On-going injury problems have forced Colac trainer Bill Cerchi to retire his veteran galloper Diamonds At Noon.
Cerchi said he was now looking for a good home for the honest nine-year-old gelding.
“He’s had problems with his near-side knee,” said Cerchi.
“He’s been a great horse for us. His owners paid about $5000 for him as a young horse and he went on to win more than $220,000.”
“He won a few country cups. He was not as good as Chimely Times (1994 Wangoom winner) but he is certainly up there with the best I have trained. He was very honest — a great bread and butter horse.
“I reckon he’ll make a great show hack.”
From his 64 starts Diamonds At Noon won nine races.
Dunkeld a success again
Increased wagering (on and off course) and a record attendance are foundations for Dunkeld to keep growing its annual race day, according to club manager Karen Van Kempen.
“We had 9126 patrons through the gates (on November 14),” she said.
“It was our best crowd since 2010. Our on-course tote was up 25% and the total national wagering was up a staggering 37%.”
Van Kempen, who has filled the position of manager for the past 10 years, said a meeting with key stakeholders will be held in early December.
“We’re just letting the dust settle for a few days before we meet with the police, Country Racing Victoria and other stakeholders to see what their thoughts are regarding the day,” she said.
“From our perspective it was an outstanding success. The crowd was really well behaved. The club is mindful that we keep our packages affordable for the public. Our market is predominantly people in the 18-to-25 age group.”
Dunkeld will hold its 2016 race meeting on November 12.
Fresh hopes ...
Trainers Ciaron Maher and Aaron Purcell made purchases at the New Zealand Ready to Run Sales for two-year-olds last week.
Maher parted with $200,000 for a colt by Hinchinbrook and $80,000 for a Nadeem colt. Purcell’s single purchase was a Tavistock colt for $60,000.
Maher said the sale was very successful.
“Well bred horses that could run a bit made really good money,” he said.
“Aaron and I stayed over in New Zealand for a few extra days to check out yearlings which will be sold at the premier and select sales in January,” he added.
Gold to race on
Gold Consul stalled off a stud career after she won a maiden at Naracoorte last week.
Warrnambool trainer John Brooks said the lightly-raced daughter of Econsul had been a slow maturing mare.
“Her owners were considering sending her to stud but they changed their minds after the win,” said Brooks.
“We’ll sit down and have a good look at the racing calendar before working out where she runs next.”
Brooks said the win was a great tonic for the stable after the passing of potential jumper Sir Peel.
“He got a bug in his system and was sent to the vets at Ballarat but he failed to recover,” he said.
“The horse won a hurdle school earlier this year by 20 lengths. We decided to give him a break and get him ready for jumping next year but that’s all over now.”
Sir Peel won one of his 13 flat starts.
Ship set for Werribee
This year’s Warrnambool Cup winner Tall Ship will have his next run in the $120,000 Werribee Cup on December 13.
Trainer Darren Weir has also earmarked a start in the $150,000 Bagot Handicap at Flemington on New Year’s Day for the horse, who ran second last start in the Zipping Classic at Sandown.
Allen out
Talented jockey John Allen pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge after his ride on Doncella at Kilmore last Sunday.
Stewards found that Allen permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Cardoso at the top of the straight.
Allen’s suspension commenced at midnight on Monday and expires on December 4.