The dollar that paid off handsomely

Gai Waterhouse's year has ended in triumph with Fiorente giving the trainer her first Melbourne Cup win.

IMAGINE turning $1 into $118,652 after getting the Melbourne Cup first four straight out?

Well, one lucky Victorian TAB punter did just that when he correctly selected Fiorente, Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Simenon to be the first four horses over the line in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington yesterday.

He was one of the big winners on the race that stops a nation as punters wagered $90.6 million through the NSW and Victorian TABs on the Melbourne Cup.

Fiorente was the first favourite to win the great race since Makybe Diva in 2005 but the Gai Waterhouse-trained champion has already been installed as the $10 favourite for a repeat triumph in next year's Melbourne Cup.

Fiorente paid $7 for the Win on the NSW and Victorian totalizators, as well as $7.00 in TAB Fixed Odds betting.

One NSW TAB punter had $27,500 at $7.00 on Fiorente just before the race and collected $192,500.

The $90.6 million in turnover on the Melbourne Cup race, which was down 2.0% on the previous year, included:

#$47.5 million in NSW TAB betting.

#$34 million in Victorian TAB betting.

#$9.1 million in TAB Fixed Odds betting across both states.

Total NSW and Victorian TAB turnover on the 10 races at Flemington was $133.7 million, down 4.8% on 2012.

A punter at Sportingbet $24 into a life changing $107,190 after correctly picking the first four across the line in the 2013 Melbourne Cup.

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The punter from Dampier in Western Australia, who requested to be known only as Jados, selected Fiorente, Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Simenon in a boxed first four, which costs a total of $24 as it allows for 24 possible winning combinations.

Jados placed the bet online at Sportingbet.com.au on the morning of the Melbourne Cup.

"I'm Big Kev excited," said Jados. "The kids picked two horses and I picked the other two so I suppose I have to give them some of the credit.

"I've told all my mates but none of them believe me. My missus is completely stoked and she's already got a new car picked out.''

Sportsbet said one punter placed a $40,000 bet at $7 on Fiorente and collected $280,000.

Other big bets on Fiorente include $25,000 and $15,000.

"The punters got this one right with Fiorente. He had the best form, and punters who stuck with him were rewarded,'' Sportsbet's Shaun Anderson said.

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Ponting secure with legacy

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FORMER Test captain Ricky Ponting is at peace with his legacy despite disparaging leadership comparisons with successor Michael Clarke from Shane Warne.

Far from lamenting three Ashes losses as skipper, Ponting concedes it was his 'destiny'.

Warne has unloaded on old teammate Ponting - citing the 168-Test batsman's criticism of close friend Clarke in his autobiography At The Close of Play as driven by 'jealousy' at losing three Ashes series to England.

Asked about Warne intermittently questioning his regimented tactical style while lauding Clarke's innovative approach, Ponting said: "At the end of the day I think my captaincy record will stand up for itself."

Ponting led Australia to 48 Test wins in 77 starts - bettered only by South African Graeme Smith with 51 from 104.

Ponting insists he had no free ride as skipper of a golden side - emphasising the exodus of titans including Justin Langer, Warne and Glenn McGrath in 2006-07, Adam Gilchrist in 2008 and Matthew Hayden in 2009.

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"A lot of people only think of me captaining a great team. I only had that team for three years. I took over in 2003 and they all left in 2006," said Ponting, whose revered predecessor Steve Waugh enjoyed a 71 per cent Test winning rate.

"I took over a young team and we were still able to maintain some pretty high standards and be competitive in every series we played."

Ponting led Australia to a gripping, revenge Test series win in South Africa during 2009 and noted England prevailed here in 2010-11 to eventually clinch No. 1 Test status.

"The only time I lost a series was against the No. 1 ranked side at the time," said Ponting, who has been promoting his book across Australia.

Ricky and Rianna Ponting attend the Melbourne Cup. Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

Australia's failure against England in 2005, 2009 and 2010-11 cut Ponting deep, a proud man and true Mowbray scrapper - but that was his lot in a stellar, 13,378-run, 20-year career.

"People can be critical, that's fine. I will be defined by the three Ashes losses I had and as a leader that is your destiny sometimes," said Ponting.

"In 2005 they beat us and in 2006-07 we were able to bounce back and play some of the best Test cricket that has ever been played."

Ponting isn't fretting about the controversy his book has generated saying he had been open and 'honest'.

