Last year's Caulfield Cup runner-up Nom De Jeu is out of the spring Cups. He will miss both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups but remains in the Cox Plate after first declarations for Melbourne's spring features. International numbers were reduced from 38 to 18 on Tuesday, the same as last year.

Latest Melbourne Cup betting

C'est La Guerre 11.00
Vigor 11.00
Efficient 13.00
Profound Beauty (IRE) 13.00
Speed Gifted 15.00
Viewed 15.00
Changingoftheguard (IRE) 17.00
Roman Emperor 17.00
Master O'Reilly 21.00
Precedence 21.00
Daffodil (NZ) 26.00
Shocking 26.00

Latest Cox Plate market (from Betstar)

Whobegotyou 5.00
El Segundo 11.00
Jolie's Shinju (SING) 13.00
Maldivian 13.00
O'Lonhro 15.00
Predatory Pricer 15.00
Vigor 15.00
Black Piranha 17.00
Heart Of Dreams 17.00
Mic Mac 17.00
Onemorenomore 21.00
Trusting 21.00
Typhoon Tracy 21.00

Looks like Corey Brown is the 'whipping boy' for those new and much-criticised whip rules...He's copped his second suspension for excessive whip use, this time from last Friday's Wyong meeting. The additional suspension puts him out of racing from Sep 13 until Oct1 and this takes in George Main Stakes day.

Latest betting on the Caulfield Cup sees Makybe Diva winner Vigor a firm fav at $6.00 (5/1). The imported stayer Speed Gifted, also a winner at Flemington last Saturday, is second fav at $9.00 (8/1). The TAB Sportsbet market:

VIGOR. 6.00
SPEED GIFTED. 9.00
CEST LA GUERRE. 14.00
WHOBEGOTYOU. 14.00
SHOCKING. 14.00
MASTER OREILLY. 17.00
PREDATORY PRICER. 17.00
VIEWED. 21.00
RED RULER. 21.00
ROMAN EMPEROR. 21.00
DAFFODIL. 26.00
HISSING SID. 26.00
KIRKLEES. 26.00
PRECEDENCE. 31.00
CIMA DE TRIOMPHE. 31.00
TUESDAY JOY. 31.00

Go, Kenny, go...Veteran semi-retired turf scribbler Ken Callander has paid out on those crazy new whip rules. In his Daily Telegraphcolumn, Ken rages: 'Sydney and Melbourne should go their own way and throw out the silly new whip rule. How stupid is it that Daniel Ganderton broke the rule to win a Group race at Randwick two weeks ago on Deer Valley and Damien Oliver broke the rule at Flemington on Saturday to win the Makybe Diva Stakes on Vigor while the two jockeys on the narrowly beaten hot-pots, Corey Brown on Melito and Luke Nolen on Typhoon Tracy, stuck to the rule and cost punters hundreds of thousands of dollars? Have any of these blokes on the Australian Racing Board, who set the rule, ever had a bet? Let's get fair dinkum. Why don't Sydney and Melbourne tell that toothless tiger, the Australian Racing Board, to stick the rule up its jumper. Racing NSW set a precedent when the ARB tried to support the Hong Kong ban on Chris Munce. We told the ARB where to go then and we should do it again.'

Battling to beat Cup ballotting conditions, Lee Freedman may switch Speed Gifted to Sydney to run in the AJC Metropolitan at Randwick next month. It's looking like a key spring race for the talented 5YO import. LF reckons the 2400m Metrop on Oct 3 is the race that can lift Speed Gifted into the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups if he cannot overcome qualifying conditions at his next Melbourne start.

That Jason Coyle mystery deepens...Seems there was no blow-up with tycoon owner Nathan Tinkler or co-trainer John Thompson before JC quit the Patinack top-trainer nest. In fact, JC is all love-and-kisses as far as the big boss is concerned. He says he'll still be training 20 to 30 horses for big Nathan. And how did he get on with replacement trainer Thompson? 'The last two weeks I've had a great time with John coming into the camp and working alongside him.' So there you are...One minute he's king of the roost, the next he's got a little campfire down the road, and it's all hunky-dory.

Black day...Peter Moody's unbeaten filly Black Caviar has a muscle injury following her win in the Danehill. Moody's initial fears that something was wrong with the filly were confirmed by tests which revealed a torn muscle across her chest. PM says: 'She's got a muscle tear across the chest but she X-rayed fine...We'll give her a week off before we reassess things after we have another look...If she doesn't come up we won't hesitate to send her to the paddock.''

