The favourite in Saturday’s Todman Stakes at Randwick, Headwater, was very flat last week and was well beaten by Vancouver.
As a former Golden Slipper favourite, you would’ve expected far better from the horse.
The Hawkes stable pointed to what might appear as an obvious problem: Headwater ran the greater part of the race three wide without cover.
But that’s not an excuse. It is a cliché used in Australian racing, but I don’t think it matters, as long as the horse is relaxed.
A horse can still win from that position, so there should never be a mindset that they can’t win if they find themselves in that spot.
Why do people still think of it as an excuse?
Certainly, in Europe and the USA, they race wide regularly. And I acknowledge that those tracks are often synthetic and not as tight as Australian tracks. They race 4, 5 and 6 wide in the US without worry.
If I was coming from a wide barrier, I wouldn’t be looking to burn petrol to get to the front, nor fall right to the back.
I’d be looking to get cover if I could, but most important was to get into a rhythm, get the horse relaxed and let him travel, understanding the tempo. If they go fast, you can sit off them and have a go late. If they were slow, you were at no disadvantage being wide.
Tracks like Mooney Valley and Canterbury might be tight, but they’re cambered the right way. They allow the horse to get set and get into a gallop.
The Australian culture is to want every horse set one out one back or third on the fence. Sure, if your horse is beaten a short margin – less than a length – the wider travel can be blamed.
But that’s not the reason that horses fall right off them and finish way back. It’s not good enough for a favourite. Three wide is no excuse.
I was asked a good question this week, following from last week’s column. How do you handle owners who want to have their say on their horse?
It’s a good question because it happens a lot, but it’s not about handling owners. I would say it is more about working with them, discussing any thoughts or plans for their horse.
I would like to think that the majority of owners have trust in their trainer, because our common goal is to win races.
In my case I would like to think that with my years experience in the industry, riding and working for some of the top trainers in the land and overseas, that my opinion would count for something.
Sure the owners pay the bills, but I look at it this way.
If I have a plumber or an electrician come to my house, I let them do their job. Just because I’m paying them I don’t really have the qualifications to tell them how to do their job.
Sure I can discuss what I would like, but at the end of the day they’re professionals and they are doing what they are trained to do.
It is the same with trainers, we are horsemen and woman, it’s what we do. Sure let’s discuss some options, but at the end of the day leave the final decision to the professionals.
If an owner is not satisfied with the way their horse is going, like any tradesman, they have the right to go somewhere else or send their horse to another trainer.
During my riding career I have formed great friendships with owners and there has been many vigorous discussions about their horses.
I am a great believer that everyone is entitled to an opinion and if an owner has one then I’m happy to listen.
saddle up Perplexity and Specific Choice on Saturday at the Gold Cost, in Race one and two respectively. Both are going well, but under the handicap conditions they both have their share of weight.
I’m really pleased with the way both horses are going. They’re racing in great heart and Saturday’s races are definitely winnable.
Specific Choice has drawn the outside barrier, which is a slight concern, but I have confidence Bridgette Grylls will give him a nice ride.
Queensland continues their raid on the southern riches with Tinto and Rudy going around at Rosehill on Saturday.
Rudy ran a great race at Warwick Farm last start and out to the longer trip, in the Ajax Stakes, he should be right in the finish and then press on to the Doncaster on April 4.
Toowoomba mare Tinto tackles the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes. She’s a tough, quality galloper and there was a lot to like about her last start, when she didn’t get a lot of luck, but still hit the line well. First Seal looks a superstar in the making, but Tinto is a Group 1 winner and is great value.
Best of luck to all runners.
Have you ever tried your skills in a Racing daily fantasy competition? Put your best picks to the test for one day and see if you can scoop the pot with Draftstars. Looking for great odds on racing and sport? PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Without a Fight completed the rare Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday as star jockey Mark Zahra went back-to-back in the big one after…
The race that stops the nation is upon us again. Every horse in the Melbourne Cup has reasons they can win, and reasons they…
Those who want to have a really big collect on Australia’s greatest race, without risking too much, have to look at the exotic bets.
While most of the attention is on Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Gold Trip, there's no reason why stablemate Future History cannot upstage him.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is quietly confident his Melbourne Cup mount Alenquer will be passed fit to give him a farewell ride in the…
Melbourne Cup day is here again, and it’s never anything less than exciting. The Cup itself will of course be full of drama and…
