Premierships were decided, a protest was upheld and favourite punters were cringing in the early stages of the second race at Rosehill - but that's the way it goes in a day at the races.
PANYA GIVES PUNTERS A SCARE
Punters could be heard lamenting almost from the outset of the ATC Owner Benefits Card Handicap (1100m) when well supported favourite and expected leader Clear The Beach was pressured by 2kg apprentice Deanne Panya's mount Wide Acclaim.
Some expletives could even be heard within the member's stand as Wide Acclaim pressed and pressed, forcing Clear The Beach ($3.70) to over-race and leave him a sitting shot in the straight.
But it all worked out in the end with Clear The Beach finding just enough for Christain Reith to hold off a fast finishing Difficult To Get, with Wide Acclaim tiring late to finish fourth.
"Lucky they don't have speakers on the home corner because you wouldn't have liked to know what I was saying," Reith said post-race. "He should have just absolutely bolted in."
But perhaps those frustrated punters were a bit too harsh on Panya, stewards accepting Panya's version of events that Wide Acclaim tended to overdo it despite numerous attempts to "bring him back".
"You didn't do your chances any good," acting chairman of stewards Philip Dingwall said. "But we accept your mount was racing freely and fiercely and that you made an attempt to bring him back."
PROTEST - THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES
Hugh Bowman's final winner of the season was snatched away from him in the stewards room.
Bowman had cajoled the best out of Peter and Paul Snowden's Wild 'N' Famous to be first past the post in the ATC Thanks Our Owners Handicap (1350m) but a half-length winning margin wasn't enough to save him.
Andrew Adkins, rider of the runner-up Most Exalted, fired in a protest.
"I had established a run outside of Hugh Bowman's mount at the 200m mark," Adkins said. "He shifted out and took my running. I had to check and it cost me between two and two-and-a-half lengths.
"If I didn't get flattened I win by two lengths."
Bowman argued he was "just as entitled to that run as he was" but stewards didn't take long to deliberate, upholding the protest.
Bowman and the Snowdens copped the decision sweet, shaking hands with the jubilant Mudgee-based trainer Mack Griffith.
"Well done," Bowman said. "That's the way it goes."
Stewards gave Bowman a seven-meeting suspension as a result of the interference.
Bowman is back on August 13 meaning he will miss The Rosebud meeting at Rosehill on August 12 but will be back in time to partner Winx when she resumes in the Warwick Stakes.
SO YOU THINK HE'S A DECENT SIRE
Former dual Cox Plate winner, Melbourne Cup placegetter and staggering 10-time Group I winner So You Think is beginning to find his feet on the sire front and Chris Waller has produced a couple of highly talented late two-year-olds in Saturday's winner D'argento and recent city winner Calculated.
"I wouldn't say no to a few more of them," Waller said.
"They weren't expected to go as early two-year-olds so I've given them time and they are starting to show it now.
"I am sure they will improve again into their three-year-old season."
And if you want a tip from Sydney's number one trainer, keep an eye out for Higher Ground, a bay colt by So You Think.
The soon to be three-year-old has been trialling strongly of late so no surprise to see him produced at the races shortly.
INSENSATA'S MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM
The fate of Insensata looked shaky when on course fluctuations drifted from $2.60 out to $4.20 and it got no better once the gates opened.
Adam Hyeronimus didn't do anything wrong. He settled Jason Coyle's in-form filly back on the rails and appeared to have plenty of horse underneath him as they approached the home turn in the Sydney Spring Carnival On Sale Plate (1400m).
But race leader and hard fit gelding Arbeitsam didn't slow down, running his final 600m in 33.97 seconds under the urgings of Tim Clark.
Whilst no consolation for those that backed Insensata – Coyle's filly did clock the fastest final 600m of the race in 33.31 seconds.
But a fast finishing seventh doesn't earn a dime from the bookies.
MR CONSISTENCY TO BE FAST OUT OF THE GATES
Warwick Farm based trainer Bjorn Baker earned the nickname "Mr Consistency" after training 121 winners last season and backing it up with 121 winners this season.
"I've had more stakes winners and significantly more metropolitan winners," Baker said. "It's been a great season."
And the competitive former Kiwi was quick to point out that he had trained more winners than his old man Murray Baker, who still trains out of New Zealand in partnership with Andrew Forsman.
Baker is confident of a quick start to the new racing season with the likes of Bonny O'Reilly, Imposing Lass and Champagne Cuddles set to trial at Rosehill on Tuesday.
"I have been a slow starter in the past but this season I have a healthy team and some good horses ready to go," Baker said.
Two Baker-trained runners which punters will have to bide their time for are Music Magnate and Collateral.
Group I winner Music Magnate had a fetlock chip removed and is unlikely to be back before the new year whilst in-form stayer Collateral came down with a temperature and has subsequently been sent for a short spell.
PREMIERSHIP CELEBRATIONS
Hugh Bowman secured the Sydney Jockeys' Premiership at Rosehill on Saturday whilst for trainer Chris Waller it was his seventh straight Sydney Trainers' title.
So how is the culmination of 12 months hard work celebrated by Sydney's number one trainer and jockey?
Chris Waller – "I'll have a drink with the wife, spend some time with the kids and wake up in the morning without a hangover. That's my life at the moment. I'm happy and enjoying it."
Hugh Bowman – "I'll have dinner with the family and an early night. I'm up first thing tomorrow and off to the airport."
Bowman is heading to Papua New Guinea with fellow riders Corey Brown, Stephen Baster and Kathy O'Hara to walk the arduous Kokoda Trail to raise awareness and funds for the Mark Hughes Foundation and National Jockeys Trust.
CLICK HERE for more information via the website walking2help.
OWNERS RECOGNISED
The ATC have recognised the contribution of racehorse owners with the inaugural Owners Awards presented on course during Saturday's meeting.
It will come as no surprise that the most winning owner at ATC racecourses this season was Godolphin (78 wins).
And for the trivia buffs:
Most ATC starts in the season – Montauk (18 starts) - Results (18:3-4-3)
Most ATC starts from a non-metro trained runner – Isorich (12 starts) – Results (12:2-1-0)
Most improved horse at ATC courses – The Mission (broke maiden then went onto win Group I Champagne Stakes)
Most starts at Canterbury night meetings – No Return (6 starts) – Results (6:0-2-1)