Ponting will be itchy when the first Ashes Test starts at the Gabba from November 21 and will 'probably be sitting on the couch with his whites on' but knows his time has passed.

Ponting has also come in for a baking from Mark Taylor over his book but said the former Test skipper was also on Cricket Australia board during the national side's period of decline from 2004.

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How Ollie made it happen

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GAI Waterhouse says Damien Oliver's ride on Fiorente delivered her first Cup win.

"I think that was the crux, that's what won the Cup,'' she said. "The horse was fit and healthy for the Cup, but I had someone who knew the horse.''

Waterhouse dropped a Spring Carnival bombshell when she punted Nash Rawiller and put Oliver on board her favoured runner.

Oliver never once panicked on Fiorente and waited until the 600m to get motoring.

He had the field covered, but took a little longer to reel in the ageing stubborn English raider, Red Cadeaux.

Melbourne Cup favourite Fiorente claims the 2013 crown, pipping Red Cadeaux by a length on the final straight.

THE START

FIORENTE jumps well with Dandino and Brown Panther, who drew either side of him.

The pair kick clear of him in search of a good position.

Brown Panther ends up in a three-way battle for the early lead with Waterhouse's other entrant, Tres Blue, and Rusdhcello steaming over from their wide gates.

1ST WINNING POST

DAMIEN Oliver parks Fiorente midfield with plenty of galloping room.

He has Dandino to his inside and Simenon pushing forward on his outside. Red Cadeaux is in the group just ahead of him.

OUT OF THE STRAIGHT

VEREMA races with Masked Marvel behind Fiorente before the French mare breaks down.

The speed is still solid and Fiorente looks to get into a good rhythm. "I had visions of being in the first third of the field. but I ended up just off midfield. We had a pretty good run,'' Oliver said.

1000m TO GO

RIVALS Mount Athos and Red Cadeaux start to make their runs and roll forward, while Oliver refuses to panic.

Super Cool and Simenon sit just in front of him, with Royal Empire parked half a length behind him on the outside.

Australia's first lady of racing, Gai Waterhouse, has won her maiden Melbourne Cup with Fiorente, but not before a summons to the Stewards sent a scare through the camp.

THE 600M MARK

OLIVER is surrounded by runners, but still has plenty of galloping room and starts to quicken. He knocks Royal Empire out of the way and swings wide, following Ethiopia into the straight as Fawkner starts his own run down the outside, and Red Cadeaux and Simenon do their best to reel in Mount Athos up front.

"I slowly eased the horse to the outside and actually got closer to the lead than I expected to,'' Oliver said.

Early leaders Tres Blue and Ruscello have run out of gas and called it a day, dropping back through the field.

250M TO GO

FIORENTE quickly sweeps past Ethiopia and Simenon, but Red Cadeaux is proving to be a bit more stubborn. Red Cadeaux almost looks to fight back for a second, before Fiorente digs in. "I knew Red Cadeaux would take me a fair way, I picked him off at the 200m, but the last 200m seemed to take a long time,'' Oliver said.

100M FROM HOME

FIORENTE starts to get the better of Red Cadeaux and Oliver has his third Cup in the bag. Fawkner and Dandino finish down the outside.

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Ricciardo: Abu Dhabi a letdown

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That wasn't a great race, definitely not one for the scrapbook. We had a good grid spot but couldn't get the car off the line.

Our starts have been a bit hit and miss this year. The last few have been good but today was a miss. We got swamped on the way to Turn One and in the end I went wide to avoid a collision - though JEV (Scuderia Toro Rosso teammate Jean-Eric Vergne) and myself may have had some light contact.

After that things didn't look too clever. The position we're in at the moment is that the car isn't fast enough to mount that sort of major recovery. If we start in the top 10 and stay there on the first lap, we have the ability to race and defend a good position - but if we're out of sequence it's hard. Unfortunately that's the race we had today.

Coming into the race, the nominal strategy was to attempt a one-stopper, albeit with the hedge of pushing on the first stint and seeing how far we could go with the tyres. One consequence of getting away poorly was to come out of the mix behind Esteban Gutiérrez. He was on the prime tyre and as we've seen in recent races, the Saubers have really good straight line speed. I couldn't get past and sitting behind him we weren't really making good use of the tyres.

At that point I asked if we could go onto Plan B, and the next lap I was called into the pits. A two-stopper was the way forward, but ultimately it didn't improve our situation much.

