Vinery Stud general manager Peter Orton is an astute judge, and when he makes a prediction that Benicio (b h 2002, More Than Ready (USA)–Mannington, by Danehill (USA)) will make it as a stallion, we should take notice.

But even Orton’s optimism would be tested for him to invest in a bet to win $250,000 ($2500 at $101), as one punter has, that Benicio will be the leading first-season sire of winners this season.

The bet, with Sportingbet, came after one of Benicio’s first crop, Benavarro, had trialled impressively against older horses at Muswellbrook on September 9. Benavarro is from the Entrepreneur mare Navarro, a speedy winner of five races in Queensland. While Navarro is out of a Sir Tristram mare, she gets her speed from her second dam Most Illustrious (ch m 1984, Bletchingly-Lorne, by Minor Portion (IRE)), a half-sister to the fast Stakes-winners Hemisphere and Purpose.

Benicio might be by More Than Ready, and he may have won a Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), but he has matured into a powerful stallion, in the image of his maternal grandsire Danehill.

For the record, Benicio is now $81 with Sportingbet to win the first-season sire’s title. Stratum (by Redoute’s Choice) is a hot favourite at $2.20, ahead of Snitzel (by Redoute’s Choice) at $5 and Jet Spur (by Flying Spur) at $6.

The success of Darley’s Shamardal (b h 2002, Giant’s Causeway (USA)–Helsinki (GB), by Machiavellian (USA)), in both hemispheres, draws attention to their “new boy” for the 2009/10 season, Dubawi (b h 2002, Dubai Millennium (GB)–Zomaradah (GB), by Deploy (IRE)).

Both were similar types of racehorses in performance and racing style – slick turn of foot and excellent at the 1600m classic distance.Physically, the two horses are different. Shamardal, is a stronger, heavier stallion, whereas Dubawi is a neat, compact athletic horse who stamped his yearlings very much in his image.

Dubawi’s first crop in Europe has been so successful, he is favoured to earn the title of Champion First Season Sire. His prospects were boosted by a Group double last weekend at Doncaster – Poet’s Voice (Group 2 Champagne Stakes) and Sand Vixen (Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes) – and he currently has 19 individual first crop winners.

Dubawi, who matches well with Northern Dancer line mares, stands at Darley Kelvinside, Aberdeen, NSW, at a 2009 fee of $16,500 (inc. GST).

I doubt there was a more impressive winner last Saturday at Moonee Valley than Nicconi (b h 2005, Bianconi (USA)–Nicola Lass, by Scenic (IRE)) in the Group 3 Ian McEwen Stakes (1000m).

The son of Swettenham Stud’s underrated sire Bianconi (by Danzig (USA) charged home with a tail wind, breaking 33 secs for his last 600m. Trainer David Hayes, who owns a slice of the 4YO entire, has helped boost Nicconi’s stallion stocks by declaring the horse “the best sprinter I have trained”.

Nicconi is a magnificent individual, who has the perfect build for a stallion – not tall, powerful, masculine and correct.

Hayes has big plans for Nicconi, including a trip to Dubai next year, as well as a shot at Royal Ascot in June. Wins at either of those venues will make Nicconi a shuttle prospect .

It will be very interesting to see where Nicconi will eventually find a home after he retires. His part-owners and breeders Les Gordon and Peter Devitt have strong links to Lindsay Park, but the further Nicconi climbs in his rating, the less likely he will stand in South Australia, and maybe that prospect has slipped by.

Below is the media release from the Australian Racing Board regarding today’s compromise change to the controversial whip rules.

The Australian Racing Board (ARB) and the Australian Jockeys Association (AJA) have reached agreement on future application of the rules which govern use of the whip.

Under the existing rules that became effective as of 1st August 2009 riders are allowed to use padded whips in a forehand manner no more than seven times in the last 100 metres of the race but not in consecutive strides. Under the agreement arrived at today riders remain limited to seven forehand strikes in the last 100 metres but are given discretion. 

