The Michael Freedman/ Tommy Berry partnership has been a major talking point in the early weeks of the Sydney spring carnival.

John Sargent was surprised two years ago when stable client Michael Stokes called to say he’d purchased a two year old filly on New Zealand Bloodstock’s Gavelhouse.com online sale for the princely sum of $3200.

Ever astute Mitchell Beer was obviously chuffed with Sunrise’s win at Kembla Grange on March 22nd but preferred to keep things in perspective.

Tim Donnelly is one of many horsemen with a positive story to tell about the Inglis Digital Online Auction. The concept began modestly in May 2017 with one sale a month.

With the ink barely dry on her brand new trainer’s licence, Claire Lever was dealing with the race day jitters as she legged husband Chad onto Grace Bay before the 1100m Class 1 at Gundagai’s Snake Gully Cup meeting last Friday.

“He’s the last horse I would have expected to do something like that,” said Jess Taylor as she reflected on the bizarre accident that will keep her out of the saddle until the middle of September.

Inanup looked to have a real fight on his hands when Prime Candidate loomed menacingly at the 150m mark in Saturday’s Iron Jack Hcp (BM88) at Rosehill Gardens.

Theresa Bateup was just fifteen years old when she arrived at the Australian Jockey Club office at Randwick in late October 1994 to begin a week of work experience.

My thanks to Sean Driver who took the trouble to email me last week after having listened to our recent podcast with jockey Brad Pengelly. Sean was hoping Carael Boy would figure among Brad’s list of favourite horses, and he certainly wasn’t disappointed.

Almost fourteen years have passed since Jay Ford first thundered over the hallowed turf of Royal Ascot and Newmarket on the back of the celebrated sprinter Takeover Target - the first of his four trips to the UK.

Lancaster Bomber’s win in the last at Newcastle on Saturday rounded off a very pleasing few weeks for the Richard Litt stable. It was especially pleasing for the expatriate Kiwi horseman, because the Denman gelding is the very first horse he actually purchased and syndicated.

When Mitch Newman is around horses, the smile on his face tells you everything you need to know about the former jockey turned trainer. That smile was very evident when Diva Bella swamped the leaders to win the opening race at Gosford on Saturday.

It’s hard to believe Pierata has a greater fan than his popular part owner and trainer Greg Hickman, but there is one such devotee. “Give Tim Payne a ring. He’s clocked every gallop the horse has ever had,” said Hickman.

Racing needs the occasional fairy-tale story. At home and overseas it’s an accepted fact that most races at the elite level are won by horses from major stables. Those stables traditionally have the best bloodstock to work with and often increase their chances by having multiple runners.

Not even the eerie emptiness of the Rosehill Gardens racecourse could detract from David Pfieffer’s elation as I Am Excited gave him a maiden Group 1 win in Saturday’s Galaxy.

It’s far too late for race callers and form analysts to change the pronunciation of the name of the big mare who staged a “Winx like” finish to win on Saturday. For commentators and listeners it shall remain as it appears - Nettoyer.

The Group 3 Liverpool City Cup couldn’t have been scripted better for the bold striding Quackerjack. The chestnut gelding with the symmetrically perfect white blaze dislikes the slightest interruption in his races.

Shane Nichols watched the Futurity Stakes from his usual spot in the Caulfield stand. With absolutely no disrespect towards Streets Of Avalon’s five owners and their friends and families, the trainer preferred to collect his thoughts and closely observe the running of the race on the big screen.

Gordon and Jacqui Richards were booked on a Sunday evening flight from Melbourne to Adelaide on February 26th 2017. This had been a deliberate ploy, just in case their promising three year old Benz happened to win the Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield the previous day.

Of the twenty eight fillies to win the Golden Slipper, none have gone into the great race with more miles on the clock than the 1965 winner Reisling.