When you're in that situation the race in front of you looks very long. A poor start tends to play on your mind for a few laps. It's very frustrating. It doesn't show up in the driving: it's not like I start locking brakes or driving like an idiot - but it's there, in the back of your mind. It's a couple of seconds when the lights go out but you can't take it back. All you can do is think about contingencies like a safety car and how you might be able to shoehorn-in a viable strategy around something like that. Beyond that you just try to have the best race you can - but it's definitely not got the same buzz as when you're hunting down points.

Racing aside, it's been a good weekend. This is one of my favourite venues. We haven't really done anything out of the ordinary but it's nice to sit out on the terrace, enjoy the heat and people-watch. Here that's mostly people on boats, which is a bit of a novelty. One regret is not getting to any of the live gigs that have been going on over the weekend. Everyone who's been down to the arena has raved about how good they've been, but we've had too many hours at the track to get away.

Hopefully I'll get to rectify that in Austin. We're going out early and I'm planning a proper night out before the grand prix: have some ribs, go see some live music and soak it all up. After that I'm going to nail the weekend. It'd be nice to be going there right now: I've got plenty of surplus energy to channel.

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Ashes dark days sparked fire

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ENGLAND'S current Ashes dominance was born in the repeated humiliations delivered by Warne, McGrath, Ponting and Co.

Ian Bell, England's middle-order maestro, said the lessons learned, particularly in the 2006-07 whitewash in Australia, still resonate with the current team and has been a catalyst in the turn around as the visitors aim for their fourth successive Ashes win this summer.

"Coming on tours when I started with England it wasn't the feeling of winning a series, it was trying to not make it as bad as it possibly can,'' Bell said yesterday in Hobart preparing for tomorrow's tour game against Australia A.

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"Now, there is no doubt that obviously the one (last series) in England and here we've come as favourites, which is a different pressure all together.

"It is a lot different culture in the English team now, not just against Australia but generally against whoever we play people from our side of things media-wise and people at home expect us to win."

He said the lessons of success were rammed home by the great Australian side that didn't lose an Ashes series from 1989 until 2005 and then retook the prized urn with a drubbing in the '06-07 series.

Bell initially struggled in the Ashes contests, being dubbed "the Sherminator" by perennial England baiter Shane Warne, but has now become arguably the visitors most consistent batsman, highlighted by his series high 562 runs at 62.4 during the winter in England's 3-0 win.

"Certainly in 2005, I think it was my fourth Test match, mentally and technically I wasn't ready for Test cricket but in a way it gave me a good lesson because I was playing against Warne, McGrath, Ponting _ you go from one to 11 (they are all) legends of the game," he said.

"They showed me certainly when we came here and lost 5-0 what proper Test cricket was all about.

"If I wanted to make a career in Test cricket I had to improve in a lot of areas and they were the lessons I took away from it.

"I wouldn't say I looked back with bad memories, they were just massive lessons I learned in my career.

"And I can honestly say I was lucky to play against some of the best players who have ever played the game, hopefully I've tried to learn a little bit from each of those guys and put it into my game."

England did not train yesterday but confirmed captain Alastair Cook and batsman Kevin Pietersen would both play against Australia A after sitting out the tour opener in Perth.

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Adam has drive to break record

Adam Scott follows through on a bunker shot at the 2013 Tour Championship tournament in Atlanta. Source: Jason Getz / AP

POWER-striking Masters hero Adam Scott has been tipped to set a new course record 62 at Royal Pines, where a drivable 280m par four is to be set up to spike crowd excitement at the Australian PGA.

Gold Coast-based Victorian pro Steve Jones predicted Scott could make the course-best 63 redundant with a light breeze, a hot round with the putter and the 2013 precision he has used to win three titles and more than $5 million in prizemoney.

The 193cm Jones, one of Australia's longest drivers off the tee with recorded 300m-plus drives, relished the plan to shorten the 344m eighth into a feature hole where the field could attempt to smote the ball to the green with a single blow for an eagle putt.

Scott is sure to go for broke there.

His drawing drive, by bunkers, to the green at the 343m par four fourth hole, when the tournament was at Palmer Coolum Resort in 2011, was one of the more remarkable shots of that week.

Thursday's opening round is likely to pitch crowd magnet Adam Scott and American Brandt Snedeker, the world No.9, into a feature afternoon three-ball.

