Pompeii On Track
The Mick Price-trained Pompeii Ruler has galloped strongly in preparation for his Singapore Airlines International Cup assignment. After trotting and cantering for a lap of the track, Pompeii Ruler galloped at even time before running home his last 600 metres in 36.9 seconds. Pompeii Ruler was pig-rooting and kicking out behind at trackwork which was a pleasing sign for work rider and travelling foreman Pat Payet. “That was a good sign before his work this morning,” Payet told the Singapore Turf Club website. “I would be more worried if he didn’t do it and by Saturday, the day before the race, he should be even worse. “I know him very well and have travelled with him before. He’s very well in himself and hasn’t put a foot wrong.” Australia’s other Singapore Airlines International Cup representative, the Mike Moroney-trained Sarrera, was given a much easier time on the track on Wednesday. Sarrera galloped strongly on Tuesday and Moroney’s assistant trainer Claire Rayner said the dual Group I winner was in good order, adding Moroney would decide if another gallop would be required before Sunday. Follow a Trainer - Go here to track Mick Price, covering every TAB meeting Australia-wide.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s latest boom horse Collection has been backed to beat outstanding galloper Good Ba Ba in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday. Collection, Darren Beadman’s mount in the feature, has firmed from $4 to $3.75 in two days of Centrebet trading on the feature. Good Ba Ba is a $2.70 favourite with Australian runner Dao Dao a $15 chance after opening at $14. Viva Pataca, another Beadman ride, is the $2.25 favourite to win the QE II Cup but Archipenko has been backed to him. Archipenko has firmed from $5.50 to $4.60 with Australia’s Niconero rated a $9 chance on Sunday morning.

Belong To Many Goes To Gia
Bonny mare Belong To Many has joined the Gai Waterhouse stable and will be prepared for a Brisbane winter campaign. The Group II winner was knocked down to Vin Cox Bloodstock, buying on behalf of a client, for $525,000 on Tuesday at the Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale at Newmarket. Waterhouse took delivery of Belong To Many late Wednesday and the mare made her first appearance for the champion trainer at trackwork on Thursday morning. “She only had a trot and canter at Randwick this morning and you could see why her previous owners loved her,” Waterhouse stable manager Robyn Hartney said. “She’s just a beautiful mare and we’re very pleased to have her with us. “Gai has decided to target the fillies and mares races up in Brisbane with her, races like the Silk Stocking and we might even step her up to 1400 metre races like the Group I Winter Stakes.” Former trainer Barbara Joseph shed a little tear after Belong To Many’s fighting second to Court in last Saturday’s Sapphire Stakes in her final start for the stable but was pleased to see the mare go to the Waterhouse stable. “All I wanted was for her to go to a decent place after racing with us,” Joseph said. “She’s done that now, I’m pleased with that,” Joseph said.

Takeover Target Goes To Sydney
Takeover Target has returned to Sydney in ominous form with a decisive Warwick Farm barrier trial win. The ageless sprinter took out his heat in 47.5s – the fastest of the morning. Trainer Joe Janiak was forced to send Takeover Target to Sydney earlier than he had planned because of flooding to the Coffs Harbour racetrack. Takeover Target, who is being aimed at another international campaign, hasn’t raced since winning the Scahill Stakes in Perth. The $5.5 million earner is set to resume in the Group I T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday week.

Heavy 9
The Rosehill course proper has been downgraded to a Heavy 9 after14 mm of overnight rain. “We were forced to knock down the rating a touch with that amount of rain,” Rosehill’s track manager Lindsay Murphy said. “The forecast is for rain today then showers clearing but I like the look of the radar, touch wood.”

Tuesday Joy Going Back To Gai
Star mare Tuesday Joy’s international campaign is over with the five-year-old set to return to Gai Waterhouse’s Sydney stable after her unsuccessful Dubai expedition. Tuesday Joy looked in need of more ground when ninth behind Gladiatorus in the Dubai Duty Free (1777m) at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday night. John Singleton’s racing manager Duncan Grimley said a plan to send the mare to France for the prestigious Prix d’Arc le Triomphe had been shelved. “It probably suits the mare to come back to Australia and go back to Gai Waterhouse,” he said. “She’ll come out of quarantine in the middle of May and go for a decent break and come back for the spring.” In a boost for the Melbourne carnival, Grimley said Tuesday Joy would do all of her spring racing in the southern capital when she returns. “Due to the fact that she won’t get out of quarantine until mid-May and then have a break, the Sydney part of the spring will just come up too quickly for her,” he said. “She’ll race in Melbourne with the aims to be the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup. Gai will probably run out of time to get her ready to run in a Melbourne Cup.” Waterhouse racing manager Robyn Hartney said that the stable “were delighted to have Tuesday Joy coming back to us”.

