Bad news for the Scenic Blast camp...The Global Sprint Challenge front-runner is suffering from a hoof problem and is OUTof Sunday's Hong Kong International Sprint trial at Sha Tin. The Hong Kong Jockey Club says Scenic Blast is lame in the right forefoot.

All American turned in a stylish gallop at Tues morning's Breakfast with the Stars at Ascot WA and trainer David Hayes believes the horse will finish too strongly for his rivals in Sat's Grp 1 Railway Stakes. He is currently $6.00 on TABSportsbet Fixed Odds. Gold Salute is maintaining favoritism at $3.00. Ortensia is at $7.50.

Early TAB Sportsbet shoppers are supporting Blutigeroo in Sat's Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie says: 'Originally priced at $35 a bet of $100 e/w was followed by $1,000 @ $35 then $750 @ $15. He is now $12...Another runner well backed early is Markus Maximus with a bet of $700 e/w @ $14.'

Latest Eclipse Stakes market

ROSE SYRAH 4.40
OFFENDERS 4.60
RHYNO CHASER 7.50
DANE JULIA 8.50
BASHFUL GIRL 10.00
PLAYWRIGHT 11.00
BLUTIGEROO 12.00
MARKUS MAXIMUS 12.00
POISED TO WIN 14.00
SEA SKYE 18.00
DOWN UNDER BOY 18.00
ULYSSES 18.00
JUNGLE RULER 23.00
GAME SERENA 31.00
ELMORE 41.00
MISSION CRITICAL 51.00

Latest betting on Sat's Grp 1 Railway Stks at Ascot WA has Gold Salute the fav at $3.60. There has been money overnight for Ortensia ($8.00 into $7.50).

GOLD SALUTE 3.60 1.65
ALL AMERICAN 6.50 2.37
ORTENSIA 7.50 2.62
GRAND NIRVANA 8.00 2.75
TARZI 12.00 3.75
SNIPERS BULLET 14.00 4.25
SPIRITED ONE 14.00 4.25
MEGATIC 16.00 4.75
ELLIOTTO 18.00 5.25
LARGO LAD 18.00 5.25
FAMOUS ROMAN 21.00 6.00
KEYTOMONEY 26.00 7.25
COLOUR CORRECT 26.00 7.25
LORDS RANSOM 31.00 8.50
LAMBTON CASTLE 51.00 13.50

Smart sprinter Tesbury Jack returns to racing at Sandown on Saturday...and he's in the care of a new trainer. The gelding was transferred to Chris Parry from the Julie Scott stable after an unplaced run behind Apache Cat in the Grp 1 Australia Stakes in February. TJ will be among the main fancies for the Le Pine Funerals Cup (1000m) at Sandown. Parry says: 'We had to do plenty of beach work with him during his spell and have him walk around in the salt water which has done his legs the world of good.'

6-04.00 BETFAIR ECLIPSE STAKES 1800 M
Of $125000 and $750 trophy. 1st $75000 and trophy of $750, 2nd $22500, 3rd $11250, 4th $5625, 5th $3125, 6th $2500, 7th $2500, 8th $2500.Quality. (GROUP 3).No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 BLUTIGEROO Colin Little Nicholas Hall 12 58 (103)
2 JUNGLE RULER Peter White Darren Gauci 13 57 (101)
3 ULYSSES Luke Oliver Ben Melham 7 55 (97)
4 DANE JULIA (SAF) Lee Freedman Dwayne Dunn 9 54.5 (100)
5 MARKUS MAXIMUS (NZ) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 16 54 (94)
6 PLAYWRIGHT (NZ) Steve Richards Steven King 6 54 (93)
7 POISED TO WIN Terry & Karina O'Sullivan Clare Lindop 5 54 (94)
8 MISSION CRITICAL Michael Moroney Chris Symons 8 53.5 (92)
9 DOWN UNDER BOY John Symons & Sheila Laxon Dale Smith 4 53 (89)
10 GAME SERENA Ron Gravett Peter Mertens 10 53 (89)
11 OFFENDERS Peter Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 14 53 (89)
12 ROSE SYRAH Tony Noonan Danny Nikolic 3 53 (89)
13 RHYNO CHASER Wanda Ings Dean Yendall 11 53 (88)
14 BASHFUL GIRL Bevan & Richard Laming Craig Newitt 1 53 (87)
15 ELMORE Luke Oliver Jason Maskiell (a) 2 53 (86)
16 SEA SKYE (USA) Bevan & Richard Laming Matt Pumpa 15 53 (75)

