THE INSIDE TRACK
THE HKJC AND THEIR MICE THAT ROAR…
It’s all about checks and balances, and The Big Three lead stars aside- Moreira, who’s in a zone all his own, Purton and Whyte- let’s not lose sight of the co-starring roles played every race meeting by Neil Callan, Karis Teetan and Nash Rawiller.
Every movie needs those Joe Pesci-type character actors as do every race meeting and race. It adds to the theatre of it all.
As someone pointed out this week, Nash Rawiller arrived and decided to make a go of it in Hong Kong at a time when competition in the riding ranks has never ever been this strong. Apart from the one-man global show that is Joao Moreira, there is the brilliance of hired gun Zac Purton and all the experience and guile of Douglas Whyte who lies in third place in the Jockey Premiership.
With the future of Gerald Mosse continuing his career in the saddle being a question mark as, perhaps, life as a trainer looms large, and Olivier Doleuze and Brett Prebble, both not exactly hurting for a quid, seeing how much longer they wish to keep on keeping on, it’s Callan, Rawiller and Teetan, who are in Hong Kong right here and now to offer some semblance of competition to The Three Musketeers.
Yes, there are Musketeers and there are Mouseketeers, and the latter group, along with the better local riders- Vincent CY Ho and Derek Leung with Matthew Chadwick going through a very worrying barren spell- is needed to break things up and stop any three, two or one horse races taking place.
When one looks at Rawiller, he has achieved more than many think with the handful of winning chances he has been offered, and is yet to win over the Chinese trainers despite his wok-stirring “chow fan” riding style. With his laid back style and no airs, country boy personality, it’s only a matter of time before he does. He’s the Slim Pickens of the trio.
As for “Donkey” Callan, he has the gift of the gab befitting an Irishman, is fiercely competitive, a trait that has seen him suspended a number of times for careless riding, and has been fortunate/savvy to win over a tough task master like Tony Cruz and gain the support of trainer Ricky Yiu, who has some good young equine talent in his yard.
If Hong Kong racing needed a l’enfant terrible as it once had with the incredibly talented, but erratic Eric Saint Martin, Callan fits the role.
Then, there’s Mauritian Karis Teetan, who rides light, has that Likability Factor on his side, and having the support of a great horseman like John Size speaks volumes.
It doesn’t matter what the well-known rabble of lightweight expat ankle biters of Hong Kong racing with their transparent agendas have to say about the young Mauritian. Far better if they look after their own backyard and ensure the ride on their gravy train continues.
Then again, they, too, have their own roles to play by bringing some comedy relief to the script with slapstick politics and grumpy old Muppets whingeing from the peanut gallery.
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RSN AND ITS DOWNER EFFECT ON LISTENERS.
Sure, advertising keeps many businesses ticking over, and when it comes to radio, well, radio spots are needed to pay the pipers who keep the content alive.
Having said this, and trying to erase those “You, Bloody Idiot” PSAs the station airs, the glut of radio spots for, er, funeral homes on Melbourne’s RSN- FUNERAL HOMES???- come across being real six feet downers amidst all those relentless ways to gamble one’s life away, 24/7, on everything under the sun. Especially appalling are the spots for Browne Brothers Funerals that suffer from a truly AWFUL female voiceover who reads the daft scripts with the frivolity of Doris Day playing a fortysomething virgin in “Pillow Talk”.
Yes, these goofy spots are depressing and sound way outta sync amidst the voices of Laidback Brucie, Nards, Deano, Shane-o and Wayne-o, the dulcet tones of JT, and the cameos from Nick “Marbles” Quinn who continues to slaughter the English language.
RSN is a bit like, take in all this rabid gambling information overload, make your bets- and die. Bet Regret, indeed.
RSN is definitely not a good look for horse racing in 2015. It’s flat, tired, parochial, and a steady stream of overkill and wobble-headed gibbering with politics, hissy fits and personal agendas way too much to the fore.
We can’t agree more with our dear dear old mate at RNSW in Pete V’landys for not wishing to go anywhere near RSN. He, no doubt, also has that Sixth Sense about the joint.
