Bookmaker almost court out as Waterhouse colt doubles up

IN HIS 40 years as a bookmaker, Michael Eskander maintains that his most vexing problem came in 1995.

BRIEFS

Togo to fight ban

Why we pulled Arnold off plane to Angola

FFA made a last-minute decision to cancel assistant coach Graham Arnold€™s trip to the African Cup of Nations, where the Togo team came under attack from terrorists. Brad Walter - Page 38

KITCHEN COMPANION

I BOUGHT this stainless steel cherry/olive pitter from Wheel & Barrow Homewares for $12.95. You place the cherry in the cup, close the tongs and the prong pushes the pit out of the cherry. I€™ve always loved cherries €” their sweet taste and fragrance and using them as a decorative object in a beautiful bowl. Fresh cherries remind me of summer and Christmas and of childhood, when I€™d wear them as earrings in the playground. Apart from being too difficult to grow in your backyard, their only drawback is the pit, the spitting of which is not so genteel. My two-year-old son, Mac, loves cherries too but I don€™t like the idea of him choking on the pits. So on my mum€™s advice, I recently bought my cherry pitter and now Mac and I share cherries together, devouring them with gusto!

AT LEAST THE HORSE PULLED UP OK

THERE is no doubt about who pulled up best after the Melbourne Cup victory celebrations, with the winner Shocking in far better state than his connections. While trainer Mark Kavanagh had been drinking champagne out of the Cup, Shocking had to be content yesterday with nibbling a bit of grass offered by strapper Natasha Boucher. More than 2.5 million Australians tuned in to watch Shocking's triumph, making it the best-rating Cup since the current ratings system began in 2001.

THE HARD QUESTION

How has your Melbourne Cup day been?

HOT FAVOURITE

Herald racing editor Craig Young warns not to overlook the obvious when looking for the Cup winner. Report €“ Inside

Punter sweats on double

TAB Sportsbet's Gary Davies said that while many Melbourne Cup punters would be drawn to backing co-favourite Alcopop, tomorrow's race could yield a life-changing result for one shrewd doubles player.

Cautious Rawiller ready for dream ride

Brad Rawiller has been extra careful in the Cup lead-up, writes Steve Butler.

Odds & Sods

FLEMINGTON trainer Danny O'Brien is looking to continue his success with lightly raced but beautifully bred staying three-year-olds when filly Stealth Cat makes her debut in the $30,000 Oaks Trial (2200 metres) at Bendigo tomorrow.

Nikolic gets the nod to navigate Basaltico in Melbourne Cup

CAULFIELD GUINEAS-winning jockey Danny Nikolic has emerged as the new jockey for the Luca Cumani-trained international raider Basaltico, taking over the mount from Damien Oliver.

Viewed saddled with five extra kilos for Cup defence

CAULFIELD Cup winner Viewed yesterday joined 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient as topweight for the world's richest handicap race after Racing Victoria's Greg Carpenter penalised him one kilogram for the $5.65 million staying test. The Bart Cummings-trained Viewed, which is out to win successive Melbourne Cups, will now have to carry 58kg, a rise of five kilograms on the impost he carted to victory last year.

Bart's new view on Cup strategy

IT IS understandable that, with 12 Melbourne Cups to his name, Bart Cummings would be wary of changing his successful formula. But the Cups King is open-minded about his approach to the 2009 Cup with last year's winner Viewed, who kicks off his campaign at Caulfield tomorrow.

Cup Clash Angers Club

LEADING country club Goulburn says moving Gosford Gold Cup to a spring date has hijacked its highly successful cup day.

Under-16 Side Wins Bradman Cup Title

NEWCASTLE'S under-16 representative cricket team recaptured the Bradman Cup yesterday after a four-year drought.

Hopman An Ace Serve

JANUARY is serving up a week of sizzling tennis action, with Lleyton Hewitt returning to the Hopman Cup to celebrate the tournaments 21st birthday.

Hodge Hunts First-up Cup Win At Inverell

BROADMEADOW trainer Steve Hodge will aim to win the $25,000 Inverell Cup (1400 metres) this afternoon with his first runner at the track.

Who The Devil Are They, Bally Asking

BALGOWNIE captain Chris Sheppard admits he doesn't know much about Wests but says his side is primed for today's top-of-the-table clash with the Red Devils.

Cup Flop Takes Gloss Off Big Day

WHAT threatened to be one of the best days of champion jockey Darren Beadman's career turned into disaster at Sha Tin yesterday when hot favourite Viva Pataca was beaten out of a place in the $HK20 million ($3.93m) Hong Kong Cup.

Ogilvy's Elegance Sadly Blown Away By The Breeze

THE best players make sport look easy. Think of Mark Waugh, gliding that shot off his pads, or Roger Federer's grace on the court. And think Geoff Ogilvy, Australia's top-ranked golfer.