After un-seasonal heavy rain the track at Sandown (Hillside) was rated a heavy ten on Saturday and jockey Peter Mertens put into action advice he received many years ago from legendary rider Bob Skelton to ride three winners on the card on the heavy going.

With the track as wet as a track can become before stewards call the meeting off - Mertens handled his rides brilliantly.  One of his treble was on the Bart Cummings trained Roadhog.  

With good wet-track form he looked well placed 'if things went Roadhog's way' and they did.  Mertens allowed the race favourite Free The Robber to lead in the early stages from Correct Amoondo and Roadhog was in third position.  Free The Robber did not seem all the comfortable in front and at the top of the straight as Roadhog moved up on his inside and Correct Amoondo staked his claim on the outside, Free The Robber was the first horse beaten.  Roadhog went clear, with Spelling following him through on the inside.  Roadhog did not have a lot in reserve but was able to hold out Correct Amoondo (Snippets - Eliza Dane by Danehill) by a long neck.   Spelling (Entrepreneur - Apache Girl by Best Western) peaked on his run and finished third the same margin away.

In a twist of fate in claiming the Sovereign Red Handicap (1300m), Roadhog, whose pedigree traces back to the six-time group one winner Sovereign Red (by Sir Tristram, took his earnings past $300,000 a tidy return on the original outlay his owners gave for him at the 2003 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale when Duncan Ramage paid $55,000 for him.  A son of the unraced Dame (by Salieri) who is a half-sister to the stakes winning Tucker Box (by Lunchtime) and the Group 2 Newcastle Cup and Group 3 SAJC St Leger winner Seto Bridge (by Bellotto).   

Dame is out of the Balmerino mare Arodani a half-sister to the stakes placed Excelo (by Centro) the dam of the four-time group one winner, Xcellent (by Pentire).

At Rosehill on Saturday, Coffs Harbour based Ken Lantry, saddled up Legendary Man in the Freshworld Welter Hcp (1900m) for a solid vicotry.

The injury-plagued five-year-old son of Shovhog posted his first win in more than a year at Rosehill a string of setbacks over the last two seasons was well forgotten when he took the Welter out by a widening margin. 

Legendary Man was returning from a winter carnival campaign in Brisbane where his efforts included a second to Atapi in Listed company two starts ago.  On Saturday Legendary Man strode up to his rivals at the furlong and scored by 2-3/4 lengths from Jamberoo (Rubiton - Broadway Lil by Padroug) with Ausbred King (Masterclass - Stormy Zephy by Zephyr bay) a short head away third. 

Legendary Man was purchased by Lantry at the 2003 Inglis Scone Yearling sale for $6,000, and with his win on Saturday he has taken his earnings past $350,000.  He is the only stakes winner for his dam the Spectacular Spy mare Fresh Feeling.  The family lacks depth, however, well back in the fifth generation the top class Makarpura Star (by Native Kingdom) appears.

A big day out for Raheen Stud's young Danehill horse, Shovhog, at Rosehill on Saturday producing a metropolitan treble.

Apprentice Tye Angland kicked home Junebug (ex Light Me UP by Twig Moss) in the Well Being Hcp (1500m) to score by the barest margin from Commemorating (Singspiel - Turf Romance by Turf Ruler).  

Montserrat (Stravinsky - You Remember Me by Topsider) was another length away in third.  

In collecting his fourth win from 17-starts Junebug cut out a class record for the 7-1/2 furlong event running 1:29.72 clocking 34.27 for his last 600m.

Angland then jumped aboard Jack's Gild (ex Stella Suprema by Zeditave) in the Bank Hotel Hcp (1200m) and in another tight finish Angland got the most from Jack's Girl to score by a from Fire Song (Senor Pete - Dance On Fire by Volksraad) with the same margin to Bella Senora (Lacryma Cristi - Pash by Zeditave).

Shovhog chalked up his treble in the Laundy Hotel Hcp (1300m) when Smart and Fast (ex Cachelle by Marscay) claimed a dead-heat with Our Jetsetter (Jetball - Time is Hope by River Rough).

AAP reports, Although it was a bitterly cold day at Randwick last Saturday it didn't wipe the smile off the face of trainer David Payne after Uber landed an upset win in the Listed City Tattersalls Lightning Handicap. 

Payne's jubilation was not for himself but for Uber's part-owner Baden Brown, who has been battling ill health. 

"I am just so happy for the owner, Mr Brown," Payne said. 

"He hasn't been in the best of health and he is just a lovely man. 

"This is the first horse he gave me and he won the Black Opal as a two-year-old." 

