Happy New Horse-Year to all our equine friends in the southern hemisphere! Let’s put one of racing’s most controversial years behind us and set some goals to improve our industry over the upcoming season.
The re-emergence of Australian weight-for-age horses
It’s no secret that we have been void of a world class weight-for-age horse since So You Think, but this year looks to be one that changes that.
With last season’s three year olds dominating the autumn weight-for-age events, enough have continued racing to suggest we will have a star-studded Cox Plate field this year.
Although Ranvet Stakes winner Fiveandahalfstar has been ruled out of the spring, three year old sensations from last season, Super Cool and It’s A Dundeel already look a class above the current lot of weight-for-age horses.
If we can get three of the new three year olds into the Cox Plate, it’s going to be another cracking crop.
No more tubing
The idea of stuffing a tube down a horse’s mouth until it reaches the horses stomach is repulsive and should fall under the category of animal cruelty.
But over the past twelve months, trainers have seemingly disregarded all protocols to take advantage of a loophole in rules by tubing their horses.
Bicarb is a naturally produced substance which can delay the onset of lactic acid. With racing rules allowing horse’s to test positive for bicarb to a certain level, trainers feel the right to feed it direct to a horse’s stomach via a tube. Those caught doing so on race day have faced heavy sanctions.
Prominent Sydney trainers Con Karakatsanis and Glen McFarlane were both caught with tubing materials in their stables on racedays. While the pair was caught, it appears to be a common practice outside of racedays and should be outlawed entirely.
The next big thing!
Black Caviar is so yesteryear. Save the tributes and memories for the grandchildren because we need to look forward to our next sensation.
We need one capable of capturing the imaginations of a nation.
We need one capable of striking their name into the minds of those who couldn’t care less about racing.
No one is asking for a 25-race long unbeaten streak because horses like Black Caviar only come along once per lifetime. But a headline horse is still a possibility and there’s a handy mare waiting in the wings by the name of Atlantic Jewel.
Now a five year old, Atlantic Jewel must take control of her destiny and dominate racing like she did before her season ending injury. If we see the same Jewel, she could be our next big thing.
If not, let’s hope someone else can stand up.
Zero tolerance to jockeys who bet
Industry watchdogs have finally ramped up their stance towards the integrity of horse racing. As an industry where inside knowledge can move millions of dollars in an instant, it is unfathomable how many jockeys had their names pulled through the mud over the past twelve months for their involvement in horse race betting.
Ivan Pavlov would be rolling in his grave.
Damien Oliver was assumedly the worst offender throughout the past year but a dishonourable mention has to be given to Sal Perna, Racing’s Integrity Officer.
Perna’s indecisiveness in the Oliver scandal allowed the champion jockey to ride throughout the spring racing carnival before taking a relaxing stint on the sidelines.
Everything about the investigation was terribly handled. Let’s hope nothing similar arises this year.
A win in Hong Kong
By the end of the spring racing carnival, we Australians feel on top of the world.
Hong Kong International Day is held in December and attracts outstanding international fields year after year.
With four Group 1 weight-for-age races run over distances of 1200m, 1600m, 2000m and 2400m, there is a race for everyone.
Each year we send a few Group 1 performers to Hong Kong for the international showcase but fall short of victory too often. In fact, our last victory was in 2001 when Falvalon won the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
Last year, Sea Siren jumped as the favourite in the Sprint to finish a disappointing ninth while Alcopop ran third in the Hong Kong Vase (2000m).
Let’s win one of the races this year!
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