Super mare retired

After a lacklustre Melbourne Cup appearance, classy mare 'Profound Beauty' has been retired from racing.

The six year old, trained by Dermot Weld, won nine of her 21 career starts, including three times at Group company and four times at Listed level. She was placed on another seven occasions and ran a very encouraging fifth in the 2008 edition of the Melbourne Cup.

In this year's edition of the 'race that stops a nation' she ran disappointingly, and that has turned out to be her final racecourse appearance.

"She's been retired honourably to stud and she's been a wonderful mare to train", Weld told 'At The Races'.

"If she can breed horses with the courage that she had and they have her will to win, there's going to be some very good horses from her".

Profound Beauty accumulated almost one million dollars in prizemoney from her 21 career starts.

Moonee Valley 20/11

The Spring Carnival may be over, but that doesn't mean money can't be made! Summer racing is normally quite profitable because of the very even fields which provides punters with better value.


Im expecting the Snowden camp to have a very good day all over Australia today, so if you see a Darley runner going around, they're well worth a punt.

If you are following the Group 1 Railway Stakes over in Western Australia, I believe Megatic and Gathering represent the best value in the race.

Happy Punting.

Race One
4. Ello Ello - 3.Typeface - 11.Invincible Jess - 9.Zingaia

Race Two
8.Little Artist - 9.Pintle - 3.Anabaa's Legacy - 12. Light Express

Race Three
1.Persian Star - 4.Doosra Diamond - 3.Irazu - 5.Tully Prince

Race Four
3.Zaira - 9.Straveen - 5.Charlie's Queen - 6.Apennie

Race Five
9.Ishant - 6.Aloha - 10.Lakedro - 3.Fast Future

Race Six
9.Ortayga - 11.Waltzes - 8.Jeteven - 2.Happy Glen

Rave Seven
4.Robdon Flyer - 2.Cosmocrat - 6.De Arias - 5.Tio Rossa

Race Eight
6.Jerezana - 2.Impressive Eagle - 3.Status Symbol - 5.Netra

Best Bets: Race 4 No 3 Zaira, Race 8 No 6 Jerezana

Best Roughie: Race 5 No 9 Ishant

Foxwedge set for big things

Leading jockey Corey Brown was prompted to chase the ride of an unraced two year old, after leaving a big impression on him during a recent barrier trial.

'Foxwedge' makes his first race appearance at Rosehill on Saturday in the 'Always Recycling' Handicap run over 1100m and Brown will gladly be in the saddle.

When the son of Fastnet Rock spaced his rivals by eight lengths in his 900m Rosehill trial on November 9, Nash Rawiller partnered the John O'Shea trained colt.

"I followed it home in the trial the other day and it (Foxwedge) looked ultra impressive", Brown said.

"It's just got to go as good as its trial and I think it will be the winner (on Saturday)".

As soon as Brown realised Foxwedge was going to be making his debut this Saturday, he was on the phone to his manager, knowing Rawiller was in Western Australia for the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

"I haven't had anything to do with him, but looking at him he's a really good looking horse and he trialled like he looked, I rang my manager immediately".

Foxwedge, a $925,000 yearling purchase, has drawn the outside barrier in the field of six, which includes 'Dream Choice' who was runner up to classy filly 'Saramenha' on debut last Saturday.

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.