John Letts held the 1972 Melbourne Cup aloft as part of the celebrations minutes after riding the winner, Piping Lane. The next time he touched that ‘Loving Cup’ was last year, when he went to Tasmania as an ambassador with the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour.

“I put my hand on it and said, ‘Thank you,’ ” Letts said at Flemington today. “It changed my life, it really did.”

Beldale Ball in 1980 gave Letts his second Cup, but the rider has been associated with every winner since 1993, the year Vintage Crop became the first northern hemisphere-trained horse to win.

The continued role past the post comes from Letts’ job as television “outrider”, interviewing the winner after he pulls up on the course. And with him each interview is Banjo, the stock horse Letts named for long-serving clerk of the course John Patterson.

Letts and Banjo will be there again this November, but before then Letts will be part of the Australasian tour to promote the Cup. He was one of six ambassadors named yesterday by the Victoria Racing Club – the others are Cup-winning jockeys Jim Johnson (Gatum Gatum 1963, Rain Lover 1968-69), Roy Higgins (Light Fingers 1965, Red Handed 1967), Greg Hall (Subzero 1992) and John Marshall (Rogan Josh 1999), and former chief steward Des Gleeson, who “policed” more than 30 Melbourne Cups.

Marshall led Rogan Josh around the Flemington mounting yard as part of the launch. “He’s 17, but I tell you what, he’s fitter than me,” Marshall said as the gelding pranced around in his Cup rug. He now lives at Living Legends, the “old horses’ home”, at Oaklands Junction near Melbourne Airport.

Rogan Josh’s appearance was a highlight for the “young ambassadors” at the launch, children from Kensington and Spotswood primary schools.

The 2009 Cup, 1650 grams of pure 18ct gold and valued at $125,000, will be the centrepiece of the seventh tour, which starts on September 28 will take in 23 cities and towns in the leadup to Tuesday, November 3 – Mt Wycheproof (Vic.), Avoca (Vic.), Colac (Vic.), Adelaide (SA), Kangaroo Island (SA), Ballina (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld.), Brisbane (Qld.), Auckland (NZ), Palmerston North (NZ), Invercargill (NZ), Perth (WA), Karratha (WA), Ingham (Qld.), Bowen (Qld.), Cloncurry (Qld.), Tambo (Qld.), Sydney (NSW), Camden (NSW), Cowra (NSW), Crookwell (NSW), Dederang (Vic.) and Alexandra (Vic.).

They will add to the 150 centres visited and 160,000km covered in past tours. Before the Australasian tour, the Cup will be taken overseas to business network functions in Paris, London, Dublin and Abu Dhabi as part of the VRC’s international strategy – northern-hemisphere runners have been an integral part of the Melbourne Cup since Vintage Crop, the first of trainer Dermot Weld’s two winners, first ran in 1993.

Weld’s other winner was Media Puzzle in 2002, the Cup that resonated even more than usual as Damien Oliver rode to victory only days after his brother Jason, also a jockey, was killed in a track fall.

The Slattery Media Group has published a book on the tragedy and triumph of that Cup, called The Cup. Written by Eric O’Keefe, it is on sale at all good bookstores and online (RRP $34.95). Go to slatterymedia.com/books

The results of last night’s Australian Horse of the Year awards at Crown.

Racehorse of the Year – Scenic Blast

New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing Champion Stayer – Viewed

Yallambee Stud Champion Two Year Old – Phelan Ready

New Zealand Bloodstock Champion Three Year Old Filly – Samantha Miss

Staging Connections Champion Three Year Old Colt or Gelding – Whobegotyou

Inglis Thoroughbred Auctioneers Champion Sprinter – Scenic Blast

Mittys Middle Distance Champion – Theseo

Champion Group 1 Jockey – Nash Rawiller

Champion Group 1 Trainer – Gai Waterhouse

Carazzo Consulting CPAs Champion Sire – Encosta de Lago

Crown Towers Champion Jumper – Pentiffic

Aushorse Marketing Champion Australian-Bred International – Sacred Kingdom

IRT Champion Australian-Trained International – Scenic Blast 

THEY SAID IT

“He’s a really talented horse,” said Darley’s trainer Peter Snowden after Denman won the first Group 1 race of the season, the $1million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Snowden added that Denman (br c 3, Lonhro-Peach, by Vain)) was the best he had trained in his near two years at the helm of Woodlands/Darley.

 “We’ll do the best thing by the horse but there’s another one in him,” claimed Snowden. The plan at this stage is to go to the G2 Stan Fox (1400m) at Randwick on September 26, followed by the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10. Denman’s sire Lonhro won both.

