by Bel Esprit (also a source of great speed) from the mare Bespoken, who is a daughter of Vain and a half-sister to the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Mahaasin.

The other source of Vain comes through Song Of The Sun’s dam Song Of Norway, who also is by the great sprinter.

Of course, Belleluia is a three-quarter sister to the flying juvenile Black Caviar (unbeaten in two starts) and she is very closely related to the brilliant sprinters Magnus and Wilander.

Last week, Belleluia worked home strongly her final 600m of a gallop in 36 seconds – this is equivalent to 12 seconds to each 200m, which is only marginally slower than “race” speed.

We look forward to Belleluia having a quiet trial next week at Cranbourne, which we will cover in full on the website.

Belleluia is in great order and galloped well last Thursday morning, over 600 metres, stopping the clock in 36.5 seconds. She will gallop again tomorrow morning en route to a trial next Tuesday morning – weather permitting. She is having barrier practice on alternate days and as long as there is not too much rain, she will have an 800 metre jump out (trial) on Tuesday (May20) at the Cranbourne Training Complex.

I am more than happy with this filly’s progress.

When I first inspected her at Eliza Park last year, she was very backward, and I suspected she was more of a staying filly, but has she has developed and learned her craft, she has shown me that she has inherited the speed of her family – remember she has a double cross of of the champion sprinter Vain in her pedigree. The “Vain blood” is starting to come through.

Norwegian, a close relation to Belleluia, broke through for his first win at Mornington on Tuesday.

Norwegian is a 2YO colt by Testa Rossa from the Stakes-winning mare Midnight Sun, a half-sister to Belleluia’s dam, Song Of The Sun. The colt is trained by Robert Smerdon for well-known breeding Robert Crabtree.

The youngster now has the impressive record of a win and three placings from only four starts. Midnight Sun (Gr m, Western Symphony–Song Of Norway) was trained throughout her career by Belleluia’s trainer Robbie Griffiths. Midnight Sun won the Listed 2400m Winter Cup at Rosehill, so it is safe to expect that Norwegian will improve as his race distances stretch out.

It was only three weeks ago that I spoke to Bill Whittaker on the phone. His distinct sounding voice – almost jockey-like in its pitch – was punctuated by coughing fits that seemed to last for ages. Bill wasn’t well, but he was still on for a chat.

The famous racing journalist loved nothing better than time spent talking about horses, racing and trotting, and punting, winning and losing.

“I have just emailed you my story on the Munros. Can you have a look at it, I value your opinion?” he said. The story on the life of the Munro family is to appear in a book that the Slattery Media Group will publish to celebrate the 150^th running of the Melbourne Cup in 2010.

I told him that I expected it to be fine if it was in his usual, meticulous, and well researched and easily read style. What he said next surprised me. “I think it is one of the best stories I have ever written. I loved writing it. The Munros, especially Darby, were close to my heart.

“It will be the last story I will ever write. It’s probably fitting it is about Darby Munro.”

Bill knew his days were numbered. He had malignant melanomas on the lung – a terrible result for a man who never smoked – and he accepted the circumstances with great courage and grace.

I first met Bill Whittaker in 1977, at the Moonee Valley trots. I’m pretty sure it was a during the A.G. Hunter Cup carnival when the Valley pressroom would swell to brimming as trotting writers and hangers-on from interstate descended on Melbourne to cover the stories. It was a marvellous time to be involved in the sport when the combatants were giants the ilk of Paleface Adios, Pure Steel (who won the 1977 Hunter Cup) and Koala King, and the human characters were just as imposing – Vin Knight, Kevin Newman and Tony Turnbull.

I was the trotting scribe for the The Sporting Globe, the famous ‘pink paper’, and I remember Whittaker, who was writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, being introduced to me as the “grand old man”. I, and others, always affectionately referred to him as the GOM, and I only realise now that the GOM was only in his late 40s back then – about eight years younger than I am now. He looked older, he acted older. In fact, the last time I saw him, last year, he looked and dressed the same as he did in 1977. He always wore his cardigan under his suit jacket, and his glasses rested on the end of his nose or hung around his neck.

I really got to know the GOM a couple of years later in Christchurch, New Zealand, when Rondel caused a big upset to win the Inter Dominion Pacers’ Final at Addington. The punters were stunned by the result, although Whittaker took great joy in watching his mate Peter Wolfenden – in New Zealand they called him “God” – take Rondel along the rails to snatch the prize.