Albury Gold Cup
The two day Albury Gold Cup carnival heads the upcoming week in country racing. Twenty two horses have been nominated for the feature event on Thursday, the Enpower (EPS) City Handicap over 1175m The Mick Miladinovic trained Century Serb resuming from a 344 day spell looks the likely top weight in the event. The $125,000 Albury Gold Cup heads a huge nine race card on Friday. Coffs Harbour and Scone race Monday with Taree taking pride of place on Tuesday. Muswellbrook also race Friday. Racenet.com.au have all the country meetings covered with full form, ratings, best bets and tips available everyday

Its Bart Again
Allez Wonder has emerged as a serious AJC Australian Oaks chance after a shock win at Kembla Grange. Sent out a $41 chance, Allez Wonder burst through the pack to win the Keith F Nolan Classic (1600m). “This race was meant to keep her ticking over towards the AJC Oaks so it has come as a bit of a surprise,” trainer Bart Cummings’s stable foreman John Thompson said. Buried away in the pack as the field straightened, Allez Wonder threaded between runners for jockey Peter Robl and cut down Above Perfection ($7) to win by a neck. Cummings’s son Anthony supplied the third placegetter Miss Darcey, a $31 chance, who finished 1-1/4 lengths away. Palacio De Cristal, also on an AJC Oaks trail, finished fourth as the $4.20 favourite. Allez Wonder, a maiden before her Keith Nolan victory, stamped herself as a stayer of the future when third to wonder filly Samantha Miss in last year’s Crown Oaks at Flemington.

Its Turning Ugly
Save Our AJC spokesman Alan Osburg has called for calm in the lead-up to the extraordinary general meeting of members on April 9 after current AJC board member Jim Mathers had rocks thrown through his office windows. Mathers has joined the challenging ticket 'Save Our AJC' and the rock throwing incident has been referred to police. “This whole effort by the Save Our AJC nominees and supporters is to bring back an equality and respect for all AJC Members,” Osburg said in a statement issued last night. “Save Our AJC is presenting a factual debate about what is wrong with our Club. “This verbal and physical intimidation is both illegal and a tragic reflection on those who are involved or who support this behaviour.” The statement also said that an unsigned leaflet was distributed at Randwick on Saturday denigrating 'Save Our AJC' Members and supporters. It also said that the leaflet made defaming comments about Sydney racing journalist, Ken Callander, as well as the Sydney Turf Club. Osburg said a poor example of fair play had been set with the factional dumping of James Mathers, because he agreed with aspects of the Save Our AJC campaign; and that the AJC refused to send his letter of explanation to Members. “The AJC Charter clearly establishes our Club as a ‘Members Club’ and while this is the debate at this moment we must show respect for each other despite our differences,” Mr Osburg said. "Physical and verbal ‘violence’ – as opposed to sincere debate must be stopped." AJC Chairman Ross Smyth-Kirk told the Daily Telegraph overnight that he wanted to know more facts about the incident before he makes public comment but he defended the integrity of the current board. "I would be flabbergasted if this had anything to do with the current situation at the AJC," he said.

Cummings Thinks Blinks
Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings has put blinkers on his exciting colt Duporth in order to sharpen him up for the toughest assignment of his short career in the GI Largerfield Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. Duporth arrived in Melbourne looking in great shape last Thursday and Cummings took the son of Red Ransom to Flemington for a look at the straight six course which proved enormously beneficial according to the trainer. “I’m pretty pleased with him,” Cummings said. “He trialled up the straight on Tuesday and finished a couple of lengths behind Triple Honour. “It was his first look at the straight and he got a little but lost in the first part of it but he made good ground on the leaders in the last 200 metres and I was very pleased with what he did.” Cummings said that the value of the jump out down the straight could not be underestimated in order to give a horse a look at one of the most unique courses in Australia. “I think it’s vital (to have a look at the straight), just the fact that he did get lost in the first part of it and wanted to lay in back towards the inside fence shows that,” Cummings said. “It will be his first start in blinkers which will sharpen him up for the race up the straight. “He’s easily sharp enough and easily good enough to take it (the Newmarket) out.” Click here to hear Anthony Cummings’ thoughts on all of his stable runners for Saturday.

Brown Picks Up Top Rides
Corey Brown has been booked as the rider for Sydney’s two glamour girls, Samantha Miss and Tuesday Joy in the next assignments on Chipping Norton Stakes day at Randwick on March 7. Brown replaces Hugh Bowman aboard Australia’s best three-year-old filly in her next run in the GII Surround Stakes on Saturday week after Bowman was suspended for eighteen meetings at Caulfield in the Oakleigh Plate on Saturday. Brown waited until he was sure Fist of Fury would be handicapped outside his weight range in the GI Newmarket Handicap, also to be run on March 7, before committing to the rides on both female stars Tuesday Joy, a brilliant winner of Saturday’s Apollo Stakes at Rosehill, requires a replacement rider in the Chipping Norton Stakes as both Nash Rawiller and Blake Shinn will be required by the stable in Melbourne on that day. Rawiller will be aboard Theseo in the Australian Cup and Shinn will be required for boom colt Northern Meteor in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington’s “Super Saturday” meeting. “We thought long and hard about keeping one of them here,” Waterhouse stable manager Robyn Hartney said. “But we decided that those horses in Melbourne would be best served by having their regular riders, Nash and Blake on them in such big races. “We had a look around for who is available and Corey was the best option for us so Gai and the owners put him on .”

