Frigid weather prevented all bar the most hardy punters from turning up at Flemington but plenty went on round the traps at Saturday's meeting.
PAYNE MAKES QUIET RETURN TO RIDING
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne quietly returned to racing with two unplaced rides at Flemington.
Payne made worldwide headlines last month when she tested positive to a banned substance, which was contained in prescribed medication, at Swan Hill before stewards suspended her for four weeks.
Payne said she spent her time off working on her training set-up outside Ballarat but was happy to be back riding after her enforced break.
Payne finished 11th in her first ride back on the Steve Richards-trained Vainglorious ($26) in the Domain Plate (1400m) before running fifth aboard Invincible Al ($6) in the Flemington Event Staff Handicap (1100m).
PLAY MASTER BREAKS DROUGHT WITH SHOCK FLEMINGTON WIN
Most punters would have thanked Play Master had the gelding chose another day to notch his first win for more than two years.
The sprinter's last win came in the Listed All Victoria Sprint Series Final down the Flemington straight in on July 11, 2015 before breaking his drought with his success in the K A Morrison Handicap (1200m).
Play Master started at $31 after struggling in the 2017 version of the All Victorian Sprint Series Final a fortnight ago but staged a 10-length turnaround to blouse Kirani ($31) on the line.
Play Master's trainer Peter Smith suggested he had little faith his charge could win in his post-race interview.
"I would have had a shave if I thought he was a chance," the Benalla trainer joked.
Divine Mr Artie started as the $3.20 favourite but could only manage third behind the two longshots.
THOMPSON GOES OUT FOR A STEWARDS-ENFORCED SPELL A WINNER
Apprentice Ben Thompson booted home the last winner of the day when successful aboard Hay Bale but was suspended for careless riding a short time later.
Thompson got Hay Bale ($8) home for the Robbie Griffiths stable in the Flemington Event Staff Handicap (1100m) but found himself in trouble with stewards for his riding on the third-placed Rebellious Lord in the Murray Cox Handicap (1400m).
Thompson pleaded guilty to careless riding after stewards alleged he pushed Rebellious Lord into a run between Don't Get Excited and Majestic Duke when there was insufficient room at the 300m.
Stewards deemed Thompson's offence to be in the mid-range of severity before knocking off a few meetings for his guilty plea and good record, suspending him for 10 meetings.
WEIR GETS DOUBLE AFTER BAD START TO MEETING
Premier Victorian trainer Darren Weir prepared a trifecta when his three runners filled the placings in the George Watson Handicap (2000m) but the day didn't start too well for the Ballarat horseman.
Weir's runners Pacodali ($4.60), Master Zephyr ($15) and Killarney Kid ($9.50) completed the trifecta in the $100,000 race but two of the stable's well-fancied runners struggled earlier in the day.
Imported galloper Ebediyin was touted was a strong winning chance in the VRC Recognition Handicap (1600m) but struggled in the BM78 event, finishing seventh as a $4 chance, but a post-race vet's exam showed a slow recovery and a degree of mucus in the horse's throat.
Stewards found the same issues affected Sea The Sparkle, who was backed from $3 to $2.50 before finishing fifth in the Wilson Medic Rising Stars Final (1600m).
TOUGH STOCKDALE BOUNCES BACK
Brandon Stockdale ended up in hospital after burning his arm at Wednesday's Sandown meeting but returned to racing a winner at Flemington on Saturday.
Stockdale spilled boiling water on his arm, which left the youngster with a nasty burn but the apprentice managed to get a medical clearance to ride at Flemington on Saturday.
The 3kg claimer received a welcome tonic after a tough week when he piloted the Robert Smerdon-trained Dulverton to victory in the Rising Stars Series Final (1600m).
"It (the burned arm) is bandaged up at the moment but it's OK," Stockdale said.
"It was pretty sore the other day when I burnt it because the skin peeled away straight away.
"I was dirty because I'd been a bit crook and that's why I wanted the boiling water, to clean everything up inside so I could breathe a bit better. I spilt it on my arm so it was one bit of bad luck after another."