In 1981, in Hobart, San Simeon’s year, a group of visiting journalists took a drive along the southern coast for a lunch, although the GOM made us stop along the way to wander through an old graveyard. It was something he loved to do. He’d pull up in front of a shabby old, grey headstone and espouse a story of a life long gone to anyone willing to listen: “Died in 1888, only six years old. Probably starved to death, what a shame …”

It was that reverence to history that made Whittaker’s writing -he also could write news as well as anybody – something special to read. He won countless awards and he made countless long-time friends in an industry in which friends are easily won or lost.

Whittaker was a tactful and successful punter. In his heyday at the trots, he knew every move, especially when his mate, leading trainer and driver Kevin Newman, was at the top of his game. In his retirement years, Whittaker sometimes would appear in Melbourne to enjoy feature race days, but just as much to tangle with the bookmakers. His losses were as rare as a misspelt word in his copy.

Last week, Bill Whittaker, “grand old man” at the age of 79, passed away peacefully at his Sydney home with his wife Alice by his side. 

Bill Whittaker’s funeral will be held at 10am on Thursday at St. Kevin’s Church, Eastwood.

The run that Blake Shinn rejected on Rabbuka: Damien Oliver waited and took the inside passage in the straight on Ballack (B g 5, Montjeu (IRE)-Trephina, by Last Tycoon (IRE)) to win the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2020m) at Doomben on Saturday and race into contention for the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.

Shinn’s decision to take Rabbuka (B or br g 5, Giant’s Causeway (USA)-Explosive (USA), by Fappiano (USA)) around the leader Sir Slick went from what was the right move (Sir Slick, a multiple Group 1 winner in New Zealand has weakened in his Australian starts) to one that became doubly costly – Shinn’s mount was beaten three-quarters of a length by Ballack and, while switching course, the jock caused interference that brought a suspension that will cost him rides in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m) on Saturday and the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 23.

Trainer Danny O’Brien’s luck was in with Ballack; not so with the often unlucky Keano (B c 3, Pins-O’Really (NZ), by Centaine), who couldn’t find a clear passage in the straight when a half-length fourth for Corey Brown to She’s In The Guide in the Doomben Dash (1100m). If he has luck – and that is a big if – Keano can be in the finish of the Doomben 10,000 or, more likely, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.

 More than 14,000 went to the NSW metropolitan meeting held at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Is there a message there for Racing Victoria about moving one of Melbourne’s Saturday meetings – with or without a Stakes race – to Ballarat, or Bendigo, or Sale and promoting it to the hilt?

 Speed Gifted went whoosh and won a 1620-metre handicap at Flemington, the first time he had raced at a distance less than 2400m – he was 2-8 from 2400-2800m for trainer Luca Cumani in England. Speed Gifted (B g 2004, Montjeu (IRE)-Good Standing (USA), by Distant View (USA)) is one of Freedman’s much-discussed English imports, but not one of the imports known as the Freedman Six and bought at Tattersalls Sale late last year for the Ball and Chain syndicate that spent $1 million to try to find a Melbourne Cup runner. Four of that half dozen have raced without a placing, and none has shown anywhere near the dash of the, now, nicely named Speed Gifted.

Stable spokesman Sam Pritchard-Gordon said the gelding had responded to having his work “shortened up” – a term also applied by Colin Little after Ista Kareem had won the Sydney Cup. P-G noted it was pleasing the gelding had shown a liking for Flemington.

Of the imports, he said on freedman.com.au: “Their work is condensed, their feed is improved and they are given the opportunity to enjoy life outside of their box,” .

French owner Jean-Marc Charmat, keen to have a Melbourne Cup runner, sent Speed Gifted from England after he found out about the Freedman buying mission. P-G told the thoroughbred.com.au that Speed Gifted would go to the paddock today, joining Charmat’s other stayer, Savarain, who has had a preparation down under but won’t race until later in the year. Savarain (B g 2005, Rainbow Quest (USA)-Frangy (GB), by Sadler’s Wells (USA)) also was 2-8 for Cumani in England. He raced over 1600-2800m, winning at 2400 and 2800.

Speed Gifted’s win highlights the value of patience with the stock of Montjeu, who has enjoyed a rather impressive month, courtesy of Ballack, and his AJC Australian Derby set of runners, headlined by the winner, Roman Emperor (ex Gussy Godiva, by Last Tycoon.)

Buccellati, another English horse destined for Melbourne in the spring, won a three-horse race over 2600m at Chester on Friday. Mornington trainer Tony Noonan and his English trainer mate Andrew Balding bought Buccellati (Ch h 2004, Soviet Star (USA)-Susi Wong (Ire), by Selkirk (USA)) for 25,000 guineas (about $55,000) at the Tattersalls sale in October 2005 for Victorians Peter McMahon and Rex Gorell and their wives with the Melbourne Cup in mind after racing in England.