The Caulfield Guineas is known as the race that makes sires – and breeding is where the big money is – and that (plus the horse’s ability, of course) makes it hard not to keep going to the well. Denman was third at his first start at Flemington in December and is five from five since resuming with a Kilmore maiden win in June. TAB Sportsbet has Denman $4 favourite for the Guineas from the Golden Rose’s impressive runner-up Trusting at $7 and a trio at $12 – the filly Black Caviar, the colt Manhattan Rain and the gelding Tollesprit. We’re not sure whether there’s a list of quality gallopers who have won their maidens at Kilmore, but we know that Caulfield Cup winner Mummify is one of them as well!

 “He’s got the gears to smoke home, and that’s what he did,” said an impressed jockey Kerrin McEvoy of Denman. 

 “We gave him a start. We drew 11 and he drew three, and that’s about it,” was the excuse offered by Patinack trainer Jason Coyle after Trusting was beaten by Denman. The Tale Of The Cat-Legible colt is pretty special, too.

 “He’s got the potential to be a real topliner, this horse,” said jockey Danny Nikolic of Mic Mac, winner of the G2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

 “I’ll stay on him,” claimed Nikolic, although Damien Oliver, back this week from suspension and expected to continue his relationship with Apache Cat, also trained by Greg Eurell, might have a thing or two to say about that – Oliver is three from three in Melbourne on Mic Mac (b g 4, Statue Of Liberty (USA)-Amandine, by Tertian (USA)).

 ”We didn’t have him tuned up for today … he’s going to bigger and better things.” – jockey Dwayne Dunn on impressive Caulfield Listed winner First Command (b g 4, Commands-River Serenade, by Hurricane Sky).

“I think that’s a realistic goal,” said trainer Lee Freedman when the G2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby day was suggested as a target for First Command, who is six for six after being gelded following a poor debut run.

“He is like a Rolls-Royce … It wasn’t the top grade today, but he looks as though he will measure up,” said trainer Jim Taylor said after unbeaten Hay List won again at Belmont in Perth on Saturday.

 ”He is one of the more exciting horses that I have ridden in my career,” said Hay List’s jockey Jason Brown. Brown, of course, rode Scenic Blast to win in Perth and Melbourne before Steven Arnold took over for that gelding’s three Global Sprint Group 1 wins. Hay List (b/br g 4, Statue Of Liberty-Sing Hallelujah, Is It True (USA)) has won three straight this time in and six straight overall, from 1000m to Saturday’s 1400m.

WE SAW IT

The Lee Freedman stable has had double joy over the past few days from the six-import package bought in England last October. Sound Of Nature (B g 7, Chester House (USA)-Yashmak (USA), by Danzig (USA)) won over 1230m at Geelong on Friday after flopping at Sandown in May at his only other Australian start;  and Trenchtown (b g 5, King’s Best (USA)-Barbuda (GB), by Rainbow Quest (USA)) won over 1600m at Bendigo on Saturday. He was unplaced in two starts in April-May.

Woodcutter (gr g 5, Daylami (IRE)-Cinnamon Rose (USA), by Trempolino (USA)) was fourth at Geelong over 1740m.

Others in the package, Timetable (b g 5, Observatory (USA)-Clepsydra (GB), by Sadler’s Wells (USA)), Measurement (b g 4, Viking Ruler-El-Libaab (GB), by Unfuwain (USA)) and Tomintoul Flyer (b/br g 5, Dr Fong (USA)-Miller’s Melody (GB), by Chief Singer (IRE)), either trialled or raced in April-May. Timetable has been nominated for races at Seymour (Thursday) and Flemington (Saturday).

Speed Gifted (b g 6, Montjeu (IRE)-Good Standing (USA), by Distant View (USA)), not part of the package but picked up from England at the same time, is to resume in the G2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Speed Gifted was a most impressive winner over the same distance at the track at his only Australian start, in May.

While Freedman’s First Command was impressive at Caulfield, the Rod Douglas-trained Huxssen, who finished fourth to him, had the ‘be on me next time’ light flashing. Huxssen (Ch g 4, Hussonet (USA)-Musical Tones (USA), by Diesis (GB)) flew home late to finish only a length behind First Command. He has won four of 10, with two of the wins in the city.

The eyecatcher at Sandown on Sunday was – surprise, surprise – Pentiffic in the Grand National Steeplechase (4530m) at Sandown. With Mazzacano a flop – raced at the rear, never challenged and was pulled out of the race before the last fence (stewards reported he had a sore back) – Pentiffic, the $1.75 favourite, was far too good for Sir Pentire and Mt Townsend. It’s onwards and upwards for Pentiffic (br g 6, Pentire (GB)-Sailing High (NZ), by Yachtie), probably to Japan for its Grand Jump next April.

Trent Wells, loving the ride, provided the quotes. “When I saw Mazzacano labouring like he was, I decided to grab the race by the balls,” he said of pushing Pentiffic to the lead well before the turn.

And, “I ordered my passport a couple of weeks ago and it looks like I’ll need it more than ever now … this horse is nothing but a bloody star.”

