Racing: Dittman can enjoy a peaceful retirement

Queenslander Mick Dittman is attempting to take things a bit easier these days.

Which is why the former champion Australian jockey wasn't at Trentham on Saturday to see his filly Keep The Peace win Saturday's Desert Gold Stakes.

Dittman has spent the past nine years operating from a Singapore base, essentially buying horses for an Asian owner to whom he has been contracted.

"Mick's just handed his notice in with his owner and is retiring back on the Gold Coast to take it easier," said fellow owner Paul Bellingham, who was at Trentham.

Dittman and Bellingham have been trading horses to Asian markets for several years and more recently have retained a few to race themselves.

Keep The Peace is one of them. They bought the Keeper filly from the O'Sullivan stable unraced on the strength of a barrier trial.

Shaune Ritchie was confident of a big showing, despite the strength of the field - one of the most competitive fillies' races in years.

What helped enormously was the fact that the rail was "off" for at least the second two-thirds of the Trentham programme.

Horses on the inside were increasingly disadvantaged and for the last couple of races the entire field was swinging towards the centre of the track.

Jason Waddell found the right part of the track in the home straight for Keep The Peace and it was the winning of the race.

Obsession looked the winner when she dashed clear at the 300m, but closer to the inside she could not match the speed of the horses in the fast lane out in the centre.

Keep The Peace got her revenge on Katie Lee for toppling her narrowly in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton last November.

She is now a leading chance for the Oaks at Trentham.

"I'll run her in the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa and aim at the Oaks."

The second favourite Adaline could finish only seventh.

Ritchie made a quick return from Trentham to be back at Ellerslie yesterday to watch his New Zealand Cup winner and in form stayer My Scotsgrey gallop between races.

"I had to do something with him after they cancelled his race at Te Teko on Friday."

Ritchie will run My Scotsgrey in the open 2000m at Te Rapa.

"He'll have one more run before the Auckland Cup, but I haven't decided where yet."