Oozing confidence...That's trainer Mark Riley as he shapes up for Sat's big Grp 1 1600m Railway Stakes in Perth with his top performer Gold Salute. MR says he'd like to think that the favorable Railway Stakes draw (gate #7) is the start of Lady Luck smiling at Gold Salute nafter a frustrating spring. Gold Salute ran well but with little luck in the Toorak Handicap and Emirates Stakes. He worked very well on Tuesday and MR says: 'I could not be happier with how he's come over here, settled in and worked. He did everything we wanted him to do this morning.'

7-03.40 CARLTON DRAUGHT-RAILWAY STAKES 1600 M
Of $1000000 and $15400 trophies. 1st $612500 and trophies of $7700 to owner $3850 to trainer $3850 to jockey, 2nd $200000, 3rd $90000, 4th $40000, 5th $20000, 6th $12500, 7th $12500, 8th $12500.(GROUP I) For three years old and upwards.No Allowances for apprentices.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 MEGATIC Albie Beckett Patrick Carbery 11 57
2 SNIPER'S BULLET Tracey Bartley Nash Rawiller 14 56.5
3 ALL AMERICAN David Hayes Corey Brown 2 56
4 GOLD SALUTE Mark Riley Damien Oliver 7 55.5
5 LARGO LAD David Hayes Glen Boss 10 54
6 ORTENSIA Tony Noonan Craig Williams 13 53.5
7 TARZI Neville Parnham Paul Harvey 4 53
8 COLOUR CORRECT Ross Price Lucas Camilleri 17 52
9 ELLIOTTO Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 1 52
10 FAMOUS ROMAN Ken Williamson Jason Whiting 3 52
11 GRAND NIRVANA Fred Kersley Daniel Staeck 12 52
12 KASABIAN Darren McAuliffe Shaun O'Donnell 5 52
13 KEYTOMONEY Michael Lane William Pike 16 52
14 LORDS RANSOM Peter Morgan Alan Kennedy (a) 8 52
15 OROYA GOLD Daniel Morton Troy Turner 15 52
16 SPIRITED ONE Paula Wagg Peter Knuckey 6 52
17e LAMBTON CASTLE Lindsey Smith Shaun Mc Gruddy 18 52
18e COCONUT GROVE Tony Noonan 9 52

Mark Riley's smart 6YO Gold Salute, a last start 3rd in the Grp 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington, is the early fav at $4.40 for Sat's Grp 1 Railway Stks at Ascot, WA. The market from TAB Sportsbet on Tuesday afternoon:

GOLD SALUTE 4.40 1.85
ALL AMERICAN 7.00 2.50
GRAND NIRVANA 8.00 2.75
ORTENSIA 8.00 2.75
KASABIAN 9.00 3.00
SNIPERS BULLET 13.00 4.00
MEGATIC 15.00 4.50
LARGO LAD 15.00 4.50
TARZI 15.00 4.50
ELLIOTTO 17.00 5.00
COLOUR CORRECT 21.00 6.00
LORDS RANSOM 21.00 6.00
FAMOUS ROMAN 21.00 6.00
SPIRITED ONE 26.00 7.25
KEYTOMONEY 31.00 8.50
LAMBTON CASTLE (1E) 51.00 13.50
OROYA GOLD 51.00 13.50
COCONUT GROVE (2E) 101.00 26.00

Big surprise...Faulconbridge, warm fav for the Gosford Gold Cup, has been scratched. The Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper was a firm $2.60 fav. The Cup now has three qual favs according to TAB Sportsbet's fixed odds market. They are Common Objective, Keepin' The Dream and Spinney, all at $4.40.