The GN Hurdle (4530m) went to $4 chance Desert Master, a recent addition to the stables of Robbie Laing in a three-way thriller from Juan Carlos and Yamanaura – it was a case of survival of the fittest, and Laing-trained gallopers excel there.

The trainer said he was given Desert Master (gr g 8, Desert King (IRE)-Pinqelle, by Toy Pindarri (NZ)) only two months ago. “I just knocked Brian (Cook, the owner) on the leg after the Australian Hurdle in June and said to him, ‘If you want to win the Grand National Hurdle, send him to me to train’.”

The GN-winning jockeys were in strife for celebrating before the post – Wells was fined $400, Adam Trinder on Desert Master $300.

Despite loud animal welfare protests at the gate, the good news out of the meeting was that there were no falls – two horses lost their riders (both unhurt). It was the GN Hurdle meeting last year at Flemington that accelerated the negative slide for the jumping branch of racing. The Nationals have been banished from Flemington and into the shadow of the big Saturday meeting, which has group racing on the flat, but the jumping sport is still going … for now at least, while waiting on another review when the season ends late next month.

Tavistock (b h 4, Montjeu (IRE)-Upstage (GB), by Quest For Fame (GB)), who had one win in four Australian starts for Caulfield trainer Mick Price last season as Lord Tavistock, won the G1 Mudgway Stakes (1400m) at Hastings in New Zealand on Saturday. He is back under the care of former trainer Andrew Campbell, who had recommended the Melbourne stint.

In the US, Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird (by Birdstone) flew again to win the $1million G1 Travers Stakes (2000m) at Saratoga on Saturday. The filly Rachel Alexandra, America’s darling, is to take on older males in the Woodward Stakes (1800m), at the same track next Saturday. The purse has been increased from $US250,000 to $US750,000 to get her to the barriers – no female has won the Woodward in 140 years. Rachel Alexandra (B f 3, Medaglia D’Oro (USA)-Lotta Kim (USA), by Roar (USA)) won the Kentucky Oaks and beat the boys in the Preakness Stakes before her two latest wins – the G1 Mother Goose by 19¼ lengths at Belmont Park and the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey against the best 3YO males.

In Singapore yesterday, Australian Steven Burridge trained four winners for the first time – he has 32 for the season, in sixth place in an international field topped by New Zealander Laurie Laxon (70), who had three winners yesterday, from Aussie Michael Freedman (42). Jockeys’ leader is local Saimee Jumaat  (78) from Brazilian Joao Moreira (47), Australian John Powell and South African Robbie Fradd (both 44). Other Australians in the top 10 are Danny Beasley (39) and Vlad Duric (33). 

In Macau, Australian Gary Moore (45 wins) collected his third trainers’ premiership when the season ended at the weekend. Moore’s brother John finished second in the Hong Kong premiership last season and is gearing up for another big year when the 2009-10 season starts on September 13. Their father  George was one of Australia’s greatest jockeys. Brazilian Manoel Nunes was Macau’s premier jockey with 112 wins.

And at the Wimmera meeting at Donald yesterday, apprentice Harry Hillier rode winners four straight – Carnegie Road, Chocolate Ruby, No Push Over and Flaming Moe – with the first and last for his master, Ballarat trainer Darren Weir.  Hillier claims 3kg in the city, 2kg in the country – he has 36 wins from 428 rides, starting in the 2006-07 season

WE’LL WATCH IT

Another turf great will join Phar Lap and Bart Cummings as an Australian racing Hall of Fame Legend at a dinner at Crown in Melbourne tonight All four candidates are in the Hall of Fame already, but in a racing first this year’s elevation is by public vote, a move that has caused controversy. All four will get there eventually, but the new method appears to favour those in the news more recently. Will it be champion jockey Scobie Breasley, who died in 2006? Will it be a horse (Makybe Diva, the 2003-05 winner, or Carbine, the great horse of the 19^th century, and remarkable sire and breed influence) or a trainer (Sydney’s 33-year premiership winner TJ Smith, who died in 1998)?

The Australian Horse of the Year for 2008-09 will be named, too. Scenic Blast should nose out Theseo and Maldivian.

Former Coolmore rider and Irish champion Kieren Fallon returns to English racing on Friday at Lingfield and Kempton after 18 months sidelined over using cocaine. Fallon’s old job is safely held by Johnny Murtagh, but other top stables are interested in using him, including Luca Cumani. Fallon rode Yeats to seventh place in the 2006 Melbourne Cup, and rode a winner at the Cox Plate meeting a week earlier.

Saturday is a Group 2 day at Flemington, headlined by Manhattan Rain getting the chance to live up to trainer Gai Waterhouse’s claim that he is the best 3YO colt in Australia when he runs in the Danehill Stakes (1200m) – he has to beat the best filly, Black Caviar, if he is to live up to the Waterhouse hype. Blake Shinn will be down from Sydney to ride Sires’ Produce winner Manhattan Rain and stablemate Swift Alliance in the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1200m). 