Australia's not the only place where there's concern about people not attending the racetrack, despite big-name horses racing...After champ Sea The Star's big win at Loepardstown at the weekend, the IrishRacing.com website says: 'What a marvellous occasion Champion Stakes day at Leopardstown was: And how terrible it was to have one's fears absolutely confirmed by the attendance figure...A total of 9100 people showed up to witness quite possibly the finest racehorse any of us will ever see - And that's pathetic, in a country that grandiosely titles itself the home of the horse...Like it or not, racing fans now primarily sit at home, telly on, computer on the lap, phone at the ready. The vast majority of fixtures are fodder for a vast betting public who can't be bothered to go racing and whose revenue turnover dwarfs anything that is generated on track. If racing can't get its hands on a slice of that turnover, then it really will be a case of the last one out turning off the lights.'

Godolphin's after the Caulfield Cup again...The big Arab-owned stable confirms that its top stayer Kirklees will enter quarantine following a win in the UK at the weekend. Kirklees won the Grp 3 September Stakes 2400m. Stable spokesman Simon Crisford says: 'Kirklees is going to Australia and will go into quarantine on Wednesday...He's in the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup.' It's understood the stable has the CC as the #1 target. Godolphin won last year's race with All The Good.

What's going on? Jason Coyle has quit as trainer for the Nathan Tinkler Patinack Farmstable. John Thompson takes over. The racing world is abuzz with rumors about what's happened. One minute Coyle is a star, the next he's gone.

Manikato Stakes contender Swift Alliance will get his first look at the Moonee Valley course on Saturday when he and stablemate Manhattan Rain gallop between races.

Has Black Caviar had enough this time around? Could be. Trainer Peter Moody seems to hold concerns. Reports on Monday say he will monitor the unbeaten filly over the next 48 hours after she she displayed signs of tiredness and being jaded following her brilliant win in the Grp 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington. Moody has treated the 3YO with an anti-inflammatory injection. He hopes it will help her overcome the effects of the tough run against the colts and geldings. Moody says: 'I'll have her fully vet tested and get the chiropractor to run over her and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a pain in the back or the chest after her effort on Saturday.'

There is some good news for Peter Moody...His other star Typhoon Tracy has come through her Makybe Diva Stakes run in good order but Moody may change her racing pattern. He says: 'It seems in her last two runs we've had horses around her forcing the issue so I think I'll now have her ridden further back and make one run on her and avoid those horses causing those problems.'

Damien Oliver is so impressed by Vigor that he's going on a crash diet to make the Caulfield Cup weight of 51kgs. Vigor is now fav for the big race on Oct 17 after his bold victory in the Makybe Diva. Ollie is confident he'll make the weight even though the last time he rode at 51kgs was back in 1999.

Apache Cat has shaped well in a barrier trial at Cranbourne. Trainer Greg Eurell says: 'Because of the heavy ground, we didn't want him doing too much...He just rolled around nicely and did everything we expected he would.'

What caused the lacklustre run by Predatory Pricer in the Makybe Diva? Trainer Paul Murray says: 'He disappointed me on Saturday, not because he was beaten but the way he raced...too fresh and he pulled hard which is not normal for him...I reckon it was the three-week break between the Liston and the Makybe Diva which caused a problem.' PP remains a 16/1 chance for the Caulfield Cup despite Murray indicating he probably won't be a runner.

No wonder Vigor is the new Caulfield Cup favorite...Trainer Danny O'Brien has slipped him under the guard of the handicapper. Vigor is handicapped on a low 51kgs and he's now booked a ballot-free run into next month's $2.5 million race. His terrific Makybe Diva Stakes win at Flemington sealed it. The 5YO is the first horse to claim a certain place in the Caulfield Cup. O'Brien is over the moon. He says: 'He's potentially the best horse I've trained...We've kept him from the handicapper which meant we had to roll the dice and win one of these ballot-free races to claim a spot in the Caulfield Cup, and now we've done it the pressure is right off...We'll run him in weight-for-age races so the handicapper doesn't get a chance to get at him.''

Lee Freedman's a happy man, too, after the exciting win of his import Speed Gifted at Flemington. But Speed Gifted, who arrived earlier this year from England, still needs to secure a Caulfield Cup spot. Freedman may have to take him to Sydney to run in the Grp 1 Metropolitan Handicap (October 3).