Hussler Ok
Weekend Hussler’s trainer Ross McDonald reports that a veterinary examination could find nothing wrong with the gelding after his flop in Saturday’s Australia Stakes and will press on to the GI Futurity Stakes on February 28. Weekend Hussler travelled wide in the Australia Stakes but was struggling a long way out when well beaten by a resurgent Apache Cat in a run that mystified McDonald and jockey Brad Rawiller. "The veterinary stewards went over him closely after the race and they couldn't find anything wrong with him," McDonald told The Age. "It was the worst run of his career, there's no getting around that. He's given us no sign that his form would slip at home on the track — actually he's been flying, I just don't know why.” McDonald said that if the vets found no issues with Weekend Hussler, he would make his last stand for the autumn in the Futurity Stakes. "The Futurity is still there. If he's going all right we'll run in that. If he goes no good in that there's no point going overseas," McDonald told the Herald-Sun. Weekend Hussler has failed to run a place in two starts this time in, with Saturday’s inglorious effort adding to his eventful Lightning Stakes fourth placing, putting a major dent in his international ambitions. The four-year-old was tried as a stayer last time in and the autumn was supposed to be a redemption for the son of Hussonet but unfortunately for connections, questions still remain over the Hussler.

What A Thief
Three-year-olds have a terrific recent record in the GI Pulse Pharmacy Australia Stakes and master trainer Lee Freedman gives his multi-million dollar colt Time Thief an undeniable chance in the $400,000 event. Three-year-olds have won ten of the last twenty editions of the Australia Stakes with Virage de Fortune being the last three-year-old to win in 2006. Freedman won the 2007 Australia Stakes with the wonderful mare Miss Andretti and goes into Saturday’s event buoyed by the recent showing of the three-year-olds in weight-for-age races. "When you look at the three-year-olds to have taken on the older horses at weight-for-age this season, Samantha Miss ran third in the Cox Plate, Wilander won the Schillaci, and Von Costa De Hero ran OK last Saturday,” he said. “The better three-year-olds are around the mark this season." Time Thief, a $2 million purchase with a value that rises with every start, resumed with a solid win in the listed Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield on Australia day and makes his first appearance out of his own group on Saturday. According to Freedman, the son of Redoute’s Choice has done well since his last start win and is prime condition to take on the older horses. “He’ll run really well on Saturday, he’s spot on,” Freedman said. Time Thief is a $6 chance in pre-post markets with none of the major players reporting too much action surrounding the colt at this stage.

Hot Hot Hot
Saturday’s Caulfield meeting could come under pressure to go ahead with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting another brutally hot day on Saturday with the temperature expected to reach 43 degrees. Last Wednesday, the meeting at Geelong was abandoned after six races and the Ballarat and Betfair Park Sandown meetings were abandoned due to temperatures which reached nearly 45 degrees in Melbourne. Racing Victoria Limited CEO Rob Hines said last night that a range of options, such as bringing the races forward or possibly transferring the meeting to Sunday where temperatures in the mid-20s have been forecast. "It's an important meeting for horses preparing for all our big autumn races over the next month,” Hines told the Herald-Sun. “We will consult carefully. A combination of the heat and the humidity is critical to what we do." RVL and the Melbourne Racing Club face a very tough decision, one that is made all the more difficult by the fact that a gusty southwesterly cool change has been forecast for the afternoon. Melburnians would know that the weather in the southern capital can change rapidly with temperatures having the potential to drop ten or more degrees in a matter of minutes when a cool change arrives. It’s within the realms of possibility that Melburnians may well have a Saturday afternoon where there is no racing in Melbourne in temperatures in the mid-20s. But the Melbourne weather gods are also liable to serve up a complete stinker of a day with the cool change not arriving until dark, it’s a tough decision but the horses and jockeys must come first.

Kibbutz Owners Not Happy
2007 Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz has had his return to racing delayed by an error by the powerful David Hayes stable that resulted in the gelding not being an acceptor for Saturday’s G1 Sportingbet CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield. The son of Golan hasn’t won since his Derby victory but has been plagued by injuries which kept him out of last autumn and put an early end to his spring carnival. OTI Racing are part owners of Kibbutz and manager Terry Henderson said that a “misunderstanding” at the Hayes yard left connections to decide on alternative first-up run after being left out of the Orr Stakes. Henderson said that the owners of Kibbutz had spoken to Hayes to make their displeasure known about the situation. "David (Hayes) is in Dubai at the moment but we've spoken about it and to say we are not happy about it is to say the least," Henderson told The Age. "But the appropriate apologies have been made and in my experience, changing stables is fraught with danger, so we're happy to move on and look ahead to his first-up run. "The general feeling is that he's back to where he should be, so we're looking forward to see what he can do this campaign.” Henderson said Kibbutz would now either target the listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) on February 15 or the GII St.George Stakes over 1800 metres on February 21 for Kibbutz’s racetrack return