Friends in the land of Oz are still recovering from yesterday’s Coxed Up Day, especially, the very late withdrawal of favourite Zaaki in the Cox Plate.
One feels for up and coming Trainer Annabel Neasham and all connections. And no matter how one might try to slice it, the race meeting was a mess- not an unmitigated disaster, but an unnecessary mess that started about a week before yesterday’s free fall.
Who finally won the race? After a protest fired in by that great orator Craig Williams, the rider of favourite Animoe, Irish raider State Of Rest and trained by Joseph O’Brien, who was first past the post and ridden by that tough Irishman John Allen, KEPT the race! Go, Johnny, go!
By now, and with everything that had gone on throughout the day and the days before, was anyone really surprised that it had come to this- an unsuccessful protest?
Of course, the withdrawal of Zaaki had thrown many “multi” bets all over the place and Tabcorp CEO David Attenborough must have been choking on his congee about how everything will need to be worked out once the dust had settled. Everything and before the baton is finally passed.
He would have choked even more when a nervous sounding Nick Quinn tried to explain to THAT Racing and Sports channel’s dwindling audience- we’ve seen the figures, people-how the new payouts would work and got his months back to front.
There was also the late withdrawal as the day grew long or even Yulong (nudge nudge wink wink) of the well fancied Harpo Marx whereas the the one-time prestigious Group 1 Manikato Stakes run the night before was a ho hum affair- miss it?-though it’s always good to follow the incredible Spring in his step that Daniel Moor is having. He rode winner Jonker.
Despite the efforts of race caller Matt Hill to inject some excitement to what was happening on course, it was a dreary Cox Plate day- except for waiting for the protest result, appreciating another very enterprising ride by Linda Meech for second placing on rank outsider Commander Harry, and Blaike McDougall winning the last race on a very long day aboard Flying Mascot. This young rider is going places. Watch.
The bottom line is that there’s something not right going on with racing in Australia other than the one man made division within the ranks and all the various kerfuffles taking place in the mediums presenting horse racing.
Calling it sloppy, cheap, tacky, amateurish and a bogan’s buffet of clams would be a compliment.
Even the big man of racing in New South Wales and looking further afield must be a tad worried seeing how quickly things are unraveling and toppling over.
It’s the changing of the guard, Pete. Time to strap on that parachute. Time to have the following tattooed on your forehead:
Meanwhile, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, who are supposedly running horse racing in Victoria- and Dan The Man-should be out there trying to find the very best fung shui master. They’re all disasters.
There’s something very wrong about executives who are supposed leaders bumbling through their jobs and being paid extremely well for mediocrity and incompetence. It opens up many cans of worms. It requires a…changing of the guard.
The Nineties are dead and gone and was thirty years ago. Nostalgia and respecting history is fine. But there must be balance and facing home truths.
The Zaaki Incident of course underlines the uncertainties and ups and downs and highs and lows of horse racing. “Younger people” want to be part of all this? Please.
It also shows up the hypocrisy of some who profess to be “horse lovers” when, to them, it’s always only ever been about “the punt”.
Joao Moreira would agree on these ups and downs of horse racing when going from hero to zero by not only shooting blanks at Sunday’s race meeting where he was Brand Ambassador for the sponsor, the Brazilian Magic Man also had to incur the verbal wrath and abuse of those who backed him and saw their bets turn to confetti.
It was the day when his main rival Zac Purton took his game to another level with a quartet of winners and out rode everyone through a combination of talent and reading the track better.
It was good to watch The Influencer, but pretty dire television viewing seeing riders who should know better making all the wrong moves regarding where best to place their horses. Stevie Wonder could have seen that.
Thank goodness for Matthew Chadwick who’s had a great start to the season and is riding better than ever, the consistent though sometimes erratic Karis Keetan, new senior jockey Jerry Chau and, perhaps, Alexis Badel. Maybe. Perhaps.
Of course, things can change and the champion Brazilian rider could come out and ride eleven winners in a ten race card.
Not being addressed is the elephant in the room that has to do with the future of his partnership with John Size.
The local racing rumour mill is on overload these days and starting to creak under the weight of the various theories as to why this partnership is on shaky ground.
John Size is known to be a patient man, and though patience is a virtue, there’s always a breaking point lurking in the background. Business is business.
As for today’s races, and following favourites saluting in nearly every race on Wednesday night and another four timer by The Influencer, here’s hoping there’s some value to be found.
Some quick thoughts…
RACE 1
A raffle over the Shatin 1000 metres straight though The Influencer will definitely be to the fore on Ka Ying Spirit (1). No value. Watching brief recommended.
RACE 2
If not for the name- Street Scream- we might have this as a roving banker in Quartet bets. But that name…
RACE 3
Brave Power (12) Zacian (5) So Awesome (1) Regency Gem (3) Even Keel (13)
RACE 4
Courageous Knight (5)
RACE 5
Light Of Wanshi (8)
RACE 6
Good even race with other than the obvious choices, Mr Aldan (11) could be a smokie.
RACE 7
Craig’s Star (3)
Marvel Dragon (12)
Beluga (1)
Dragon Fortune (7)
RACE 8
Master Eight (5) as quartet Win Banker. Legs: 1-6-7-10-11-12
RACE 9
Five Elements (3) and Lucky With You (11) as Quartet Win bankers. Legs: 2-4-5-10
RACE 10
3-11-13-9-2
PARTING SHOT
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