Peter Moody is hoping to press on to the Cox Plate with Typhoon Tracy, btn a nose by Vigor in the Makybe Diva. TT will run next in the Grp 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield in a fortnight. PM says: 'If the 1800 metres looks like it's too much for her, we'll drop back for the mares' mile race, the Myer Stakes, and if not, we'll press on to the Cox Plate.'

Glyn Schofield is keen to retain the ride on So You Think. The Bart Cummings trained 3YO is bound for Newcastle to contest the Spring Stakes. GS says: ''He's a horse that has great scope... very relaxed and certainly up to the better class three-year-olds.'' SYT went down by the skinniest of noses in Sat's Ming Dynasty. The winner More Than Great may be switched to NZ to run in the NZ 2000 Guineas, a race worth $1m.

He'll doo...Corey Brown reckons Rangirangdoo is the perfect ride for the Epsom 1600m. He gave his prediction after riding him to victory in the Grp 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. CB says: 'A mile with a good tempo and he'll be something to beat.' Rangirangdoo will have his next run in the Grp 2 Shannon Stakes in a fortnight before tackling the Grp 1 Epsom Handicap.

The whip madness continues...Corey Brown is the latest jockey to be outed for a breach. He was beaten a nose in Friday's Listed Wyong Gold Cup and stewards charged him with using the whip on 8 consecutive strides on his mount Lodge The Deeds. This is five times over the limit. Lodge The Deeds ran home strongly to be beaten a nose by Mr Clangtastic. For his hard work CB was stripped of his riding fee as well as his share of the second prizemoney. The stewards took into account the fact the penalty would include a number of Group and Listed races at Newcastle on Sep16 and 17 in addition to the Rosehill meeting on September 19. Brown copped a 13-day ban for the offence, starting on Sunday, Sep 13 until midnight on Sep 25.

Game frontrunner Mr Clangtastic is set for the Grp 1 Metropolitan after notching his fourth successive win in Friday's $120,000 Wyong Cup...Trainer Marc Conners says Mr Clangtastic will have his next start in the Newcastle Gold Cup on Sep 17 before taking on the The Metropolitan.

Leon Macdonald has confirmed that well-fancied Rebel Raider is OUT of the spring carnival. The Derby-winning 4YO was to have run in Sat's Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington but now he faces surgery to have a piece of bone removed from the leg. Leon says: 'He somehow snapped off the top of his sesamoid bone and we are thinking that he must have done it by kicking a wall as it is a most unusual injury...The vets tell me he's a 70-30 chance of making a full recovery but I think it's better than that.''

Bad news, too, from the Robert Smerdon stable...His highly-regarded stayer Driffield Gold, winner of five of his past six starts in Melbourne, has picked up an infection in a bad foot abscess and Smerdon confirms he is now out of the spring racing.

Gone...Grp 1 winning mare Bel Mer has been retired following her disappointing run at Caulfield last Saturday.

News from the Jason Coyle yard is that My Naara is an above-average type...Won a 900m trial at Rosehill in slick style, clocking 53.67s.

Racing NSW stewards have begun an inquiry after a post-race urine sample taken from the Barbara Joseph-trained Follow The Command allegedly showed the presence of aminocaproic acid. The swab was taken from the gelding afterhis win in at Wagga on Sunday, Aug 9.

Jinxed...Imported galloper Alessandro Volta's trouble-plagued Aussie career continues. He's out of the spring racing after sustaining an injury at Balaklava on Wednesday. A spokesman for trainer David Hayes says AV 'pulled the tendon sheath away from the fetlock joint.' The stable is hopeful he will return autumn 2010.