"I've probably played Royal Pines as often as anyone in the field. It'll play harder than many people think but a guy who hits it phenomenal like Adam Scott can break that 63 if conditions are right," Jones said.

"Ask most pros and they love courses with a short, drivable par four with that real risk-reward factor. It's a great idea for the tournament."

Andrew Langford-Jones, director of tournaments for the PGA of Australia, has spent 12 months nutting out ways to raise the adrenalin of entertainment with course tweaks on the largely flat Gold Coast layout of wide avenues between the trees.

"There is a new tee block in play on the eighth where we can shorten the hole to around 280m which is definitely a plan for one round to give the players a drive at the green," Langford-Jones revealed.

Tweaking the eighth is a forerunner to a permanent change when the earthmoving equipment of course architect Graham Marsh gets active in February.

"We'll pull the green forward closer to the water, put gallery mounds behind the green and play it, say, 280m off the forward tee block to create an exciting stadium hole with the most powerful club in a player's hand," Marsh said.

With the ninth's switch from a birdie-friendly par five to a par four, the course will play as a par 71, rather than the regular 72, so the best round of the event will stand as the new course record.

Cameron Percy, who played on the PGA Tour in the US, said yesterday's 40km/h wind gusts during a practice round were a strong defence for the course as well as the firm greens.

"The fans want to see guys ripping the driver not playing a hole with three iron and wedge so I'm all for a short par four because we are basically entertainers," Percy enthused.

"Scotty could shoot a 62 with the way his golf swing and confidence are right now but I reckon I fixed only one pitch mark on a green all round because they are so firm."

Scott will likely play practice holes today before showing off his fabled Masters green jacket for tonight's traditional Dinner With The Stars scene-setter at the Royal Pines resort.

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Poms praise Aussie influence

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AS if losing consistently to England was not bad enough, a lot of the old enemy's success has been built on Australian coaching and know how.

In former Victorian and Tasmanian quick David Saker as England's bowling coach and with Jason Gillespie in charge at Yorkshire, Australia's influence is high.

And to top it off, even current Australian coach Darren Lehmann coached at Yorkshire and has had current squad members Joe Root and Monty Panesar refining their craft at his Adelaide cricket academy.

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England spearhead James Anderson rated Saker as the best bowling coach he has played under.

"I think just the way he works out a batsman and comes up with plans for me, we are on the same wave length for that sort of thing," Anderson said yesterday in Hobart.

"We build up the pressure around that.

"He's probably more tactically minded than technical from a coach's point of view.

"He's probably the best bowling coach I've worked with tactically.

"At the stage of my career, I don't really need any technical help, it is more the tactically side I need help with."

While on his first Ashes tour of Australia, opening batsman Root was down under during the last Ashes campaign attending the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy and playing Adelaide club cricket for Prospect.

"He (Lehmann) didn't spend a lot of time at the Academy but it was good to get his thoughts on a few things about batting," Root said.

"He's obviously had a very good career as a player and had a good start to his coaching career as well so it was good to get some tips and help from him."

Root has also benefited from Gillespie's tutelage at Yorkshire, as has fellow tourists Jonathan Bairstow and Gary Ballance.

"He's been brilliant, he's done a fantastic job at Yorkshire, he's just a really nice bloke," he said.

"He's a fantastic coach and I've learned a lot from him.

"All the lads at Yorkshire respect him very highly for what he did in the game as a player but more so as a coach as well."

However, Root said Gillespie had not turned complete traitor when it came to national secrets.

"Australians don't like to give too much away but he's been very good in helping me develop my game over the past two years and he's done everything he can to try and progress my cricket as you would expect from your coach," Root said.

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Trott: I have ironed out flaws

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JONATHAN Trott claims it was just a perception that he failed to handle the short ball during the last Ashes series.

Attack leader Ryan Harris has made a blunt assessment of the way the Australians unsettled Trott in England, restricting him to a series average of just 29.

However the former South African under 19 batsman insists his lack of productivity was due to technical flaws.

"I think that is part of Test cricket. People are going to bowl short balls and yorkers and all sorts to try to get you out," Trott said in Hobart yesterday as England prepared for the match against Australia A, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday).

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"I got out to full balls a lot more than short balls. It's one of the things people's perception is. Everyone is entitled to their own perception.

"I know what I've got to focus on this series and what I did when we came here [last time].