The other Group 2s at Flemington are: the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) with Predatory Pricer, Typhoon Tracy, Rebel Raider and C’Est La Guerre entered; and the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) – trainer Peter Moody has nominated Typhoon Tracy for the Let’s Elope, too. The G1 winner had her first defeat in six starts when third first up to Predatory Pricer and Whobegotyou in the G2 Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15.

The G2s at Randwick are the WFA Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and the Furious Stakes (1400m) for fillies.

Belmont has the Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m). They also race at Morphettville and Eagle Farm.

Melbourne Cup weights will come out on Wednesday. English entry Mourilyan (b h 2004, Desert Prince (Ire)-Mouramara (Ire), by Kahyasi (GB)) firmed to $26 after winning a Listed race over 1400m at Goodwood on Saturday. Mourilyan is trained in England by Gary Moore (not the Macau-based Moore) and by South African Herman Brown elsewhere.

Spring markets – TAB Sportsbet offers these odds (all in):

Caulfield Cup (2400m) October 17

$8 Predatory Pricer

$13 Whobegotyou

$15 Shocking, Speed Gifted, Vigor

$17 Viewed, Rebel Raider

$21 Gallica, C’Est La Guerre,

$26 Daffodil, Roman Emperor, Nom Du Jeu, Efficient, Tuesday Joy

$31 Vision And Power, Zipping, Jolie’s Shinju, Maldivian, Schiaparelli, Zagreb, Baughurst, Hissing Sid, Raffaello, Red Ruler, Precedence

Cox Plate (2040m) October 24

$5.50 Whobegotyou

$11 El Segundo, Predatory Pricer

$12 Maldivian

$14 Mic Mac

$16 Black Piranha, Jolie’s Shinju

$18 Denman, Heart Of Dreams, Theseo, Typhoon Tracy

$21 Zipping, Trusting, Vision And Power

$23 Racing To Win

$26 Ortensia, Onemorenomore

$31 Tuesday Joy, Efficient, Viewed, Manhattan Rain, Black Caviar

Melbourne Cup (3200m) November 3

$12 Profound Beauty, Rebel Raider

$14 Efficient, Viewed

$16 Changingoftheguard, C’Est La Guerre

$21 Roman Emperor, Precedence, Speed Gifted, Vigor, Tuesday Joy

$26 Schiaparelli, Zipping Master O’Reilly, Shocking, Mourilyan

$31 Whobegotyou, Ista Kareem, Daffodil, Leica Ding, Unsung Heroine

We’ll also watch what develops at Sydney’s Warwick Farm, with Inglis acquiring 9.5 hectares (23.75 acres) of land at the racecourse from the Australian Jockey Club. Inglis managing director Mark Webster said the move gave the bloodstock company an option, should it be necessary to relocate from Randwick.

“Newmarket (Randwick) has not yet been put up for sale, nor has a decision been made to relocate within any particular time frame,” Webster said. “The AJC board’s vision for the future of Warwick Farm was also important in making our decision, and I congratulate them for committing to invest more than $25 million to revamp and revitalise the Farm’s training and race day facilities.”

More than 800 horses are trained at Warwick Farm, about 25km west of Sydney. Darley and Patinack are the two biggest stables. Webster said Inglis’ new site could accommodate 1000 stables, 4000 more than Newmarket.

The Thoroughbred’s in-depth Perth preview reveals the chances in the Quaddie legs and all races at Belmont on Saturday.

The best bets are in races 4, 5, 6 and 8, and the best each-way value is in races 1 and 7.

To find out what our form analyst is tipping CLICK HERE

The Thoroughbred Magazine Club’s filly Belleluia is ready to return to full work at Cranbourne, according to pre-trainer Sue Ellis, who has been preparing the filly at Eliza Park.

“This filly has started 3/4 pace this week – she is progressing nicely & is ready to head to Robbie when he is ready,” she said in this week’s report on the filly.

Belleluia is doing 15 secs to the 200m – even time – and all we are waiting on is for trainer Robbie Griffiths to find room for her in his Cranbourne stables. That should happen in the next seven days.

The filly has done extremely well in work. She has grown and matured. Robbie expects she will be ready to go to the racing in around eight weeks.

Meanwhile, Belleluia’s exciting 3/4 sister Black Caviar, who was so impressive winning last Saturday at Moonee Valley, is shaping as one of the spring stars.

With an all-star cast headed by the emerging Bart Cummings (three wins) and Roy Higgins (two wins on Cummings’ horses), the 1960s were a stellar period in Melbourne Cup history. The same decade saw Jim Johnson win three Cups, as the jockey of Gatum Gatum (1963) and Rain Lover (1968 and ‘69).