“This outcome achieves everything that is important to us so far as both safety of riders and the welfare of horses are concerned. It is significant to note that it received the unanimous support of the AJA members in a national phone hook-up conducted this morning,” said Bob Bentley, Chairman of the ARB. 

“Damien Oliver’s ride on Vigor in the Makybe Diva Stakes on 5th September at Flemington provides a good illustration of how the variation will work. ”From an animal welfare point of view the ARB’s objectives are still achieved in full – the level of use of the padded whip remains unchanged. At the same time the safety concerns of jockeys are also addressed. They are given an appropriate range of discretion as to how they use the whip in the finishing stages of a race.”    

The ARB and the AJA have also agreed that a review of the penalties that are imposed for breaches of the whip rule is required and has appointed a panel to be chaired by The Hon Michael Duffy to address this matter. Mr Duffy’s panel will also address the integrity concerns that have been aired amongst industry stakeholders where the use of the whip in a close finish raises issues of either unfair advantage or non-performance. 

“The Board believes that it is extremely important that all of the relevant industry stakeholders in particular, owners, trainers, punters and breeders are fully consulted on these concerns. To this end Michael Duffy’s panel will be holding sessions in Melbourne on Tuesday, 22nd September 2009 to receive first-hand the views of representatives of industry stakeholder groups and their suggestions on potential means of addressing these matters,” said Bentley.  

The date of implementation of the changes to AR.137(a)(5) concerning the use of the whip in the last 100 metres of a race has been provisionally set down for Saturday, 26th September 2009, with the date of effect to be ultimately determined in light of the results of the work of the integrity panel. 

Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (WFA 1800m) at Caulfield is a wonderful mix of the leading Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup contenders.

It is shaping as the best race of an enthralling and entertaining spring carnival, and history might prove it to be the most competitive.

The race includes the past two Melbourne Cup winner (Viewed and Efficient), last year’s Cox Plate winner (Maldivian), the 2007 Caulfield Cup winner (Master O’Reilly), the 2008 Caulfield Guineas winner (Whobegotyou), the 2009 Australian Guineas winner (Heart Of Dreams), the 2007 Victoria Derby winner (Kibbutz) and last season’s winners of the Doomben Cup (Scenic Shot), The BMW (Fiumicino), Coolmore Classic (Typhoon Tracy) and Yalumba Stakes (Douro Valley).

The Underwood is perfectly placed in the carnival that this year’s race was so sought after by trainers that entries as bursting at the seams with three emergencies – New Zealand Group 1 winner MacO’Reilly, Group 1 placegetter Zagreb and Group 3 winner Miss Darcey.

Significantly, more winners of the Underwood Stakes (13) have gone on to win the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley than the 12 horses who have won the Yalumba Stakes (WFA 2000m, Caulfield) and Cox Plate double, despite the fact the Yalumba is perfectly placed two weeks before the Moonee Valley race.

Only three have won the treble, and what a trio of champions they are – Northerly (2001), Bonecrusher (1986) and Ajax (1938).

Danny O’Brien’s rising star Vigor, to be ridden by Damien Oliver, is trying to become the eighth horses to win the Underwood-Caulfield Cup double. Elvstroem did it in 2004, Mummify in 2003 and Northerly, when he won his second Underwood, in 2002.

Danny Nikolic and the retired great jockey Harry White are the leading winners of the Underwood with four. Nikolic will ride the Caulfield Cup contender Red Ruler.

The Underwood is a race to sit back and enjoy, and then study for the future reference. 

RECENT RESULTS

Year

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

BACKGROUND

First run: 1924 (won by Whittier). Group 1 since 1979. Run over 1600m 1924-41 & 1944-48; Run over 1400m in 1942. 2000m 1954-93; 1800m 1949-53 and since 1994. Also known as the Williamstown Stakes (run at Williamstown 1924-38); Run at Moonee Valley 1946 & 1947; Flemington 1943-45. Not held in 1942. Run twice in 1994 (April & September).

Last mare to win: Tristarc (1985).

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Sobar (1972); No filly has won the Underwood.