He is 8-22, has earned almost 260,000 pounds (more than $520,000), so, even before he gets to Victoria, where Noonan will take over the training, he has been a good money-spinner – and a traveller: he has also raced in Turkey (fourth to Inspector at Veliefendi in Istanbul last September) and in Hong Kong (sixth to Doctor Dino at Sha Tin last December).

THEY SAID IT

“I think we gave him up today.” Jockey Dwayne Dunn after Speed Gifted’s win revealed a horse of considerable talent.

  ”I don’t know anything else so I had to come back.” Luke Nolen after winning the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) on Duporth (Nolen’s fifth Group 1 winner) at Doomben, almost a year after he was seriously hurt in a fall at the same track. The comeback from horrific head injuries has been pretty good, considering Nolen also won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February on Reward For Effort. He is eighth on the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership with 28 wins.

WE’LL WATCH IT

The jumps racing debate will continue in the lead-up to Racing Victoria’s meeting about the future of jumping, with participants planning their own protest – usually the tactic of the anti-jumping lobby – outside RV’s HQ at Flemington on Wednesday. Fighting a rearguard action to get jumping up and running again, jockeys have suggested the following changes: drop hurdling and run only steeplechase races over bigger jumps; have a strand rather than barrier start; and drop what was the last jump to make it easier on, and safer for, tiring horses.

On the flat, Brisbane continues as the focus in Australia, with the $500,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup on Saturday.

Flemington has three Listed races: the $200,000 Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) for stayers, the $125,000 Straight Six (1200m) for sprinters and the $100,000 Gibson Carmichael Stakes (1600m) for 2YOs.

Singapore has two Group 1s for the jet set on Sunday – the Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) and the KrisFlyer (1200m) at Kranji.

Takeover Target (B g 9, Celtic Swing (GB)-Shady Stream, by Archregent (CAN)) will try to repeat last year’s KrisFlyer success, but will face stronger opposition this time from Singapore’s rising star Rocket Man (B g 2005, Viscount- Macrossa, by Mr. McGinty (NZ)) and Hong’s Group 1 winners Sacred Kingdom (B g 2003, Encosta De Lago-Courtroom Sweetie, by Zeditave) and Inspiration (Ch g 2003, Flying Spur-La Bamba, by Last Tycoon (Ire)). Each of these stars is Australian bred, with Rocket Man – by a long way – the best of the seven crops sired by Viscount. His last start win – very soft, after a pressured run in the lead – in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) is an indication of his immense quality, and can be seen on the Singapore Turf Club’s website (http://videos.turfclub.com.sg/20090424SR07.wmv).

Victorians Pompeii Ruler (Ch g 6, Genuine (JAP)-West With Night (NZ), by Pompeii Court (USA)), trained by Mick Price, and Sarrera (B g 8, Quest For Fame (GB)-Zamsong (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)), trained by Mike Moroney, jetted in with frequent flyer Takeover Target at the weekend.

They have even tougher opposition in the Cup – Luca Cumani’s Presvis (B g 2004, Sakhee (USA)-Forest Fire (SWE), by Never So Bold (IRE)), winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup in Hong Kong last month; South African Jay Peg (B h 2003, Camden Park (USA)-Laptop Lady (S. Af), by Al Mufti (USA)), winner of the SAI Cup and the Dubai Duty Free last year; Mike De Kock’s Bankable (B h 2004, Medicean (GB)-Dance To The Top (GB), by Sadler’s Wells (USA)); Godolphin’s Balius (B h 2003, Mujahid (USA)-Akhla (USA), by Nashwan (USA)), third last year when French owned and trained; and France’s entrant this year, Gloria De Campeao (B or br h 2003, Impression (Arg)-Audacity (Brz), by Clackson (Brz)).

Australians Darren Beadman and Brett Prebble fly from Hong Kong to take on Takeover Target, with Prebble on Sacred Kingdom and Beadman on Inspiration. Prebble had four winners at Sha Tin on Saturday (now 60 for the season), but Beadman missed because of the ‘flu and stays on 36.

James Winks (eight wins since going to Hong Kong in January) will fly back to Australian to ride Douro Valley in the Doomben Cup.

Dwayne Dunn, Lee Freedman’s stable jockey in Victoria, will ride at Sha Tin in HK on Sunday – Winks will fly back for the HK meeting, but Prebble and Beadman won’t, which is why Dunn got the late call from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.