THE HORSE WHISPERER: LOUD AND CLEAR IN HONG KONG
Everyone who has heard the legendary Monty Roberts aka The Horse Whisperer speak has come away awestruck- awestruck at the gentleman’s quite incredible understanding of horses, and what makes them the beautiful animals that they are.
With champion jockey Douglas Whyte, below, having made the time to be mentored by Monty Roberts at the prompting of his great mate and former jockey Felix Coetzee, also pictured below, and both telling us what a life changing experience their time spent with him has been, what we were thinking is this: Monty Roberts, The Horse Whisperer In Hong Kong.
The HKJC is the most successful racing club in the world where the perception has been that the the Club is only about turnover, turnover, turnover despite the many donations it makes to Hong Kong life through its Charities division.
With a new generation of racing fans, yes, looking at the sport in different ways plus a fast-growing interest in equestrian sports, having the HKJC host an event where one can listen to Monty Roberts share his incredible knowledge and caring about horses could be a winner for many- in Hong Kong and, we’re sure, many from other parts of Asia, coming to learn from this very special human being who whispers to horses.
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FEED ME!
Okay, so follow us here…
Remember us being a little spooked hearing one or more of The Three Amigos interviewing jockeys and talking about how “this was the horse’s last run”, but viewers watching ATV’s channels in English not seeing any of this- and thinking of the Poltergeist?
Well, conspiracy theorists, put down that Roswell File ‘cos, The Truth Is Out There.
What’s happening is that the English feed is for those watching the races OUTSIDE of Hong Kong, which means they are spared those tacky ATV commercial breaks advertising abalone restaurants, massage parlors in Macau, gawdawful station promos and bankrupt cities in Europe.
Hong Kong’s apparently teeny weeny English-speaking audience receive the Chinese feed- and not what goes out to other ports of call.
The good news- kinda- is that this geographical and surreal broadcasting strategy is “being fixed” so there can be a dedicated English channel for those in Hong Kong- all of which is giving us a bloody great headache as- call us Duh People- but we simply don’t get the relevance of these outside broadcasts.
Let’s just hope that unlike the AUSracing app which can be downloaded only outside of Oz and NZ and where we can see every race in Australia- every day- and for free- and without those pesky commercials, the team out here better be careful of any “open mic sessions” going out.
In Oz- and with the various hosts in the dark that other countries are listening to their chatter during commercial breaks- we have heard some real corkers about Thai food, “frighteningly stupid” trainers and the results of the morning after the night before.
Yes, way too much information.
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ZAC WAS BACK IN NSW???
Strange- nah, not so strange- is the roaring silence by so many of Australia’s usual menagerie of Yaps Yaps when it comes to mentioning Zac Purton’s role when yakking on about the result of last Saturday’s Doncaster.
It’s been ALL about Chris Waller saddling up the first four place-getters- a HUGE achievement, yes- but, apart from Shane Anderson, like James Brown was to music, the hardest working man in Aussie racing showbiz, who conducted a revealing interview with him, it’s been a big fat zero about Hong Kong’s Zac Attack and his win aboard the Malaysian-owned Sacred Falls.
The interesting thing is that whenever Brett Prebble goes down to ride in Victoria, the chorus of “Aussie Aussie Aussie” and “He’s one of us” reaches deafening proportions- which is fine.
But when it’s come to Lismore-born Zac Purton and a true blue “New South Walesman”, or “New South Welshman”, who accomplished so much in his two years riding in Sydney, winning the biggest race in NSW’s Championships Festival, well, going on what’s been said and written, Sacred Falls could have been ridden by Biff Burton or Tonto.
One can only assume that the Racing NSW-HKJC clash all those years ago surrounding the Chris Munce affair still remains an open gnash by the powers-that-be at Racing NSW who have their very own Yap Yap Fan Club in the media as they sulk about the success of Hong Kong racing and slowly bang their heads against the nearest walls.
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WHAT’S IN A NAME?
We really have to wonder which Einstein at the HKJC named the races at Shatin on Sunday- and who at the Club thought nothing about races called the Geriatric Healthcare Handicap, the Special Wheelchair Bank Handicap, the Brain Health Welfare Handicap and the Arthritis Care Handicap?
Come on now, some Brain Welfare, please!
If an owner, would they appreciate receiving a souvenir for winning a race with any of the names above?
Imagine: “Yes, that’s my horse winning The Special Wheelchair Bank Handicap.”
We have no idea why, but, for some reason, it all reminds us of that Monty Python skit where a one-legged man insists on auditioning for the role of Tarzan.
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THE FAST TRACKER FOCUSSES ON A QUARTET OF WINS TONIGHT.
It’s been spookily quiet on the magic front these days with Joao Moreira having to play that very rare role of second fiddle to Zac Purton and Dougie Whyte who have been pulling four-timers outta their own magic hats like rabbits in heat.
Frankly, The Magic Man has not had the usual book of fully-charged rides since back after a suspension, and tonight’s book doesn’t look too crash hot either.
Dougie Whyte appears to have the best book of rides amongst the Three Mouseketeers whereas The Zac Attack doesn’t even HAVE a ride in three races.
Take The Trio Los Panchos outta the equation and it’s a pretty level playing field with the first-time riding engagement of Neil Callan for Tony Cruz catching the eye.