Trainer Paul Murray's declaration that Predatory Pricer will bypass the Caulfield Cup has thrown early betting into a state of confusion. The stayer remains equal fav for the Caulfield 2400m classic but punters are bewildered...Is it really true that he won't run or was Murray just mouthing-off because of his anger at the weight allotted by the handicapper. Maybe it's time for the stewards to step in and demand some firm outcome? Latest market from Mark Read's IAS:

PREDATORY PRICER 13.00 4.00
SPEED GIFTED 13.00 4.00
VIGOR 13.00 4.00
WHOBEGOTYOU 13.00 4.00
SHOCKING 15.00 4.50
DAFFODIL 19.00 5.50
CEST LA GUERRE 21.00 6.00
VIEWED 21.00 6.00
GALLICA 26.00 7.25
RAFFAELLO 26.00 7.25

Hot at $2.30...That's how the price assessors at TAB Sportsbet see Typhoon Tracy for Sat's Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Peter Moody's brilliant 4YO Red Ransom mare heads Heart of Dreams $4.40 and Predatory Pricer $4.60 in the early market. Caulfield Cup 2nd-fav Vigor is next at $9.00. Peter Moody has enother hotpot in the Danehill Stakes with Black Caviar dominant at $1.70, well clear of Manhattan Rain $6.00 and Rarefied $9.00

Singapore raider Jolie's Shinju is slowly having her work stepped up as she prepares for her first Australian run in the Grp 2 $500,000 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes 1600m at Moonee Valley on Sep 12. The Singapore Derby winner is in the second week of her quarantine period at Sandown racecourse. Her #1 goal is the Cox Plate on Oct 24. Trainer Hideyuki Takaoka reports that Jolie's Shinju is in excellent shape leading up to her Australian debut on Saturday week. He will give Jolie's Shinju another gallop at Sandown on Saturday before taking her to Moonee Valley next Tuesday to familiarise herself with the tricky circuit.

Latest report from TAB Sportsbet: The Peter Moody trained Avenue, a full sister to Virage De Fortune, has been backed 'off the map' early for the Sofitel Girls Day Out 1100 at Flemington on Saturday. Originally priced as the $2.90 fav punters pounced with bets of $4000 and $1900 @ $2.90, $8000 and $500 @ $2.50 then $2000 @ $2.25, pushing her price into $2.10. Boasting a record of one start for a win at Moonee Valley back in February she is a $26 chance for the 1000 Guineas.

Better get over here quick-smart...Kiwi trainer Paddy Busuttin has to bring his handy stayer Six O'Clock News to Australia early. The reason? Racing Victoria has told him he has little hope of the gelding getting a run in the Caulfield Cup if he remains in NZ. Trainer Paddy Busuttin says: 'The handicapper Greg Carpenter told me there is not one race in New Zealand in which we can promote his chances of getting a run at Caulfield. Not one.' Six O'Clock News has 50.5kgs in both Cups.

Another dropout...Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider is iunjured and it looks very much as if he won't make the spring carnival. Trainer Leon MacDonald says the 4YO pulled up sore after a gallop at Flemington last Wednesday. The injury is in the horse's hind fetlock joints. Scans have been taken and the results will be known in a day or two. RR is currently 25/1 for the Caulfield Cup and 20/1 for the Melbourne Cup.

Latest betting on the Caulfield Cup, following release of the weights, shows Predatory Pricer the fav at 10/1 ($11.00) but his trainer Paul Murray has declared he will not be a starter because of the weight he's been given. Speed Gifted and Vigor share the second line at $13.00 (12/1). In the Melbourne Cup, C'est La Guerre is fav at $11.00 (10/1) from Efficient and Profound Beauty at $13.00 (12/1).

Irish master trainer Dermot Weld is happy with Profound Beauty's 53.5kgs in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. He says: 'It's what I expected...She's set to run next in the Irish St Leger on September 12, but if the ground turns very soft then she will go straight to Australia.' Weld does have one gripe...He doesn't want a hard track. He warns: 'She will not run in the Melbourne Cup if we have ground as fast as we had a year ago.'

Early betting on the Chelmsford and Furious Stakes at Randwick on Saturday (prices from TAB Sportsbet)

CHELMSFORD STAKES

O'LONHRO 3.20
DREAMSCAPE 5.50
COURT COMMAND 5.50
TRIPLE HONOUR 5.50
VISION AND POWER 8.00
MISS MARIELLE 8.00
ROMAN EMPEROR 11.00
MISS DARCEY 18.00
ZAVITE 35.00
GO CART 126.00
MOODY AVENUE 201.00

1st bet $2000 @ $3.20 on O'Lohnro

FURIOUS STAKES

MELITO 4.00
KISS ME KATY 7.50
DEER VALLEY 7.50
LITTLE SURFER GIRL 8.50
PREREQUISITE 9.00
SPEEDY NATALIE 9.00
LOVEMELIKEAROCK 12.00
HURTLE MYRTLE 12.00
MORE VALOUR 14.00
SO ANYWAY 14.00
CHORDATA 21.00
MOROSI (1E) 21.00
ELUCIDATION 35.00
OUR JOAN OF ARC 35.00
MAGIC MODEL 71.00
PEARL OF THE SEA 71.00

