Reigning Caulfield Cup champion Descarado will take one of his first steps towards defending his title when he jumps out at the trials at Randwick today.The son of High Chaparral is one of six horses trainer Gai Waterhouse has in the seven-horse trial, with Greg Hickman's Mirjulisa Lass the odd one out in the Open Trial over 1200 metres.

Descarado heads the nominations for the Caulfield Cup which were released earlier this week.

Overall, there are 236 horses nominated for the Cup including Melbourne Cup winner Americain, who took out the Prix de Reux in France early Wednesday morning.

Randwick's trials today are chock full of talent. A quick glance at the fields and there's names such as All Silent, More Strawberries, Elite Falls and Smart Missile. The Number One Club, the NSW TAB's rewards program, also sees the return of one of their gallopers in She's Number One.

Briefly on the Cox Plate, and two-time champion, So You Think, is at the head of the noms for Moonee Valley's feature. Wouldn't it be great if trainer Aidan O'Brien bought him back to Australia for a shot at an historic three-peat?

Zipping, one of the Spring Carnival's warhorses in recent seasons, has officially been retired. The 10-year-old has been a remarkable horse for owner Lloyd Williams, winning 16 races and over $4.5million in prizemoney. He will best be remembered for winning four consecutive Sandown Cups as well as placing in the Cox Plate on three occasions and finishing fourth in his other attempt at the Weight For Age classic. To top it off, he ran fourth in the Melbourne Cup on three occasions in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

NSW Racing Minister George Souris has announced plans to amend legislation which will secure the future of Randwick as a racecourse. The minister said the new legislation was necessary to safeguard the future of the iconic home of Australian racing. Essentially what will happen is the abolition of lifetime trustee appointments with fixed terms to the honorary trust, with a maximum of eight year terms to apply. Souris said the legislative amendments will also provide appropriate control over any future commercial uses of the lands at Randwick to ensure they continue to be used principally as a racecourse.