Sure, Matthew Chadwick is suspended, but Cruzy would usually turn to Whyte or Suborics- but not tonight- which might mean that they passed on rides from his stable- or, the former champion Hong Kong jockey has picked up on the fact that Callan is slowly gaining more and more support and remains under the radar of many while still booting home winners.
Then again, with Cruzy communicating to aliens through that Blue-toothed cockroach in his ear about an impending Mars Attack, who knows what might be going through his head?
R1 ENJOY THE FUN/NOVEL START/DRAGON CHOICE/ABLE DRAGON
R2 MISTER MARC
This could be the first of a Dougie Whyte-Me Tsui double.
R3 COUR VALANT/SUMARAND DRAGON/EASTERN PROMISE/FORGIVE AND FORGET
R4 JADE PIPPO
The second of the Dougie Whyte-Jade Pippo double?
R5 STEP HIGH
Tye Angland, who returns to Oz at the end of this season for family reasons and to further his career in his home country by making himself available for some of the bigger Group races, should go very close to winning this on Step High.
Being the first Quartet race of the night, I’ll be taking Step High as my multiple banker with the legs being 3,6,7,8,10,11.
R6 PEARL WIN
R7 FLAME HERO/BEAUTY FLAME/LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT/SECRET SHAM
Looks like more than a two-horse race.
R8 FLYING UNICORN/MASQUERADER/WINNINGMASCOT/JAZZY FEELING
Just remember that this is the second Quartet race of the night, which, for a few hundred bucks more is a FAR better bet that the First Four as it pays out much bigger dividends for picking the first four- in ANY order. Recommended is taking a MULTIPLE banker into 6-7 legs. Include two roughies in your legs in what looks like a very open race.
BEST BET: R2 MISTER MARC (11) NEXT BEST: R4 JADE PIPPO (12) LONGSHOT: R8 FLYING UNICORN (5)
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SARIKA’S SIX UP
R3: 3,8,12 R4: 12 R5: 2 R6: 4,10 R7: 3,4 R8: 1,3,5,10,11
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Selections for Happy Valley from Third Dividend 16.4.14
HAPPY VALLEY (HKG) Wed, 16/4/14 #HValley Night Races @HKJC_Racing Turf (“C” Course-Worked Back) Weather: Mainly cloudy. Mist patches in the morning and at night. Sunny periods duringthe day. Temperatures will range between 21 and 26 degrees. Moderate easterly winds,occasionally fresh at first. Source: http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
Race 1: BOUNDRY STREET HCP CL5 1200M 1 – Novel Start (2) 2 – Enjoy The Fun (6) 3 – Telecom Chief (10) 4 – Young Supreme (7)
Race 2: KING’S PARK HCP (SEC 2) CL4 1200M 1 – Mister Marc (11) 2 – King Derby (4) 3 – Kingston Jumbo (10) 4 – Winning Boy (7)
Race 3: STADIUM PATH HCP (SEC 1) CL3 1200M 1 – Cour Valant (3) 2 – Sumarand Dragon (11) 3 – Speedygonzalez (4) 4 – Super Plus (10)
Race 4: KING’S PARK HCP (SEC 1) CL4 1200M 1 – Jade Pippo (12) 2 – Seasons Star (5) 3 – Genuine Champion (2) 4 – Well Done (3)
Race 5 (Q1): SHEK KIP HCP CL4 1650M 1 – Step High (2) 2 – Beauty King (11) 3 – Expectator (8) 4 – Diligent III (6)
Race 6 (Q2): STADIUM PATH HCP (SEC 2) CL3 1200M 1 – Victorious (4) 2 – Pearl Win (10) 3 – Sunny Fay (6) 4 – Getaway Guy (7)
Race 7 (Q3): THE HONG KONG RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION CUP HCP CL1 1650M 1 – Secret Sham (2) 2 – Flame Hero (4) 3 – Beauty Flame (3) 4 – Lucky Double Eight (6)
Race 8 (Q4): WYLIE PATH HCP CL3 1650M 1 – Jazzy Feeling (1) 2 – Royal Partner (3) 3 – Winning Mascot (11) 4 – Amber Dragon (4)
Best Bet Race 3: Cour Valant (3)
Next Best Race 2: Mister Marc (11)
Value Bet Race 8: Jazzy Feeling (1) – Currently, $7.00/$2.10
Long Shot Race 5: Diligent III (6) – Currently $9.30/$3.20
Quaddie($100 get you 39%) 2.6.8.11 4.6.7.10 2.3.4.6 1.3.4.11
Six Up 3 5.12 2 4 2.3.4 1.3
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SELECTIONS FROM THE BIG APPLE (@SW064351)
BEST BET Race 6, No. 4 Victorius Finally draws a reasonable gate after several luckless runs. Go close.
SECOND BEST Race 3, No. 3 Cour Valant Kept good company last few starts and meets weak opposition here. Can win again.
LONGSHOT Race 7, No. 1 Destined For Glory Hasn’t been far away in better company than this. Not hopeless.
QUADDIE 1,2,6,10 / 4,10 / 1,2,4,6,7 / 1,3,6. $50 for 41.66%.
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PARTING SHOT
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