1st bet $1000 @ $4 on Melito

Now that's predatory handicapping...Looks like Predatory Pricer is a non-starter in the Caulfield Cup because trainer Paul Murray reckons he's been disgracefully weighted on 53.5kgs. PM snarls: 'They must think he is pretty good and obviously they don't want him in the race...He hasn't won a Grp 1 yet and is only half a kilogram away from all the winners of the big three-year-old races last season....Horses like Metal Bender (54kgs) and Rebel Raider (54.5) have won two Grp 1s each, and compared to him they are thrown in...He is disgracefully weighted.'' The Cox Plate at weight-for-age (no weight complaints there!) is now the #1 target.

There may be a few international runners contesting the Cups this year. Luca Cumani, twice runner-up with Bauer (2008) and Purple Moon (2007), is aiming to bring Cima De Triomphe (55.5) and Basaltico (51.5), while the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Age Of Aquarius (51) and Changingoftheguard (50.5) will press their claims in the English St Leger on Sept 12.

Champ sprinter Scenic Blast is currently an 'exile' from Australia and it's all because of our super-tough quarantine laws.The Royal Ascot winner cannot return to Australia until late in December as he must quarantine in a third country for 60 days after he races in Japan in October. It rules Australia's best sprinter out of a Grp 1 sprint at Flemington on the final day of the carnival. SB's predicament is not a one-off. The Q-laws are killing off international representation for the Cups. The reason? It's just too difficult to meet all the requirements.

Jot down the name..Mick Price is thinking of the Victoria Derby 2500m for his impressive Encosta de Lago colt Tribunal who scored in decisive style at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday. At his third raceday start and stepping up to metropolitan company after an easy Sale maiden win, Tribunal settled midfield and then ripped home for a bold win over the 1500m. MP says: 'We believe he's a Derby horse and today was all about teaching him to relax and learn to compete as a racehorse as he's still a big kid really.'

Chris Waller's 6YO stayer Enzedex Eagle is the early favorite at $2.80 (7/4) for Friday's Wyong Gold Cup at Wyong. EE has had two runs back from a spell and finishged 3rd to Emperor Bonaparte at his latest start at Rosehill 1800m on Aug 29. The TAB Sportsbet market:

WYONG GOLD CUP

ENZEDEX EAGLE 2.80
LODGE THE DEEDS 3.20
MR CLANGTASTIC 4.00
SCARLET 7.50
FORT N WON 21.00
SUSSMAN 21.00
WANT A BET 26.00
SO THE CAT SAID 26.00
FAIR TRIAL 35.00
CUCHURITA 71.00
TWO TOWERS 71.00
THUNDER AND RAIN 126.00
SKY BISCUIT 126.00

On the way back...Mark Kavanagh's popular stable jockey Michael Rodd has been cleared to resume trackwork on Monday. MR broke a wrist in a trackwork fall five weeks ago. He says: 'I'll probably ride two or three on Monday and it all depends on how I pull up as to when I'll be coming back to race riding.'

The spring...The Caulfield and Melbourne Cup riddle will come more into focus on Wednesday...Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter announces the weights for the big staying races.

Good news for Tony Noonan fans...His classy mare Ortensia will be back home in Melbourne on Wednesday night after wintering in Queensland. She's just emerged from several weeks of crisp pacework at the Deagon training circuit. She is likely to return to racing in the Gilgai at Flem on Oct 3, and then go for the Tristarc two weeks later.

Bart Cummings just might have a real 3YO star in the making...The name is So You Think, a son High Chaparral. Bart has kept him away from the racetrack since his sole appearance in May when she scored a slick win over 1400m at Rosehill. After a couple of barrier trials in recent weeks, So You Think will return to racing in the $100,000 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m), a race Bart has used before to launch successful classic campaigns. SYT is a Victoria Derby prospect.

Bone chips...Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace is out of the spring carnival racing and will have surgery on bone chips. He'll be out for several months.