Today, it was announced that Johnson will join Cummings and Higgins in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

The timing is ironic in that it comes when the throroughbred emphasis is on less use of the whip, and vigorous whip riding was Johnson’s trademark. However, Johnson’s induction was well-earned – in addition to his great Cup record he won four Adelaide premierships before coming to Melbourne, where he won the 1966-67 crown, and he rode the champions Tobin Bronze and Winfreux. He won two Singapore premierships in the 1970s and overall he rode 2158 winners, including 125 in feature races.

Others to be inducted at Crown in Melbourne next Monday are:

Harold Badger, winner of six Melbourne jockeys’ premierships between 1938-48;

Bayly Payten, winner of seven Sydney trainers’ premierships between 1940-48;

Jack Green, trainer of Baystone, the 1958 Melbourne Cup winner;

Strawberry Road, racehorse of the year in Australia in 1983 when trained by Doug Bougoure, and a winner in France and Germany;

Comic Court, winner of the 28 races from 53 starts, including the 1950 Melbourne Cup when strapped by Bart Cummings for his father Jim;

Bill Whittaker, one of racing’s most influential journalists for more than 40 years and holder of an Order of Australia Medal. Sadly, Whittaker, who was devoted to the history of the turf, died in May, aged 79.

One of four previous inductees - racehorses Carbine and Makybe Diva, jockey Scobie Breasley and trainer Tommy Smith – will join icons Phar Lap and Bart Cummings as racing legends. All are worthy and all will become legends over the next few years, but the controversial decision to make the choice a public vote almost guarantees it will be a popularity contest that favours the most recent contender, triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva. We’re hoping for Carbine.

WE SAW IT

New Zealand’s champion apprentice James McDonald had three wins on his flying visit to Singapore at the weekend. McDonald, riding outside Australasia for the first time, won on Noble Manor on Friday and on Big Minako and Recycle King yesterday.

The 17-year-old, featured in The Thoroughbred magazine’s winter edition, had two wins for Singapore’s champion trainer Laurie Laxon, the New Zealander who trained the 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose. Recycle King, trained by another ex-pat New Zealander Stephen Gray, was a pickup ride. 

McDonald, apprenticed to his father Brett, a former jumps jockey, had 125 wins in New Zealand last season to win both the senior and apprentice jockeys’ titles. It was only his second full season of riding. He won the junior title in his first season with 90, which placed him sixth overall.

After Big Minako’s win Laxon told turfclub.com.sg: “I never gave him any instructions. Good jockeys don’t need instructions and bad jockeys never follow them.

“He is a very polished rider for such a young man. There hasn’t been anyone in New Zealand to do what he has done in such a short time. Champion jockeys like Jim Cassidy, Shane Dye, Greg Childs and the like didn’t have a record like he has so early.”

McDonald, who rode at a Gold Coast meeting in May, said he went to Singapore to gain experience while it was not a busy time in New Zealand. Both meetings were on Kranji’s artificial surface, the Polytrack.

Laxon leads the trainers’ premiership with 65 wins from Australian Michael Freedman (41). Local Saimee Jumaat (72) heads the jockeys’ table from Brazilian Joao Moreira (44) and Austalian John Powell and South African Robbie Fradd (both 43). The season ends in December.

Singapore’s Cox Plate entry Jolie’s Shinju  (B m 2005, Jolie’s Halo (USA)-Endearing Quality (USA)) arrived in Melbourne on Saturday and has settled into the Sandown quarantine centre, and Australian sprinters Scenic Blast and Apache Cat are among nine international entries for the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in Japan on October 4.

International focus, however, has been on York’s Ebor meeting, where potential Melbourne Cup runners went around. Aidan O’Brien’s Changingoftheguard (B c 3, Montjeu (IRE)-Miletrain (IRE), by Marju (IRE)) should have won the 2800-metre Ebor Handicap, finishing a luckless second to the roughie Sesenta. Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Judgethemoment disappointed when 14^th in the Knavesmire Handicap (about 3200m) and must be considered a most unlikely visitor.

Godolphin’s Schiaparelli (B h 6, Monsun (GER)-Scarina (GB), by Old Vic (GB) won a Group 2 3000m race at Deauville yesterday – Frankie Dettori rode and spaced the others, but there were only two of them.

In Adelaide, Melbourne Cup chance Rebel Raider’s strong third in the Listed Penny Edition Stakes (1400m) pleased trainer Leon Macdonald.