Multiple winners: 12 – Northerly (2001 & 2002); Future (1965 & 1967); Aquanita (1961 & 1962); Lord (1958 & 1960); Flying Halo (1953 & 1954); Beau Gem (1949 & 1950); Attley (1946 & 1947); Ajax (1938, 1939 & 1940); Young Idea (1935 & 1937); Hall Mark (1933 & 1934); Highland (1928 & 1929); Whittier (1924 & 1925).

Fastest time (1800m): Oliver Twist (2000) 1:47.60

Notable winners: Weekend Hussler (2008); Northerly (2001 & 2002); Intergaze (1999); Tie The Knot (1998); Octagonal (1996); Jeune (1994); Rubiton (1987); Bonecrusher (1986); So Called (1978); Sobar (1972); Rain Lover (1970); Tobin Bronze (1966); Lord (1958 & 1960); Royal Gem (1948); Attley (1946 & 1947); Ajax (1938, 1939 & 1940); Young Idea (1935 & 1937); Hall Mark (1933 & 1934); Phar Lap (1931); Heroic (1926).

Memsie Stakes & Underwood Stakes: 11 – Weekend Hussler (2008); El Segundo (2006); Rubiton (1987); Lord (1958, 1960); Syntax (1957); Attley (1947); Ajax (1938, 1939 & 1940); Phar Lap (1931); Highland (1929); Royal Charter (1927); Heroic (1926).

Makybe Diva Stakes & Underwood Stakes: 10 – Weekend Hussler (2008); Northerly (2002); Sovereign Red (1981); How Now (1976); Rain Lover (1969); Lowland (1968); Tobin Bronze (1966); Havelock (1963); Aquanita (1962); Cromis (1955).

Underwood Stakes & Turnbull Stakes (since 1948): 5 – Elvstroem (2004); Northerly (2002); Tobin Bronze (1966); Aquanita (1962); Syntax (1957). Note: Beau Gem (Turnbull 1948) won the Underwood in 1949 & 1950.

Makybe Diva & Underwood & Turnbull (since 1948): 3 – Northerly (2002); Tobin Bronze (1966); Aquanita (1962).

Underwood Stakes & Yalumba Stakes: 10 – Northerly (2001); Bonecrusher (1986); Tristarc (1985); How Now (1976); Gay Icarus (1971); Comtempler (1964); Lord (1958 & 1960); Ajax (1938); Hall Mark (1934); Royal Charter (1927).

Underwood Stakes & Caulfield Cup: 7 – Elvstroem (2004); Mummify (2003); Northerly (2002); Tristarc (1985); How Now (1976); Sobar (1972); Gay Icarus (1971).

Underwood Stakes & Melbourne Cup: 2 – Jeune (1994); Rain Lover (1969).

Underwood Stakes & Cox Plate: 13 – Northerly (2001-02); Almaarad (1989); Rubiton (1987); Bonecrusher (1986); So Called (1978); Tobin Bronze (1966); Aquanita (1962); Ray Ribbon (1956); Ajax (1938); Young Idea (1937); Phar Lap (1931); Highland (1928); Heroic (1926).

Underwood & Yalumba & Cox Plate: 3 – Northerly (2001); Bonecrusher (1986); Ajax (1938).

Leading jockeys (since 1960): Danny Nikolic, 4 wins (Rubiscent 2007; Perlin 2005; Mummify 2003; Always Aloof 1997); Harry White, 4 wins (Rubiton 1987; Bounty Hawk 1984; Trissaro 1983; Sobar 1972).

Leading trainers (since 1960): Ken Hilton, 5 wins (Sobar 1972; Future 1965, 1967; Havelock 1963; Lord 1960); Lee Freedman, 4 wins (Mummify 2003; Always Aloof 1997; Sharscay 1995; Runyon 1993).

Points of interest: Waitangirua and My Brown Jug dead-heated for first in 1980. Royal Gem (1948), by Dhoti from French Gem, and Beau Gem (1949 & 1950), by Helios from French Gem, are brothers.

The Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday has had its share of name changes since it progressed from the Invitation Stakes in 1975 – Marlboro Cup, VicHealth Cup, Show Day Cup, Eat Well Live Well Cup and Dubai Racing Club Cup.

If one thing has remained constant, it is the dominance of this race by champion jockey Damien Oliver, who has won it six times.

The Sir Rupert Clarke also holds a special place for Oliver, as it provided him, as an apprentice, with his first Group 1 success, when he won on the Bart Cummings-trained Submariner 19 years ago, in 1990.

Oliver’s other wins in the 1400m feature are Orange County last year, Mr Murphy (2001), Testa Rossa (1999), Poetic King (1993) and one of his favourite horses, Mannerism (1992), who he rode to win the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) the same spring.

On Saturday Oliver will ride the frustrating galloper Von Costa De Hero in the Sir Rupert Clarke. It’s a shrewd move by trainer David Hayes to secure Oliver, as Von Costa De Hero needs all the help he can get to resurrect a career tarnished by his inability to win at the highest level after showing so much promise as a juvenile when he won the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m, Flemington) and was runner-up to Sebring in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m, Rosehill).

Only two Group 1 winners will run in what looks to be a substandard Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes – last year’s winner Orange County and the 2008 Stradbroke Handicap winner Mr Baritone.

RECENT RESULTS

Year

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

BACKGROUND

First run: 1951 (won by Jovial Lad). Group 1 from 1979. Run as the Invitation Stakes (for invited jockeys) from 1951 to 1974. Also known as the Marlboro Cup, Show Day Cup, VicHealth Cup,
Eat Well Live Well Cup and Dubai Racing Club Cup. Note: Statistics start from 1975, when the race was opened to all jockeys.

Last mare to win: Rewaaya (2006).

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Exceed And Excel (2003); No 3YO filly has won.

Multiple winners: Testa Rossa (1999 & 2000); Private Talk (1976 & 1979).

Fastest time (1400m): Exceed And Excel (2003) 1:21.20

Manikato Stakes & Rupert Clarke Stakes: 2 – Manikato (1979); Winfreux (1968).

Bobbie Lewis Quality & Rupert Clarke Stakes: 3 – Bon Hoffa (2007); Magari (1982); Soldier Of Fortune (1981).

Let’s Elope Stakes & Rupert Clarke Stakes: 2 – Rewaaya (2006); Mannerism (1992).

Rupert Clarke Stakes & Toorak Handicap: 5 – Barely A Moment (2005); Regal Roller (2004); Canny Lass (1986); Magari (1982); Torbek (1980).

Rupert Clarke Stakes & Ascot Vale Stakes: 3 – Encosta De Lago (1996); Our Maizcay (1995); Manikato (1978). Note: Since 2006 the Ascot Vale Stakes is run after the Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Rupert Clarke Stakes & Caulfield Guineas: 2 – Our Maizcay (1995); Manikato (1978).

Rupert Clarke Stakes & Emirates Stakes: 1 – Testa Rossa (2000).

Leading jockey (since 1975): Damien Oliver, 6 wins (Orange County 2008; Mr Murphy 2001; Testa Rossa 1999; Poetic King 1994; Mannerism 1992; Submariner 1990).

Leading trainer (since 1975): Lee Freedman, 4 wins (Mr Murphy 2001; Encosta de Lago 1996; Poetic King 1994; Mannerism 1992).

Points of interest: Mannerism (1992) is the only Rupert Clarke winner to win a Caulfield Cup. She did it in the same preparation in 1992. Raffindale (1977) won the Rupert Clarke, and finished second to Family Of Man in the 1977 Cox Plate. Submariner (1990) is jockey Damien Oliver’s first Group 1 winner.

Singapore star Jolie’s Shinju was run down by top-liners Whobegotyou and Mic Mac when third in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, but she showed she won’t be out of place in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 24.

