Tomic hits out at Cash, Masur

John Tomic says he and son, Bernard, remain strong despite criticism. Source: KLEIN MICHAEL / Supplied

John Tomic said he's disappointed with the agendas being waged by Pat Cash and Wally Masur and launched a spirited family defence amid calls for Bernard to sever ties with him.

But while their opinions differed he hoped the former Aussie tennis aces and the rest of the public would get behind his son for January's Australian Open and beyond.

The under siege father of Bernard and rising star Sara said a coaching appointment for Tomic was imminent, but has vowed he to remain part of his son's team.

A defiant Tomic, who is barred from the 2013 Australian Open due to a 12-month ATP Tour ban that followed a Spanish court conviction for assault, said Bernard is aiming to become world no.1.

Tomic, whose family relocated to Melbourne last month, is frustrated at attempts from many high-profile identities' attempts to drive a wedge between him and Bernard but hoped everyone could eventually move on as he aims to emulate the great Rod Laver.

``With all due respect to Pat Cash and Wally Masur I hope that they both get behind Bernard and help him and Australia have the number one tennis player in the world,'' Tomic said.

``Some people have tried to get under our skin but we're ok, we're like a rock, we've got no problems. We have always been behind each other.

``Every business and sport has turbulence, but we're fine. We've had turbulence but I'm still confident that we can achieve success and reach our targets and Bernard will lift more trophies.

130625 Bernard Tomic Source: AFP

``A coaching announcement will be made soon. But I'll be involved, in the background, I'll be behind my son. I'm part of his life.

``Our ambition is clear, that's Bernard's wish is to be number one in the world. He has the opportunity to achieve this and hopefully achieve the heights of the most respected Australian player in the world Rod Laver.

``I know this is a big ask but if my son can have a person to look up too it would be Rod Laver.''

Tomic Sr also thanked the Australian public on behalf of his son, who is in Monte Carlo but will return to Australia in a fortnight to commence his preparations for the grand slam.

The 21-year-old will be aiming to surpass his best grand slam result of reaching Wimbledon's quarter finals in 2011, while his best result in Melbourne is his 2012 fourth round finish.

``All I can ask and hope for is that the Australian public is to get behind my son and continue the amazing support he receives whenever he plays here,'' Tomic Sr said.

``It is so refreshing and overwhelming the constant support Bernard gets from his supporters and gives us hope that he can one day realise his full potential.

``I would also like to personally thank the Australian public in the support that they have shown my son and I will make every effort in helping him achieve this.''

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War horse has world at his feet

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"THERE is no Black Caviar around, no Hay List, no Sepoy - there's Buffering.''

In just a few words trainer Rob Heathcote summed up Buffering's standing in the Australian sprinting ranks after his brilliant win in the Group 1 $1 million VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington yesterday.

Buffering has raced through that era of super sprinters and he's now inherited the crown as the best sprinter in Australia, if not the world.

This is some call but Buffering has now beaten the world's highest-rated sprinter, Hong Kong's Lucky Nine, twice in as many clashed in Melbourne this spring with the latter finishing a struggling

Perhaps only Sydney's super colt Zoustar rates with or above Buffering - and both may meet at Royal Ascot next year.

"We are definitely after Zoustar and you can add Buffering to that list,'' said Royal Ascot's Nick Smith at Flemington yesterday. "You have to admire Buffering, he is just so courageous.''

Buffering had beaten Lucky Nine last start in the Manikato Stakes but there was a huge difference between them in betting for VRC Sprint Classic.

Lucky Nine was backed into $3.40 favouritism while Buffering eased from $8 to $11.

Buffering bounced to the front early, Lucky Nine ranged alongside to challenge at the 400m but suddenly the Hong Kong star was under pressure and fading.

Queensland jockey Damian Browne kisses Buffering after his stunning win. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

The "Brisbane Bulldog" Buffering simply never gives up and he broke clear of his rivals 300m out then held off the late surf of Shamexpress ($18) to win by three-quarters of a length with Moment Of Change ($9) nearly two lengths away third.

Buffering scored his second Group 1 win in as many starts after having 17 attempts at Group 1 level for 10 minor placings.

"In the words of Chris Waller a week ago he said Red Tracer took a long time to win a Group 1 but invariably the second one comes not long after,'' Heathcote said.

"Little Buffering has done the job again today, he's gone back-to-back in Group 1's, and I couldn't be prouder of him.