Spring markets – TAB Sportsbet offers these odds (all in):

Caulfield Cup (2400m) October 17

$8 Predatory Pricer

$15 Vigor, Whobegotyou, Shocking

$17 Speed Gifted

$21 Metal Bender, Nom du Jeu, Gallica, C’Est La Guerre, Rebel Raider

$26 Daffodil, Jolie’s Shinju, Maldivian, Roman Emperor, Schiaparelli, Tuesday Joy, Viewed, Vision And Power, Zipping

Cox Plate (2040m) October 24

$6 Whobegotyou

$11 Maldivian, El Segundo, Predatory Pricer

$14 Pompeii Ruler

$16 Jolie’s Shinju

$18 Black Piranha, Heart Of Dreams, Zipping, Theseeo, Typhoon Tracy, Mic Mac

$21 Racing To Win, Vision And Power, Metal Bender

$23 Ortensia

Melbourne Cup (3200m) November 3

$13 Profound Beauty

$15 C’Est La Guerre, Rebel Raider

$17 Efficient, Changingoftheguard, Viewed

$18 Roman Emperor

$21 Schiaparelli, Precedence, Speed Gifted, Vigor, Zipping, Tuesday Joy

$26 Master O’Reilly, Shocking, Unsung Heroine, Age Of Aquarius

Veteran Idyllic Prince’s back-to-back triumphs in the Listed Goodwood Sprint (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday was good news for trainer Jim Taylor and his family, who have had the Scenic seven-year-old since he was four months old, but the race cast doubts on Melbourne plans for the first-up flop Megatic. Megatic (B g 5, Danetime (IRE)-Mag Role, by Old Spice), the $2.40 favourite, worked hard to race outside Taylor’s other runner Star Laser (who fought on for second), but was gone on turning for home. Perthracing.com.au reported that a planned trip east for the Group 1 winner (the Kingston Town Classic, 1800m, at Ascot almost two years ago) was in severe doubt with trainer Albie Beckett going back to the drawing board.

Steve Pateman was hot on a cold, blustery day at Coleraine yesterday, winning all three jumps races on favourites – Brough Superior ($1.80) won the hurdle, Tookaboy ($2.10) and Royal Laddie ($1.80) the steeples.

THEY SAID IT

“I’ve been fortunate at home I haven’t had one go fast enough to test her, and hopefully we’ve got to wait for a while for it to happen on a racetrack.” Caulfield trainer Peter Moody after super filly Black Caviar (Br f 3, Bel Esprit-Helsinge, by Desert Sun (GB)) returned with a whoosh, making a one-horse affair of the Arrow Training Services Plate (1200m).

“It felt pretty awesome.” Black Caviar’s rider Luke Nolen.

The Group 2 Danehill Stakes (Flemington, 1200m, September 5) will help Moody determine the Group 1 path for the unbeaten filly – the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25 or out to the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 14.

The other first-up flyer at the Valley was Secret Flyer. Colac trainer Mark Young said of the storming winner of the BC3 Future Stars Sprint (1000m): “It’s the aim to win a Group I every time you get out of bed, so we’ll probably proceed there.”  He was talking about the Manikato Stakes, via the Group 3 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on September 12 at the Valley.

“He’s just got that amazing turn of foot,” said jockey Craig Williams. Secret Flyer (Ch g 6, Secret Savings (USA)-Lanadee, by Snaadee (USA)) has won nine of his 20 starts.

 WE’LL WATCH IT

Patinack’s Trusting (B c 3, Tale Of The Cat (USA)-Legible (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)) was super impressive with a light weight in winning the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick at only his third race start. He will go around in the season’s new Group 1 race, the $1million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The headlines came out of the last race – Deer Valley won it by a half-head under hard whip riding from Daniel Ganderton, who lost his winning percentage and was suspended for six meetings. Corey Brown on the runner-up Melito kept to the new whip rules that allow jockeys to hit their mounts on no more than three consecutive strides in the final 200m – Ganderton had a block of four and another of five.

The rules, however, don’t allow a protest over whip matters, so there was no recourse for Melito’s connections, only the lingering question – “would we have won if Ganderton hadn’t gone outside the rules?” Likewise for punters who took the $4.60 about Melito, the favourite. As The Sydney Morning Herald reported, punters took a flogging. The paper quoted Ganderton, asked if Deer Valley would have won without the persuader, as saying: “I don’t think so … she is a very laid-back horse.”

With hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake in rich races, there is a lot more to come before the issue of the new padded whips, and the use of, is bedded down.

Rosehill on Saturday will have strong support races for the Golden Rose, including the Group 3 Concorde stakes (1100m). Caulfield could have a powerful cast in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m), including Whobegotyou, Mic Mac, El Segundo and Efficient. They also race at Belmont, Morphettville and Doomben.

Whobegotyou will be trying to emulate Weekend Hussler by winning Saturday’s Group 2 Memsie Stakes (WFA 1400m) at Caulfield after being beaten first-up in the Liston Stakes.

Last year, Weekend Hussler was beaten by Light Fantastic first-up in the Group 2 Liston Stakes (WFA 1400m) at Caulfield, but returned two weeks later to win the Memsie in emphatic style, beating the subsequent Cox Plate winner Maldivian.

Whobegotyou resumed with a slashing second to Predatory Pricer in the Liston Stakes on August 15. Predatory Pricer is missing from the nominations for the Memsie - he is likely to run on Saturday week in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (WFA 1600m) at Moonee Valley.

