Nikolic in trouble....again...

Champion jockey Danny Nikolic has once again felt the wrath of the Victorian Stewards comission after an angry outburst at head steward Terry Bailey on Oaks Day.

Nikolic has been charged with conduct 'prejudicial to the image or interests of racing' in that he conducted himself in a manner which was insulting and disrespectful towards members of the stewards panel and in doing so used offensive and disrespectful language.

Nikolic's angry outburst was directed at chief steward Terry Bailey over an alleged modified jockeys' vest found in his possession at Flemington over which he was charged and fined $1000.

In the past 12 months, Nikolic and Bailey have a had a number of heated exchanges and the saga appears to just be beginning.

Earlier this year Victorian stewards investigated a number of his rides dating back to October 2009 and looked into the betting activities of some of his associates. Nikolic was cleared of four serious charges by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) board on June 29, but Bailey and Nikolic still cannot seem to agree.

The latest charge will be heard by the RAD board at a date yet to be fixed.

'So You Think' back for three?

Even an overseas move isn't enough to stop one bookmaker from posting duel Cox Plate winner 'So You Think' as favourite for the 2011 edition.

Betstar released the first market for next year's Cox Plate on Monday, with the colt heading betting at $8 to join 'Kingston Town' as a three time winner of the Weight For Age race.

Irish breeding and racing giant Coolmore secured a major stake in So You Think a day after the colt finished third in the Melbourne Cup behind Americain.

In the wake of his part sale, it was widely speculated that So You Think will not race in Australia again.

Under the terms of the sale, So You Think will be sent to Ireland to be prepared by Coolmore's head trainer Aidan O'Brien before he is eventually retired to stand at stud.

The reason for the champion heading the market is that Betstar's Alan Eskander isn't convinced the switch from Bart Cummings to O'Brien means Australian racegoers have seen the last of the champion.

"Until Coolmore say's he's definitely not racing in Australia, he's still our Cox Plate favourite," Eskander said.

'More Joyous', who was unplaced as second favourite behind So You Think in this year's race, occupies the same line of betting at $11 for 2011.

'Zipping', fresh from his fourth Sandown Classic win, is a $26 chance to go one better than this year's runner-up finish.

More Synthetic tracks for Victoria?

Following the success of the artificial surface at Geelong, several Victorian country race clubs have made submissions to have their courses ripped up and replaced with synthetic tracks.

Rob Hines, Racing Victoria's chief executive, said there were "at least a half a dozen options" for new synthetic tracks across the state.

Hines continued stating that if a new track were to be installed it would need to be near the bulk of the horse population and also be a training centre.

Hines didn't rule out the option of an inside synthetic track similar to the one at Geelong being built at either Flemington or Caulfield, but if one were to be installed in the country, the synthetic track would replace the course proper.

"Depending on where we might put this second track, there may be only five or 10 meetings scheduled on the synthetic a year and it might be home for 10 to 20 transferred meetings as required.

"There are at least half a dozen options where this could go but we want a full size synthetic track".

A proposal for a new synthetic track would be submitted to the Racing Victoria board and infrastructure committee as early as next March.

After a review of the Geelong synthetic track was conducted, it found that the overall performance of the track was "very good" in terms of turnover, field sizes and feedback from the trainers and jockeys.

Betting turnover, which is central to the sport, was 20 per cent higher than on the corresponding turf meetings a year earlier.

"The track provided an even surface, consistency of form and really encouraged punting", Racing Victoria's chief strategy officer Paul Bittar said.

Emirates Stakes Day

Emirates Stakes Day

Race One
14.Eramor – 12.Whitlam – 1.Masthead – 4.Aashiq

Race Two
4.Eraset – 13.Willy Jimmy – 8.Launay – 1.Trader

Race Three
3.Red Colossus – 1.Playwright – 5.Laristan – 10.Galizani

Race Four
2.That’s Not It – 4.Bigelow – 1.Territory – 10.Toolbag

Race Five
6.Black Caviar – 7.Star Witness – 2.Hay List – 1.All Silent

Race Six
14.Palacio De Cristal – 12.Chasm – 4.Captain Sonador – 9.Drumbeats

Race Seven
3.Keep The Peace – 7.Moment In Time – 9.Delta Gee – 13.Ashlee’s Jewel

Race Eight
12.Mr Charlie – 4.Eastern Aria – 6.Above Average – 1.Drunken Sailor

Race Nine
3.We’re Gonna Rock – 11.Ishant – 7.Okay Oky – 12.Lady Gaga

Best Bet: Race 3 No 3 Red Colossus

Best Roughie: Race 6 No 14 Palacio De Cristal, Race 8 No 12 Mr Charlie

Oaks Day 2010

Crown Oaks Day

Race One
5.Vesper - 15.Chilled By Choice - 3.Cosmocrat - 11.King Of Mountains

Race Two
6.Zingaling - 9.About Ready - 18.Jerezana - 13.Impressive Eagle

Race Three
10.Queen's Fashion - 6.Attributes - 9.Queen For Ninedays - 2.God Help Her

Race Four
7.Spurcific - 5.Celts - 6.Curtana - 3.Lone Rock

Race Five
14.Dead End - 9.Yau Chin - 3.Translation - 8.Magic Zulu

Race Six
8.Dizlago - 2.Brazilian Pulse - 9.Kittens - 11.Maraaseem

In what shapes as being one of the toughest Oaks in many years, the wet track is sure to play a massive part. Favourites such as 'Sasa' might not relish the softer ground, and as with the Derby, may struggle to get the trip.

'Dizlago' was super impressive two starts back relishing in the wet conditions, and winning with a leg in the air. I'm willing to forget her last start where she got too far back and didn't have the easiest run in transit.

'Brazilan Pulse' is the obvious favourite after her tough win last start, but im afraid that run may have taken to much out of her, any may be vulnerable in the last 200m.

'Kittens' looks like she will relish the extra 500m from her last run, and 'Maraaseem' looks a dead set wet tracker, and will be right in the finish.

Race Seven
4.Gujju - 2.Zubbaya - 8.Gilded Spur - 3.Backgammon

Race Eight
18.The Handsome One - 2.Rightfully Yours - 13.Temple Of Boom - 15.King Carnage

Race Nine
2.Lakedro - 1.Riceman - 8.Niblick - 3.Silky Smooth

Best Bet: Race 1 No 5 Vesper

Best Roughie: Race 2 No 6 Zingaling, Race 6 No 8 Dizlago

Quaddie:
2,6,7,8,9,11/2,3,4,8/2,8,13,15,18/1,2,3,8,11
$100 for 16.67%