Good to see that Peter Snowden is planning an international campaign for his brave staying mare Purple. The Grp 1 Japan Cup is a likely target. PS says: 'It would be good to have her racing there to help to promote the sire Commands...Purple is definitely improving and I think we are only seeing the beginning of where she is going to be.' Perhaps the Darley team should consider a UK campaign? The usually soft tracks there woule be ideal for Purple, who 'grows a leg' when the going is rain-affected.

'Master blaster' Bart Cummings has been named the winner of the Victorian Racing Media Association's Personality of the Year award. He tipped out Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh to claim the award for the fourth time since its inception in 1979.

CARLTON DRAUGHT-RAILWAY STAKES (Saturday, Nov 21)

Ascot WA
Group 1 - 3 YEARS OLD & UPWARDS
1 MEGATIC 0 57 111 PATRICK CARBERY ALBIE BECKETT
2 SNIPER'S BULLET B 0 56.5 110 NASH RAWILLER TRACEY BARTLEY
3 ALL AMERICAN B 0 56 109 COREY BROWN DAVID HAYES
4 GOLD SALUTE X 0 55.5 108 DAMIEN OLIVER MARK A. RILEY
5 LARGO LAD 0 54 105 GLEN BOSS DAVID HAYES
6 ORTENSIA 0 53.5 104 CRAIG WILLIAMS TONY NOONAN
7 TARZI 0 53 103 PAUL HARVEY NEVILLE PARNHAM
8 COLOUR CORRECT 0 52 84 ROSS PRICE
9 ELLIOTTO 0 52 101 NEVILLE PARNHAM
10 FAMOUS ROMAN B 0 52 101 JASON WHITING KEN WILLIAMSON
11 GRAND NIRVANA B 0 52 100 DANIEL STAECK FRED KERSLEY
12 KASABIAN 0 52 95 SHAUN O'DONNELL DARREN MC AULIFFE
13 KEYTOMONEY 0 52 101 WILLIAM PIKE MICHAEL LANE
14 LORDS RANSOM 0 52 100 ALAN KENNEDY ADAM DURRANT
15 OROYA GOLD 0 52 91 DANIEL MORTON
16 SPIRITED ONE 0 52 93 PETER KNUCKEY PAULA WAGG
17 LAMBTON CASTLE B E1 0 52 88 LINDSEY SMITH
18 COCONUT GROVE E2 0 52 78 TONY NOONAN