Whobegotyou’s trainer Mark Kavanagh is expected to continue on the Weekend Hussler trail by heading towards the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (WFA 1600m) at Flemington two weeks after the Memsie. Weekend Hussler last year won the Makybe Diva Stakes, and the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (WFA 1800m) at Caulfield, before the wheels fell of the gelding’s spring campaign.

Whobegotyou’s ultimate spring aim is the Group 1 Cox Plate (WFA 2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24. Six horses have completed the Memsie-Cox Plate double and they are all champions – Makybe Diva (2005), Sunline (2000), Rubiton (1987), Ajax (1938), Phar Lap (1931) and Heroic (1926).

The Memsie has had a greater influence on the Underwood Stakes – 11 horses have completed the Caulfield weight-for-age double, including El Segundo, who also is nominated for this year’s Memsie, in 2006.

Kavanagh also has nominated his smart handicapper Sea Battle to resume in the Memsie. Sea Battle emerged as a top horse last spring winning the Group 2 Jayco Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley and finishing second behind All Silent in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. Sea Battle missed the autumn carnival because of injury.

Bart Cummings has nominated last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Viewed, as well as the comeback galloper Empires Choice, who was retired to stud last spring but didn’t serve a mare after Cummings was unable to get a licence to stand a stallion on his Princes Farm property, Castlereagh, 50km north-west of Sydney.

Cummings last won the Memsie with the mares Magical Miss (2002) and Dane Ripper (1998).

The 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient may resume in the Memsie, as he did when 10^th behind Miss Finland in his Cup-winning year. Last year, before injury forced him out of the Cup, Efficient resumed with a fifth behind Weekend Hussler in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Greg Eurell’s exciting 4YO Mic Mac, an impressive winner first up in the Listed Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m, Flemington) on August 8, also has been nominated for the Memsie. 

The Group 2 Memsie Stakes recent history:

Year

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

BACKGROUND

First run: 1899 (won by Veneda). Group 2 since 1979. Run over 1600m 1899 & 1971-79; 1800m 1890-1970; 1400m from 1980.

Last mare to win: Miss Finland (2007).

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Longfella (1972). Note: No 3YO filly has won.

Multiple winners: 9 – Sunline (2000-01); Yangtze (1965 & 1966); Coppice (1954 & 1955); Comic Court (1949 & 1950); Waltzing Lily (1933 & 1934); Heroic (1925 & 1926); Lord (1958, 1959, 1960 & 1961); Ajax (1938, 1939 & 1940); Eurythmic (1920, 1921 & 1922).

Fastest time (1400m): Dane Ripper (1998) 1:22.85

Notable winners: Weekend Hussler (2008); Makybe Diva (2005); Sunline (2000 & 2001); Dane Ripper (1998); Rancho Ruler (1988); Rubiton (1987); Manikato (1982); Plush (1976); Zambari (1973); Galilee (1968); Lord (1958, 1959, 1960 & 1961); Rising Fast (1956); Comic Court (1949 & 1950); Tranquil Star (1945); Ajax (1938, 1939 & 1940); Hall Mark (1935); Waltzing Lily (1933 & 1934); Phar Lap (1931); Heroic (1925 & 1926); Eurythmic (1920, 1921 & 1922); Artilleryman (1919); Bobadil (1905); Hymettus (1901).

Liston Stakes & Memsie Stakes: 4 – Regal Roller (2004), Zambari (1973); Lord (1958), Syntax (1957). Note: Regal Roller (2004) is the only winner of the double since Memsie became a 1400m event.

Memsie Stakes & Craiglee Stakes: 4 – Weekend Hussler (2008); Lord (1961); Comic Court (1949); Lungi (1948).

Memsie Stakes & Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes: 5 – Sunline (2000); Palace Reign (1993); Naturalism (1992); Rubiton (1987); Dazzling Duke (1986).

Memsie Stakes & Underwood Stakes: 11 – Weekend Hussler (2008); El Segundo (2006); Rubiton (1987); Lord (1958, 1960); Syntax (1957); Attley (1947); Ajax (1938-39-40); Phar Lap (1931); Highland (1929); Royal Charter (1927); Heroic (1926).

Memsie Stakes & Caulfield Cup: 4 – Silver Bounty (1981); Peshawar (1952); Eurythmic (1920); Hymettus (1901).

Memsie Stakes & Cox Plate: 6 – Makybe Diva (2005); Sunline (2000); Rubiton (1987); Ajax (1938); Phar Lap (1931); Heroic (1926).

Memsie Stakes & Melbourne Cup: 3 – Makybe Diva (2005); Comic Court (1950); Artilleryman (1919).

Points of interest: Recent Melbourne Cup winners Efficient (2007), Makybe Diva (2004-05) and Doriemus (1995) contested the Memsie. Valiant Chief and Charles Fox dead-heated in 1936. Eirisdale and Massinissa dead-heated in 1900.