"He is the sort of horse that gives you 110 per cent every start. What you see is what you get with him, there are no surprises, he leads and says 'catch-me-if-you-can'.''

Heathcote said he felt Buffering had the race in his keeping 400m out when jockey Damien Browne urged the sprinter for a final effort and they broke clear of the chasing pack,.

"There were a few unanswered questions after the Manikato because some people may have felt he was a bit unlucky to win that race,'' Heathcote said.

"But there was no luck involved today - that was pure guts and determination.''

Heathcote has had an extraordinary spring carnival. Brisbane's premier trainer brought three horses to Melbourne and they have won three Group 1 races with Buffering and Solzhenitsyn (Toorak Handicap), a Group 2 with Fire Up Fifi (Blazer Stakes) and all three gallopers have also been placed in Group 1 races.'

Buffering is bound for another Group 1 when he heads to the Winterbottom Stakes at Perth's Ascot track in two weeks. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

Similarly, winning jockey Damian Browne has confirmed he is one of the nation's very best riders with a breakthrough carnival that included major races wins on Buffering and Fire Up Fifi, as well as one of the rides on the carnival with Liesele at Caulfield.

"I've made no secret that I have a huge opinion of Damien Brown, not only as a rider, but as a bloke and he's just so calm, cool and collected and prior to the race I didn't discuss riding instruction because I was happy to leave it to Damian,'' Heathcote added.

Buffering is set to chase a third Group 1 win in the Winterbottom Stakes at Perth's Ascot track in two weeks.

"I'm still going to Perth because I've promised the boys so hopefully Buffering will be a nice drawcard for their carnival then he'll come home to Brisbane,'' Heathcote said. "Fire Up Fifi will also go there for the Railway Stakes.'''

Browne said as soon as he asked Buffering for the kick, he found a quick length and "then it was just a matter of fighting them off."

"He's standing up as the country's number one sprinter,'' Browne added.

Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress nearly pulled up Flemington's Group 1 sprint double with his late surge to run Buffering to less than a length.

"He got a held up for a few strides about the 400m and that didn't help but it was a great run,'' jockey Damien Oliver said.

Peter Moody, trainer of Moment Of Change, also confirmed his sprinter was Perth-bound for the Winterbottom Stakes.

Lucky Nine's struggling sixth had jockey Brett Prebble searching for answers.

"No excuses,'' Prebble said. "He was in the right spot - but just didn't go.''

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MATCH BLOG: Italy v Wallabies

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CAN the Wallabies bounce back from a disappointing defeat to England and get their Spring Tour on track?

Ewen McKenzie's men turn their attention to a clash with Italy, who will be fired up to spring an upset on home soil.

The Azzurri have never tasted victory in 15 clashes with Australia but are on the improve and will be giving it their all when the two sides clash at Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

The Wallabies have been given some insider tips from a local legend, former Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero - now with Sydney FC - ahead of the match and will need to dig deep to clinch their first victory in the northern hemisphere this year.

MATCH CENTRE: Live scores and statistics

LIVE STREAM: Watch Wallabies take on Italy

You can follow the action and have your say as the play unfolds in our LIVE BLOG. Kick-off is 1am (AEDT) Sunday, and we'll be up and running just before the game gets under way.

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Ten-man Sydney win Big Blue epic

Sydney FC have turned their season around with a thrilling win over Melbourne Victory. Source: Brett Hemmings / Getty Images

<b></b>NO ONE could call the A-League dull, not on nights like these. By the end of 90 minutes of bedlam, Sydney FC were bloodied but triumphant, staggering out of Allianz Stadium with a 3-2 win, three points and the Big Blue Cup to boot.

If all three Sydney goals bore a trace of luck, the fact the Sky Blues could still vanquish Melbourne Victory despite playing more than an hour with 10 men just gilded the drama of the night.

The remarkable thing was that the game fell a year to the Saturday since Sydney threw away a 2-0 lead to go down 3-2 to Victory, prompting the resignation of then coach Ian Crook - and both sides seemed hell-bent on marking the anniversary.

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For long periods it felt like the Easter circus had come to Moore Park at the wrong time of year, with clownish antics across both defences. As early as the third minute Vedran Janjetovic's goalkick was inadvertantly flicked on by Victory captain Mark Milligan - much to the surprise of his defenders, who watched in bemusement as Ricahrd Garcia ran unchallenged onto the ball, nudged it wide of Nathan Coe's charge and steered the ball into the empy net.

