Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on June 16.

THE STARS

AARON KURU: On a lacklustre day of racing around Australia Kuru, a Kiwi jockey barely known outside New Zealand, was a shining star with his extraordinary horsemanship to win the steeplechase at Awapuni aboard Des De Jeu. Kuru made global headlines after the Mark Oulaghan-trained five-year-old crashed heavily after clearing the first obstacle. Kuru held the reins and slid alongside the gelding before scrambling back into the saddle and chasing the field. Amazingly Des De Jeu then jumped perfectly and ran down the favourite in the last 100 metres to win by a half length. The incredible win was summed up by the commentary “If you didn’t see it, you wouldn’t believe it!

One of the most extraordinary wins you will ever see on a racetrack. Jockey comes off his horse, Des De Jeu, at the first jump only to remount and go and win! #NZRacing pic.twitter.com/gjrliJF0Wk

— TAB Racing June 16, 2018

CHRIS WALLER: Another red letter day of record achievements for the champion trainer. He equalled his own Sydney record of 169.5 metropolitan wins in a season with a double at Rosehill then reached 300 wins in one season for the first time with more wins at Moonee Valley and the Gold Coast.

TONY GOLLAN/I’M A RIPPER: Brisbane’s leading trainer has a real soft spot for his favourite horse who topped $1 million in earnings with his win in the Eye Liner Stakes.

You beauty!
Tyzone looked to have it wrapped up coming to the line, but the tough I'm A Rippa kicks back in the shadow of the post to take out the Eye Liner Stakes under Jim Byrne. pic.twitter.com/isemapS6vF

— Sky Racing June 16, 2018

KRIS LEES: Newcastle’s top trainer passes a milestone with a personal best season score of 161.5 wins when Envy For All wins at Ipswich.

ENTICING STAR: Perth’s latest excitement machine makes it seven wins from seven starts with another super effort at Belmont – but she’s not available to Everest slot holders.

HIGHLIGHTS

TRADESMAN: Raced three deep but lifted late to win the Ipswich Cup and give trainer Darren Weir – unimpressed by Dean Yendall’s riding as he watched from Moonee Valley – his first win at the Bundamba track.

It was an old fashioned head bobbing affair as Tradesman gets his nose down to deny the emphatic dive of First Crush right on the line, taking out the for & . pic.twitter.com/UPAJil8a67

— Sky RacingJune 16, 2018

JULIUS SANDHU: Rookie Victorian trainer has only four horses in work but has produced three winners from just 16 starters including two city wins in four days after Princeton Spirit gets the money at Moonee Valley, a horse he part-owns and previously prepared by his former boss Mick Kent.

Princeton Spirit was too strong on speed. A great result for Julius Sandhu. pic.twitter.com/llN5VaKSfr

— Racing.com June 16, 2018

CRAIG WILLIAMS: Recorded the sentimental win of the day as his lands the Moonee Valley memorial race honouring his late cousin Travis Harrison for the first time. Travis was killed in a car accident after riding at a Moonee Valley meeting.

ANNA JORDSJO: Cold comfort for punters as the 22-year-old Adelaide apprentice adds to her winning run on long-priced winners with a running double on $21 and $31 chances at Morphettville.

CLAYTON DOUGLAS: Better known as a jumps jockey, he lands his first city flat win on a Saturday aboard Tahitian Dancer at Moonee Valley.

Shane Nichols was confident Tahitian Dancer would break her maiden, and she did just that

https://t.co/Z7qedjQRoI
https://t.co/P3zOpbwuyC pic.twitter.com/gUE4zCtIYE

— Racing.comJune 16, 2018

LOWLIGHTS

BLAKE SHINN: Rosehill stewards were quick to question his rail hugging tactics on the second race favourite Gresham. The stewards obviously had formed the view - like most observers - that the fence was a slow zone but Shinn defended his tactics on the grounds that after only one race it was still too early to draw such a conclusion. Blake showed he had learned his lesson when he came wide to win the last on Manolo Blahniq.

BON AURUM: The comeback of the G1 winner in his first start since 2016 doesn’t go to plan as he finishes distanced and pulls up lame.

CANFORD: A horror show over the last 400m in the second race at Morphettville but a protest by his Japanese apprentice Ryusei Sakai against the winner finds he is the one at fault by placing the horse in a dangerous position between runners. Sakai is subsequently suspended but hard to convince Canford backers that he shouldn’t have won.

Turnpike could not be stopped and at big odds. Anna Jordsjo take a bow. pic.twitter.com/6TndGeEtDs

— Racing.com June 16, 2018

MORPHETTVILLE: Brisbane is not the only place with track worries. Two races at Morphettville had to be switched to different distances on the Parks track at late notice just 20 minutes before the start of the meeting due to concerns with a wet crossing.