GOSFORD GOLD CUP

FAULCONBRIDGE $2.60

SPINNEY $6.00

COMMON OBJECTIVE $6.00

KEEPIN THE DREAM $7.50

BARLAGARNEY $7.50

ENZEDEX EAGLE $9.00

DOTHIS DOTHAT $15.00

DELAGO STAR $21.00

BRIGHT MIND $35.00

ROLLINS $35.00

ALL TIME CHAMPION $71.00

KING LYPHARD $71.00

SKY BISCUIT $126.00

BALLARAT CUP

DANDAAD $5.00

ITSTHEONE $5.00

BOURBONSTREETBLUES $5.50

DAKAS GEM $9.00

SYLVAN OREILLY $11.00

DAVCON $12.00

OAK HEART $14.00

GALLIONS REACH $17.00

DIAMONDSONDINSIDE $17.00

BOLLE $21.00

SENTIRE $21.00

RED RIVIERA $31.00

LADIES IN LUCK $41.00

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL $41.00

KINUGAWA $51.00

SEEK THE STARS $51.00

ESCAPE ARTIST $61.00

GOLDEN CHARMER $61.00

**Prices from TAB Sportsbet

Oh, dear, Racing NSW's thought-police are at it again...The following is a report in the Sunday Telegraph: 'A bitter dispute between Racing NSW and Tabcorp is the reason punters cannot monitor Fixed Odds prices alongside tote odds on the NSW TAB website...In the past, both sets of odds would be displayed alongside each other for comparison but Racing NSW has stepped in to have the two separated - with the Fixed Odds set to be relocated to a new website. "If they want to be a bookmaker they should be a bookmaker, not run a tote with bookmaker prices next to them,'' said Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys. "There is a higher margin in tote punting so of course we want to encourage more money through the tote than Fixed Odds. It is another way of funding the industry.'' The move has angered punters and Tabcorp officials, who are now in the process of building a new site for Fixed Odds racing with one insider filthy at the sudden decision. "I thought our model was pretty good, it gave punters the choice,'' he said. "Now we have to redesign the whole thing.''

Former Perth jockey William Pike will make a flying visit from Hong Kong to partner Keytomoney in Sat's Grp 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot. Pike is riding in Hong Kong on a six-month contract. He'll go straight back to HK after the Perth race.

Pretty pathetic stuff from Nick Williams on Sky on Sunday as he tried to explain his dad Lloyd's feud with TVN. Team Williams is refusing to let its new 'trainer' Robert Hickmott speak to the media, and Nick is saying it's all about the corporate structure of the Williams' operation (see Latest News). Joourno Steve Moran, whose comments sparked the row with TVN, isn't buying the explanation. He says: 'Williams' handling of the media during the spring was far far from good...Racing's not a corporate structure, it's an industry built by hundreds of thousands of punters that put their money down each week and they're certainly entitled to hear from the trainer and jockey of any racehorse. They're not really interested in the thoughts of the chairman of the board...How many people would run away from AFL football if we were not allowed to see or hear from players and coaches and have to depend on the president of the club to hold press conferences? It would be like Geelong winning this year's grand final and after the game the face of the club is the son of the president. Do you think many people would stay interested?'

So tiresome...The antics of the Lloyd Williams operation are becoming a bit of a bore. And an embarrassment. Gagging jockey Michael Rodd after the win of Zipping in the Sandown Classic, and the decision to prevent new 'trainer' Robert Hickmott speaking to the media, is bizarre stuff. So Hickmott, it seems, is to be the 'trainer' who doesn't speak. He's simply a name in the racebook. But what is this all about? Does Lloyd Williams believe he can go on in this manner? Perhaps the stewards should call him in for a chat about public relations, the sport's image and his responsibilities as a major racehorse owner?

Many punters would have loved Lloyd Williams, or Robert Hickmott, or Nick Williams, to say something about his other Classic runner, C'est La Guerre, who performed dismally and was a beaten horse with 800 metres to go.

Rosehill trainer Con Karakatsanis has a broken leg after a Melbourne trackwork fall. CK was riding a Byron Cozamanis-trained galloper at Caulfield on Friday morning when the fractious galloper whipped around and dumped him. CK says: 'My left leg took all the impact and I knew immediately I was in trouble.'

UK jumps on the way on Sky...The addition of top UK jumps meetings to the Sky Racing schedule this Australian summer starts this Saturday with coverage of four races from Cheltenham. The move follows a positive reaction to Sky's coverage of the Aintree and Cheltenham festivals. The TAB will wager on Cheltenham this Saturday. Coverage from Haydock Park will be shown the following Saturday.

Kidnapped has grabbed the top betting spot for Sat's Sandown Guineas. Peter Snowden's classy 3YO is at $2.25 (5/4) on TAB Sportsbet's early market.

