It's possible to draw a connection between almost anything but few will argue with the wonderful father/daughter link represented by today's result in the TJ Smith Handicap and then the male/female challenge represented by the Sires Produce Stakes where a filly (and her trainer) saluted. It was a sensational double for a truly sensational trainer, who also acts as a successful role model for business women everywhere.

The TJ Smith Handicap had been widely predicted as a two-horse match race between Paul Perry's Fastnet Rock and Lee Freedman's Alinghi. On a track that was very close to being rated as 'heavy' the expected fireworks failed to fire leaving Gai Waterhouse and His Excellency Nasser Abdullah Hussain Lootah to bask in the wondrous anomalies of G1 racing. In a stunning result, the 4yo mare Shamekha (ridden by Darren Beadman)- first up since 13 November where she ran 5th in the G3 Sandown Stakes - raced away at the 300m mark and despite Fastnet Rock and Alinghi closing at supersonic speed (and looking, in the barest of moments, as if they would run to expectations) Shamekha held on by a long neck to beat Fastnet Rock, with 3 additional horses fighting out the photo for third. The wet track specialist Only Words held on by a mere long head to take it, Alinghi (her usual rider Damien Oliver in hospital with spinal injuries following an accident at Moonee Valley last Thursday) officially fourth. Fastnet Rock and Alinghi are now set to pursue international careers in Europe and the US respectively.

Stamping her authority on her favorite track, Gai (who has also just passed the extraordinary milestone of 2000 winners) scored back-to-back G1 wins when less than an hour later Fashions Afield redeemed last week's effort in the Golden Slipper to race away with the Inglis - Sires's Produce Stks over 1400m.