TALKING POINTS

BRISBANE RACING: Another rough week for the basket case that is Queensland racing. On top of a greedy State Government’s blatant money grab by imposing a far too high 15 percent consumption tax on wagering operators comes an unprecedented and bitter swipe at the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission by none other than its own chief steward. Alan Reardon may be departing but his comments attacking the appointment process of his successor Peter Chadwick from Singapore will ensure he is not quickly forgotten.

• “This is not sour grapes on my part. There is no integrity in the decision.” - Brisbane’s chief steward Alan Reardon slams the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission appointment of Singapore chief steward Peter Chadwick as his replacement.

• “The position of chief steward was determined on its merits, with an open merit selection process and a unanimous decision by the panel as to the successful appointee. Ownership only becomes relevant if and when the person accepts the position. Up until then he was entitled to have ownership under the rules in Singapore.” – QRIC chairman Ross Barnett responds to Reardon’s allegations that Peter Chadwick owned horses racing in Australia.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

• “It was a butcher’s job and I don’t mind if you say it. If you rate it out of 10 it was a one - you get one for turning up." – Darren Weir bags his stable jockey Dean Yendall’s winning ride on Tradesman in the Ipswich Cup.

THEY SAID IT!

• “When I started training, I was hoping to get a thousand winners. I thought if I did that I’d be remembered.” – Chris Waller sums up his career after equalling his Sydney training record for wins in a season. His career tally is now more than 2300.

• “It is not all about Winx, it is not all about the Group 1-winning colts - I have more slow horses than anyone." – Chris Waller’s tongue in cheek comment after training 300 winners in a season for the first time.

• “He’s such a tough little horse. He’s come from an unassuming little bloke that went to Rocky to win a maiden to winning a Magic Millions race, a BRC Sprint and an Eye Liner Stakes.” – Tony Gollan praises his stable star I’m A Ripper.

• “It's a great compliment that the Moonee Valley Racing Club has continued the tradition of the race. It always brings back fantastic memories of Travis - it's a huge, huge thrill, not just for me but for the whole family." – Craig Williams reveals how much winning the race named after his late cousin Travis Harrison means to him and his family.

"Running with an angel on his shoulder."

What an emotional win for . A cousin and close friend of Williams, Travis Harrison would be proud. pic.twitter.com/UL4tR0yVFi

— Racing.com June 16, 2018

• “It doesn’t matter, it won’t be happening.’ – Owner Bob Peters quashes talk of a slot holder bid for the unbeaten Enticing Star to run in The Everest.

• “The other jockeys didn't want to play my game and kept kicking up inside me but I decided to play their game and went with them. I had a bit of a sword fight but my horse kept fighting back." – Ride ugly and win….Dean Yendall’s view of his Ipswich Cup ride on Tradesman.

• "We work hard and we've got some good horses. I've been really fortunate to work for Mick Kent and I've learned so much from him - he's always there to pick his brain.” – Rookie Cranbourne trainer Julius Sandhu on his early success and lessons learned from his former boss Mick Kent.

• “She's been difficult to handle but she can be as mad as she wants to be for the next six weeks as she goes for a spell.” – Shaun Dwyer on his temperamental mare Miss Leonidas.

Miss Leonidas was outstanding pic.twitter.com/zwHjp0rdJm

— Racing.com June 16, 2018

• “It’s taken a lot of time but he’s a pleasure to ride now. He wants to work with you instead of against you and he’s got a very nice turn of foot.” – Blake Shinn on the progressive Manolo Blahniq.

• “ In 12 months time I'll be disappointed if he's not a stakes horse.” - Tony Noonan’s hopes for Manolo Blahniq.

• “She’s a tart. Everything we do with her is absolutely on her terms. She has a small chassis but a big engine - she is the only horse I've ever had that you put in the swimming pool and she goes even faster on the last lap.” - Joe Pride on his temperamental mare La Chica Bella.

• "I've been lucky enough to get on runners that are running strongly out in front and obviously my claim helps." – Adelaide apprentice Anna Jordsjo reflects on her Morphettville winners.

BLACKBOOK

INVINZABEEL: Another strong placing. Ready to win.

VALENTINO ROSSA: Pleasing return. Looking for longer.

REDOUBLE: Won’t be long adding to consistent record.

SO SPLENDID: Will take plenty of benefit from first-up effort.

JETSONIC: Out of luck. Needs a bigger track.

RILLITO: Set for a profitable campaign.