SANDOWN GUINEAS

KIDNAPPED 2.25
KHAS KURA 4.00
MAJESTIC MUSIC 6.50
ABSOLUTE SODA 9.00
DISCO SUMMIT 9.00
TURF EXPRESS 11.00
SILVER SPUR 11.00
ITLLBEFANTASTIC 15.00
FLAME THROWER 101.00

Khas Kura $3000 and $2000 @ $5 then $1000 @ $4
Majestic Music $600 @ $8, $1500 e/w @ $7.50 then $5000 @ $2.30 place only
Silver Spur $800 @ $11

SANDOWN CLASSIC

SCENIC SHOT 3.30
MASTER OREILLY 4.20
ZIPPING 4.60
MISS MAREN 8.00
ZARITA 9.50
CEST LA GUERRE 10.00
PURPLE 10.00
RAFFAELLO 10.00
MISS DARCEY 26.00
ICE CHARIOT 81.00

Zipping $1800 @ $5.50

Melbourne 6YO Gold Salute is the early fav at $5.00 for the Grp 1 Railway Stakes 1600m at Ascot WA on Nov 21, according to the market from TAB Sportsbet released on Thursday. The markets for the major races are:

RAILWAY STAKES

GOLD SALUTE 5.00
ORTENSIA 7.50
VIGOR 9.00
SNIPERS BULLET 10.00
ALL AMERICAN 10.00
GRAND NIRVANA 10.00
LARGO LAD 12.00
NICCONI 14.00
MEGATIC 14.00
TARZI 14.00
SOUND OF NATURE 14.00
EAGLE FALLS 16.00
WALKING OR DANCING 18.00
KEYTOMONEY 18.00
KASABIAN 18.00
VON COSTA DE HERO 18.00
LUCKY THUNDER 18.00
LORDS RANSOM 18.00
RIGHTFULLY YOURS 18.00
AMBERINO 18.00
FAMOUS ROMAN 18.00
SPIRITED ONE 21.00
Others from 26.00

Early money

Grand Nirvana $2,000 @ $12
Kasabian $1,000 @ $18

WINTERBOTTOM STAKES Nov 28

APACHE CAT 3.40
ORTENSIA 5.00
NICCONI 6.00
HAY LIST 6.50
BANK ROBBER 7.50
DANNY BEAU 7.50
WARATAHS SECRET 8.00
EAGLE FALLS 10.00
IDYLLIC PRINCE 14.00
LET GO THOMMO 14.00
KID CHOISIR 16.00
VON COSTA DE HERO 18.00
ALL AMERICAN 18.00
DANTES VOLONTE 18.00
LONDON 26.00
ELLIOTTO 26.00
KENS DOUBLE 26.00
Others from 31.00

Early money

Hay List $1,600 @ $10, $900 @ $9, $1,000 @ $8.50, $1,000 e/w @ $8, $2,000 @ $7, $1,000 @ $6.50
Waratah's Secret $2,100 x $500 @ $10/$3.25
Idyllic Prince $1,500 @ $16

KINGSTON TOWN CLASSIC Dec 5

SCENIC SHOT 4.60
VIGOR 7.00
SNIPERS BULLET 9.00
ORTENSIA 9.00
MEGATIC 9.00
NICCONI 12.00
LARGO LAD 16.00
GRAND NIRVANA 16.00
ALL AMERICAN 16.00
TARZI 16.00
RED LORD 18.00
FAMOUS ROMAN 18.00
BRIDGESTONE 18.00
EAGLE FALLS 18.00
KASABIAN 21.00
RIGHTFULLY YOURS 21.00
LORDS RANSOM 21.00
KEY TO MONEY 21.00

Others from 26.00

Early money

Grand Nirvana $1,000 @ $18
Kasabian $500 @ $21

That cleanout at Lloyd Williams's stables has included jockey Steven Arnold. He's got the heave-ho after some good years riding for the tycoon. Trainer John Sadler is out as well. Arnold says: 'It was a surprise but I'm happy to move...All these things come to an end and it's the start of a new chapter.'

