Penson deserves Presvis Plaudits

My words of inspiration this week come from Hong Kong airport as I wait to board my flight home, and after witnessing Presvis do his stuff in the QEII on Sunday, the trip was definitely worth it, although I have to admit by the time it came round to race day itself, my batteries were starting to flatten after so many functions that could not possibly have been missed! With a 10-race card, I don't think my voice could have cheered any more winners.

Luca Cumani's assistant, Charlie Henson, deserves real credit for all the work he has put into the preparation of what is the most promising horse around, and while the Italian training maestro may be the one dishing out the orders, Henson has done a grand job keeping things ticking over while the boss flits between continents.

It's often said good horses make good trainers, and jockeys for that matter, therefore Mr Henson is obviously a name to keep an eye out for. Indeed Michelle, the horse's work rider, has got the knack when it comes to getting the best out of his morning mount and looked as proud as punch when leading his equine friend into the winner's spot.

There is always a hard luck story on occasions like this and there was none more obvious than Australia's main hope, Niconero, who “broke down'' and was immediately retired from racing.

Ryan Kellam deserves special credit for all his efforts with the horse, and while he was understandably not all laughs after the event, the groom-cum-foreman was keen to inform me there is a new kid on the block, namely Nicconi, who is a half brother to the five-time grade one winner and who is also housed at David Hayes' Lindsay Park Stables near Adelaide.

I hope you all have your note pads!

Findlay's a casebook

I notice that the bolshie owner Harry Findlay has removed his horses from Evan Williams' yard in the UK with the trainer sighting “different views'' as the reason.

Mr Findlay may have owned (or part-owned to be precise) the winner of the Gold Cup in 2008, Denman, but after only a relatively short amount of time actually in racing he seems to have been around, in my opinion, too long already. After all he only struck lucky when winning the Scoop 6 one day.

It's interesting that the couple of horses owned in partnership are to remain at the Welsh trainer's base; perhaps Findlay was outvoted on that one. I fail to understand why anyone should want a dog and bark themselves.

Just because a bit of success has come his way it's obvious he thinks he can place his horses to better effect than the handlers he supposedly employs to do so. I'm just waiting until the luck runs out with Paul Nicholls to see if he can really take the rough with the smooth.