"Ryan Harris played then, a pretty similar bowling attack then ... I have got good memories of being here so I wouldn't say I'm particularly worried about anything specifically delivery-wise, it's more about me getting my game in good nick and feeling good."

After a debut century during the last Test at The Oval in 2009 which won England the Ashes, Trott averaged 89 on his previous tour of Australia three years ago as the touring batsmen filled their boots.

It was the first Ashes loss to England in Australia for 24 years.

Trott believes he has identified the reasons why he did not have the same significant impact during the most recent series in England earlier this year.

"I got myself out a few times and first Test at Trent Bridge I got a weird review. I'm still scratching my head about that," he said.

"I technically had a few flaws which I have hopefully ironed out.

"To look back at the summer and be disappointed would be foolish because we won the series 3-0.

"Just because I averaged 30 (29) doesn't make it a huge train smash. I still had some hands in some important partnerships and it was an exciting and eventful series."

Trott was also unconcerned about the likely recall of Mitchell Johnson, who worked the batsman over with short bowling during the one-day series that followed the Ashes.

"I wouldn't say blows, he got me out once, and he bowled really well," said Trott.

"That's what fast bowlers do. There's nothing new to that. It's not a new thing in cricket.

"Again I probably created my own downfall in the way I was playing and technically probably wasn't doing what I normally do.

"I created that scenario myself, not so much the Australians.

"I think Mitch is bowling really well. He has gone away and worked really hard on his game. That's good to see from a player."

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Gai out to repel the raiders

Trainer Gai Waterhouse at Derby Day at Flemington. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

GAI Waterhouse's Fiorente remains the best chance to keep the most prized trophy in Australian sport, the Melbourne Cup, from being taken overseas as a record number of internationals flood the field for Tuesday's big race.

Ruscello, winner of the Lexus Stakes yesterday, vaulted into the Cup field, keeping the Bart Cummings-trained Precedence out of the race.

Mount Athos is emerging as the pick of the international raiders and is now challenging Fiorente for favouritism.

The Derby Day meeting at Flemington yesterday, held before a bumper crowd of 95,223, featured only four stayers that have made the final 24-horse field for the $6.2 million race.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse with Melbourne Cup Favourite Fiorente. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Ruscello and fourth placegetter Ethiopia from the Lexus Stakes while Mackinnon Stakes runner-up Dear Demi and Mourayan (seventh) did enough to convince their connections they deserve a start in the Melbourne Cup. The major big-race news includes:

#There are 14 Group 1 winners in race including the last two Melbourne Cup winners.

#Dunaden, the 2011 Melbourne Cup winner, is topweight with 58.5kg, with defending champ Green Moon on 57.5kg.

#A record nine northern hemisphere-trained stayers are in the field - Dunaden, Red Cadeaux, Brown Panther, Voleuse De Coeuers, Verema, Mount Athos, Royal Empire, Simenon and Ruscello.

#Owner Lloyd Williams has an unprecedented six starters- Green Moon, Sea Moon, Fawkner, Seville, Mourayan, and Masked Marvel.

#Gai Waterhouse's Fiorente is the $7.50 favourite.

#Cox Plate-winning apprentice Chad Schofield gets his first Melbourne Cup ride on Ruscello.

#Bart Cummings is without a Melbourne Cup runner after Precedence was left stranded at 25th in order of entry.

Waterhouse describes Fiorente as her best chance of winning the Melbourne Cup after preparing three second placegetters - Te Akau Nick (1993), Nothin' Leica Dane (1995), and Fiorente (last year).

She will also saddle up French recruit Tres Blue.

Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller had four stayers qualified but accepted with only two - Hawkspur and Foreteller.

Waller decided against accepting with Moriarty despite his good third in the Mackinnon Stakes yesterday.

Hawkspur will start from barrier 18, which has never produced a Cup winner. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Limited

Stablemate Kelinni, who ran fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup, struggled when 10th in the Lexus Stakes, disappointing Waller who decided against running the stayer in the big race.

Cummings made a strategic decision to leave Precedence at home and not contest either the Mackinnon Stakes or the Lexus Stakes even though the stayer was 29th in order of entry.

It nearly paid off with Precedence creeping up to 25th in order but the 11th hour decision to run Lexus Stakes winner Ruscello meant Cummings was left without an opportunity to improve on his extraordinary 12 wins in the great race.

