STONY CREEK RACING CLUB

For jockey Ben Melham, it was his third Stony Cup win, while for the rider of runner-up, Escape Artist - Matthew Gatt, it was his final ride before retirement.

Abitofado part owner, Dennis Coombs, paid tribute to the ride of Melham and said the horse, which was brought from New Zealand by Moroney, had given connections a lot of fun.

"This is our first Cup, but hopefully in the near future we can add a couple more," he said.

Despite overcast conditions and 22mm of rain in the 24 hours before the meeting, the track raced particularly well.

Matthew Gatt, one of the most successful jockeys on the Gippsland circuit, had his final ride on board Escape Artist.

"I’ve got a landscaping business in the western suburbs and have a bobcat and tipper for hire and it is going really well, so it’s a case of having to spend more time with it," he said.

Gatt, who has been riding for 13 years, said his Adelaide Derby Group One win on outsider, Blue Murder, along with his Myer Class (G2) win on Noircir were his career highlights.

When asked if he was likely to return the saddle, the 29 year-old was non-commital. "Who knows how I will feel after I have a break, but I am looking forward to the break," he said.

Perhaps Gippsland’s most promising horse, Big Col, was found dead in his paddock late last week, an autopsy revealing he passed from natural causes.

The four year-old, a winner of just on $100,000 from his 12 starts, looked a potential cups horse in the making. At his final run (last spring) he finished midfield in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington after pulling up sore. Prior to that he was an unlucky fourth in the Listed Bendigo Cup, a race he should have won. As a three year-old, he finished just five lengths from the winner in the G1 AJC Derby.

Reigning Gippsland Horse of the Year, Rockpecker, will have his first run in eight months when he steps out at Moonee Valley on Friay, March 19 in the Premium Handicap (1200 metres).

"I had him nominated for the Sale Quality a month or so back, but there was just one minor hiccup, so it has taken a little bit longer," said trainer, Ken Fythe.

With the untimely death of Big Col and King Hoaks still on the sidelines, it will be good to have one of Gippsland’s best horses back on the track.

SHOT FIRES

Enigmatic Stony Creek trained galloper, Set Shot, blitzed rivals to score a five length win at his home track on Sunday.

"When the track was downgraded to heavy I thought about scratching him, but I had a look and didn’t think it was quite that bad," said trainer, Earle Fischer.

"He never handled the wet tracks at all as a young horse, but with maturity and getting stronger, he’s learned to cope with it better," said Fischer.

It was his seventh win from 32 starts and he has amassed almost $70k in stakes.

Bairnsdale horses ran the quinella in the 1510 metre 0-62 at Sale on Friday with Stab Pass for Dan Cunningham running down the Julie Scott prepared Over Quota. It was a rising stars race for apprentice jockeys.

Over Quota looked home when he dashed clear in the straight, but with 59 kilos and being caught in the slow part of the track (inside), he was gunned down by Nathan Rose, who claimed 1.5 kilos on Stab Pass, which provided a telling weight difference.

The five year-old gelding has now won three of his 21 starts, all of the victories coming at Sale.

Gippsland trainers, particularly those from Moe, were active at the Inglis Premier Yearling sales, with 11 colts and one filly being knocked down to Gippsland interests.

Most active was Manny Gelagotis, brother and stable foreman of Peter. Purchasing under the banner of his company, G W Racing Bloodstock, he bought colts by More Than Ready ($95k), Mossman (86k), Bel Esprit (16k) and a filly by Bel Esprit (60k).

This was on top of a Darci Brahma colt (50K) purchased at the New Zealand Karaka Premier Yearling sale in February.

Mick Templeton bought three colts by Fusaichi Pegasus (55k) and two by Gods Own (50k and $27.5k).

Other purchases for Moe trainers were Tracey Templeton, who took home a Written Tycoon colt (54k) and Len Xuereb a Danerich colt (13k).

Bairnsdale based Jackson Pallot picked up an Elvstroem colt (28k) and Frankie Stockdale, now based at Sale, an Elusive Quality colt (13k). Owners are being sought for the majority of these purchases.