INSIDE RAIL

BIG RACE CALL

ONE of the fancies in the Cup, Unbiased, was a late scratching at the barriers before the feature race. The gelding was vetted and declared a late scratching on veterinary advice when found to be lame in its off front leg. Trainer of Unbiased Jared Wehlow was not very happy with the decision to pull his horse out and made his feelings known to stewards in the mounting yard post-race.

HAPPY HOOP

IT does not matter if it's a Group 1 in Melbourne or a Class 2 Handicap in Cairns, Noel Callow is a true showman of the game. The top Australian rider tossed his goggles into the crowd and gave out a few high-fives after winning the first of the day on Ready For Love.

WIFE COSTS WIN

LEADING Tablelands jockey Wanderson D’Avila celebrated a birthday over the last week but his wife may have cost him a winner.

Sharlee D’Avila booked champion rider Robert Thompson to pilot Mister Magnusifent, while Wanderson was on stablemate Narda Shar in race three.

“I think that horse suited Wanderson better and we decided to put the King on the winner, and not the Prince,” Sharlee said with a laugh as she accepted the spoils from Cairns Jockey Club post-race.

TOM’S DAY OUT

IT helps to be president. Jockey Club boss Tom Hedley picked up three of the first six winners on the card on Cup Day. The boss’s horses are firing at the right time of the year. And, as many expected, he finished the day with the Cairns Cup in his hands, making it four from eight for the day.