Paul and Tracey Templeton’s blueblood gelding Eclair Raider ($2) made last Saturday’s 2019 edition of the Buchan Cup (1700m) a one-act affair, racing away for a commanding win. 
While not possessing the same abilities as his father, super sire High Chaparral, or his mother, Cox Plate winner Dane Ripper, the six-year-old gelding is a winner all the same — Saturday’s win his fourth from 29 starts. 
The success broke a long run of outs, with his last win coming at Healesville on the April 2, 2016, that win completing a picnic hat-trick. 
Well handled on Saturday by apprentice Shaun Cooper, Eclair Raider shot away on the corner and had five lengths up his sleeve on the line over the Sale-trained Speed Stinger, who was first up over the 1700m and should be improved by the run. 
Student squeaks through
Sale trainer Reg Manning came away with a Buchan double, as two of the stable’s older charges in Melomane and Unruly Student registered overdue wins. 
Eight-year-old Melomane is a relatively new addition to the Manning team, having only transferred to the stable in March of last year. 
Formerly trained by Julie Scott at Bairnsdale and then Ballarat, the Street Cry gelding had been knocking on the door in recent months with four picnic placings since Boxing Day. 
Having been scratched from the Buchan Cup, the gelding was always going to be tough to beat in the restricted handicap that he contested over the same 1700m distance. 
Travelling beautifully, stalking the leader under Caitlin King, Melomane ($5) raced clear late, two lengths ahead of the $1.90 favourite Johnny Romance, who ran his eighth picnic placing of the current season. 
Manning’s other winner came in the last on the program, the John Duke Memorial Open Trophy Race over 1200m, with seven-year-old gelding Unruly Student. 
Having run a solid placing at Healesville two weeks ago behind Howling Wolf, Unruly Student’s form lines read well and punters sent him around as a well supported $2.50 second favourite behind $1.40 favourite Keep the Magic. 
The pair came clear and barely a head separated them all the way up the straight, with Unruly Student getting his head down when it mattered. 
The victory was jockey Peta Tait’s first since November 2015. 
One out of three
Cranbourne combination Alan and Maxwell Keenan came away from their eight-hour round trip with a mixed bag of results. 
The pair combined to win the second on the card, the Gippsland Grain Store TAC Buchan Plate Open Trophy Race (1000m) with veteran nine-year-old Motific ($2.60). 
Travelling easily in the lead, Motific raced clear turning and had five lengths to spare over $1.50 favourite Northkape. 
In the Buchan Cup, Max Keenan eased the $3.20 second favourite Dehughes out of the event at the 400m, and she was subsequently found to have sustained abrasions. 
Their only other runner for the day came in the fifth with $1.50 favourite Bettina, who was eased out of the event shortly after the start after her saddle slipped.