First blood Sydney, and soon there was real plasma on show - Brett Emerton's corner was met with a headed clearance by Adama Traore but straight into the face of Seb Ryall, bloodying his nose and breaking a tooth but also sending the ball soaring into the Victory net.

As Ryall was treated on the sidelines it was his teammates who were left metaphorically red-faced, caught out almost from the restart. Traore's careful lofted pass down the inside left allowed Connor Pain to burn Tiago Calvan for speed and cross low into the box, where Archie Thompson sidefooted home with glee.

All this before 20 minutes were up, but the cabaret was far from over. With 26 minutes gone Mitch Nicholls essayed a gorgeous pass for Pain to get goalside of Marc Warren, who haplessly yanked the Victory striker to the floor. Horribly exposed yet again, Warren's red card was almost humane.

To augment Sydney's bewilderment, James Troisi struck the resultant freekick from 20m and watched it deflect off Ryall's heel, wrongfoot Janjetovic and hit the back of the net.

The Sky Blues were in disarray, and just past the half hour a mesmerising Victory move ended with Nicholls' elegant chipped pass to put Milligan clear, only for the Victory captain to volley wide. More chaos followed as Sydney tried to play out from the back but floundered horribly, forcing Janjetovic to tip aside a rebound.

But incredibly Victory then lined up to shoot themselves in the foot. Thompson's lofted pass to the far side of the penalty area was towards one of the shortest men on the pitch, yet Pablo Contrerras simply leapt on top of Del Piero to concede a baffling penalty. Del Piero himself drove it into the bottom corner.

The slapstick went on with Janjetovic fluffing a clearance only for Pain to equally mess up a free shot at goal. On 62 minutes Nicholls carved Sydney open again but Thompson elected to cross instead of shoot, allowing Thiago to make a desperate clearance.

To Sydney's credit they ran themselves into the ground to nullify the numerical disadvantage, with Petkovic a tower of strength. When Thompson did escape, he shot a fraction wide with the goal gaping, but on the break Abbas came close to sealing it with a fine curling effort.

Five minutes of stoppage time was agonising for the home support but finally the triumph was secure.

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Sydney recognises Pumper's milestone

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CHAMPION jockey Jim Cassidy will be honoured for riding 100 Group 1 winners at the Royal Randwick meeting today.

Cassidy achieved the milestone at Flemington last Saturday when he partnered super colt Zoustar to an easy win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The Hall of Fame jockey rides has six rides at Randwick today, five for Zoustar's trainer Chris Waller including Amovatio and Field Marshall.

The Australian Turf Club is going to acknowledge Cassidy's achievement by making a special presentation to the jockey during tomorrow's meeting.

Cassidy joins George Moore (119 Group 1 wins) and Roy Higgins (106) as the only jockeys to have ridden a century of major race wins on Australian tracks.

Jim Cassidy reaches 100 Group 1 victories after winning aboard super colt Zoustar in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

The ATC will replay some highlights of Cassidy's fabulous career, including some of his most memorable Group 1 wins, on the infield super screen during the day before presenting him with a special trophy and gift to mark his milestone.

"Jim is only the third jockey in Australian racing history to reach this most significant achievement and we are only too pleased to publicly congratulate him,'' ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said.

"We in Sydney have been lucky enough that Jim has made our city his home and so many of those precious Group 1 wins have been on our tracks.''

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Buffering ready for more glory

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CONNECTIONS of Buffering admit it will be somewhat surreal going into Saturday's VRC Sprint Classic now the monkey has been dislodged from their collective backs.

Australia's best Group 1 maiden shed the tag amid wild scenes in the Manikato Stakes late last month.

Rob Ciobo was among the part-owners that let loose that evening.

"I would describe the feeling as being close to the one you have when your own children are born," Ciobo said.

"It's something that you had really been looking forward to for such a long time and then it finally happens. It's hard to describe. It was just an amazing feeling.

"We came back to the unit, with Robert (Heathcote), Damien (Browne), (and fellow owners) Bruce Harry and Chris Lord and probably watched the video about 150 times.

"It took time to sink in. Did this really happen?"

Among the most vivid memories for Ciobo was taking the tram from Moonee Valley back to their Melbourne accommodation.

"We were just talking on the tram and a few people asked if we'd had a winning night," he said.

"When we told them we won the Group 1 race, they said, 'what the bloody hell are you doing on a tram?' We didn't think of doing anything else."

Chris Waller said in the wake of Red Tracer's Tatts Tiara win in June that she would probably win another Group 1 now her hard luck streak had been broken and the prophecy came true last Saturday.

