In short:
Flemington trainer Nick Ryan had two horses withdrawn from today's Derby Day after allegations that a banned substance and syringes were found in his car.
asserted
substance → have → car
Anglaise (Wakeful Stakes) and Doubt Time (Coolmore Stud Stakes) were pulled out of the race meet at Flemington.
asserted
Anglaise → pull → Flemington
Ryan, a former champion jockey, reserved his plea and the hearing was adjourned until Monday.
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hearing → reserve → Monday
Flemington trainer Nick Ryan had two runners withdrawn from today's meeting after Racing Victoria (RV) stewards charged him with alleged possession of a prohibited substance.
asserted
stewards → have → substance
Ryan was charged after a stable inspection this morning by RV's Compliance Assurance Team, which resulted in the forced scratchings of Anglaise (Wakeful Stakes) and Doubt Time (Coolmore Stud Stakes).
asserted
which → charge → Anglaise
"Mr Ryan was found to have in his possession, in the glove box of his motor vehicle, two syringes of Darbepoetin Alfa which is a prohibited substance under Prohibited List A of the Australian Rules of Racing," RV stewards reported.
asserted
stewards → find → Racing
Ryan, a former champion jockey, reserved his plea and the hearing was adjourned until Monday.
asserted
hearing → reserve → Monday
Zahra overcomes fall to claim first Group 1 of Melbourne Cup Carnival
Mark Zahra has bounced back from his nasty fall to pilot The Next Episode to a brilliant victory in the stallion-making Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m) at Flemington.
uncertain
Zahra → overcome → Flemington
The Ciaron Maher-trained colt stamped himself as the nation's premier three-year-old sprinter, finishing a long neck clear of Chris Waller's St Gotthard in the $2 million Group 1 sprint.
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colt → train → sprint
Zahra returned to action today just two weeks after a horror Caulfield Cup fall on Half Yours.
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Zahra → return → Yours
His win in the first Group 1 event of this year's Melbourne Cup carnival comes after his dominant showing with four victories on Victoria Derby day 12 months ago.
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win → come → day
He's a real dude now, this horse," Zahra said.
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Zahra → say → ?
"He's so relaxed, but when you want him he just goes 'bang'.
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he → want → him
Zahra took a week off under doctors' orders after his Caulfield Cup fall and missed Cox Plate day, but would not be denied another shot at Flemington glory.
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Zahra → take → glory
Loading..."Any other time of year I'm probably having a holiday in Byron or Ibiza, but this time of year you just can't do it," Zahra said.
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Zahra → load → it
"I just had to suck it up.
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I → have → it
It's been a tough two weeks, but this time of year is what I live for and ride for.
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I → live → what
The master trainer paid tribute to close friend Zahra.
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trainer → pay → Zahra
"He's a super jock, Mark," Maher said.
"
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Maher → say → ?
He had the fall the other day, and to get up and be riding at the top of his game, they're marvellous, the jocks.
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they → have → game
"Mark's a great mate and I'm sure we'll be popping the top off a couple of champagnes tomorrow.
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we → pop → champagnes
Earlier, Waller had success in the first race of the Melbourne Cup carnival, when Damian Lane steered The Roaring Sun to victory in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes.
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Lane → have → Stakes
Waller had the quinella with Unhinged, ridden by James McDonald, finishing second ahead of Conquer The World in third.
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Waller → have → third
It is the sixth time Waller has won the traditional carnival opener, and third in succession after triumphs by Aeliana (2024) and Panova (2025).
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Waller → win → Aeliana
Waller also claimed the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes with De Armas, ridden by Blake Shinn.
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Waller → claim → Shinn
J-Mac, Waller combine for Victoria Derby win
James "J-Mac" McDonald and Waller combined for another major victory as Stormy Marco surged home to claim the $3 million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
uncertain
Marco → combine → Flemington
The three-year-old colt charged to the lead in the straight and raced away from second-placed Cold Shower for a stunning victory under McDonald in Australia's oldest classic.
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colt → charge → classic
The Aporia