There’s the belief amongst some local racing fans and the new fangled, but steeped in old school conspiracy theories racing KOLs- online Key Opinion Leaders- that if Trainer Frankie Lor is “trying”, then his former boss John Size won’t “try”- and vice versa.
It’s all rather “trying”. It’s also impossible to move them away from such set ways in their ways and their narratives.
Both Frankie Lor and John Size are locked in the battle for this racing season’s Sorcerer versus Apprentice Championship Trainer title, and one really doubts either of them are going to politely open the door and tell the other, “Please, you first”.
Some even mention that John Size is having sleepless nights about the end result of this duel.
Guess it’s a matter of pride as one really doubts that the Trainer is hurting for money.
At Shatin on Sunday, if Size matters, the champion Australian Trainer has practically entered half his stable to stem the attack of The Lor Man.
At least on paper, it looks like one last big roll of the dice by John Size.
Of course, Frankie Lor has a reasonable number of runners and none would be going around to check on the dress attire of those chewing on fried chicken wings in the peanut gallery and which television audiences can’t help but see.
It’s not exactly a very aspirational or Royal Ascot ‘look’.
Though, at least amongst local racing fans today looks like a Lor-Size Tik Tok match, beware the Putha Man.
The chilled out Tony Cruz has a number of very good runners with strong winning chances entered for the meeting. He’ll be there telling his riders to “be cool, man” and to be ready to put their pedal to the metal.
With this bubbly racing season winding down and about to pop, there will be some very tired horses going around.
With this in mind, it might be best to look at those runners who might be having only their third or fourth starts. They should be fit or fitter and holding their form.
The first two races are trappy, sappy affairs for horses in the lower classes with nothing really grabbing our attention until the fourth race where Lyle Hewitson, below, is having what must be his first ride for John Size- Beauty Nova (7).
Not to say that Beauty Nova will win, but in a difficult race where saddlecloth numbers 2,3,4,5,11,12 could win, anything is possible.
The interesting races are race 9 where Frankie Lor has three runners and the following race that brings the curtain down on the very tough looking card.
Here, John Size has three runners, all of which are almost certain to be favourites, though very possibly false favourites, whereas there are some good chances travelling under the radar that could bring value to the quartet.
This is the race- Race 10- we’ll be focusing on along with trying our luck in the third Double Trio.
Good luck and here’s to new discoveries...no matter how weird.
