Platinum Racing

Tim Martin, Peter Snowden, John O'Shea and Peter Snowden were among the leading trainers who not only effusive in their praise of the two day Scone carnival ad the stand alone Saturday meeting, but also said there should be more of these meetings.

Watch the regular 12 people who attend Sydney meetings every single Saturday squeal like stuck pigs and the charge will be led by some sections of the media.

I have long believed that May and June are as dead as can be in Sydney and what a hat trick it would make in May if Wagga held its Town Plate meeting on Saturday, followed by the stand alone at Hawkesbury the next week and Scone the week after?

For Wagga it would avoid any day clashing with the Warrnambool carnival in Victoria so you would get an even bigger Victorian component at Wagga, Hawkesbury has already proved an outstanding success as has Scone.

This would not only be good for racing, but good for tourism and rural economies in NSW.

Warrnambool alone brings $23m into the coastal town for the three day carnival and strong country carnivals with stand alone Saturday meetings would add significantly to rural and regional economies.

It should be given a try.

SOME MOUTH WATERING RACING:

The Gr 1 Kris Flyer Sprint (1200m) at the Singapore International meeting next Sunday at Kranji - again threatens to attract more interest than the Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m).

The nemesis' of Singaporean champion Rocket Man have arrived safely in  Singapore this week - Green Birdie and Sacred Kingdom - who have relegated Rocket Man into second place in the last two renewals of the Kris Flyer.

The two Hong Kong gallopers - may not be going as well now as when they last beat Rocket Man - but their arrival ensures that Rocket Man will not have things all his own way in the race.

I think it will be third time lucky for the local champ on Sunday.

Hong Kong gallopers, Irian and California Memory have also arrived in Singapre in preparation for their starts in the Cup.

The meeting next week looks certain to be a corker.

CANFORD CLIFFS RETURNS IN STYLE:

Outstanding Richard Hannon trained galloper Canford Cliffs returned to racing in fine style by taking the Gr 1 Lockinge Stks (mile) in the UK last week.

Canford Cliffs beat the Italian galloper Worthadd yesterday, who surprised the UK racegoers with his great second under World Cup winning jockey Mirco Demuro.

Canford Cliffs is now 6/4 second favourite behind wonder mare Goldikova (5/4) for the Queen Ane at Royal Ascot next month.

It is also highly likely that Canford Cliffs will clash with superstar Frankel at Glorious Goodwood so the road from yesterday's Gr 1 on does not get any easier for the galloper.

BUSHIES CLOCK UP THE MILES:

Country trainers Todd Austin (Queensland) and Gordon Wright (Tullibigeal, NSW) both clocked up training doubles at meetings hundreds of kilometres apart yesterday.

Wright won a race at Cobar, who held their annual cup meeting in western NSW and also landed a winner at the Mudgee picnic meeting.

Austin trained winners at both Longreach and Charters Towers yesterday.

NISHIO ON A ROLL:

Japanese apprentice N.Nishio rode four winners in Central Queensland last Saturday and he followed that up with a winning treble at yesterday's Charters Towers meeting.

THREE FOR HACKETT:

Parkes jockey Michael Hackett rode a winning treble at yesterday's Cobar Cup meeting and went within a neck of making it four when he finished second in another race.

The cup in the Copper City was won by All Full, trained by Narromine mentor Wayne Collison and ridden by apprentice Ms. S. Trebley.

FORMER VICTORIAN WINS BLIGH CUP:

Snowy On The Tram, trained by former top flight footballer Terry Fahey, took out yesterday's Bligh Picnic Cup at the Mudgee racecourse with Pat Kelly in the saddle.

BRISBANE LOOKS LIKE HAVING BEST WINTER YET!

What a start for the Brisbane winter carnival - over 20,000 people packed into Doomben yesterday to see superstar Black Caviar win the Gr 1 BTC Cup (1200m)?

You may think it is all downhill from here - but I feel that the quality of horse heading for the Sunshine State will ensure this is the best ever winter carnival.

Of course, Black Caviar is to go around again in search of her 14th win from as many starts in the Gr 1 Doomben 10,000 in a couple of weeks - but there are several southerners who will also add their touch of class to the carnival.

These include Sincero, Benfica, Thankgodyourehere, Dysphonia, Shannara, Border Rebel, Wily Jimmy, Helmet etc.

SINCERO A CLASS ACT:

Sincero was terrific in winning the Guineas at Scone yesterday and Wyong trainer Steve Farley has really done an enormous job with this horse.

I was talking to Sincero's jockey Chris O'Brien at the recent National Jockey's Trust dinner and he told me the horse had come back in sensational style.

Of course, O'Brien cannot make the Stradbroke weight on Sincero and will be replaced by Glen Boss who will make the trip back from Singapore to ride the horse in Queensland's premier race.

This horse has just improved each time he has gone to the races and he is capable of winning at the top level n a regular basis.

He has come a long way since he took out the Inglis bonus race at last year's Wagga cup meeting beating Lichtenstein and Nextanix.

MAYBE THE WESTIES NEED SUNDAY MEETINGS:

Richard Callendarand other sections of the media (along with Australian Turf Club chairman John Cornish) believe in racing in Warwick Farm in Sydney's western suburbs.

Richard Freedman and other sections of the media have repeatedly denigrated the persistence in continuing with weekend racing at "the farm".

However, there was a terrific roll up at today's meeting at Warwick Farm and perhaps four or five feature Sunday meetings a year with stand alone meetings out of town on the preceeding Saturday - could be the way to go.

Of course, you can't please everyone, but I think it is another aspect of racing worth a try.