Tuesday's Melbourne Cup will be only the second time in over a decade that Cummings has not had a starter in the race - it was 2006 when the race was run without a stayer trained by the "Cups King''.

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Inside the Spencer-Cumani spat

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IRISH jockey Jamie Spencer yesterday spoke for the first time about his very public spat with British-based Italian trainer Luca Cumani.

For those not across it, Spencer rode Melbourne Cup hope Mount Athos in two lead-up runs this year, only for his efforts to be described by Cumani as "two very bad rides''.

Spencer then hit back at Cumani, posting a cartoon on Twitter of a grown man in a pram, surrounded by toys.

There's been plenty of interest at Werribee the past week to see the reaction when Spencer and Cumani cross paths.

But Spencer, after he won his first Aussie Group 1 in the Mackinnon Stakes on Side Glance, told At The Track: "It's been blow out of the water. I put up that picture of Luca of the man in the pram. He came up to me at Newmarket and said, 'good picture, good comeback'.

"It took me a while to find that picture.

"When I moved to England (from Ireland) I came as a freelance, and for my first three months Luca took me under my wing. When Frankie (Dettori) was in a plane crash, then Keiren Fallon broke his shoulder, Luca put me on every horse. What he did for my career I could never say anything against him.

"It's a cycle with Luca. I rode for him for three years, then didn't ride for three years, then I rode for two, didn't ride for three, then rode again for a year. Doing my maths, I think I'll be back for him around 2015 or 2016.''

Spencer will ride Dunaden, the 2011 Cup winner who will be Tuesday's 58.5kg topweight.

"The weight is the key, and if he had 54.5kg, you'd say he'd be a big chance, if not a favourite's chance,'' Spencer said.

"With 58.5kg, it won't be easy, and we won't have much room to manoeuvre.''

Imagine Spencer's Dunaden and Cumani's Mount Athos fighting out the finish on Tuesday? Security.

I SHOCKED THE SHERIFF

ZOUSTAR'S managing owner Sheriff Iskander was so overcome with emotion after the colt's powerhouse win that he fainted.

Iskander had to be helped off the ground in the enclosure as his fellow owners realised they had just pocketed an extra $4 million for winning the race.

The $14 million deal with Widden included a $4 million bonus for winning the Coolmore, with another $2 million for one more Grup 1 triumph.

"I fainted. I've never fainted in my life,'' Iskander said.

"I don't know what happened. I was so nervous before the race I had to have three scotches.''

Iskander was entitled to guzzle some Blue Label Johnnie Walker last night given the torrid week he had because of the on-again off-again negotiations.

This bloke was about to walk away from the game altogether after being ``screwed over'' by reputable types in racing. Waller told him Zoustar was the real deal. Yesterday was proof that good things do come to good people.

Iskander told us when the deal was signed, Widden boss Antony Thompson leaned across the table and kissed him.

WATERHOUSE MISSES BOOKIE BOAT

ROBBIE Waterhouse had all intentions to field in Melbourne this week, only for his licence to be approved too late.

Waterhouse said he would be back on his stall next year, and if He had been working Tuesday, said: "I think Gai's horse (Fiorente) is at amazing odds. I have a healthy respect for Mount Athos, as well as anything trained at the Lloyd Williams' stable.''

Ruscello's trainer Ed Walker could be mistaken for colleague Ray Thomas. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

BABY-FACED Englishman trainer Ed Walker is no stranger to Australia. The 30-year-old, who won the Lexus Stakes with Ruscello - and is a dead ringer for colleague Ray Thomas - said he worked for Luca Cumani, and travelled Down Under with Purple Moon as part of a working holiday.

Walker had nothing but praise for Cumani, whose best advice was to "never cut corners'' and "if you do things properly, the results will come''.

As for how he felt about helping former Australian all-rounder and Ruscello's owner Simon O'Donnell to a big-race victory on the eve of the Ashes, Walker quipped: "I'm pleased to make him feel better, especially when England keep beating Australia (in the cricket).''

BATHURST SPRINKLER SHOCK

OK, it's not Flemington, but this has to be the funniest video we've seen in years.

Not long after the field jumped in the last at Bathurst on Friday, the sprinklers decided to switch on at the home turn.

Stunned jockeys put their heads down and were drenched before Path To Freedom went on to win the race by a head from Flying Impulse.

Steward Sam Fitzgerald interviewed all the hoops after the race, and eventually declared correct weight.

