Trainer Joe Pride's uncanny knack rises to the fore again Winners & Losers Timing: Terravista (second from right) wins the Darley. The uncanny knack of Joe Pride, a self-made trainer more than a natural-born horseman, was emphasised on Saturday. A big factor regarding the ability of a trainer can be judged on placing horses to advantage and improving them to hold their form for winning sequences. Pride, whose formative years were spent more at university than a dung heap, notched a double with half-brothers Terravista in the group 1 Darley Classic at Flemington and Ball Of Muscle in Randwick's Ranvet Sprint. During his 13-race career, Terravista has won nine, including three on the trot, and Ball Of Muscle's five out of seven includes three straight. The other half-brother, Tiger Tees, has five in a row to his credit, starting a winning tally in a Wyong maiden. Wise guys may put the accomplishments down to them being out of Parfore, an outstanding broodmare. Well, Rain Affair, apart from Pride, is totally unrelated, and won nine straight. Ironically, Parfore, by Gold Brose and now 17, from four starts only has a Geelong maiden to her credit. But there is more on the way for Parfore, says Australian Turf Club chief executive Darren Pearce, who recently saw her Zabeel two-year-old colt at Torryburn Stud. "He is an outstanding type and very full of himself," Pearce said. Touch of magic from Hugh Every week we have a new world champion jockey and Hugh Bowman must hold the title after Terravista in the Darley Classic at Flemington on Saturday. Surely the worth of a great ride should be judged on the rider scoring on a mount that others would not have. Ryan Moore held the title for his Adelaide triumph in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley but then Joao Moreira, from Brazil, was acclaimed after taking the Coolmore Stakes on Brazen Beau. Again Moore was on top for Protectionist in the Melbourne Cup ,but none produced the nerve and skill of Bowman on the Pride sprinter, contributing to the Darley Classic being the best race of the Melbourne spring. Damien Oliver is anything but a sleeping giant in world ratings and Melbourne in recent weeks received the full ability blast and potential of James McDonald. Anyone awake as ATC goes to the polls? Hopefully Australian Turf Club members, unlike their interest regarding the merger of the AJC and STC, vote in the election of directors. Only 10 per cent were involved in that, most wanting a blend, which I supported and was a mistake. The new grandstand was the cherry on the merger cake but it turned out to be a sour plum. Many members have complained bitterly and should take the grievances to the ballot box. AJC influence would not go astray and James Mathers, formerly of the principal club, is standing and playing hard ball, body-line, in fact, which, despite some relevant criticism in some areas, may have a negative effect. Julia Ritchie, also with AJC experience, is the form horse being involved in the main aspects of the turf, a racegoer, who owns and breeds horses. Lack of previous female representation on the ATC board was put down to them not having the necessary qualifications. Considering the performance of this board, I know a couple of tea ladies who would do better. An ATC restructure is needed; those who don't go to the races regularly shouldn't have a controlling hand. And the theatre of horse should be in front of the grandstands. Hecklers give voice Heckling from the bleachers, reminiscent of the old Sydney Stadium, has become a feature of Randwick's backstage of racing. Jockeys receive praise and roasts in the parade ring and on Saturday a heckler turned on those left. "And who is getting the most money out of you lot," he yelled, sarcastically. The editor of The Sydney Morning Herald in the well-heeled Peter McGauran party had departed, even the Kennedys of Mudgee had left, thus the field had narrowed considerably. In the absence of the official who follows the horses with the pan and broom in case of droppings, I held up my hand as I do in tribute in Luigi Coluzzi, the former Australian middleweight champion, who died recently. The roar "C-O-L-U-Z-Z-I" from the Italians lifted the roof off the Old Tin Shed in his battles with Billy McDonald in the 1950s and he later gave even more pleasure with his coffee at Kings Cross. End of an era Credit should be given to Reg Fleming, the Melbourne foreman for Bart Cummings in recent years. Sadly, the permanent base of the Cummings stable in the south has closed. Fleming, so involved the the Master's more modern greats, broke the news to Cummings that Saintly had broken down. "Reg could barely speak he was crying so hard," Cummings wrote in Bart: My Life. Horse to follow: Turn Me Loose, trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, scored impressively in Saturday's group-1 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in New Zealand and should make his mark in Australia. Baker won the corresponding race last year with Atlante. Disappointing: Contributer, the $4.80 favourite, could finish only eighth in the Emirates at Flemington on Saturday and was one of many casualties of the rock-hard surface.