RACING Victoria has taken the unusual step of apologizing to trainer Danny O'Brien for any incorrect perception that a breach of the rules had occurred after last Saturday's post race meeting swabbing of two of his horses.

The latest RV News Bulletin also reports on the nervousness of a female Adelaide apprentice prior to her ride on a hot favorite in the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on Saturday.

RV statement raceday testing

Racing Victoria is concerned that the circumstances surrounding the recent testing of Danny O’Brien’s horses The New Boy and Kutchinsky have caused distress to Mr O’Brien and the connections of the two horses.

Last Saturday, the Stewards decided to take additional blood samples from these horses at the end of race day in order to provide a greater profile of whatever Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) fluctuations may have occurred on the day and to assist in the interpretation of those fluctuations. The need to detain horses on-course is to prevent the possibility of any post-race alkalinizing administrations interfering with readings and the natural TCO2 patterns. This strategy has been employed in the past by Racing Victoria and is an effective measure.

The laboratory results received on Monday all produced readings that were significantly below the maximum TCO2 limit which led the Stewards to a conclusive view that there was no evidence of any breaches of the Rules of Racing.

Unfortunately, it is apparent that there were discrepancies between the pre-race screen readings and the laboratory results and this has prompted the Stewards to seek further advice from Racing Analytical Services Limited (which conducts the analysis) and to review whether there are any aspects of the race-day TCO2 sampling and screening procedures that warrant attention. That review is still in progress.

The detaining of the horses at the track and subsequent sampling of the horses at Mr O’Brien’s stables attracted significant media attention and we apologise if the circumstances on the day have resulted in any incorrect perception that a breach of the rules had occurred, or had possibly occurred.

Stojakovic ready for ride of her Life

You have to admire Lauren Stojakovic's honesty. Jockeys rarely admit to being anxious before a big race, but the Adelaide apprentice rider conceded to battling nerves earlier this week.

Stojakovic learned on Monday that she had been given the chance to retain her association with Blue Diamond favourite Miracles of Life in the $120,000 Listed Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m) at Caulfield this Saturday.

It will be the biggest ride of the 29-year-old's career and she knows it. But she is also certain that nerves will not be her overriding emotion when the gates swing back at 2.50pm.

“On Monday I was first shocked to get the ride, then excited and then nervous,” she said. “But yesterday I actually woke up and felt, ‘I can do this, this will be OK' so as the days go on I'm feeling much more excited and less nervous.”

General out of his comfort zone

Having seen British General master the Flemington 1400 metres, Ballarat trainer Dan O'Sullivan has turned his attention to Caulfield.

The General Nediym gelding will pursue a fourth straight win when he contests Saturday's $120,000 Listed Swettenham Stud John Dillon Stakes (1400m).

He won his past three over the Flemington 1400m, which followed a Caulfield failure over 1200m but O'Sullivan said a number of factors conspired against the Black Saturday survivor that day and was confident he can transfer his winning form across town.

“The day he got beaten it was five weeks between runs, the jockey who rode him said he didn't like being bottled up inside them and it was also a very windy day and all the leaders in that race were the first horses beaten,” O'Sullivan said.

Relentless pursuit of city success

Relentless doesn't have to win tomorrow night's Alternate Railway Tour of Victoria Distance Final at Moonee Valley for the series to have been a success for Antony Alder.

Merely being involved in the 2500-metre event that is the culmination a series involving heats at mostly regional venues throughout December and January is a highlight for the small-time trainer.

Alder, who works as a farrier, only ever has a couple of horses in work at his Gnarwarre base and will saddle up his first starter in a $100,000 race when Relentless steps out in the penultimate event on the eight-event card.

“Series like this give horses like mine an opportunity to go to town and race in a $100,000 race,” Alder said.

Bonnie mare on comeback trail

Tomorrow night's Group 2 Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley looms as a turning point for Mike Moroney's former New Zealand based mare Bonnie Mac.

The daughter of Thorn Park could not have been more impressive after arriving in Australia last Autumn.

She won three races on end including the listed Proud Miss Stakes in Adelaide but a combination of factors saw her run well below that form subsequently.

''She had some wind issues when she came over but they were not serious enough to stop her racing very well, so we pushed on as long as we could,'' Moroney said.

Racing stars pad up for NJT

They are champions in the saddle but how will some of Victoria’s leading jockeys fare when they step up to the crease in the National Jockeys’ Trust T20 Cricket Match?

It will be the question on the crowd’s lips at Red Hill Cricket Ground on Tuesday but ask popular rider Jason Benbow and there’s no doubt in his mind the jockeys will acquit themselves well with bat and ball.

Benbow will captain a jockey outfit that features leading Victorian riders Brad Rawiller, Luke Nolen, Stephen Arnold and apprentice Chad Schofield.

The jockey team will come against a Racing All Star squad, led by TVN personality Bruce Clark, that includes Clyde trainer Todd Balfour, syndicator Wylie Dalziel, popular barrier attendant Glen Darrington, as well as media personalities Richard Callander, Jason Richardson and Adam White.

Black Caviar Bulletin – January 24

Black Caviar has come through her impressive jumpout at Sandown on Wednesday in great fashion and remains on target for a return to racing in the group 1, Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 16.

''I couldn't be happier with her,'' said Tony Haydon, assistant trainer to Peter Moody, who is in New Zealand for the yearling sales.

''I reckon she looks the best she has in two years.''

RACING VICTORIA NEWS BULLETIN COMPILED BY SHEENA COFFEY.