JUst keeping UK bettors Au Fait with the progress of Belmonte and Tedriffic for major Melbourne Spring events. Tedriffic failed to round off a week or so back over 2400m in a Cup race at Brisbane but did not appear to handle the shifty going. However he improved sharply last Saturday with a rousing final burst over 2200m and is still,apparently on track for a big Flemington attempt in my view. Belmonte rattled home to be a rather unlucky second over 2200m at Grafton,when his rider,although he rode two winners in minor events,seemed to take too much time in making up his mind when to work clear in the Grafton Cup. By the time Belmonte got cracking the race was over and his second should have been a winning turn. He will keep! BIGGER FISH TO FRY I SAY IN OCTOBER!

The showy chestnut galloper I named the other week as a possible live Caulfield Cup chance,carried 60.5k to a commanding victory over a mile in one of the Aussie country cups. Belmonte is his name and he gave every indication,when I saw him win on the box that he was up to winning,over more ground,and in far more illustrious company. So keep an eye out for him when he rises to Metropolitan claas again,in either Brisbane,Sydney or Melbourne. Belmonte is a real beaut! I still am not too sure about the one for Flemington in November.He has only warmed up with a couple of sharp sprints,but we will soon find out and likely to reach back up to that form in Queensland that won him a Derby. Without revealing that bloke's name ,I can tell you,that Johnny Wheeler,who trained the champion Rough Habit,might also have a big Cup hope in Tedriffic,who is shaping up nicely for the extreme trips,particularly with a fast- finishing fourth last Saturday. GOOD PUNTING

The Eclipse is certainly a test of the best. When Sadlers Wells beat Morcon,rather luckily,I might say it was just another stepping stone to the Sangster pride and joy becomming one of the finest sires of Europe. When I spoke to Willie Carson at Newbury a few recent years back in 2001,he rued the indignity of Pat Eddery on Sadlers Wells holding Morcon in a pocket until the race was well enough over. After a an American campaign,Morcon ened her in New Zealand,where he did not have outstanding success as a stallion,but managed the brilliant but skitterish Solvit who brilliantly won a Cox Plate,by a nose from another New Zealand star Rough Habit,the ugly duckling champ who scored $11,000,000 in stake money in his mighty career. Unfortunately both Solvit and Rough Habit were geldings, like the sensational Xcellent,who won 7 from 8 in NZ before an horrific injury curtailed his upspiralling career. The happy sequel was that although it was his second bad injury,the vets were able to save Xcellent for a safe and comfortable retirement. Xcellent,before breaking down badly,during a winning run at Trentham,looked likely to go closer than his third to hat-trick victor Makybe Diva,in the Melbourne Cup. I look forward to reading about the Eclipse coming soon. Thought Regime maybe a good roughie,but the Nelson job from Aidan O'Brien's camp,looks the goods. There is a galloper in Aussie called Belmonte,who is shaping like a lively longshot in the Caulfield Cup this October.I may have a live one for Flemington soon too. Good Punting

Gee! I hadn't realised,when I wrote about Dunfermline,the other daty,how few and far between,H.R.H.Queen Elizabeth 11's big galloping wins have been.That Free Agent is a cracker of a colt,and who could rule him out of next year's Derby,after the turn of foot he showed over the final furlong at Royal Ascot. Wondering if any of your readers can help me out,as to Dunfermline's breeding record.Height Of Fashion was a lovely mare too,and talk about size.She was enormous. I wasn't really too put off by Seachange's run,after you look at the barriers, the first four or five came from stalls,right down on the inner.She was floundering a bit and it will be interesting to see if the connections,Ric Williams and co,carry on or retire her to stud. We are just reaching the more important jumping events in our New Zealand season and I find it most exciting. Of course some of our star leppers like Royal Mail and Chumson did well in the UK biggies and maybe there will be a few more topline fencers following in their wake. Sooner rather than later! And of course we hope to see a couple of your better stayers come South for the Melbourne Cup. The Irish are good at that sort of thing aren't they? Pulling them out of the woodwork,just like Vincent O'Brien used to do in England,or so it is Alleged! Good Punting Brits! I'll keep in touch.

Thanks for bearing with my reminiscences over Brent Thomson,Gildoran,Sure Blade and thoughts of Balmerino which I carelessly spelt incorrectly. Enjoyed Yeats Gold Cup but thought several Jocks in the other races wouldn'y have hacked it with "Lester" or Willie Carson..Just too timid,particularly the rider of No 10 in the fillies Ribblesdalestaying renewal.He just let the others bully him when trying for a run. Remember Roberto beating Rheingold in The Derby,that was some race as well as Bustino v Grundy in The Queen Elizabeth 11. Don't thing any Gold Cup runner would measure up at Flemington in a Melbourne Cup,although the grey horse was game for his minor placing. Glad John Dunlop is still turning them out.He is a true gentleman of the turf,and anyone but "Hutchie"would have beaten Alleged and Piggott,when Balmerino was caught too far back when the bird have flow. See the Hills boys are still booting them home! Remember one day at Newmarket when our Brendan Clements beat Piggott by a head in a fairly good race,but take my hat off the the great "champion"that L>K>Piggott was. He wasn't bad at musical chairs picking his rides either. Maybe Dettori has lost his hunger a bit these days,Kerrin McEvoy is snapping at his heels for the top rides now. GO SEACHANGE on Saturday Go you good thing!

Very much enjoyed the live telecast of Royal Ascot to NZ, although I thought my punt Cesare was murdered in the last furlong of Haradasun's winning of the first. Reminds me of the days when I saw Brent Thomson score with great rides over there,particularly aboard Gildoran all the way in the Gold Cup. I think Gildoran was out of Durtal,who tossed "Lester" before the Jubilee Oaks,won appropriately for the Queen by Dunfermline with another hero Willie Carson,riding for the late great Major Dick Hern. Sure Blade was another for Brent,I recall warily,in The St James Palace,and sorry Thomson broke with Barry Hills but I guess,with the twins Michael and Richard Hills lurking in the background,Brent's days were numbered. Perhaps Baslmerino was our finest "champ"to race on the flat in Europe but when Seachange lines up later at this meeting,WATCH OUT! She is a superb four legged athlete and will give it a big crack. Thanks for Art Connosseur "young Spencer" get me another one or three soon!