Nobody could have written a better script for pinhooking outfit BC3 Thoroughbreds when the 3YO filly Deer Valley won Saturday’s Group 3 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Deer Valley (br f 2006, Lonhro-Danislew, by Danehill (USA)) was pinhooked for $100,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Premier Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast for resale by BC3 Thoroughbreds in 2008, and only last Thursday did money change hands for the filly, who had failed to meet her $150,000 reserve at the 2008 Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale last November.

It is believed her sale price was around $250,000.

The new owner reaped the rewards of a value-enhancing Group win for the filly, while BC3 received a wonderful advertisement for their business model and a monster promotion for their “Future Stars” breeze-up sale at Sutton Grange, near Bendigo, the following day.

The concept of a privately run breeze-up sale of 2YOs is not common in Australia, nor in North America, where BC3 has made its name as a leading buyer of yearlings for resale at the ready-to-run 2YO sales, but BC3 has used the idea as both a promotional tool and an educational exercise in how they do business. (Read our story on BC3 in the winter edition of The Thoroughbred magazine.)

On Sunday, a steady stream of corporate hire cars ferried prospective buyers from Melbourne and interstate up the Calder Highway to the picturesque Sutton Grange property that BC3 has leased from Melbourne businessman Peter Sidwell.

Some of Australia’s leading trainers attended the sale, including Gai Waterhouse, David Hayes, Chris Waller, Anthony Cummings, Peter Morgan, Tony Noonan, Robbie Laing, Paul Messara and Troy Corstens. Former Victorian John Meagher, resplendent in a white jacket and white Stetson hat, flew in from Singapore with an entourage.

Twenty-four horses worked individually over 400m on the uphill straight synthetic track at Sutton Grange in front of 150 guests. Following post-gallop inspections, everyone adjourned to the nearby Sutton Grange Winery for lunch and the auction.

Arrowfield Stud’s John Messara was the guest speaker at the lunch. He praised BC3 for the way they presented the horses. “This is a new concept for a sale, and BC3 are a new player in the industry. I am here to support them,” Messara said.

Each horse’s reserve price was announced before the sale, so auctioneer Steve Davis had the simple job of asking for the reserve to be met, and if not, the 2YO was passed in. Nine horses met their reserves, and five were sold later by private negotiation.

There was competition on only one lot, a colt by Bel Esprit from Absorb (by Redoute’s Choice), with Mark Pilkington’s winning bid of $95,000, coming in $10,000 above the reserve.

Troy Corstens bought two colts, including one by Lonhro from Drama Of Life (USA), by Royal Academy (USA). He had been the underbidder on the colt, bought by BC3 for $80,000, at the Perth Magic Millions Sale. “It was nice to have the opportunity to have another look at him and buy him,” Corstens said.

Gai Waterhouse bought a colt by Jet Spur from the King Of Kings mare Fientina for $110,000. The chestnut wasn’t as precocious as most of the other youngsters, but Waterhouse was impressed by his strong gallop.

Two colts are heading to Singapore – Justin Bahen Bloodstock bid $140,000 for a strapping Starcraft colt from Shop Girl (by Summer Squall (USA)) and $145,000 for a smart looking Johannesburg colt from the former smart mare Bella Corona (by Beautiful Crown (USA)).

Richmond footballers, captain Chris Newman and Nathan Brown, attended the sale, and Newman bought a speedy-looking colt by Real Jester from Gold Leaves (by Ksar) for $85,000.

The 2YOs not sold will be prepared for the public breeze-up sales later in the year, although BC3 chief executive Bill Vlahos said all horses remain for sale at their reserve price.

 Results of the BC3 auction:

B c Bel Esprit-Absorb (by Redoute’s Choice): $95,000 Mark Pilkington, Vic.

B c Invincible Spirit (IRE)-Cherete (NZ) (by Centro): $110,000 Troy Corstens, Vic.

Ch c Jet Spur-Fientina (by King Of Kings (IRE)): $110,000 Gai Waterhouse, NSW.

Ch c Johannesburg (USA)-Bella Corona (by Beautiful Crown (USA)): $145,000 Justin Bahen Bloodstock, Singapore.

Blk c Johannesburg (USA)-Musical Chimes (by Select Prince): $210,000 Gary Mudgway, Vic.

B c Lonhro-Drama Of Life (USA) (by Royal Academy (USA)): $165,000 Troy Corstens, Vic.

Ch c Real Jester-Breton Rose (by Celtic Swing (GB)): $70,000 Gary Mudgway, Vic.

Ch c Real Jester-Gold Leaves (by Ksar (FR)): $85,000 Chris Newman, Vic.

Ch c Starcraft-Shop Girl (USA) (by Summer Squall (USA)): $140,000 Justin Bahen Bloodstock, Singapore.

The Thoroughbred’s in-depth Perth preview reveals the chances in the Quaddie legs and all races at Belmont on Saturday.

The best bets are in the fifth and sixth races, and the best each-way value is in race four.

To find out what our form analyst is tipping CLICK HERE