Jolie’s Shinju (B or br m 5, Jolie’s Halo (USA)-Endearing Quality (USA), by Danzig (USA)) led the Dato, albeit at a farcically slow early pace, and boxed on nicely. At a more genuine tempo over the Cox Plate distance (440 metres further) she might make the chase that much harder, especially when she is less fresh than she was at her first Australian start.

Former Victorian Len Treloar was at the Valley “assisting” Jolie’s Shinju’s Singapore-based Japanese trainer Hideyuki Takaoka, but at Kranji in Singapore on Sunday Treloar’s stable provided Victorian jockey Vlad Duric with the first leg of a double – Tricky Master in race one. Duric also won on Stanzout in race four for New Zealander Bruce Marsh before forfeiting his remaining rides because of sinus problems.

Stanzout (by Jungle Pocket) is not the Australian – that one, trained at Cranbourne by Colin Davies, is by Gallo Di Ferro (USA) and has won has won six of 30 starts, with the best the G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in October 2007.

Australian trainer John Moore had a treble when Hong Kong began its 2009-10 racing season at Sha Tin on Sunday. Stable jockey, fellow Aussie Darren Beadman, was on two of the winners – Sunny Smiles and Holey Dollar.

Matthew Chadwick, who represented Hong Kong in the apprentices’ series at Flemington recently, rode a treble for trainer Tony Cruz.

Aussie combo Brett Prebble and David Hall won with Encosta Don.

Other Australians in action this season are jockeys Zac Purton, James Winks and newcomer, Perth’s William Pike. The other Australian trainer is John Size, third last season and five times champion in his eight seasons in Hong Kong. 

THEY SAID IT

 ”She’s a monster. She’s Serena Williams with four legs,” said Sydney trainer John O’Shea of the Les Bridge-trained mare Hot Danish before she won the Group 3 Research Stakes (1200m) first up with 61kg at Rosehill on Saturday … and before Williams got into strife at the US Open tennis tournament for abusing a line judge over a footfault!

O’Shea doesn’t train Hot Danish but he, along with most racegoers, loves her. Hot Danish (B m 6, Nothin’ Leica Dane-Hot ‘n’ Breezy, by Zephyr Bay (NZ)) has won 11 from 18 and, in racing’s popularity parade, is the new Sunline. Yet to win at Group 1 (she has two seconds from five shots) and having just topped the million-dollar mark, Hot Danish has a long a long way to go to match Sunline’s great record – the New Zealand mare won 13 Group 1s, 32 of 48 starts and more than $11 million. She was put down earlier this year, aged 13, because of laminitis.

Hot Danish, who has a remarkable record of eight wins and a second from runs in Stakes races under Group 1 level, is to head to Melbourne. Bridge hopes the $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) for fillies and mares at Flemington on October 31 is the race that breaks her Group 1 duck.

“It’s hard to put it into words. This is pretty special,” said an emotional O’Shea after his favourite galloper – and another or Sydney’s – Racing To Win was back to his best with a win in the Group 2 Theo Marks Handicap (1400m) after a patient and balanced ride by Hugh Bowman. Racing To Win (Gr g 7, Encosta De Lago-Surrealist, by Kenny’s Best Pal) has won 13 from 25 with five Group 1s, but he had gone 13 runs and more than a year without a win.

“He’s just untapped this horse,” said Corey Brown after his win on Rothesay in the Myboycharlie Handicap (1200m), also at Rosehill. “He’s a pretty special horse.” Rothesay (B c 3, Fastneck Rock-Schiaparelli, by Woodman (USA) has won two from two. He is likely to race at Randwick in either the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1400m, September 26) or the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m, October 3) before going to Melbourne with the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 the target. The Guineas could be some race, with Sydney’s best, who appear to have the measure of Melbourne’s, heading the early betting. Sportingbet has Denman at $4.40, ahead of Trusting ($9) and So You Think ($10). Rothesay is at $12 with the first Victorian, Tollesprit.

