Gibbons settles the nerves with Dalaalaat win
Dalaalaat continues to be a good money-spinner for connections, bringing up his fifth win under Nathan Doyle with a narrow decision over Mabel in Saturday's Midway Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Dalaalaat had won one of his six starts when he was put through an online auction and purchased by his current owners, which include Sydney race caller Darren Flindell.
"He was only a $40,000 tried horse purchase online after he won a maiden at Wagga," Doyle said.
"He has won nearly $270,000 for them now so he's been a good money-spinner."
Dalaalaat was ridden by apprentice Dylan Gibbons, who was preparing to make his Group 1 debut later in the afternoon aboard Wolverine in the Surround Stakes and Montefilia in the Chipping Norton Stakes.
The gifted young rider was happy to get an early win on the board to curb the butterflies.
"It just calms the nerves a bit," Gibbons said.
"It's an exciting day and I've been looking forward to this day since acceptances came out.
"To get a little win nice and early, I can just enjoy the rest of the day now."
McDonald keeping faith in Shinzo
James Mcdonald has warned punters not to drop off two-year-old Shinzo despite his defeat as favourite in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
The youngster started a $3.20 top pick off the back of his debut third to Red Resistance in the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) with the latter considered one of the leading chances for the Golden Slipper.
However, Shinzo again found one better on Saturday in the form of Godolphin's well-seasoned colt Corniche ($7) , who broke his maiden after a string of minor placings in Melbourne to beat the Chris Waller-trained favourite by 1-1/2 lengths.
While he didn't get the win, McDonald was far from disappointed with Shinzo's effort and says the colt will improve when he rises in distance.
"He is a beautiful horse. He is going to make the grade," McDonald said.
"It's just all come a bit quick but once he's stretched out over a little bit further and gets the right set up, he'll be away."
Waller said Shinzo would be given a final chance to earn a Slipper berth in the Pago Pago Stakes but the more likely goal was the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
"I would say he would look like a Pago Pago runner, realistically a Sires' runner but if things change we will let it happen," Waller said of Shinzo's Golden Slipper prospects.
Parker lands heartwarming win in Guy Walter
Kerry Parker went to Randwick on Saturday intent on winning the race named in honour of late trainer Guy Walter.
Walter made a lasting impression on Parker and the Kembla Grange horseman was thrilled to win Saturday's Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) with Hope In Your Heart.
Not only was Walter inadvertently responsible for Parker's acquisition of Group 1 winner Think It Over, he ferried several owners towards the Kembla Grange trainer despite the fact the pair didn't know each other well.
"He used to see me at the races and he'd always say to me, 'you're racing's best kept secret'," Parker recalled.
"I never had a lot to do with him but he was always a champion bloke and I think he steered a lot of people my way.
"He steered Think It Over's owner, Richard Johnson my way. When he had one struggling he said, 'try this bloke' and that's where that connection came from so to win that race was all I wanted."
Walter's widow Wendy also has a two-year-old, Bush Girl, being trained by Parker.
Hope In Your Heart is Parker's latest carnival star and will have her next start in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) before a possible tilt at the Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Schofield hangs up the saddle
Accomplished jockey Glyn Schofield has announced his retirement from the saddle.
The South African born hoop has ridden 38 Group 1 winners around the world and is best remembered in Australia for his partnership with top class sprinter Hay List.
Schofield had not ridden since the Newcastle meeting on February 4 and confirmed on Saturday that he had made the decision to hang up his saddle.
"It's official now, I have actually relinquished my licence," Schofield told 7 Horse Racing.
"It's a sad day but I've got other things to pursue."
Schofield said he had been contemplating retirement before he injured his neck 18 months ago but "got a bit bored" and with his body subsequently feeling good, he decided to go around for another season.
However, with opportunities drying up, Schofield said the time was right to start a fresh chapter.
"Just over a year has gone by since then and slowly but surely I've realised those opportunities are not there any more and it's a young man's sport. I don't fit into that category anymore," Schofield said.
Schofield named multiple Group 1 winner Hay List as the best horse he had ridden.
He is also taking great pride in the riding career of his son Chad who has re-established himself in Sydney and has been the regular partner of Golden Slipper fancy Learning To Fly.
Quote of the day: "It's a special thing isn't it to see a thoroughbred as good as Anamoe at full flight. There is a majesty to a horse like Anamoe."- Trainer James Cummings after Anamoe won the Chipping Norton Stakes.