Ciobo and his other owners are hoping the same rings true with Buffering today.

"I can't wait for the race and Robert (Heathcote) is so pumped up he thinks we're going to win again," Ciobo said.

"Buff nearly pulled his arm off when he was walking him again this week. The horse is just feeling enormous."

Buffering runs next in the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth and then spells. The major stumbling block on Saturday seems to be the Hong Kong star Lucky Nine and the Darley juggernaut, which has three runners aiming to defend the race they won with Mental last year.

Lucky Line trotted a lap of Werribee and had a light canter over 1400m on Friday.

Trainer Casper Fownes says he was slightly short of 100 per cent for the Manikato, but will strip at his absolute best on Saturday.

Peter Snowden has freshened Buffering's Doomben 10,000 conqueror Epaulette after an inglorious first-up run in the Moir and has Sessions and Sidestep there for back up.

Lucky Nine remains the $3.50 favourite for the race, with Buffering second pick at $7.50.

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Heart broken as Wanderers cling on

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FOR all of their huffing and puffing, Melbourne Heart look like a team out of ideas as they lost 1-0 in the A-League match to the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Saturated and defeated by a Shannon Cole sucker punch, the result will heap more pressure on struggling Heart coach John Aloisi.

As the rain poured down in the second half, a glimpse at the two coaches was instructive.

Wanderers' Tony Popovic was sheltered by an umbrella, while a stoic Aloisi was drenched by the rain.

It was the second week in a row Heart had the better of the first half without reward - but unlike their trip to Brisbane last week, the Wanderers didn't wait to punish them.

In the 27th minute, Adam D'Apuzzo's cross was nodded on by Tomi Juric to Shannon Cole at the back post who thrashed past Andrew Redmayne on his second attempt.

The Wanderers' height advantage troubled the Heart, with no-one taller than 6 feet in defence.

MATCH CENTRE: HEART v WANDERERS

Just minutes after Cole's opener, Shinji Ono found the towering Matthew Spiranovic who headed onto the bar, the rebound catching Brendon Santalab unawares who headed over from a metre in front.

Despite seven shots to two in the first half, the closest the Heart came was a long shot which rattled the crossbar from David Williams.

He increasingly became the fulcrum of Heart's creative efforts as the match went on but was surprisingly replaced by Nick Kalmar.

Entering the final frenetic minutes, Mate Dugandzic headed against the bar for Heart and Kalmar headed over.

As Heart committed more men forward, substitute Labinot Haliti fired just wide and Juric chose to shoot rather than pass to the open Aaron Mooy.

Still, Popovic cannot complain with the gritty victory that sees his side top of the league.

At the final whistle, it was hard to escape the conclusion that Aloisi must wish he could call on Harry Kewell, stuck in the stands with an ankle injury.

Aloisi's side finished last season with five losses and will find himself under increasing pressure as long as he fails to break through in this campaign.

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Gai gets time, Delzangles cops fine

Gai Waterhouse has requested more time to seek further legal advice, with inquiry to take place next Friday. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis Source: Julie Kiriacoudis / News Limited

GAI Waterhouse has been granted a deferment from Racing and Appeal Disciplinary Board hearing into the raceday treatment of unplaced Melbourne Cup runner Tres Blue last Tuesday.

Waterhouse was due to appear before the board yesterday to answer a charge that an antibiotic cream called Flamazine was applied to the heel of Tres Blue on Cup morning, which is in contravention of the Australian Racing Board's new rules against raceday treatment.

Stewards allowed Tres Blue to start in the Melbourne Cup because the ointment used on the stayer does not contain any prohibited substances.

Waterhouse requested more time to seek further legal advice before answering the charge. The board will now reconvene next Friday to hear the Tres Blue inquiry.

French trainer Mikel Delzangles, right, and strapper Mathieu Brasme before the inquiry at Racing Victoria HQ. Picture: Michael Klein

Frenchman Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Dunaden, did appear before the board yesterday to answer a similar charger after his stayer was orally administered an anti-ulcer paste on Cup morning.

Delzangles told the board that Dunaden was given the substance daily and his stable hand Matthew Brasme didn't realise he had done anything wrong.

"I feel bad," Delzangles said. "It's not good for racing. We made a mistake and we will not do it again.

"Matthew (Brasme) didn't think he was doing anything wrong."

Racing Victoria's Integrity General Manager Dayle Brown said swabs taken from Dunaden and the paste (Twydil Stomacare) had come back clear of any prohibited substance.

