MELBOURNE has been plunged into a second lockdown following a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases with the hope of crowds returning for the spring carnival under threat.

Owners who had just been able to return to the track are once again banned with the current lockdown, which covers all of metropolitan Melbourne, set to be in place for six weeks from Thursday and finishing just nine days before the first Group 1 of Melbourne’s spring, the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

“We are effectively in the position that we were in back during April and May,” said Racing Victoria’s Jamie Stier. “And providing everyone really concentrates and focuses on good adherence to the protocols we are confident we will be able to continue on in the same manner we did during those months.”

Racing New South Wales have also reacted by banning Victorian horses.

“Effective July 8th, 2020 Racing NSW has prohibited the transfer of horses from Victoria to any NSW racing stable, licensed premises or racecourse,” reads the Racing NSW stewards’ ruling.

THE Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bit Of A Lad improved on his second place in last year’s Thackery Steeple at Warrnambool to land a six-length win in Sunday’s feature.

Having won the Australian Steeple at his previous start, the Ladoni gelding again was again partnered by Shane Jackson, the pair proving their stamina as the heavy going took a toll with the winner’s time 30 seconds outside the race record for the 3,450-metre journey.

“He’s a tough little horse. They thought he was spot on for the Australian and he was very brave today,” said Declan Maher.

“We always knew that he was going to be strong through the line, he was back in trip again and he probably had the fitness edge over some of them. Another year older he’s a bit more seasoned now and he’s just done a super job.” The win was Jackson’s 14th for the season.

TRAINER Eric Musgrove and jockey Daryl Horner guided Gobstopper to his third straight Hurdle win on Sunday at Warrnambool as the seven-year-old Tavistock gelding completed a Gallywood/Australian/Kevin Lafferty feature race hurdling treble, delivering his syndicate of seven owners a A$185,000 windfall since the start of May.

An accomplished performer on the flat before making the transition to jumps, Gobstopper has won six of his nine jumps starts.

“He’s a lovely horse and he just doesn’t give up,” said Musgrove. “The horse is in great heart at the moment and everything he does, he enjoys.”

TOMMY Ryan teamed with hobby trainer Trudy Cottier to land a running double in both highweight flat races at Sunday’s Warrnambool jumps meeting.

Cottier, who works as a nurse at Hamilton in central Victoria, only has two horses in work and instructed Ryan to take the initiative in both races.

Ryan led and won on Allaboutattitude and Delightful Scoop, improving his season’s tally to nine.

“Tommy rode them both a pearler and they both stood up to the challenge,” said a delighted Cottier. It will be nice to sit back and enjoy the replays with a few ‘coldies’.”