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FREDDIE’S DEAD AND FRADD IS BACK- IN MELBOURNE.
Robbie Fradd, Fiftysomething journeyman jockey, and one-time ladies man, is like “The Scarlett Pimpernell:” They seek him here, they seek him there and then, he’s gone. It’s hard to imagine that between the Basil Marcus and Douglas Whyte Years, the South African jockey with his lop-sided riding style reminiscent of a Pony Express cowboy, actually won a Hong Kong Jockey Premiership.
After an abrupt departure from Hong Kong, Fradd returned to South Africa, and when the Welcome mat there was pulled from under him, he ended up in Singapore until his relationship with bestie and fellow jockey Jody Powell went off the tracks and he had to make that midnight run outta Dodge City.
Then, after he and his new partner’s return to South Africa was short-lived, Fradd and companion, surfaced in Brisbane. That went nowhere, and, these days, Robbie Fradd is riding in- wait for it- Melbourne. And from what many over there are telling us, the sooner he leaves that crowded marketplace with a number of very good young guns, the better.
Meanwhile, some are puzzled as to why Good Guy Jeff Lloyd, 62 going onto 52, continues to ride in very average mid-week meetings in places like Ipswich while others ask about the future riding career of Noel “King” Callow, the whereabouts of Danny Beasley and what he’s up to these days, and whatever happened to Richard Fourie, who had a great season in Hong Kong before returning to South Africa to take up a “big stable retainer”, but has been conspicuous by his silence.
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HK OWNER PAN SUTONG’S GOLDIN FARMS MAKES HUGE IMPACT AT MAGIC MILLION YEARLING SALES IN ADELAIDE
Smart Missile Colt Tops Adelaide Sale Opener
Lot 81A cracking colt by exciting first season sire Smart Missile topped Day One of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville on Monday night.
The colt was a history maker being the first yearling to be offered at auction by new South Australian based operation Goldin Farms – the former Lindsay Park property now owned by Hong Kong based businessman Pan Sutong.
Leading interstate trainer Tony McEvoy purchased the colt for $220,000 after bids flew in from around the complex after bidding opened at $30,000 for the striking youngster.
McEvoy said he was delighted to snare the prized lot and he would now be looking to find owners for the ‘spec’ purchase.
“I’ve looked at all of the Smart Missiles at the sales this year,” McEvoy noted. “I believe he’s really going to make it as a stallion.”
“He throws a tremendous type – good bodied horses and this fellow was no exception. I thought he was very athletic this one – he wasn’t as heavy as a lot of the Smart Missiles I’ve seen.”
“He’s a good walking horse – a good style of horse. I had to fight a bit to get him, but I was very pleased we got him.”
The colt was one of four youngsters to sell for six figure prices during the night session.
Lot 87The Al Maher-Hey Rosie colt, catalogued as Lot 87 for RJH Racing, was purchased by Phillip Stokes for $110,000 with the Morphettville based horseman hoping he can become another Hucklebuck – a former sale graduate purchased by the stable.
A Choisir filly from Mill Park (Lot 11) was sold for $105,000 to the partnership of Mark Pilkington and Melbourne trainer Andrew Noblet. The other six figure sale was the $100,000 result for Rushton Park’s Artie Schiller-Heavenly Wonder colt who sold to Matchem Racing.
All up over $2.34 million was traded on 67 lots sold at a clearance rate of 76.2 per cent with an average price of $34,940.
“It’s been a very good start,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said. “A top price of $220,000 for a Smart Missile colt in what was an outstanding result for South Australia.”
Lot 86″The breeders of the horse were Goldin Farms who are new investors in the business – Hong Kong based, but they purchased the old Lindsay Park breeding farm and now they are selling the top priced lot in the Adelaide Yearling Sale
Catch a video review of Day One of the sale here. To catch a review of today’s Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic click here.
To view the results of the sale so far or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.
Day Two of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale will commence at 10am (SA time) on Tuesday.
