Back at work after a few days of R & R and there was plenty to talk about at Rosehill on Saturday.
PERFECT START
Scone trainer Brett Cavanough rewrote the Highway Handicap history books when Another Sin became the horse to win a Highway on debut.
Heavily backed from as much as $14 on Wednesday, the son of Duporth jumped the $3.30 favourite and led all of the way to defeat the Matt Dunn-trained Lifesaver by a short-head but the race wasn't over there with Tye Angland, rider of the runner-up firing in a protest for interference over the last 100m.
Another Sin and Lifesaver staged an epic dual up the Rosehill straight, coming together inside the 300m and over the final stages but Racing NSW chief steward ruled in favour of Cavanough's galloper.
"We had to win it twice, any chance I can get paid twice," Cavanough said.
Cavanough has high hopes for Another Sin and will target another Highway Handicap in the coming weeks before he turns his sights to the $200,000 Anniversary Highway (1400m) at Randwick on The Everest day on October 14.
MORE PONG THAN PING
Is there a worse feeling on the punt than when you take the shorts about one and it's gone on the home turn?
Backers of the Chris Waller-trained Vaucluse Bay got a taste of the empty feeling at Rosehill on Saturday.
Chasing his third win on the trot, Vaucluse Bay was backed from $1.85 into $1.75 but his jockey Corey Brown knew things were not going to plan at the midway stages of the race.
"At about the 1000m Tommy (Berry – Multifacets) quickened up a gear and I was toast," Brown said.
"He was tired and disinterested. Instead of going ping, he went pong."
A post-race vet inspection revealed Vaucluse Bay had suffered from cardiac arrhythmia and now must trial to stewards' satisfaction before heading back to the races.
But while Vaucluse Bay was a shocker, for those that backed either Tom Melbourne or Washington Heights later in the day - I guess there is a worse feeling.
WILL HE FIT IN MY BAG?
After next Saturday's Randwick meeting Tommy Berry will fly to Hong Kong for the next chapter of his career but he has left punters with a parting gift from Rosehill on Saturday.
While Chautauqua is unquestionably his favourite Australian horse, he will also be keeping a close eye on Arbeitsam after he piloted the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding to an emphatic 4-3/4 length victory.
Arbeitsam stopped the clock at 1.48.37 for the 1800m trip, just .38 seconds outside of Intergaze's track record set more than 20 years ago.
"That says to me he's much better than the horses he met today and he will get over further.
"He might be a bit better than ok and today won't be his last win."
MEN OF THE LAND
While on the subject of Tommy Berry, jockeys Christian Reith and Shaun Guymer spent last Sunday night camping out after the Honk Kong-bound rider's farewell party.
The boys decided after a few beers it was in the interests of their partners that they should sleep out in Berry's backyard in a two-man tent.
Their judgement was questioned by many pessimists throughout the day, due to the fact we are in the middle of winter.
"It was amazingly warm in there," Reith said at Rosehill on Saturday. "I'm definitely up for it again.
"Maybe just with different company next time."
Guymer, who was also celebrating a birthday, got the 'best on ground' award for his exploits on the dance floor.
WELL DONE RAYMONDO
Congratulations this week go to one of the good guys in the racing media ranks Ray Thomas for his recognition by way of his gong at the Kennedy Awards, the annual NSW journalism awards.
Thomas took out the Rod Allen Award – Racing Writer of the year.
Since I started working at Racenet, Ray has always been happy to help whenever I've leant on his encyclopedic memory of the sport.
Working alongside Ray at the races for almost 15 years I'm yet to see him blow up or outwardly show frustration, unlike yours truly when covering a race meeting, which I can assure you at times does your head in.
