THEY SAID IT

"Yeah, bloody oath. Terrific prizemoney," said jockey Danny Nikolic at Caulfield on Saturday about the Inglis Premier (1200m), worth $250,000 ($150,000 to the winner).

"And I'm always happy to ride for Patinack when they want me," Nikolic added. His win was on $3.70 chance Not A Pretender (B f 2, Royal Academy (USA)-Mimes, by Desert King (IRE)), owned by Patinack Farm, and was a bright spot during a tough few days that saw him in strife with stewards for ringing a pro punter during a meeting in January.

 "He's not a very good jumper but he's had plenty of practice during the week," said trainer Mick Price of Old Jack, winner of the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m). Going over a few hurdles during trackwork had the desired effect, with Old Jack (B g 4, Montjeu (IRE)-Ma Danseuse (NZ), by Dance Floor (USA)) racing much better than in his past two starts. And getting the money at $12.

"She's all racehorse." Not too many would disagree with trainer Peter Moody's assessment of Typhoon Tracy, winner of the G1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1600m).

"She knows she's the King Mum at home," was winning jockey Luke Nolen's strange comment on Typhoon Tracy (B or br m 4, Red Ransom (USA)-Tracy's Element, by Last Tycoon (IRE)).

"She's got that touch of Sunline about her," added Hong Kong's top jockey Brett Prebble, who chased Typhoon Tracy home on Dao Dao.

WE SAW IT

The prizemoney anomaly at Caulfield was not missed by the "purists" - the Inglis Premier, a race restricted to horses bought at an Inglis sale, offered $250,000; the other "open" 2YO, the Listed  Chairman's Stakes (1100m) was worth $100,000, with $60,000 to the winner, Crystal Lily (B f 2, Stratum-Crystal Snip, by Snippets). Crystal Lily might make up the difference (and more) soon - she is already a very valuable race filly and broodmare for owner David Moodie.

Brett Prebble rode Crystal Lily, so his second meeting in Melbourne in a week provided a result - he did not ride at Sha Tin yesterday because of a delayed suspension, and South African Douglas Whyte sliced two wins from his big lead in the jockeys' premiership. He is up 58-44 against the perennial champion.

With Peter Moody not taking Typhoon Tracy to Hong Kong for the $HK12 million (about $A1.8 million) G1 Champions Mile, which, like the Futurity, is part of the Asian Mile Series, last year's third-placegetter Dao Dao (Br g 6, Shinko Forest (IRE)-Casual Way (NZ), by Casual Lies (USA)) is Australia's sole representative. He is trained by Team Hawkes (father John and sons Michael and Wayne), but Prebble said he was not certain to aboard at Sha Tin on April 25.  .

"I'm not first choice ... probably 'Beady' (Darren Beadman) will get the offer," he said. "If he doesn't, I'm a chance."

Victorian Prebble also is a chance to ride at more Group 1 meetings in Australia this year. "I'm not ringing up for rides and trying to unseat the jocks here," he said. "I'm not doing that at all, but if something pops up and I get offered a nice ride I'll give it consideration now, whereas before I didn't worry about it too much."

Beadman rode Collection to a strong-finishing win in the Group 1 $HK8 million Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin yesterday, and could go to Dubai for the Group 1 Duty Free (1800m) on March 28 with the Peintre Celebre 5YO. He copped a two-meeting suspension - and survived a protest - for causing interference to runner-up Thumbs Up.

Lord Tavistock disappointed in the Futurity at Caulfield, but another Kiwi who has raced in Australia, Mufhasa, added to his Group 1 tally in New Zealand - he won the Fully Fledged Weight-For-Age Classic (1600m) at Otaki. It was the third G1 win for Mufhasa (Br g 5, Pentire (GB)-Sheila Cheval (NZ), by Mi Preferido (USA)), reigning NZ horse of the year. Favourite Wall Street was a disappointing ninth.

AJC Oaks winner Daffodil (B m 4, No Excuse Needed (GB)-Spring (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ)), who was third, is being set for two Sydney races, the G1 $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 20 and the G1 $2.25 million BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 3. Lord Tavistock (B h 4, Montjeu (IRE)-Upstage (GB), by Quest For Fame (GB)) will stay in Australia for the G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 13.

Meanwhile, the fairytale continues for Chance Bye, all-the-way winner at $1.75 favourite of the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill for battling trainer Mick Tubman. Chance Bye (B f 2, Snitzel-Rouge Femme, by Red Ransom (USA)), a $15,000 purhase, whose story is becoming Takeover Target-like, has won all three starts and is a $6 favourite for the G1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on April 4.

The nightmare continues for Manhattan Rain punters, fifth as $2.70 favourite in the G2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), won by the roughie Monton (B g 3, Catbird-Dynamic Flyer, by Marauding (NZ)). Manhattan Rain (B c 3, Encosta De Lago-Shantha's Choice, by Canny Lad) has a lot of improving to do to get within coo-ee of trainer Gai Waterhouse's ranking of him.

In Perth, promising three-year-old Morant ($2.40 winner of the Challenge Stakes, 1400m) will be aimed at the T.J. Smith Trophy at Ascot on March 13 by trainer Graeme Ballantyne. Saturday's success was significant for jockey William Pike - it was his first city win since returning from his Hong Kong riding stint, although he had showed he was in form with four straight at Bunbury a few days earlier. Pike won another two races later on Tudor Lad ($2.50 favourite).

WE'LL WATCH IT

It's Super Saturday at Flemington, which has the G1 Crown Guineas (1600m), the G1 Australian Cup (2000m) and the G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), and the G2 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) and the G2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) and the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) and the G3 Schweppervescence Trophy (1400m).

Warwick Farm isn't too shabby, either, with the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), the G2 Surround Stakes (1400m), the G3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and the G3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).

Ascot has the G3 WA Champion Fillies' Stakes (1600m). They also race at Eagle Farm and Morphettville.

And Ellerslie has the G1 NZ Derby (2400m).