DAY ONE TOP SELLERS
$220,000 – Smart Missile-Goldfinger colt (Lot 81) Vendor: Goldin Farms / Buyer: McEvoy Mitchell Racing P/L (SA)
$110,000 – Al Maher-Hey Rosie colt (Lot 87) RJH Racing (As Agent) / Phillip Stokes (SA)
$105,000 – Choisir-Brightlands Star filly (Lot 11) Mill Park (As Agent) / Mark Pilkington Management/Andrew Noblet Racing (Vic)
$100,000 – Artie Schiller-Heavenly Wonder colt (Lot 86) Rushton Park / Matchem Racing (Vic)
$95,000 – Foxwedge-Coco Sovelda colt (Lot 39) Donnybrook Estates (As Agent) / Bryan Guy (Qld)
DAY ONE STATISTICS (2014 Complete Book One in Brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 110 (284) Lots Sold: 67 (207) Lots Withdrawn: 13 (30) Lots Passed In: 21 (47) Average Price: $34,940 ($32,104) Median Price: $25,000 ($25,000) Sale Gross: $2,341,000 ($6,645,500) Top Price: $220,000 ($140,000) Sold %: 76.2 (80.5)
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THE BEAUTY OF HORSEPOWER
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THE AVERAGE, RUN OF THE MILL, ORDINARY FEMALE HK RACING FAN
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HORSE RACING FASHIONISTA OF THE WEEK
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WHAT GIVES THE HKJC’S ADRENALINE VENUE THAT ADRENALINE RUSH
(Includes rare footage of Nash Rawiller actually speaking and a cameo appearance by Neil Paine, below, speaking a strange language- Okker- to a confused Joao Moreira.
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THE MAGIC OF MOREIRA TAKES OVER THE TWITTERVERSE
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RACING CLUBS TAKE NOTE: YOUTUBE READY TO BLOW YOUR MIND WITH 360 DEGREE VIDEOS
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THE FAST TRACKER SETS OFF IN SEARCH OF A MAGICAL GIANT TREASURE
RACE 1
The first four races are ready-made to take some Quartet bets, right now, the one bet offering massive returns for relatively small outlays.
Everyone has their owns ways to play this exotic bet, but the easiest is to take the second or third favourites in a race as a banker or have two multiple bankers and include 5-6 legs with the favourite and around four big outsiders- and hope to hell the favourite doesn’t run in the top four but that your banker(s) and value legs do.
As for Quartet selections, or tips, they’re really a waste of time this early in the innings and when the overnight odds might be on the money as to the race favourite but way outta whack on the other chances.
Wait for the races, look at the win odds, forget the choices of tipsters, and go with your gut instinct. This way, you only have yourself to blame- and praise.
GUIDE QUARTET SELECTIONS: (1-3)-2-6-10-11-14
RACE 2
GUIDE QUARTET SELECTIONS: (2-8)-1-5-7-9-11-14
RACE 3
The David Ferraris-trained and Joao Moreira-ridden Bear Rapper was beaten even before it raced as the favourite at its last start when it had to be replated at the barriers, got stirred up and lost the plot when the gates opened.
Moreira, apart from being an amazing rider is also a very caring horseman, and didn’t look comfortable about Bear Rapper taking its place in the race. Neither did its backers who knew their tickets were gonski fifteen minutes before the race.
As long as history doesn’t repeat itself, this kinda unlucky galloper with still untapped potential should win this with a leg in the air. It needs a good fung shui man.
EARLY QUARTET SELECTIONS: (3-8)-1-5-6-9-14
RACE 4
Figuring this race out really is Mission: Impossible, but I’ll take Giggles Forever and Gold Dragon as my Bankers- and then just pray like crazy I get through this first leg of a very tough Triple Trio and what could be a massive Quartet payout.
SELECTIONS: (7-8)-1-2-6-10-11-12
RACE 5
What’s scary is seeing my hoodoo horse- Autumn Gold- entered for this race, and which has gone around 27 times without a win. And it won’t win this either though it plodded into fourth place for The Gnasher at its last start.
