First Tuesday

National Velvet meets The Usual Suspects

It is five days before the Melbourne Cup and superstar jockey Alan Da Silva is brutally murdered. The victim of a late night hit and run in the Crown Casino car park.

Da Silva had been booked to ride Lord Melbery, the pre post favourite for the race and a horse owned by ruthless casino boss Albert Maressmo.

Rumours abound that Da Silva was threatening to blow the whistle on the race fix Maressmo had orchestrated the previous year - a fix that netted him millions from the bookies.

Even so, would Maressmo have his own jockey killed on the eve of the race?

Inspector Frank Dennis is assigned to the case.  A former jockey himself, Dennis is all too familiar with the various distractions and temptations associated with the turf.

He already drinks and gambles more than he should. How will he cope when he is immersed in the casino environment, playing a game with such high stakes?

Oblivious to the drama surrounding Da Silva, battling country trainer Jack Morgan is busy preparing his five year old mare ‘Star Chaser’ for the big race.

Frank Dennis considers the evidence, wading through the murky underworlds of the casino and racetrack, as Melbourne Cup Day approaches.

The horses gather behind the gates and our story reaches an exciting climax as the race is run, while an unexpected twist reveals Da Silva’s killer.