(Rod Gallegos is a veteran presenter and commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)

Wasn't it a grand vision projected last week by man-of-the-world, John Singleton, when he proposed a string of racing reforms highlighted by the formation of a centralised body to administer the sport (and possibly business) on a national scale?

The Singleton sales-pitch also included rationalisation of more race clubs, adoption of the turnover tax model and, not surprisingly, elevation of the Magic Millions to Group 1 status.

It all made great newspaper copy but, sadly, that probably is where it will remain, in the short-term, at least. Hopefully, it won't be another example of that age-old adage: front page news today, fish and chip wrappers tomorrow.

Singleton, in his bare knuckle frankness, acutely summed up why his reasonable vision my not be adopted immediately: "Here, we have the race club mentality of the 18th Century trying to compete for the gambling dollar in the 21st Century," he said.

Any argument that there is a need for competition between individual race clubs is as impotent as it is puerile.

As Singleton succinctly said, racing is competing against other sports for the gambling dollar. As a consequence, instead of the fragmented approach, racing should mount a combined onslaught in place of the club against club and state against state debacle.

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Another disturbing report relates the illegal safety vests being worn by some jockeys.

It transpires that using what have been termed ‘cheater vests' aren't related to weight because the differential is only about 100 grams.

According to chief steward Ray Murrihy, the modified vests are being used for comfort rather than a weight advantage.

If that is the case, maybe there is a need for some alterations to the accepted standard vests.

After all, jockeys are entitled to comfort as well as safety.

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On the question of stewards, the Brisbane chief, Wade Birch, showed enormous enterprise on Saturday that was entitled to a happier ending.

After the first two events, Birch and his panel, conscious of a heavy rain deluge, daringly decided to bring forward the starting times of subsequent races in a bid to beat the pounding by precipitation.

Sadly, in the race between stewards and rain, the wet won. After race six the downpour had thoroughly drenched the course proper and the final three races had to be abandoned.

Among the scrapped events was the Group 3 George Moore Stakes. It was the second washout of the race in tconsecutive Saturdays.

Still, the stewards deserved a pat on their rain-soaked backs. Often race start times may be put back because of circumstances but, in my memory, this is the first time races times have been brought forward.

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Nash Rawiller, fresh from a perfect score of four from four at Randwick on Wednesday, will attack the Villiers meeting at the same racecourse this Saturday brimful of confidence.

And he has the ammunition to fire another volley of multiple winners, with rides in all eight events.

In the Group 2 Villiers he is on the $6 TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds favourite, Stratofortress.

However, I like the Peter Snowden-trained Dysphonia ($9.50).

She defeated Stratofortress in the Festival Handicap a fortnight ago and despite meeting the Gai Waterhouse gelding on with more weight, I am hoping she can do it again.

The Villiers is the first leg of Saturday's BIG6 for NSW TAB punters which has a jackpot of $100,000-plus and is on the last three from Randwick and Flemington.