Though Brett Prebble jumps off last start winner Entrusting to ride consistent place getter Industrial Way, I prefer his discard and Photon Willie with the Zac Attack up while giving Happy Rocky one last chance to land a knockout blow at good odds.
SELECTIONS:(4-8)-2-5-6-7-14
RACE 6
Zac Purton should take a more Righteous path in the running and make amends for being knocked about and blocked in running at its last start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jlKcpE3j-U
SELECTIONS: (4)-1-2-5-10-11
RACE 7
Many will, of course, take Able Friend one out in their Six Ups, and despite this not being the race it’s being aimed at, and even if not fully fit, it SHOULD be too good for some above average gallopers on level terms in the running of this Group 1 $10,000,000 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
Gold Fun should offer the most competition with Richard Gibson, who brought it back to 1200m for the first time for its last start win, now has it tackling 1400m with Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon aboard again for fat cat owner Pan Sutong. A win would not surprise and I would add Gold-Fun to your Six Up bets.
The interesting runner is the very expensive purchase Divine Calling. Damien Oliver, who twice won on the former Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper when it raced in Oz, and was meant to come out to ride the horse today, has been replaced by Ryan Moore after an apparent argy bargy about supposed “appearance fees”.
Will the Mighty Moore make any difference to this galloper who, many keep saying, has no acceleration? For my money, not one iota.
SELECTIONS: (1)-2-4-5-10
RACE 8
King Of Mongolia won a very messy race at its last start and I can’t see it repeating that success.
I’d be looking down the weights at Super Talent and Dashing Fellow, the rides of Whyte and Moreira, respectively, while the booking of Hughie Bowman for Berlinski should not be taken lightly.
SELECTIONS: 12-13-2-4
RACE 9
The Group 1 BMW HK Derby promises to be a terrific race with Giant Treasure looking to be the one that ticks all the boxes for the Billionaires Men’s Club of Richard Gibson, Pan Sutong and Douglas Whyte.
There are question marks over the Whyte discard Luger running out a strong 2000m- though only a fool would argue with Johnny Size when he says it can- whereas Beauty Only disappointed at its last start and the very underexposed and $20m purchase for owner Jenny Tam-Redkirk Warrior- has yet to win in Hong Kong, or anywhere else in its six lifetime starts. Today might be the day. It might not have god on its side but the Chris So-trained four-year-old has Joao Moreira on its back who, again, dazzled racing fans in Oz with wins aboard the two horses he went Down Under to ride at Flemington yesterday.
The Magic Man made some top Aussie riders look very ordinary when he guided the Chris Waller-trained Brazen Beau to a facile victory. Watch a replay of that race.
As for this Hong Kong Derby, it is packed with a number of back stories- powerful owner Pan Sutong’s three-pronged attack, Zac Purton taking over from arch enemy Dougie Whyte on Luger, Size out to prove a point, Moreira sticking with Redkirk Warrior and John Moore flying in Hughie Bowman for his sole entry in the race- Helene Happy Star. Let the show begin and the drama unfold. There is much more at stake here than the $18 million in prize money.
If the HKJC marketing gurus had their mojos working, the build up to the race, the race itself, and the stories and fallout that’s bound to happen, would have made a great little movie.
QUARTET SELECTIONS: (4-6)-1-2-8-9-11-13
RACE 10
Tommy Berry on John Moore’s Let Me Go appeals as banker material here where the legs are difficult to find and which can add up to another big Quartet payout.
Its main opposition appears to be Formula Won (hmmmm), Mr Genuine, perhaps Eroico though it’s racing up a class, and Travel First, and another Moore runner in Selkirk Star with Monsieur Mosse on board, who will, no doubt, be out to prove a few things before his enforced sabbatical.
BEST BET: RACE 3 BEAR RAPPER (3) NEXT BEST: RACE 6 RIGHTEOUS (4) LONGSHOT: RACE 4 GIGGLES FOREVER (7)
SIX UP
R5: 4-5-6-7-8 R6: 4 R7: 1-2 R8: 7-12-13 R9: 4-6 R10: 2-14
PARTING SHOT
