Ah!! It was a great morning with loads of jockeys on hand and boy does it make a difference. Mark and Neil have held fort extremely well but this morning Nash even brought a family member along to help in Stacey Rawiller.

Robyn could not get over Avec Mon Ami who has gone ahead since she rode her last. Robyn was most complimentary saying, "she is a lot stronger and it is almost as though she is a different horse". The smart female jockey went on to say the Savabeel filly was the best gallop of her morning and then asked when she was racing, hoping to secure ride. Mark's perseverance has won the day however and he will partner the Star Thoroughbreds filly at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Cap Dancer (Lucky Owners) pleased. Mark felt the change in program for Kontiki Park, namely racing at Wyong over 1350m, will suit him down to the ground. Mark has a terrific strike rate on the Thorn Park gelding having won twice on him from as many attempts.

Breeder Andrea Craven is making the pilgrimage from New Zealand as Bruce has enticed her to come to Wyong to witness her darling boy greet the judge. We are also planning a night out as I think it is so delightful that Andrea gets so involved with her horses. Racing is a marvellous thing for people who enjoy travel and meeting new friends and acquaintances.

I was pleased with the progress Music Maestro (Stravinsky) made today. He has been extremely slow to come to hand to the point where I said to his owner George Mooratoff that maybe we should pull the plug but he replied, "Gai, give him a couple of runs and then we can make up our mind".

Once Were Wild (Johannesburg) Mark knows backwards and he was delighted with the way she bowled round over 1400m. She is such a pleasure to train as she is always willing to get on with the job.

Jessie is chomping at the bit to get back to racing and is nearly through her current suspension. Jessie's best of the morning was strong lad Onetonnegun (Rock of Gibraltar) who debuts at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Terrific expat Kiwi Two for Tea (Drama Critic) worked with Pictures of You (Don Eduardo) and I love the way he keeps improving. This morning he said bye bye to his counterpart and she is no slouch.

Three babies (yearlings) went through their paces in Piecart (Charge Forward), Iridesse (Charge Forward) and the Hussonet/Fountain of Joy filly. Neil, Mark and Jessie really liked them and there was not an inch between them.

The most impressive gallop of the morning came from the unraced Gooree colt Memorable Moment who was partnered by Nash alongside Brightexpectations and Alex. The son of Encosta De Lago has not seen the track while Brightexpectations is a Group 2 winner and Nash confirmed the rap on the colt by saying, "this is a great colt". Wonderful feedback from Nash and he has his second trial at Randwick on Monday and is definite black booker.

Blue Lotus (Redoute's Choice) has gone ahead in leaps and bounds, she just needed time to come to hand. Stacey Rawiller commented Squamosa (Not a Single Doubt), Star's last start winner, is a lovely colt.

Neil's best was Al Aseel (Forestry), a massive individual who in his last two track sessions has delighted me with his work.

It was an absolutely super win by Star's Antiguan, his four-year-old by Danzero won by a convincing margin at his first attempt over 1600m. I felt the race was won at the 800m mark when Nash allowed the forward going Sirwinni to lead, settling Antiguan into his comfortable racing rhythm.

It did the trick and he relaxed and picked up nicely in the straight. The premiership is becoming such an interesting race. Nash told me early in the season that it was one thing that he dearly wanted to win and in the time I have worked with him he is not one to be conned into not achieving his goals.

I hope the clubs take advantage of the healthy competition, it will be a leviathan battle.

David Jones' ex CEO Mark McInnes has been in all the tabloids recently, but it nice to see such well written and heartfelt obituary of Charles Lloyd Jones in this morning's Sydney Morning Herald. It is well worth reading here.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW WARWICK FARM RACECOURSE MANAGER

James Cataldo to join the Warwick Farm team.

The Australian Jockey Club (AJC) today announced the appointment of Mr James Cataldo as the Warwick Farm Track Manager, effective 9 August 2010.

This appointment is a result of a search among leading track managers around Australia.

The AJC Chief Executive Officer, Darren Pearce, emphasised the importance of this role for the Club saying, "The AJC has committed to an extensive refurbishment of Warwick Farm and to bring quality racing back to the people of South West Sydney. Great racing and training surfaces are a key part of this strategy".

Cataldo joins the AJC from Thoroughbred Park in Canberra where he held the role of Racecourse Manager.  Prior to that, Cataldo was employed at Moonee Valley Race Club in Melbourne. 

During his stint in Canberra Cataldo was responsible for the construction and management of a new course proper and maintained perhaps the most successful synthetic track in Australia.  This experience is vital to ?The Farm' where the main track work surface is also synthetic. 

The AJC's vision to provide world class racing and events at both Royal Randwick and Warwick Farm will be greatly strengthened by Cataldo's previous achievements and experience.

"It's a thrill to be returning to metropolitan racing.  To make that transition at Warwick Farm, with Australia's oldest Race Club is both a challenge and a privilege.

"Having seen the redevelopment plans for Warwick Farm it's a brave and ambitious project.  With the relocation of the Inglis sales complex and the racetrack facilities upgrade, South West Sydney can expect a wonderful venue for racing and the community.

"My family and I are looking forward to relocating to Warwick Farm next month, and are really excited by the opportunity to work with some of Australia's best horse people".

Cataldo's first race meeting will be the Group 2 Warwick Stakes on Saturday, 21 August.