 ”He joined in.” That line from trainer David Hayes sums up how Nicconi dealt with the sprinters in the Group 3 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley. Nicconi (B h 4, Bianconi (USA)-Nicola Lass, by Scenic (IRE)) is Niconero’s young half-brother and he appears to have a strong chance of matching the five-times Group 1 winner who was retired after bowing a tendon in Hong Kong in April.  Nicconi is owned by longtime stable clients Peter Devitt and Les Gordon, and Hayes has a share, too – on Saturday’s storming win and on his success in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m at Randwick in April), he is every bit as good as the Hayes’ spruik claims.

He is likely to start favourite in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the Valley on Friday night September 25. After that there’s the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, then perhaps the G1 Lightning and G1 Newmarket in February-March on the way to Dubai, where the Group 1 sprint over 1200m will be on turf this year at the new Meydan course, and on to Royal Ascot for the G1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) and/or the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) to perhaps add more oomph to Hayes’ eventual stud plans for the entire, who is the best sprinting son of the superbly bred Bianconi. Interestingly, Bianconi was tested as a “miler” before returning to sprint trips during his short career in the UK and Ireland. (Niconero is by Danzero)

 Jason Maskiell had a nice line when he won the lesser sprint, the Honan Insurance Handicap (1200m), on Hayes’ other four-year-old sprinter, Eagle Falls. Maskiell  said of the gelding, “He’s pretty smart and he knows it, too.” Eagle Falls (Br g 4, Hussonnet (USA)-Desina, by Desert King (IRE) has won all three races this time in after a wind operation, and Maskiell, a former star Tasmanian apprentice, has claimed 3kg in the past two.

The 18-year-old son of top Tassie rider Stephen Maskiell looks to be going places in his new job with Mick Price at Caulfield. He has six city wins this season – only two behind leading jock Craig Williams – and he had a double on Saturday, winning the third, the Flying Handicap (1200m), on Cerberus Gal (Br m 4, General Nediym-Idesa Bay, by Civic Hope) for Adelaide trainer Gary Kennewell.

Eagle Falls is likely to go on to the Flemington straight sprints the G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m, October 3) and the G2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) on Derby day, October 31.

WE SAW IT

Another star to break a drought – after eight loses – was Whobegotyou, brilliant and (for the first time) blinkered winner of the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley. Whobegotyou (Ch g 4, Street Cry (IRE)-Temple Of Peace (JAP), by Carnegie (IRE)) was as dominant as he had been in winning the Caulfield Guineas last year.

Just in case you missed it, El Segundo’s run was much better than his fifth placing indicates. He didn’t go with Whobegotyou and co. when the pace went on at the 600 metres, but he worked home nicely under no pressure in 34.18 seconds. (Whobegotyou ran an astonishing 32.78, runner-up Mic Mac 33.15 – in the McEwen, Nicconi’s 600m sectional was 32.86.) Such finishing bursts were not to be unexpected given the slow pace for the first 1000 metres.

The worry, of course, is El Segundo’s legs: stand up and the grand gelding looks the danger to “Whobe”. Remember, he won the Cox Plate in 2007 after losing by a nose in 2006. Trainer Colin Little is a most careful man and, after walking part of the straight on Saturday, decided to let El Segundo (B g 8, Pins-Palos Verdes (NZ), by Oak Ridge (FR)) go around on a firm track. Team Williams, by the way, took no risk with its 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient and scratched him.

Little’s comment after the race was interesting. “I’ve never had a vet have to patch up a horse after a jockey bashed them, but they’ve had to patch plenty of mine up because the track was too hard.” He wasn’t talking about Luke Nolen’s use of the whip on El Segundo, rather commenting on the whip issue dominating racing headlines Australia-wide – there is plenty more to come on that hot topic before the week’s out, whether or not the jockeys strike over their claim that the new rules restricting the use of the whip (padded since August 1) at the “money end” of the race are not working.

Back to “Whobe” and that name – owner Laurence Eales won’t talk about it publicly because it is more a subject for sportsmen’s nights than for general consumption. If we suggest that the horse could be called, euphemistically, Whowereyouwithlastnight, you should get the drift.

