SUN SHINES ON HALL OF FAME

Black Caviar joined a pantheon of industry superstars when admitted to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame on Thursday night. It wasn’t unexpected.

Just five days earlier, the magic mare had eclipsed the Lightning Stakes – which now carries her name as well – to record her 13^th Group One victory and break a quarter century track record in the process.

23 from 23! Will we ever see her like again? Thing is, 23 could become 24, 25, 26 …

And that’s what – almost – sets her apart from other four legged inductees: she is still racing.

Only one other horse has entered the Hall of Fame while still racing: the mighty mare, Sunline.

So, it was something of a milestone for Eliza Park as the stud not only stands Black Caviar’s sire, Bel Esprit, it also stood Sunline’s sire, Desert Sun (who, in turn, is the damsire of Black Caviar!).

While Bel Esprit, the current leading Australian Sire by winners, has stood his entire stud career at Eliza Park, Desert Sun first arrived in Victoria when Sunline was a 3YO.

The grand old horse left the stage in June last year but both through Sunline and his other daughter, Helsinge (dam of Black Caviar), he has provided Australasian racing with a unique legacy.

The late, great Desert Sun

FAME – I WILL REMEMBER YOUR NAME

Although, naturally enough, Black Caviar stole most of the limelight at the 2013 Australian Racing Hall of Fame shindig, there were some other greats of the turf who grabbed industry ‘oscars’.

Jockeys Geoff Lane and Hughie Cairns got the nod, as did top Queensland trainer Bruce McLachlan.

No-one who knew Albert O’Cass would have been surprised that he was on the list of luminaries as his influence stretched far beyond his skills as a farrier, while administrator and agent, David Coles, is a given. So too, Sir George Julius, inventor of the tote.

Actually there was a bit of synergy there with Crisp becoming one of the equine inductees, the great jumper having been owned by another Hall of Famer in Sir Chester Manifold, whose incredible drive saw the introduction of the TAB in 1964.

Meanwhile, the two of other horses that made the cut were 1951 Melbourne Cup winner Delta and breeding leviathan, Star Kingdom.

VATICAN’S VALLEY BENEDICTION

Omen bets are usually … well, bad omens. As a kid I was told to back the first jockey you see when you arrive on course and that’s maybe a good reason why – 40 years later – I’m still working on Saturday mornings.

And, you’d have to say that a $2.30 favourite is not exactly omen territory, particularly one that’s won his previous two from three in town and had excuses the other time.

Still, when you have a flying machine by God’s Own from Our Sistine called Vatican, it’s time to shove a bit more Hollandaise sauce on your Ex Benedict.

(OK, confessional time – the Ex Benedict line isn’t my divine inspiration … heard that one when standing around the water font).

Anyway, congrats to Byron Cozamanis and his team … Vatican’s win at Moonee Valley last night took his earnings to over the $300k mark and, based on his lightning performance, it won’t be the last time money goes into the plate.

Go with God!

No ... the other Vatican

VALLEY WRITE UP

 Robbie Griffiths (right) may well be the best person to ask for directions to Moonee Valley racecourse given that his former star galloper, Dandy Kid, holds the record for most wins at the track.

And, while It Is Written has a long way to go to catch up to the Kid, the Written Tycoon 4YO did notch up his third win at the Valley last night with a barnstorming finish over 1200m.

Written Tycoon (below) goes from strength and has a number of yearlings entered for the Melbourne Premier and Adelaide Magic Millions over the next couple of weeks. It’s fairly safe to assume that Robbie Griffiths will be one of those having a look!

NOT JUST CAVIAR

Naturally enough, Black Caviar was the centre of global attention on Saturday and it was somewhat fitting that she became Bel Esprit’s 100^th individual winner for the season, helping maintain her sires’ lead at the head of the national chart (by winners).

But, as wonderful as she is (and isn’t she just!) she still only counts as one on the tally and Bel Esprit was responsible for four other winners on the weekend: promising 2YO, Iconic, the gutsy, Belfast Boy, the unbeaten Talbanga, and the now 3-time winner Summers Day.

Gordon Richards’ sprinter, Belfast Boy, had no luck in running in the Lawn Handicap (1200m) at Flemington, jumping awkwardly and copping a bump, but kept grinding away to score his seventh career victory and taking his stakes to $345,300. It was his third win at Flemington having won at headquarters on New Year’s Day.

Keep an eye out too for the very speedy, Talbanga, who is trained by Vincent Nolen: his win as favourite over 1000m at Bendigo had class written all over it and he is now unbeaten following on from his 4.3 length win at Wagga on Australia Day. Nolen shares ownership in the horse with breeder, Steve Blore.

Meanwhile, Summers Day returned to her best form for trainer Ricky Maund, coming from eighth on the turn to capture a commanding victory at Yarra Glen – he third overall and second time to the winners’ circle this campaign.