Racing: Melbourne test for My Scotsgrey

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Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie says he has to find out how good My Scotsgrey is.

He needs to discover his level in Australia.

And that's not going to take long to do after the giant grey returned to winning form at Te Rapa on Saturday after 19 months away from the winner's stall.

Melbourne will be the next port of call.

My Scotsgrey looked on his way to reasonably good things in the stayers' ranks when he won the 2009 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton.

Disaster struck when a hole in the tendon of his near-front leg was discovered after just one more start following Riccarton.

It's never easy for a stayer to come back from tendon problems, particularly one as big as My Scotsgrey, and the satisfaction displayed by Ritchie and his group of owners was there for all to see at Te Rapa.

"He had a full 16 months away from racing and it's a terrific feeling to see what he did today," said Ritchie on Saturday.

He has no intention of aiming My Scotsgrey at the Melbourne Cup, despite the horse's 3200m record.

"He's too slow for the Melbourne Cup," says Ritchie.

"But a race like the Bart Cummings at Flemington, a 2500m handicap, should suit him perfectly."

Fellow Cambridge stayer Harris Tweed won last year's A$200,000 Bart Cummings before going on to finish second in the Caulfield Cup.

There are also races like the Sandown Cup for My Scotsgrey away from the prime stayers.

Winning rider Leith Innes said My Scotsgrey was not particularly happy in the Te Rapa footing on Saturday, which made the winning performance even better.

Pacemaker Cent Per Cent looked the winner when he dived three lengths clear at the 350m, but like only good horses can do, My Scotsgrey found an overdrive and forged past and clear in the closing stages.

My Scotsgrey will accompany stablemate Keep The Peace to Melbourne.

"I was asked by a Sydney radio station during the week if I had anything for the Cox Plate and I said Keep The Peace has been nominated but she won't be running because she's not good enough, and she's not.

"There are plenty of suitable races for her in Melbourne, without having to look at Cox Plate level."Up-and-coming stayer Scarlett Lady began her serious preparation for the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double with a gallop between races at Te Rapa.

Stablemate Gaston was travelling as well as Scarlett Lady in the closing stages of their gallop, but he's a sprinter and she's a stayer, so that was no surprise.

"I thought that was fantastic work," said co-trainer Graeme Rogerson.

The pair broke 36 seconds for the final 600m on a slow track.

"I think the 1400m race [Makfi Challenge Stakes on August 27] will be a bit sharp for her at 1400m against the likes of Jimmy Choux," said Rogerson.

After Hastings, Scarlett Lady goes to the 1800m Underwood Stakes in Melbourne then on October 2 the Turnbull Stakes followed by the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Rogerson's Queensland Derby winner from his Sydney stable, Shootoff, goes to the Warwick Stakes in Sydney on Saturday.

"I think he's more a Cox Plate horse than a Cups' horse," said RogersonBulginbaah's retirement is only one episode among the walking wounded following Saturday's $70,000 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate.

The 11-year-old icon cracked the cannon bone in his near-side front leg during the race and will undergo surgery today to pin the leg.

An emotionally devastated part owner and trainer Catherine Wilson said her only positive thought is that veterinarian Douglas Black has told her Bulginbaah will be fine after the cannon bone knits and mends.

Wilson said she wanted to rush down to see if her Lotto ticket won a $20 million prize so she could buy a property to keep Bulginbaah on in his retirement.

"I haven't got a property, but I'm determined to keep Cecil with me for the rest of his days.

"There have been a few people who have been marvellous and offered me a paddock to keep him in."

Bulginbaah suffered a buffeting mid-race on Saturday, where Wilson suspects the problem was caused.

"It ticks me off that this has happened when it's not his fault. I'm completely gutted.

"The vet said it's a good thing that the crack is on the outside of the cannon bone, not the inside, so that's a positive."

Bulginbaah retires with a record of 22 wins from 91 starts and $714,450 in stakes. His part owner and former trainer Ken Cropp died late last year.

Even the impressive winner Fritzy Boy threw a scare into his 75-year-old owner John Jury and trainer Alby MacGregor when he returned to the birdcage with blood in a nostril.

The endoscope ordered by the stewards confirmed Fritzy Boy is not a bleeder and is therefore permitted to continue racing.

Fritzy Boy looked in superb order in the pre-race parade and MacGregor said later he believes the horse is in the best form of is career.

"We didn't spell him for too long after last summer and that seems to suit him. He's one of those horses that prefers being in work." Fritzy Boy will now proceed to the Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings on August 27, a race he won two years ago.

Good-class mare Katie Lee dropped out in the home straight to finish tailing off.

There appeared nothing physically wrong with Katie Lee on her return, but a veterinary examination revealed a slow heart recovery rate.

Fleur De Lune and Smoulder, both resuming from spells, turned in excellent performances to fill the minor placings.