Boy oh boy, they are still crying in their beer...Connections of trounced Trustus (10th) are still complaining about Danny Nikolic's ride in the Winter C'ship final at Flemington. Co-trainer Brian Johnston had a nasty bash at the rider on raceday and now a part-owner of Trustus is saying how stunned he was by Nikolic's ride. Bryan Muschialli says he wondered what was going through Nikolic's head. Well, whatever it was, and however he'd have ridden him, Trustus was NEVER in a million years going

Boy oh boy, they are still crying in their beer...Connections of trounced Trustus (10th) are still complaining about Danny Nikolic's ride in the Winter C'ship final at Flemington. Co-trainer Brian Johnston had a nasty bash at the rider on raceday and now a part-owner of Trustus is saying how stunned he was by Nikolic's ride. Bryan Muschialli says he wondered what was going through Nikolic's head. Well, whatever it was, and however he'd have ridden him, Trustus was NEVER in a million years going to beat Doubtful Jack. That's the start and end of it. To say otherwise is just fantasy stuff. Nikolic is now facing yet another stewards' inquiry over the ride. He must be wondering whether it's worth riding in Melbourne.

The facts of the Trustus ride are simple enough: Trustus got away OK, followed Doubtful Jack settling down but then got shuffled back in a tight field on the rails - something that happens in a host of races at any track. Danny Nikolic had Trustus well in the clear from the 400m but the horse was doing nothing. Even with a perfect ride Trustus would have been battling to run a place.

Hong Kong finale...Sacred Kingdom was anointed Hong Kong's champion racehorse on Sunday and John Size the champion trainer for the sixth time in nine seasons. The Champion Awards were held in conjunction with the giveaways, songs and teary goodbyes of the final Sha Tin card for 2009-10. Douglas Whyte was named the most popular jockey by a public vote. However, he failed to seal the championship and his battle with Brett Prebble goes to Happy Valley on Wednesday with Whyte ahead by 2 wins.