Brown said stewards were not pushing for a six month disqualification as outlined in the mandatory rules set out by the Australian Racing Board in February.

Instead, Delzangles was issued with a $2000 fine for breaching the raceday treatment rule.

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Waller continues reign with treble

Trainer Chris Waller gets a pat on the back from jockey Jim Cassidy after they combined to win with Multilateral. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

THE unstoppable Chris Waller training spree continued with an historic treble at Flemington yesterday, highlighted by the win of Dystopia in the Group 3 Mumm Stakes.

This was the first time Waller has trained three winners on a day at Headquarters, and the first time any trainer has boasted three winners on a day of the carnival since 2008.

Waller had a 100 per cent strike rate as his only three runners saluted.

He started with Marmelo ($3) in the opening event, the Flemington Style Plate (1700m), and made it a running double with Multilateral ($3.80) in the Swisse Wellness Trophy (1800m).

However it was the win of Dystopia ($5) that was important, being the first Flemington winner he has trained for the Ingham family.

Dystopia defeated the Robert Smerdon-trained Shamal Wind ($6.50) by one-and-a-half lengths, with She Can Skate ($7) fighting on well for third, a short head away.

John Ingham said it was most rewarding to win a Group race at Flemington with the regally-bred mare, who cost more than $1 million as a yearling. The now seven-year-old daughter of Redoute's Choice out of Bourgeois, the dam of Stratum, made amends for another of their stable, Catkins, being beaten a whisker by Red Tracer in Saturday's Group 1 Myer Stakes.

Jockey Hugh Bowman races away aboard Dystopia to win the G H Mumm Stakes. Picture Mark Dadswell Source: News Limited

"We are in it for racing now," John Ingham said, "now we have sold the stud."

"She will make a good broodmare but we wanted to race her, and it is great to win a race with Chris at Flemington during the carnival," he said.

Waller won with Zoustar and Red Tracer on Saturday and his three wins yesterday continued his extraordinary hit-rate.

"It is a team effort. That is shown by the fact we had three different jockeys win the races today _ Glyn Schofield, Jim Cassidy and Hugh Bowman.

"Hugh has one a lot of work with this mare. She is not easy to handle but she has a lot of ability.

"I'm proud to have one winner on a day at a carnival like this, but to have three is special," he said.

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Rupee's right on the money

Snitzerland and Lankan Rupee clear out from the 300m to stage a stirring duel, with Lankan Rupee a narrow victor. Picture: Jay Town Source: Jay Town / News Limited

MICK Price reckons he lost a stud horse but gained a racehorse when it was decided to geld the impeccably-bred but wayward Lankan Rupee.

Lankan Rupee, who nosed out star mare Snitzerland up the Flemington straight yesterday, would have been worth $10 million-plus had he harnessed his ability and won a Group 1 race as a colt.

Lankan Rupee is a son of $500 million sire Redoute's Choice and the impeccably-bred Estelle Collection.

Price trained Estelle Collection and Lankan Rupee's owner, Sri Lankan Muzaffir Ali Yaseen, owned and bred Redoute's Choice.

"The owner has been with us for 20 years so it's great to get a result for them,'' Price said.

Lankan Rupee showed star quality as a two-year-old but was erratic.

Yaseen and Price decided the best way to maximise the colt was to geld him.

Price said the gelding operation was touch and go.

"It was quite tricky actually. He had one (testicle) up and one down and he required a general anaesthetic to alter his manhood,'' Price said.

"Now it's onwards and upwards. He's a really nice horse.''

Craig Newitt returns to scale aboard super impressive Lankan Rupee. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

In yesterday's Dilmah Earl Grey Stakes (1000m) Snitzerland and Lankan Rupee cleared out from the 300m and staged a stirring duel, with Lankan Rupee a narrow victor.

"I thought Snitzerland looked absolutely outstanding in the mounting yard and I think we beat the right horse in the race,'' Price said.

Of the developed print result, a confident Price said: "Never in doubt.''

Jockey Craig Newitt, beaten a head aboard Lankan Rupee behind Snitzerland in a race at Caulfield last October, said monstrous Lankan Rupee "sized her up'' from the 200m.

"It was a tough win. He ranged up alongside her, she fought back. It was just a really tough effort,'' he said.

The dash for cash is now on for Lankan Rupee, who will never be worth a fortune at stud but will be programmed to add significantly to his stake earnings of $245,000.

"His rating is going to go sky rocketing now. He's basically made himself a black type horse.''

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