But the best part of this yarn is how the sprinklers were actually activated.

At The Track can reveal the water was switched on from 900km away.

Yes, the Queensland company who recently installed the state-of-the-art electronic system were conducting a training drill, and pressed the wrong button.

"It's one of those systems where a track manager can be anywhere in the world and they can turn on the sprinklers,'' chief steward Ray Murrihy said.

"On this occasion the sprinklers at Bathurst have been turned on from Brisbane.

"We've since written to the track managers who have this system to make sure they turn on the override switch before each meeting.''

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WALLER ON A WINNER

IT HAS been impossible to ignore the presence of trainer Chris Waller this spring.

The Kiwi trainer who trains plenty of winners on track - and never knocks back a media request off it - has now caught the attention of the international press.

On Friday morning at Flemington, Waller was seen being interviewed by news giants CNN for a segment to beam tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, Waller WILL run Boban in Saturday's Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m), despite the Epsom winner being lumped with the topweight.

BOSS OVER LONG SHOTS

IF POLITICIANS wants to be liked by voters, they should start telling it how it really is like jockey Glen Boss.

No other jockey cuts straight to the chase like Bossy.

For example, on Friday before the Derby, he basically said his mount Bring Something couldn't win, and was a "top five chance'' at best.

And he was now at a stage in his career he couldn't be bothered riding "100-1 shots that have no hope'' in big races.

"I'd rather give the ride to someone else and give them the pleasure of riding in a Melbourne Cup, because it won't thrill me. I like to be competitive in every Group 1 contest,'' Boss said.

Phew. Tell us what you really think.

We asked Bossy late Friday about his frankness, to which he said: "Whether I'm right or wrong, I'll tell it how I see it, it's as simple as that. You get what you get.''

BART'S CUP JUST A YEAR AWAY?

SAINTLY Lad may not have got the cash in the Carbine Club Stakes, but there's every chance the immature gelding could be back at Flemington in 12 months time to pop up in a race like the Melbourne Cup.

His mum Miss Meliss ran in the Cup as a four-year-old. And there's no reason her little boy can't follow suit once he gets his act together.

"The penny hasn't dropped with him, but he'll be a good stayer ... just wait for him, just wait for him,'' trainer James Cummings said.

The Carbine Club was taken out by Paximadia, the third time Darley's colours were carried to victory in the Derby Day opener the past five years.

WILD, WILD WYONG

WE TOLD you last week trouble was brewing big time at Wyong. Well, the ever-smiling chief executive Tony Drew officially retired this week, and the immediate future of the provincial club doesn't look like improving any time soon.

The story we've been told several times now is how the club wrote to Racing NSW, requesting funding for a new pool to the tune of $1.8 million. Sadly, the pool was expected to cost just a third of that quote. Hmmm.

BREEDING FRUSTRATION

THE mystery surrounding next autumn's Breeders Cup-style program in Sydney is starting to frustrate trainers who are unsure how to map out the next preparation for their respective stars.

Anthony Cummings is one trainer who is waiting on a program with Fiveandahalfstar.

Now Murray Baker wants to know what's doing so he has some sort of idea with It's A Dundeel.

It's A Dundeel arrived back in New Zealand on Friday, and Baker was hopeful officials in Sydney would decide either way if the autumn will remain the same, or the revamped cashed-up carnival over two Saturdays gets the green light.

"Everyone's waiting on this program, aren't they?'' Baker told us.

We phoned around and were told to expect a decision in the next fortnight.

I DID MY MONEY ON...

EVERYTHING. It started with Equator in the Carbine Club, continued with Wordplay in the Wakeful Stakes, then Strike The Stars, who rocketed home in the last. Is there a lower feeling than walking to the ATM on track?

The Oompa Loompas from Sydney add some colour to Derby Day. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Limited

FASHION FAUX PAS

THIS award has to go to the group of punters who parked themselves by the 100m, dressed as Oompa Loompas. We can reveal one of the group is a respected journo, and another an up-an-coming trainer from Sydney. Also, girls, when will you learn not to apply fake tan with a trowel.

SSSSSSHHH

WHICH Melbourne Cup horse who is right in the market for Tuesday's race was involved in a trackwork scare? The horse dumped its rider and went to take off, only to stop after 20m and turn around and look at the red-faced rider. The odds would have blown had the horse kept going.

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