Perth keeps throwing up stars of its own turf and potential travellers to the east. At Belmont on Saturday, three-year-old Kid Choisir ($1.75 fav) lived up to his wraps when he beat the older horses over 1000m, and Sir Hallowell ($3.40 fav) did likewise against his own age over 1200m, after coming from lengths back on the turn to win by panels.

Trainer Frank Maynard said of Kid Choisir:  “I think he’s a pretty good horse … we might throw him on a kite east, but the autumn might be the better option – there are big sprints this summer at home.” Kid Choisir (Ch c 3, Choisir-Friendly Seas (Mister C. (USA)) won by just on two lengths. He has won his part three and is 4-6 overall.

Trainer David Harrison, who has a star in the making in Waratah’s Secret, said of Sir Hallowell: “It was a super performance; fantastic! He let down like a good horse. He looks the ideal Guineas-Kingston Town horse … there is not a lot between Waratah’s Secret and Sir Hallowell at 1200m; over further, who knows?”

Sir Hallowell (B or br c 3, More Than Ready (USA)-Valda Merceda, by Hennessy (USA)) raced in blinkers, unlike at his debut fourth in a Listed 1100m race behind Kid Choisir in February. Paul Harvey set out after the speed horses making the swing for home and burst to the lead inside the 200 metres for a most impressive four-length victory. Harvey also rode Kid Choisir.

Perthracing.com.au reports that Bunbury-trained galloper Keytomoney will join Dan Morton’s Group 1 winner Scenic Shot on a flight to Melbourne tomorrow to prepare for spring sprints. Keytomoney (Ch g 5, Key Business-Time Is Money, by Magic Of Money)), winner of the Listed Bunbury Stakes last campaign, is likely to run in the Listed Hocking Stuart Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Trainer Michael Lane said he would try to engage Brad Rawiller. Keytomoney, who has won nine of his 22 races and earned $379,425 in prizemoney, will be stabled with Kelvin Bourke at Geelong.

Two northern-hemisphere Group 1 races on Saturday threw up Melbourne Cup questions. At The Curragh, the Irish St Leger (2800m) went to 3/1 chance Alandi (Michael Kinane) from Clowance at 25/1 and the 2/1 favourite Godolphin’s Schiaparelli. Eight ran on a soggy track and Dermot Weld’s Profound Beauty was 23½ lengths back fourth, not handling the surface. Nor did Yeats; the four- times winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and regarded as a staying great – he was seventh in the 2007 Melbourne Cup – was a dismal last in what could have been his last run in Ireland.

Profound Beauty was $11 favourite with TAB Sportsbet on the strength of three wins this time in. Now she is $17, and Vigor (winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes and considered to have beaten the handicapper with only 51kg) and 2008 Melbourne Cup third placegetter C’est La Guerre are $9 equal favourites.

At Doncaster, the English St Leger (3000m) brought a Godolphin quinella, Italian Derby winner Mastery (Ted Durcan) at 14/1 upsetting stable elect and 9/4 favourite Kitewood (Frankie Dettori). Monitor Closely (Jimmy Fortune) was third at 7/2. Coolmore’s top Melbourne Cup prospect Changingoftheguard was beaten some two furlongs out and finished sixth in a field of eight. He is out from $15 to $26 in Cup betting.

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

Caulfield Cup (2400m) October 17

$6 Vigor

$9 Speed Gifted

$11 Whobegotyou

$14 C’Est La Guerre

$17 Zarita, Master O’Reilly, Predatory Pricer

$21 Red Ruler, Viewed, Daffodil, Roman Emperor

$26, Shocking, Kirklees, Hissing Sid

$31 Cima De Triomphe, Precedence

$41 Baughurst, Harris Tweed, Efficient, Leica Ding, Raffaello, Rangirangdoo

Cox Plate (2040m) October 24

$3.50 Whobegotyou

$9 El Segundo

$10 Jolie’s Shinju

$12 Mic Mac

$14 Predatory Pricer, Black Piranha

$16 Maldivian, Vigor

$21 Trusting, Zarita, Onemorenomore, O’Lonhro

$26 Typhoon Tracy, Heart Of Dreams, Vision And Power

$35 Raffaello, So You Think, Manhattan Rain, Red Ruler, Kirklees, Tuesday Joy, Efficient, C’Est La Guerre