International glory bid...Racehorse of the Year Scenic Blast is still in England being prepared for a big Japanese World Series sprint in October. He's due to arrive in Japan in the next few weeks to contest the Grp 1 Sprinter's Stakes. Because of Australia's quarantine regulations,the mighty speedster will be sent to Hong Kong after that race to be prepped for the Grp 1 International Sprint there in December. A win in Japan will give his owners a $US1 million ($1.19m) bonus for a horse winning three races in different countries, and he'd be in line for a further $US1 million bonus if he can also win in Hong Kong.

Big day looms for Mark Kavanagh on Saturday...He'll saddle up last start winner Raffaello, smart 4YO pair Dr Doute's and Cats Whisker as well as Shamoline Warrior, Grand Harmony and Champagne Harmony. His top stayer Maldivian is also set to return to racing on Sat.

More than $25 million will be spent on revitalising Warwick Farm Racecourse, the AJC has announced. It says major new member, spectator, racing and training facilities will be built under a Grand Plan for Warwick Farm that will see its future secured as a racing and training venue for decades.

Stradbroke winner Black Piranha continues his Cox Plate build-up with an 1100m barrier trial at Newcastle on Wednesday. Trainer Con Karakatsanis says the star 6YO needs to have another trial to keep pace with his Cox Plate opposition. BP is currently around the 15/1 mark for the wfa classic at Moonee Valley.

Lee Freedman is going all-out to get imported stayer Speed Gifted a chance in the Cups. The UK-brand galloper is among 21 entries for Sat's Grp 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and among 29 entries for the Spring Is The Season Handicap (1700m). It's expected he will run in the 1700m race. The Grp 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Sep 19, which guarantees the winner a start in the Caulfield Cup, is likely to be Speed Gifted's second assignment. Speed Gifted is currently second fav at 12/1 for the Caulfield Cup and 16/1 for the Melbourne Cup.

Star West Australian bred, sold, owned and trained galloper Scenic Blast has been crowned Australia's champion of last season. The outstanding sprinter was the big winner at the Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards at Melbourne's Crown Palladium on Monday night.

Punters are warming to Whobegotyou for the Cox Plate. His bold performance in the Memsie has triggered some big bets. Centrebet's Neil Evans says a heap of money has forced his quote to be slashed from $7 into $5.50. He says: 'His run was a terrific Cox Plate-type run and punters have reacted accordingly...He's now th standout favorite for the Cox Plate.' Memsie winner Mic Mac is also a key Cox Plate firmer. He's in from $26 into $14. El Segundo has eased from $11 to $12 after his moderate 6th. In Caulfield Cup betting, Whobegotyou has firmed from $21 to $17 as did his stablemate Shocking, a good 6th at Caulfield last Sat.

Big owner Nathan Tinkler reckons Chris Munce is his 'lucky' jockey so he's booked him to ride Melbourne-based Scarlet in Friday's Wyong Cup. Scarlet, an imported Chilean mare, is coming north from the Mick Price stable in Melbourne to run in the Wyong Cup. The 4YO has had 4 runs since a spell for two 2nds and a last start 4th over 2040m at Moonee Valley on Aug 22.

Brian Johnston, co-trainer of Grand National Steeplechase winner Pentiffic, has lashed out at the violence-prone anti-jumps protesters who invaded Betfair Park on Sunday. He branded them an 'absolute disgrace' as their protests became physical at the final metropolitan jumps meeting of the season. Johnston says some patrons, including his son, had been physically and verbally assaulted by some of the estimated 100 protesters as they entered the racecourse He says: 'They got pushy and shovey here today, they're being thugs and they're being violent. They've gone beyond protesting, they're now verbally and physically assaulting people.'

Protests are mounting over those crazy new whip rules and already there are signs of official buckling...Stewards found not one jockey had broken the rules at Rosehill! Meantime, Jockeys Assn chief Paul Innes is calling for the Australian Racing Board to conduct an urgent review into the new rules. He says: 'Racing is a very dangerous sport; one slip in concentration could be fatal...'In the dying stages of a race, jockeys need to be concentrating entirely on their personal safety and the safety of fellow riders, not worrying about calculating the number of times they've moved their whip.''

It'll be something of a miracle if talented Metal Bender makes it back to racing. He's to be spelled and faces, at the very least, a long absence from racing after sustaining a stifle injury. Metal Bender, trained by Jack Denham, was one of the key Cups fancies for the spring in the wake of his Randwick and Rosehill Guineas double last season.