13-year-old Fails To Fire After 6 Years
- Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00
Greybeard galloper Blues Grandee failed in his bid to complete a fairytale comeback to the track when he weakened to finish at the tail of the field at Kyneton.
The 13-year-old was having his first start for 6-1/2 years and, ridden by veteran comeback jockey Graham Hartshorn for 88-year-old Cranbourne trainer Laurie Cleary, settled midfield in the Toohey's New Class 3 Hcp (1112m) before knocking up rounding the home turn.
Sentimental money was on the old stager who was paying $48.60 on SuperTab but started at 300-1 with bookmakers and finished 14 lengths from the winner, 13-8 favourite Maggie's Mate.
Blues Grandee, who won a race for Cleary at Burrumbeet on January 1, 1999, was having his 38th start and his first since February 1999 when he finished second at a picnic meeting at Woolamai.
Blues Grandee spent his retirement up "in the hills" before his new owner decided to resurrect his career and return the horse to Cleary to train.
"There is a lot to racing and sometimes a challenge like this comes up," Cleary said.
"He's a gorgeous horse but I don't think there is a big future for him.
"It's been the usual procedure with him except with a little more tender loving care."
Hartshorn last month at Warrnambool rode his first winner in 13 years after giving racing away and at Sandown on Sunday is hopeful of having his first city ride since returning to the saddle.
189 Horses Nominated For Doncaster Mile
- Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00
Australian champion Weekend Hussler and last year's winner Triple Honour are among 189 nominations for the $2 million Doncaster Mile.
Melbourne Cup winner Viewed and star filly Samantha Miss have also been entered for the April 18 race which has been rebranded from the Doncaster Handicap.
Gai Waterhouse, who has trained six Doncaster winners, has entered 13 horses including Group One winners Theseo, Sebring, Northern Meteor and Tuesday Joy.
David Hayes has bettered Waterhouse with 14 nominations including 2007 Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz, Largo Lad and three-year-old Von Costa De Hero, runner-up to Sebring in the 2008 Golden Slipper.
French horse Angelo Minny, winner of a 2400m Listed race in his home country, has also been nominated by Andre Fabre.
As expected, New Zealander Mufhasa, winner of Saturday's Group One Telegraph Handicap, has been entered but Kiwi filly Il Quello Veloce is missing from the nominations.
Mufhasa is trained by Stephen McKee who won two Doncasters with the great Sunline as his father Trevor's training partner.
Vosne Romanee, second to Mufhasa in the Group Two Coupland's Mile in November, has also been entered from New Zealand along with Sir Slick.
Randwick trainer Grahame Begg is looking to stable star All Silent to step up again in the autumn following his Emirates Stakes victory at the Melbourne Cup carnival.
All Silent is a half-brother to grand mare Private Steer, winner of the 2004 Doncaster.
He is well into his preparation and will begin his campaign in the Group Three Liverpool City Cup (1300m) on March 7.
Weights for the Doncaster will be declared on March 2.
58-year-old Jockey Salutes At Sandown
- Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00
Victoria's oldest jockey Neville Wilson showed he was far from a spent force when he scored an upset win on Lots Of Swing in the Rawdon Handicap (1400m) at Sandown.
The 58-year-old had an operation for a career-threatening bone spur on a shoulder earlier this year and was out of action for six months.
"Everyone told me not to but I'm glad I did," Wilson said.
The Camperdown jockey, who is also a dairy farmer, had only the one ride at the Sandown meeting on Lots Of Swing who had won at Flemington and Caulfield before failing at Bendigo last Wednesday week.
"He must have been keen to come down for only the one ride," said Geelong trainer Bruce Elkington.
"I thought he was a chance in an open race.
"I had to run him at Bendigo as he had missed a run due to a wet track."
Sent out at 25-1, Lots Of Swing came round the turn three wide but was poised to strike and got home by a long neck from Show Barry with Snappa Cane a half-head away third.
Wilson returned to race riding on October 1 and has no thoughts of retirement.
Photos: Quentin Lang