Melbourne Cup (3200m) November 3

$9 Vigor, C’Est La Guerre

$13 Speed Gifted

$15 Master O’Reilly, Efficient

$17 Viewed, Roman Emperor, Profound Beauty

$26 Precedence, Changingoftheguard, Whobegotyou

$31 Munsef, Daffodil, Zipping

$41 Hissing Sid, Mourilyan, Leica Ding, Dandaad, Ista Kareem, Tuesday Joy, Age Of Aquarius, Six O’Clock News, Kirklees, Zarita, Joe Blow

Terry Henderson can thank a father he never knew for the fact he is a part-owner of the promising three-year-old gelding Star Scream, winner of the AJS Corporation Holdings Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

Terry Henderson, who runs OTI Racing with partner Simon O’Donnell, is always on the search for a new horse, and often the price tag is well into the six figures. He has been remarkably successful, especially buying tried horses such as the 1995 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Doriemus and the 2007 Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz.

He has sought horses from all over the world, but the circumstances that found OTI with the managing ownership in Star Scream is at the other end of the spectrum that saw them buy part of Bauer to nearly win last year’s Melbourne Cup.

“A call came to our office one day from a woman who said she thought she was ‘Terry Henderson’s cousin’,” Henderson said. “The woman said her name was Cath Dycer, and she was from Mt. Gambier.

“My father took off leaving my mother with four kids to raise, so I have had very little to do with his side of the family. Cath Dycer is the daughter of my father’s sister.”

To discover a long, lost relative was shock enough for Henderson, especially when he always thought his father’s sister was a nun. She was, but left the Order after 20 years, married and gave birth to a daughter.

It turned out that Cath is married to Shane Dycer, a partner in one of Mt. Gambier’s biggest construction companies, Dycer Constructions, and the Dycers have a passion for horse racing.

“They had had horses for a while with other trainers, but wanted to race a horse with Peter Moody. So Cath really only made contact with me because she knew I raced horses with Peter Moody, and this was a way of getting an introduction with him,” Henderson said.

The Dycer family had bred a Testa Rossa (by Perugino (USA)) colt, from their El Moxie (Conquistador Cielo (USA) mare El Fayze; this was the colt who was earmarked for Moody to train.

The result of the phone call was that OTI Racing took over the management of the youngster – O’Donnell broke him in at his Kilmore farm and some of OTI’s best clients bought into the horse.

Star Scream is living proof that good horses can be of all shapes, sizes and occasionally deformities. The gelding is certainly no oil-painting, and he looked anything but a racehorse when he paraded before the first race on Saturday – when he turned out in a long winter coat and plodded around on a severely club-footed near foreleg.

After the race, Moody declared: “Not bad for an scrawny, hairy, club-footed horse.”

Star Scream was so impressive, sitting outside the leader that Moody is planning to run him next in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 25.

“He showed that he likes Moonee Valley, and the Stutt is run at night, and we know that night racing often suits horses that race on the pace, like he did today,” Moody said.

Star Scream is still very immature, or “foaly” according to Henderson, but the gelding is a raw talent who has improved dramatically from his second start win at Donald to win at Moonee Valley.

Star Scream’s dam El Fayze won three races in the Mt. Gambier district for local trainer Mick O’Leary. Although she is out of a mare by speed influence Arch Sculptor (by Habitat), her family has the strong staying influences of Ruantallan (by Ribot) and Better Boy (by My Babu).

At Sale on Sunday, the family racing partnership between Henderson and his new-found Mt. Gambier “family” continued when the well-named Netanyahu (b g 2005, Golan (GB)- Niniane (NZ), by Casual Lies (USA)) broke his maiden at his fifth start. 

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 3 and 7, with eachway value in race 8.

To find out what our form analyst is tipping CLICK HERE