The final race meeting of the season and there was something for everyone from jumps to the unique Lightning Stakes where 2yos take on the 3yos at stakes level.  It was also a day that showed how stringently horses are checked from the moment they set foot on the track, at the barrier and then after the race with one horse a late scratching after arriving in the stalls area while Young Tearaway was scratched at the barrier in the Hurdle after blood was found coming from one nostril after the warm up while several others were inspected after they had raced below expectations. 

In the Hurdle Dumosa and Shejtan led early from Take Out with Viking Tiger along the rails with Mephistopheles between them.  Turning into the straight for the first time Viking Tiger took the lead as Dumoas was restrained with Mephistopheles outwide on the track aroud Shejtan and Target Explorer then Take Out and Sir Presidente with Thmas at the back.  Viking Tiger put in some big leaps over the jumps in the straight to go to a clear lead past the post the first time from Dumosa and Target Explorer then Shejtan and Mephistopheles.  Over the jump at the 1200m Viking Tiger was still well clear from Dumosa then Target Explorer as Take Out and Shejtan made ground.  After making a couple of untidy jumps Viking Tiger started to slowly some back to the field where Dumosa quickly joined him on the outside with Shejtan and Take Out in close pursuit.  Dumosa soon took control and raced well clear from Viking Tiger over the second last with Shejtan stil running on.   Over the last and Dumosa put in a 'cat leap' but still cleared the fence with ease and raced away to the line to win from Shejtan who put in a nice leap at the last to run on to take a clear second in his debut over the jumps with Viking Tiger although starting to tire fighting on well for third ahead of Take Out.   Dumosa has now had 2 starts for 2 wins and 2 seconds over the jumps and is from the Oakbank stable of Barry Brook while Shejtan is from the Murray Bridge stable of G Lynch.

Mephistopheles was retired from the race around the home turn and his retirement has been announced.  Mephistopheles started his career as a 3yo in country Victoria with in different form.  As a spring 4yo he moved to South Australia where he was third at Mindari-Halidon before a third at Gawler over 1950m.  Interestingly to note from this race the first two placegetters were Silver Elegant who in recent times  won the Thoroughbred Hack class at the Adelaide Royal Show and Kenwick who went onto a jumps career and has now also moved on to a second career as an equestrian horse.  He later won at Bordertown and was placed at Morphettville and Cheltenham.  As a late 5yo he started his career over the jumps and was third in the South Australian Grand National Hurdle at only his second jumps start.  A win on the flat at Gawler followed before winning a Hurdle at Morphettville at the end of the winter season.  The next jumps season he won on the flat at Murray Bridge before winnning the Hurdle at Oakbank in March defeating McCloud (another to go on to an equestrian career) before being sent over the bigger obstacles and running 4th in the Von Doussa Steeplechase before running second in the Great Eastern Steeplechase.

 Mephistopheles missed the rest of the jumps season and returned as a late 7yo where he 2nd in a Hurdle at Morphettville before returning to Oakbank and running third in the Great Eastern Steeplechase.  Winning a steeple trial before being luckless at the Warrnambool carnival he only had a handful of races and trials (incl a second at Morphettville) before a long break.  Resuming his career early this jumping season he had several trials before running 4th in a steeplechase at Mt Gambier and this month had a run on the flat before winning a steepelchase trial at Morphettville as a lead up to this race.  He retires with a record of 54 starts 5 wins and 12 placings with a jumps record of 18 starts 2 wins and 4 placings.

 Race two was for the 2yos and it was the first starter Hill Spy (by O'Reilly) who as too good defeating Exodus with Cash is Coming third.  Hill Spy is from the Victorian stable of R Smerdon and was ridden by M Walker.  Pocket Rockets repeated the previous weeks effort on the inner track in wining the next race from Barigan Boy with Dee Bee Nine third taking his record to 28 starts for 7 wins and 5 placings.

In the distance race of the day Bojani was too good racing well clear inthe final stages to win from You're Discreet with Border Express third while in the next Desert Jeuney continued to show promise in making it 2 wins from 4 starts defeating Charmed Harmony with Abdaan third.  Desert Jeuney was the start of a three race streak for Victorians on the day.  In the next race the  Nigel Blackiston stable made it two in a row with Half His Luck too good for Halayr Jet with Mumbeilly third.

In the Lightning Stakes the short priced favourite was Thermal Current from the Victorian stable of Peter Moody while Splash of Moet and Words are Weapons were considered the best of the locals.   Raise a Dream was one of the fastest out but soon it was Thiamandi narrowly in front of Prettyhappyaboutit followed by Words are Weapons with Thermal Current and Splash of Moet well back.  Around the turn Thiamandi led Prettythappyaboutit from Heart of a Lion with Thermal Current starting a run out wider.  By the 200m Prettyhappyaboutit took over from Thiamandi with Thermal Current running on from Heart of a Lion then Crabbing making ground on the inside.  In the run to the line Prettyhappyaboutit defied all attempts to run her down winning from Thermal Current with Heart of a Lion third.  Prettyhappyaboutit had been in good Melbourne form without breaking through and takes her record to 8 starts for 3 wins and 4 placings.  By Magnus she is from the Victorian stable of R Griffiths. 

In the last race Avoca Street got tightened and lost rider S Westover coming into the turn but both horse and rider were ok as the Richard Jolly trained Schaduw went on to win from Sandhill Jett and Debeersonus.

With the upcoming feature jumps races its likely that the protestors (who seem to come in from Melbourne - no protestors have been noticed during the winter season so far) may return to Morphettville in August.  If they do it has been suggested that if they cause any issues with the loudhailer etc please just walk straight on by and report what happened to the nearest security guard or police (I know loud noise can hurt the ears but best to refrain from any action in anger).  Also its been suggested that if you find their signs/banners offensive please contact the raceclub and make this known.