Platinum Racing

Much has been made of the trials and tribulations of apprentices lately, mainly focusing on the negative impacts of the behaviour of apprentices like Josh Adams and co. But, on the positive side, gee there are some nice kids coming along that are yet to make their mark in metropolitan racing here in NSW - but I think they will.

Young Sam Clipperton, who again rode a winning double at Scone today, is a very promising rider and he is in very good hands - those of former champion jockey Ron Quinton. Sam is a featherweight but he just keeps riding better each meeting and this boy will make the grade in town.

Shaun Guymer has jumped out of the woodwork in the past six months. Shaun was taught well when he started his career under top trainer and former champion amateur jockey Danny Williams at Goulburn, before he moved on to Canberra.

He rode his first metro winner at Randwick a fortnight back - and it will not be his last.

Leeton trainer Peter Clancy has also given his apprentice John Kissick a good grounding and this kid has impressed me with his thinking capacity in races. He rides very well. Having topline apprentices is nothing strange to Clancy, himself also a former top flight amateur jockey.

He was the original master of Brett Fliedner and brothers Brad and Tim Clark.

You had also better write down the name Jake Pracey-Holmes in big letters. this kid has only been riding in races for a few weeks and is apprenticed to Dubbo trainer, former jockey Peter Nestor. Jake rode a winning double at the Forbes Cup meeting on Monday and he is the real deal.

The kid began his career in Sydney but according to Nestor "had issues" and was sent west to Dubbo, and Nestor described him on Sky Racing World on Monday as a "good kid." This boy does the right thing - and the world is his oyster as well.

RICHIE CALLANDER - GIVE ME A BREAK!

You know it actually becomes tiresome the continued harping of Richie Callander blowing TVN's trumpet. Well next time Richie is on leave he should actually sit down and spend a few days watching Sky Racing World - which makes TVN look like Play School for punters in my view.

The knowledge and experience of the on tracks hosts like Gary Kliese and John Scorse is outstanding - the studio hosting of people like Greg Radley, Richard Freedman and Michael Maxworthy is first class and one could be forgiven for thinking that the racing media in Australia is finally getting somewhere near the standard of Hong Kong and Singapore.

Similarly SKY Racing World makes SKY 1 look pretty horrid as well. If you are not into greyhounds and harness racing - SKY 1 can be excrutiatingly boring.

MICK GETS A WINNER

Good to see my mate, Queanbeyan trainer Mick Petrovic get another one home today when old Ten Of Hearts won again on the Acton track with Anelise King in the saddle.

The old boy sat outside the leader and was too good for a pretty handy field in the run home.

BARBAJUAN GOES TO ALLANDALE PARK

Like every other stallion that has stood at Eagle Park, the tenure of Barbajuan, a son of Danehill Dancer, was also short lived at the Orange Stud and he has now moved to stand the forthcoming season at Allandale Park at Hobby's Yards, near Bathurst.

Barbajuan was a three time winner in England in his juvenile days and was subsequently sold to Macau where he was a Gr 3 winner.

There has been a pretty hectic turnover of stallions at Eagle Park in recent years with Volitant, Colossus, Modern Era, Byblos and Barbajuan all having moved on rapidly after having been snconced there for a short period.

JUST HOW GOOD IS FRANKEL?

This is a question that most of the racing world is asking after his absolute annihilation of Goldikova's Royal Ascot conqueror, Canford Cliffs a couple of weeks back.

Sir Henry Cecil is no stranger to training oustanding horses and he has also seen the very best in his long and illustious career in England and for him to rate him as the "best I have ever seen" is a huge statement.

But there is no doubt the horse is an absolute freak.

AMERICAIN BACK ON TRACK:

The boys from Jayco will be looking forward to that first Tuesday in November again with a spring in their step after Americain returned to the winner's circle in France earlier this week with a Gr 3 win.

There is little doubt last year's Melbourne Cup winner will be heading back to Flemington to try and win back to back cups. He is a super stayer and if he stays fit and well he will take some holding out again this year.