Weir shouldn’t pay for her Dad’s mistakes
The majority of the reaction to news from Betsy on Tuesday that Darren Weir’s daughter, Taige, is set to become a trainer was positive – and now racing needs to make sure she gets a clean crack at success.
Taige is a well-regarded pre-trainer and announced to prospective clients she would now train in her own name and be based out of Ballarat.
Of course, her father is still one of the most recognisable names in racing.
Weir had outrageous success on track – but let himself and racing down to say the least, with one of the biggest scandals the sport has seen. Found to have jigged his horses, cruelly, to try and win races.
I’ve written previously I think Darren is finished in racing – authorities won’t give him a licence.
But there was still some snarky comments and cynicism.
Which is entirely unfair, Taige deserves a fair go. A talented operator according to those that have seen her operate, she has the work ethic and let’s be honest, family upbringing, to be a successful trainer.
And given her father’s connections in the sport, which are still strong and reach into the upper echelons of Victorian racing, she’ll get a few runners too.
There were a few snarky comments on social media expressing cynicism for her new venture.
Since when do we pay for the sins of our family?
If anything, seeing her father go from one of Australia’s top trainers to banned would be the greatest lesson that cheating isn’t worth it – not that we’re suggesting she needed any encouragement at all.
Perhaps the most salient response was from Kael Punnuto, who has previously expressed an interest in race calling.
Kael’s father, Trent, was once banned after being caught up in a doping scandal with Aquanita.
Kael posted on social media yesterday that Taige shouldn’t suffer because of her father.
‘’Good for her! As someone who has been in a similar situation, very hesitant to try and make my mark in the industry due to my Fathers poor choices I’m glad she’s not been deterred and is following her own Path. Hopefully she goes well!,’’ Kael posted.
Good for her!
As someone who has been in a similar situation, very hesitant to try and make my mark in the industry due to my Fathers poor choices I’m glad she’s not been deterred and is following her own Path.
Hopefully she goes well!
— Kael Pennuto (@KPennuto1) February 24, 2026
Zahra back in the saddle
Big race rider Mark Zahra will return to partner the rising star of Australian racing, Tentyris, in the Newmarket. If he takes his place of course.
Zahra fractured his leg in a barrier incident during a trial in January, meaning he missed riding Tentyris in his eye-catching win in the Lightning Stakes.
Zahra has been following a rehabilitation plan, alongside a quick escape to the USA for the Super Bowl. Silver linings after all.
But Zahra returned to track work for Sam Freedman during the week.
‘’All going well, track work and trials this week. Il’l be back for Newmarket,’’ he told Betsy.
Tentyris is tipped to head to Sydney for the Challenge Stakes, rather than the Newmarket, to avoid carrying a big weight.
Melham’s unlikely media rise
Ben Melham, we assume, at times doesn’t have the greatest respect for certain journalists and media at times. He has been known to give the odd spray to journalists and his local paper, the Herald Sun. And going by his social media, he’s never short of an opinion, which racing needs more of.
But his emergence on SEN has been welcome. Direct, honest and engaging, he has emerged as an entertaining performer.
His exchange on social media regarding the Caulfield track with ratings guru Dan O’Sullivan was interesting too. Sullivan was of course giving his take on Melham’s Blue Diamond winner Streisand, to which the jockey gave interesting insights.
‘’IMO I feel this track was prepared with significantly more moisture in comparison to previous years and still raced at a genuine G4 at time diamond was ran. Unlike previous editions (may have been officially rated a G4) however more than likely raced on G3 come diamond start time,’’ he posted.
While we’re on Melham’s social work, we can’t pass up this tasty reply to a nasty punter following his win in the Magic Millions.
‘’Whilst you’re still scratching around in your degenerate pocket looking for change to have a $1 mystery trifecta in the next at Cannington dogs so you can hopefully feed your toothless head with a cheeseburger. I’m going to bed a winner.’’
IMO I feel this track was prepared with significantly more moisture in comparison to previous years and still raced at a genuine G4 at time diamond was ran. Unlike previous editions (may have been officially rated a G4) however more than likely raced on G3 come diamond start time
— Ben melham (@BMelham) February 24, 2026
Group 1s by name only
If you ever need proof that the Pattern is dead, look no further than the Australian Guineas on Saturday. You could easily argue that it’s a three-horse race – Observer, Sixties and Planet Red. With a field of 10, it’s a scenario that won’t encourage wagering turnover. But what about the owners – 50% of the field are rated 70 or below, but will still pick up $20,000 for finishing eighth, not far off what Maiden winners are getting across the state.
Of course, the Randwick Guineas closely follows on March 7, also offering a prize pool of $1 million. The only winners, as racing wastes its money, are those picking up the generous prize cheques.
This race follows what is now a ‘Group 1’ in title more than substance, the Oakleigh Plate, where Hedged carried topweight off a 105 rating. Everyday punters might not lose sleep over the Pattern, but if the sport wants its grading system to carry genuine credibility, it needs to tidy it up quickly.
Caulfield buzzing
Even Clint McDonald, who was fresh off picking up the Blue Diamond, noticed that Caulfield was buzzing on Saturday.
‘’It seemed to have really good feel about it,’’ he told SEN.
‘’Just good, young people there, and that’s what we need to get to the races. And it had just a really good feeling.”
‘’There’s a lot of families there, which I think is great, and that’s something that racing needs to keep. Well done to the Melbourne Racing Club.’’
The club later released the fact it was the biggest Blue Diamond crowd in 20 years with 13,101 people on course.
All for a good cause, especially when the boss has a win
Racing Victoria did a terrific job raising more than $200,000 for the CFA at Seymour last Friday.
Many racing properties were extensively damaged during the summer bushfires, including Leneva Park and of course Lindsay Park, including the home under construction of Ben Hayes.
Leneva Park’s Mick Sharkie said at the time that if it wasn’t for the heroics of the CFA, the entire situation would have been far worse. The broadcast of the day on racing.com was good TV too.
The day of course was made better for Racing Victoria’s CEO Aaron Morrison who had a winner in the first – at $15 mind you.
You couldn’t wipe the smile from Morrison’s face, something winning jockey Jamie Mott picked up on we reckon.
In his post-race interview, when asked what’s it like to ride a winner for the boss, Mott didn’t miss a beat.
”He slings well too I hear.”
“That’s why we get into racing, it’s incredible.”
Huge thrill for @RacingVictoria CEO Aaron Morrison, who is in the ownership group of Lunar Force 🤝
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app pic.twitter.com/bCvv1NCqXi
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 20, 2026
‘World’s gone mad’ … TB ain’t buying it
Fair to say Terry Bailey isn’t convinced 9-year-old hurdler Constitution Hill might not be what the Melbourne Cup is looking for.
The laugh says it all.
Could the champion hurdler be Melbourne Cup-bound? 👀 pic.twitter.com/vdpqNOmsmL
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 24, 2026
