Like most country based trainers Danny Williams knows how tough it is to win a race in the city, especially one of the highly competitive TAB Highways.

Blake Ryan sat in stunned silence after the running of the 2YO Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury on April 14th.

Those who had visions of Greg Hickman doing handstands at Morphettville after Saturday’s Centaurea Stakes, were wide of the mark.

David Payne’s opinion of Bangkok Hottie was reflected in his decision to run her first up in the Gr 3 Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick on April 4th.

“At last everything went right for the mare,” said a relieved John Sargent after Unique Ambition’s brilliant win in Saturday’s Randwick Midway.

Far away from the glitz and glamour of Royal Randwick on day two of The Championships, Amy McLucas rounded off an amazing week at Saturday’s Goulburn meeting.

It’s unlikely there was a more impressive maiden win anywhere in Australia on Saturday than the almost four length romp by first starter Sir Les at the Wyong meeting.

With due respect to the McDonald mania and Waller wizardry that made the Slipper meeting so special, perhaps a handful of other fine achievements didn’t get the accolades they deserved.

Kim Waugh really doesn’t know why the Provincial Midway Championship has become such a bucket list project, but the series dominates her thoughts from Christmas time each year.

By the time I spoke to Craig Newitt on Sunday morning he’d pushed the elation of a Newmarket win into the background and was on his way to the Stoney Creek Cup meeting

There was a smattering of deja vu attached to Sam Clipperton’s win on Signor Tortoni in Saturday’s Queen Bee Project Sprint at Rosehill Gardens.

A very good initiative by the Wyong Race Club was thwarted by extreme heat on Sunday January 25th.

The majority of racehorses are oblivious to the signs of imminent competition. Most are unfazed by the familiar pre-race routine at home, the inevitable road trip by horse transport or trailer, and the unmistakable buzz of the racetrack when unloaded at the other end.

“This kid has a very rare talent,” was co-trainer Richard Freedman’s comment after Braith Nock’s win on Pocketing in Saturday’s Bob Ingham AO Hcp at Randwick.

“Even though the race was run on the Kensington track I’m claiming it as my first Randwick win,” said Canberra trainer Rob Potter

Luke Berger calls himself a racehorse ownership group manager rather than a syndicator.

As Jason Coyle travelled to the Kembla Grange meeting on Saturday he was at sixes and sevens regarding a start for Catch The Glory in The Warra, the $300,000 Gr 3 co-feature to the The Gong.

It was just another day at the office for jockey Dylan Gibbons as he left the mounting enclosure on a maidener called Whatever It Takes for the opening race at Port Macquarie on October 11th last year.

“I was both surprised and delighted when asked to be part of an interview process when Godolphin changed direction a few months ago,” said in form trainer Joe Pride.

When it comes to a pre-race parade horses are much like people. Most of them go through the motions like a lunchtime throng in a city street.