THEY SAID IT

"I can't compare her with Sunline. You can only deal with this generation and she's got the wood on most of them," said trainer Peter Moody of his brilliant mare Typhoon Tracy, who blew away her opposition in the $400,000 Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. It was first open Group 1 win for Typhoon Tracy (B or br m 4, Red Ransom (USA)-Tracy's Element, by Last Tycoon (IRE), who had beaten the females in the G1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Derby day last year.

She has won eight of 11, a mark that is merely a blip alongside the record of the late, great Sunline (B m 1995, Desert Sun (GB)-Songline (NZ), by Western Symphony (USA)), who had 13 Group 1s in her 32-48 record.

Still, TT has a lot to look forward to. This season, it seems that will be in Australia, starting with the $500,000 G1 Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on February 27, and then on to Sydney and Brisbane, rather than looking to overseas riches. The one overseas possibility is the G1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on April 25, although the way trainer Peter Moody is talking long-distance travel can wait.

"Everything felt really good with him. His action felt fine and he really put it on the line when I asked him," said rider Robbie Fradd of Singapore' emerging star Rocket Man, an impressive first-up winner by more than four lengths over 1200m at Kranji yesterday. If Fradd is right, Rocket Man (B g 4, Viscount-Macrosa (NZ), by McGinty (NZ)) will provide plenty of opposition for visitors in the KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) at Kranji on May 16 - in last year's sprint, in his first big test, he was just beaten by the world's top-rated sprinter, Hong Kong's Sacred Kingdom, when Australia's Takeover Target ran down the track. (TT won the race in 2008.)

Rocket Man's trainer Patrick Shaw said if the gelding, who hadn't started since the Krisflyer (he fractured a cannon bone soon after), pulled up well he would go to Dubai for the Group 1 $2million-plus Golden Shaheen (1200m) on the new Tapeta track at Meydan on March 27.

The Rocket has won eight of nine starts. 

"There's still plenty to work with," said trainer Peter Snowden of Darley's impressive three-year-old Denman, one of a several big winners at Caulfield. Snowden's assessment after Denman (B c 3, Lonhro-Peach, by Vain) won the Listed Wellington Racing Club's Stakes (1400m) promotes much-anticipated clashes with Cox Plate winner So You Think (B or br c 3, High Chaparral (IRE)-Triassic (NZ), by Tights (USA)) in the G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 20 and the G1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 6.

Denman ran 1:22.89 to Typhoon Tracy's 1:24.04, but the mare finished off faster - her last 600m was 32.86 to Denman's 33.37.

WE SAW IT

While the stars ran as expected, the G3 Blue Diamond Preludes (1100m) threw up two extremely impressive winners - the $120,000 filly Psychologist (Br f 2, Choisir-Miss Conception, by Danzero) and the $1million colt Beneteau (B or br c 2, Redoute's Choice-Slice of Paradise, by Encosta De Lago).

First up, Tony Vasil's filly was a class above; second up, after a Sydney win, Beneteau was too. They're the new top picks for the $1million G1 Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield on February 20.

Patinack's Thegreatandthegood (Gr c, Rock Of Gibraltar (GB)-Skating, by At Talaq (USA)) impressed first up behind Beneteau, coming from last to finish third, but might be more of a Sires' Produce horse. He is Murtajill's little brother, bought for $250,000.

Patinack Farm had a big weekend at home and abroad, winning with: the unbeaten (4-4) No Evidence Needed (B f 3, Shamardal (USA)-Generosa (NZ), by Generous (IRE)) at Caulfield; Heartsareforlove (B f 2, Hussonet (USA)-Happy Heart (FR), by Exit To Nowhere (USA)) at Doomben; Tagus (Br g 5, Encosta De Lago-Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon (IRE) at Rosehill; and two at Newcastle, Middlemount (Ch c 3, Encosta De Lago-Battonage, by Kenmare (FR)) and Zuko (B g 3, Exceed And Excel-Dance Baby Dance, by Don't Say Halo (USA)).

Patinack's big spending owner Nathan Tinkler had a return in Singapore, too. Feared (B g 3, More Than Ready (USA)-Merlene, by Danehill (USA)) won over 1200m at his first start for Australian trainer Cliff Brown at Kranji yesterday - just as the other horse Tinkler sent to Singapore, Abeyant (B c 3, Exceed And Excel-Luanda (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)), did in January. Second up yesterday, Abeyant finished second over 1400m. 

Australians were big winners at Kranji on Friday. Trainer Steven Burridge had a career-best five winners; jockey Vlad Duric had three. Burridge (10 wins) leads the trainers' premiership five weeks into the season from perennial winner Laurie Laxon and Brown, both on seven. Duric (11) is on top of the jockeys' ladder from Brazilian Joao Moreira (9) - Moreira rode four winners yesterday.

South African Douglas Whyte picked up two wins on Australian Brett Prebble in the Hong Kong jockeys' race with a double at Sha Tin yesterday, including the main race, the Centenary Vase (1800m), on Special Days, for Australian trainer John Size. Whyte, chasing his 10th title on end, has 41 wins, Prebble 51. The season still has seven months to run. Size (30), who also had a double, trails Tony Cruz (34) and Caspar Fownes (33).

WE'LL WATCH IT

These showed enough at Caulfield on Saturday to suggest they should be followed this preparation: Rostova and Gran Sasso, third and fourth behind Here De Angels; My Emotion, fourth to No Evidence Needed, after not going a yard early - needs a mile; Carrara, second again to Denman - wait until he drops down a level; She's Got Gears, ran on well behind Psychologist.

Saturday's headliner will be the G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley with Nicconi to take on the flying filly Black Caviar. The Valley also has the G2 Alister Clark Stakes (1600m) and the G2 Sunline Stakes (1600m). Randwick has a nice card, with three Group 2s over 1200m (Light Fingers Stakes, Royal Sovereign Stakes, and Breeders' Stakes). They also race at Morphettville, Ascot and Eagle Farm.

New Zealand has two Group 1s at Te Rapa, the International Stakes (2000m) and the Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m).

And it might be worth watching Happy Valley on Wednesday to have a punt on top Australian rider Darren Beadman ... surely he'll break a rare run of outs that has climbed to 53! If he doesn't, his next chance will be at the big Chinese New Year meeting at Sha Tin on Tuesday February 16.