What you don’t see in this replay is The Inferno nearly going down early in the race after getting his front legs clipped

So that’s the 80th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin done, it’s also Lightning Stakes Day done, and James McDonald proved once again he isn’t a complete idiot, because his business decision to jump on Home Affairs instead of staking the 1A ride on Nature Strip paid off in spades, as the 3-year-old Colt beat home his esteemed Chris Waller stablemate Nature Strip, who only had himself to blame after bombing the start and getting a couple of bumps inside the opening furlong, which probably threw off quite a few horses (Eduardo being one) who expected to be trailing Nature Strip, but instead they were trailing the 3-year-old colt in the Coolmore silks all the way past the finishing post.

Still, in years gone by Nature Strip would’ve spectacularly crashed and burned if he’d bombed the start, simply because he only knew how to lead and would burn all his energy hunting up on speed, but the Waller polish was on show 1st Up when he was able to gradually build into the race under Jamie Kah, and all told he only went down by a nose in a fantastic driving finish.

All told I thought was a very enjoyable race to watch, it did live up to expectations as the best field to grace the Lightning since Black Caviar retired, and now Home Affairs has booked a ticket to Royal Ascot in the Northern Summer, and it remains to be seen if it’s a one-way ticket.

Other than that, the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill was just as engaging as the Lightning, because just when it looked like Anamoe was home and hosed at the short odds, along came William Pike on Hilal to give the favourite and everyone who went one out in the quaddie a giant heart-attack, but Anamoe responded and did just enough to win, denying Pikey his first Saturday win in Sydney, and giving everyone a reprieve before Sky Lab came along and won the 3rd Leg at double figure odds.

If you ask me, it wasn’t even the prettiest ride by Tommy Berry in the quaddie legs, because I backed Mightybeel in Race 7, and it was just beautiful from start to bloody finish – Never ever looked like losing.

And the best part is, it’s one more winner than Crazy Craig found with his inane musical selections.

The O’Jays Pick: Ojai E/W in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill = 4th

Obviously it’s another glorious failure for Crazy Craig, but can I point out that Ojai, which is actually pronounced O-hi (Contrary to our flawed understanding), beat home the $2.25 favourite Queen Of The Ball, meaning she did exactly what Craig Craig expected of her…

The only problem was 3 other horses beat her home and she didn’t even run a place in a driving finish.

Anyway, that’s another lesson in why you don’t bet on 2-year-olds…. You never know how much improvement they’ve got left in them.

The Killers Pick: Mr Brightside in Race 8 at Flemington = 3rd ($1.80p)

Dear me, you don’t have to be stiff to be dead….

Or is it you don’t have to be dead to be stiff?

Yeah, that, although I was dead on Friday morning and I wasn’t stiff.

Neil Diamond Pick: My Baby Blue Jean in Race 4 at Ascot = 3rd ($1.10p)

If Crazy Craig had made My Baby Blue Jean the David Bowie Pick, she would’ve held on for 2nd.

Hahahaha, $1.70 and her guts fall out of her arse at the 200 metres….

What a way to make a living.