Let's face it...The Lloyd Williams stable hasn't much that glitters in the way of horse flesh these days. You can't keep trotting outbattle-weary veterans Efficient, C'Est La Guerre and Zipping forever. The so-called racing genius needs to take a long look at his operation, it would seem, if we're to see any more real superstars emerging. Perhaps the stable has some future dominators hidden away? Let's hope so.

Sad to see the great Brian Mayfield-Smith decide to give up training because of a cash-flow problem...The big question for racing is how many other trainers are in the same leaky boat? Word around the traps is that a host of trainers are living on bank overdrafts and are, literally, eating the paint off the walls.

Maybe they can ask some of the top apprentices for a looan? Ex-jockey and now gun trainer Kevin Moses reckons the apprentices have too much money these days. Some, he says, are raking in $2,500 a week. Moses is the master of Jamie Quinnell, just busted for testing positive to a prohibited substance. KM says: 'When we were apprentices we never got our money until we came out of our time at 21...These days they get paid and can be given as much as $5000 a fortnight.'

Gold-edged...Damien Oliver is booked to ride Melbourne galloper Gold Salute in the Grp 1 Railway Stakes 1600m at Ascot. He's also been offered the ride on Gold Salute in the Hong Kong Mile in December but this depends on whether the HKJC invites the horse to compete.

Ouch, that hurts...Sydney apprentice Jamie Quinnell has filed an appeal against a seven-month suspension for the use of a banned substance. Quinnell, who pleaded guilty to the charge, has appealed against the severity of the penalty.

Looks like Mitch Beadman has to shape up or ship out from the racing world...His promising riding career hangs in the balance. He's to front the licensing committee later this month. Mitch, son of the saintly Darren Beadman, was 'interviewed' by stewards at their Sydney headquarters yesterday after failing to fulfil his riding engagements at Randwick at the weekend. They also asked him about his bustup with trainer Chris Waller. It's all very messy. Waller is the fourth master after John Hawkes, John O'Shea and Kevin Moses to end an association with Mitch.

It's the geographic cure for Mitch now...He says: 'I am going away for a month to sort out where I want to be...Right now I am focused on being a jockey, that is what I want to do, but first I just want to take some time away to clear my mind and make sure I am 100 per cent focused. I have had some issues but I am prepared to get help and sort myself out.' Just what those issues are hasn't been made public. Perhaps it's just too tough being the son of a legendary father in the same business?

John Sadler's off to see the world after splitting with the Lloyd Williams stable. JS says: 'Nothing lasts forever and I decided it was time to move on from Lloyd's and do some other things...There is no animosity between us...I sat down with Lloyd this morning (Monday) and we had a long chat...I've made my decision, and we shook hands and walked away from it as good friends..I've wanted to travel around the world a bit more for pleasure rather than work...I've got a son getting married in New York soon and I will base my plans around that...I have no idea how long I'll be away but once I get back I'll pull the boots back on for sure.' As expected, Robert Hickmott is the new 'trainer' for LW.

Aiming for next year's spring carnival...An Aussie syndicate has bought the classy Sadler's Wells 4YO Doctor Fremantle, who won the recent Grp 2Royal Ascot Princess of Wales Stakes , Grp 3 Chester Huxley Stakes and Grp 3 Newbury Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial. Plans are for Lee Freedman to train him. Badgers Bloodstock's Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon brokered the deal and say the horse will target the 2010 Melbourne Carnival.

Crowds were down but it was a success...This is the wacky reasoning of the VRC for this year's spring carnival. It is beating its chest about the 'success' of the 2009 Melbourne Cup carnival despite crowds falling by almost 30,000 over the four days. Total attendance at Flemington was 368,416, down from last year's 395,470. At least there were fewer drunks being arrested.