Uber (ex Coverage by Covetous), who underwent a wind operation eight months ago, went into Saturday's race with the impressive second-up record of a win and two placings from four tries but most punters gave him a wide berth in the 1100m sprint and he was sent out a $31 chance. 

Jockey Jeff Penza was able to settle Uber in behind the solid speed and the gelding bullocked out into clear running in the straight and stuck his head out to fend off the fast-finishing Whoever (Redoute's Choice - Celebration Bell by True Version) by a half-head with Posadas (Commands - Navidad by Christmas Tree) a half-length away third. 

Queensland based Shovhog has a talented juvenile to represent him in the autumn when Kelly made it two wins in a row taking out the www.theraces.com.au (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Prepared by Gerald Ryan said after the impressive win that Kelly would be spelled immediately and set for a crack at the Golden Slipper despite being very green in Saturday's race.

Ryan said that Kelly was a immature colt and although the Slipper is run a little later in 2006 Ryan is hoping that six weeks out in the paddock will assist his development.

Bred by managing owner John Thompson, who raced 2000 Caulfield Cup winner Diatribe, Kelly (ex Hot Legs by Covetous) was singled out from 47 other horses by Ryan.  

"John gave me the pick of 48 horses and I said to him 'I want the Shovhog and then you can give me any other ones you like'," Ryan said. 

"I liked him as a foal, I saw him when he'd been weaned and I liked him all the way through." 

Ridden by Jeff Penza, Kelly scored by a length over Voltabolta (Volcanic Prince - Talaq's Pride by At Talaq) with St Martin (Danehill - Marigot Bay by Fairy King) third a length away.

Shovhog's, four-year-old son Uber returned to winning form on Saturday at Randwick taking out the Thrifty Hcp in solid fashion.

First up since April when Uber was diagnosed as a "roarer" and subsequently operated on by respected Vet, Dr. Alastair MacLean, spending his next three months in specialist post-operative and rehabilitation care at Tremon Thoroughbreds, Diggers Rest.

Uber is prepared by David Payne, who had given him two solid trials before his return on Saturday, enabling Uber to score by a half-length from Athelnoth (Coronation Day - Cloudcrest by Pillaster) with another 2-1/2 lengths back to Mr Aristos (Danewin - Princess Yeats by Yeats).   

In recording his fourth win from just 14-starts, Uber (ex Coverage by Covetous) set a new class record of 1:09.65 for the 1200m.

Trevor Gluck from Tremon said, "It has been a big year for roarers in rehabilitation at Tremon with our success rate and return to winning form for their owners being exceptional."

Gluck added, "We have had roarers in post-operative rehabilitation from most states of Australia."

The speicalised care that Tremon provides owners another avenue of care for for injured horses as they offer both pre and post operative care.  With facilities that also enable them to offer sterile boxes for post operative care of horses with entrapped epiglottis and roarers.

Tremon also care for injuries like fractures, splints, tendons and radiation treatment, the fame has size-graduated yards and paddocks enabling them to cater for horses requiring a short term stay as well as those requiring longer care.  Another benefit for the farm is that they are close to the University Of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic at Werribee.

Gosford trainer Albert Stapleford hasn't ventured to Melbourne very often throughout his successful career, but when he does it is worth taking notice as talented sprinter Bennetts Green showed at Moonee Valley.

Stapleford, who brought  Hasta La Quista south to win the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1000m) at the Valley in 1999, said he brought Bennetts Green to Melbourne because there were no suitable 1000m races in NSW.

Stabled at Flemington with Steve Richards, the four-year-old was runner-up to Leone Chiara over 1000m at Flemington on July 2 before his all-the-way win in the Lobster Cave Hcp (1000m) on Saturday.

Ridden by apprentice Michael Guthrie, Bennetts Green jumped very quickly from barrier 10 with young Guthrie urging him forward early in search of the lead.  He was able to cross Edgeton easily and as he settled into his rhythm, Bennetts Green had the field strung out a little.  His main danger Tarn Princess (Picnicker - Ripplette by River Rough) lost ground on the rail after being eased and Lord of Lauriston was in the worst going on the rail.  

Guthrie, kept Bennetts Green about two horses away from the rail and full of running as he rounded the turn the race was never in doubt striding away to record a strong 1-1/2 length win over Lord of Lauriston (Encosta de Lago - Let It Ring by Zoffany), with Edgeton (Racer's Edge - Croutons by Snippets) a half-length away in third. 

In recording his tenth win from 24-starts it was Bennetts Green first win on a heavy track. 

Bennetts Green is out of the Zabeel mare Zaiglo but has obviously thrown to his sire, the brilliant Shovhog, runner-up to Prowl in the 1988 Golden Slipper.