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A win on a shortened Caulfield program has given Craig Williams his sixth Melbourne jockeys’ premiership.

An early double from Hugh Bowman at Rosehill has ensured there will be no photo finish in his Sydney jockeys’ premiership duel with Brenton Avdulla.

Some have disliked his aggressive approach as he markets the newest and richest race in the country the $10 million Everest and his splash of cash to keep wonder mare WINX in Sydney.

Bookmakers and punters have been left reeling after the winner of a juvenile race at Yarmouth was found to be an older stablemate.

Hear the thoughts of leading trainers Chris Waller, Paul Snowden, Edward Cummings and the white hot Jason Coyle ahead of this weekend Rosehill Gardens meeting.

“The spring carnival in Melbourne, that’s the best carnival in the world, so what,  something has to be the best, Sydney can be the second best, but you need the good horses at every carnival,” Darren Weir said.

Craig Williams has moved a step closer to claiming a sixth Melbourne jockeys’ premiership with a winning double at Sandown.

A Hugh Bowman treble at the Canterbury midweek meeting leaves him in pole position to win the Sydney jockeys’ premiership at Rosehill.

We have John O’Shea gone from his position as Head Trainer, and Henry Plumptre gone from his position as Godolphin’s top man Down Under. The question is were both men pushed?

Big Richie Callander this week covers Kokoda, equine welfare, Winx, jockey premiership, The Everest, the Eagle Farm track and on air presenters.

Matthew Howard of Mounting Yard Mail was at Royal Randwick on the weekend with 4 on top selections getting home including horse to follow Kings Of Leon.

Winx has put in an eye-catching finish to come from last and run third in a barrier trial at Randwick.

Big Richie Callander has found some early plays for Randwick, Flemington and Doomben for tomorrow.

As Victoria deals with New South Wales’ spring offensive – will Winx have anyone to beat for history in the Cox Plate?

Big Richie Callander’s preview for today’s meeting at Warwick Farm meeting.

Nobody could ever accuse the Racing NSW of lacking in vision. The increase in prizemoney in country and provincial racing and the Highway Handicaps concept are ample evidence of how intelligent decision-making can make a huge difference to the health of racing in general.

The superlatives just flow for American Pharoah who stands at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley this 2017 breeding season as the first US Triple Crown winner in 37 years, with a 138 Timeform rating.

Big Richie has a squizz at Bowman v Avdulla, Canberra trainers, Spieth, 2 top colts, the Eagle Farm track, Kathy O’Hara, A free Cox Plate competition and the Tweet of the week.

Matthew’s full report from Saturday’s mounting yard at Rosehill Gardens. Which winning horse did Matthew say this about on Saturday “Can carry a bit of weight around the midsection but if you know here like I do you know that’s just her.”

Waller best describes the way Japanese go about horse racing with these few words. “They don’t stop with perfection they are wanting to strive for better”.

Big Richie Callander has found some early plays for us at Rosehill, Caulfield and Sunshine Coast for tomorrow’s meetings.

“Look we took no consultation with Racing Victoria because it’s like Kentucky Fried Chicken consulting with McDonalds with a new product. It’s no good telling your competitor what your concept is going to be,” Peter V’landys said.

Traditionally, Winter is a punting wasteland. Some of us out there in Punterland might be old enough to remember Professor Julius Sumner-Miller asking “Why is it so?”

The NSW government have declared its hand that they are looking at rezoning Canterbury Park racecourse land to residential and that my friends is the first nail in the coffin of Sydney’s best racing surface.

Big Richie runs his eye over the Highway Races, The Everest, Eagle Farm track, the premiership, a couple of rides from the weekend, James Cummings and the jockeys walking Kokoda for charity.

Matthew Howard of Mounting Yard Mail was at Warwick Farm on the weekend and for those that follow on race day had another good day with 1 on top selection and 2 of his best value runners getting home.

Roger Booth was more Manangatang than Flemington. But a heart attack? This was a man who put his heart into all things racing.

Let’s start by stating the bleeding obvious – Michelle Payne took a diet pill containing phentermine and phentermine is a banned substance. Payne took full responsibility, as she should have under the existing Racing Rules, gets a suspension, so, end of story.

Shalaa, the Champion 2YO Colt of Great Britain and France in 2015 descends on Arrowfield this season as a son of the new-age European sire-of-sires in Invincible Spirit.

Big Richie this week looks at the Everest, some confusion in QLD, is a bus headed towards the BRC, more racing channels and here comes Hughy.