Land of the Long White Dream...New Zealand trainer Wayne Hillis plans to return with Sterling Prince for next year's Melbourne Cup following the gelding's easy win in the Grp 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. Hillis says he hopes the 6YO can follow in the mighty footsteps of Makybe Diva, who won the 2002 Queen Elizabeth before notching the first of three Melbourne Cups in 2003.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it...Looks like we're in for more madness at the top of the officialdom tree and this time it's the Melbourne Cup involved. The Age says the Cup could be in for its biggest facelift in 150 years, with Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey considering the merits of allowing pacemakers to contest major staying races in Victoria. Bailey apparently believes that permitting pacemakers in Australian racing should be discussed following this year's race which, it is claimed, was 'tainted by interference' due to a slow pace. The Age quotes Bailey as saying: ''We must look at it...Clearly we should study how the dynamics of pacemakers work. I, for one, would like to see how race clubs in other parts of the world apply the use of them.''

Memo to Terry Bailey: Get off this one immediately. Aussie punters are not interested in 'fixed races' where big stables use 'dead' pacemakers to ensure victory for their horses. We like our racing served up as it comes...whether that's rare or well-done. No-one wants the spirit of the Melbourne Cup tampered with...For goodness sake, can't we leave anything alone? If this crazy idea goes ahead does that mean we'll have pacemakers in all races? No, no, no...

Smart mare Purple is shaping up like a major prospect for the Caulfield Cup in 2010. She showed courage and stamina to win Sat's Matriarch 2000m at Flemington. The run so impressed trainer Peter Snowden that he immediately decided to back her up in next Sat's 2400m Sandown Classic. Snowden says: 'I reckon it will be a good race and we'll see how she goes with a view to coming back for the big races next year...She raced through the autumn and winter as well as the spring so she'll only have a light autumn before we set her for a race down here.'

The Matriarch was a great result for PPD Club members. Purple $3.30 was editor Brian Blackwell's headline Daily Special tip and the amazing 'King of the Longshots' topped it in the final race of the carnival, tipping the winner Sound Journey $7.10/$2.70 and the runner-up Our Saint $12.30/$3.90 as a bracket selection! The quinella paid $42.30, the exacta $84.80.

Who's interested in the job of trainer for Lloyd Williams? It seems he's about to split with John Sadler. A report in The Age says LW is severing ties with Sadler after a disappointing season so far -- only 3 winners.LW is likely to make an announcement after next weekend's Sandown Classic, the traditional end to the spring carnival. The Age says the pair's relationship 'is thought to have come under stress after Efficient was scratched from the Melbourne Cup when favorite with bookmakers.' The tip is that Robert Hickmott, who has been with Williams since 2001 and has overseen the preparation of 12 two-year-olds at Flemington this year, may get the trainer's gig.

Latest betting news from TAB Sportsbet:

Maribyrnong Plate

Ebony Rock has firmed into $6.50 after opening at $16.

Emirates Stakes

So You Think has had steady support and is into $2.80 after opening $3.20. The best backed runner has been Gold Salute who opened $11 and is now $6. $1,000 e/w at $11, $2,000 e/w at $9, $3,000 e/w at $8 and $3,000 at $6. $4,000 Eagle Falls at $16.

Patinack Stakes

Apache Cat has been friendless in early betting and is out from $3.20 to $4.20. All Silent who opened $4.20 has been well supported and is now favourite at $3.60. The biggest bet today on All Silent has been $5,000 at $3.80. Bank Robber was $13 and has had some interest into $10.

Queen Elizabeth

Hume solid at $2.40 with Hissing Sid $7.50 the best supported of the rest.

Matriarch Stakes

Purple opened up $4.80 and has been backed into favouritism now $3.60. $2,500 at $4.80.

I'm just wondering...Who first raised that little matter of Corey Brown tapping Shocking with the whip after winning the Melbourne Cup? Was it the stewards or the RSPCA?

Now that gets rid of some of the superstar jockeys...Cox Plate-winning jockey Glen Boss, Caulfield Cup hero Brad Rawiller and Mark Zahra were all suspended during Thursday's Crown Oaks meeting.