Roar Rookie
Joined September 2014
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Musings of an armchair athlete. Have gun will travel reads the card of this man. A knight without armour in a savage land.
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The 2015-16 Australian racing season is drawing to a close, so what better time to review those races that captured the imagination, produced spine-tingling…
Some call it intuition, some call it a sixth sense, others a gut feeling. For Russell Cook, he just knew it would happen and…
In all of the hype surrounding the wonderful achievement that Michelle Payne recorded in winning the Melbourne Cup, perhaps the greatest back story has…
On a non-descript Tuesday in inner suburban Brisbane, an ageless warrior claimed another scalp. Not any more glorious or exciting than his impressive war…
To finish your playing career with a title is the greatest way to bow out. For a professional athlete to raise the silverware in…
Ask the owner of any race horse and they will tell you the same thing - winning a race with a horse you own…
Following the post-game performance of the Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup game in Brisbane, I would say the team are not even on the same page…
It's the age old pub discussion, comparing champions across different eras. Is the current star better than the champion of 20, 30 or 50…
Tennis has Serena and Venus Williams. Swimming has Bronte and Cate Campbell. Netball has Laura and Natalie von Bertouch. Cycling has Anna and Kerrie…
That they may, however it is hard to deny it the title as the moment of the season.
Six of the best racing performances
Nice work over the carnival Cam, bring on the Winter!
While I can’t say much about Goldstream, what I do know is that no horse has won the All Aged 1st up in the last 30 odd years, so if Kris Lees can get it over the line it will be some training performance.
English out to 1400m for the first time is a query, Kermadec back to 1400m, Malaguerra stepping up and over the years the Star Kingdom has not really been a future G1 winners race, (Hot Snitzel and maybe Flamberge the exceptions). Makes Press Statement look very appealing for mine.
El Sicario has caught my eye in the Champagne. Not often you see a 2YO come over from NZ in the Autumn and the training combo is an astute team- Tavago! Its run when nutted right on the line last start on a bog track was a great run. Obviously if Yankee Rose is right, there is probably nothing that can beat her. Behind her though I can’t see a lot of depth at this stage. If Obscura has a freshen I would love to see him in the JJ in the winter.
One last word on The Championships (Sydney in general). Horses are DNA tested now. Can some check Darren Flindell’s. I am not in the business of potting race-callers because it is a very difficult trade, but in racing parlance, he has lost a leg since coming back from Hong Kong.
All Aged Stakes and Champagne Stakes: Group 1 preview and tips
Top 5 mares by prizemony
Starts-wins-2nd-3rd
$14,527,110.00 Makybe Diva 36: 15-4-3 Seven Group 1
$11,351,607.00 Sunline 48: 32-9-3 Thirteen Group 1
$ 7,953,936 .00 Black Caviar 25: 25-0-0 Fifteen Group 1
$6,678,425.00 Winx 19: 13-3-0 Six Group 1
$4,762,135.00 Ethereal 21: 8-1-3 Four Group 1
Thats on figures, where does she rate on opinion?
At the minute I would say 3rd, possibly borderline 2nd.
Sunline is clearly on top, she won from 1100 up to 2040. Interestingly Winx has won from 1100 up to 2200. Makybe Diva won from 1400 up to 3200, Black Caviar from 1000 up to 1400 and Ethereal from 1300 up to 3200 who amazingly won $4,612,430 in just 4 starts- her 4 G1s which were recorded from June 2001 starting with the Qld Oaks, through to March 2002 when winning The BMW. Thats of the prizemoney earning mares. There are quite a few who don’t appear on that list like Lets Elope or even a a Horlicks who was a 6 time G1 winner or More Joyous, an 8 time G1 winner.
I think Makybe Diva is just holding 2nd and Winx is about to overtake.
At this stage the only reason I have her 3rd, is I want to see here next season. Everything she has achieved has basically been this season. Champions come back the next season and do it again. Let’s hope she does because she could become the greatest.
Past the post: Championships Day 1 wrap
Agree with your thoughts about Our Boy Malachi. I love the horse but his only win above G3 level was his Expressway win against only 6 horses with only Solicit to go on to anything more in my opinion. Plus he defied a huge betting drift that day which is always cautionary. Fell Swoop for me- interesting to read that Matthew Dale has employed the exact same preparation as when he won over 110m at Rosehill back in August, 2nd up after a 3 week break from his 1st up effort.
I ‘found’ Le Romain in the Randwick Guineas so owe it to him to stay on board. I can see Tarzinjo stuck in traffic (who I am on in the derby) and dont see any with the brilliant turn of foot that Press Statement showed to nearly catch Le Romain. He can go again.
Interesting after your calendar restructure that you kept the Ranvet and then this field gets served up. And hasnt everyone deserted Mongolian Khan?. I am going to stick with him and forgive his Chipping NOrton effort. Back to 2000m and if they ride him just a touch further back than when 1st up I think we might see the real #MKR!
Slipper not my race, find it very hard to line form up and always some ducks and drakes with the trainers.
What a day!
Golden Slipper day: Slipper, Guineas, Galaxy preview and tips
I think Keen Array will be a different horse over 1200m this week and he is best at value- he is 2 from 3 at 1200m. He probably should have run in the Lightning at WFA but Hayes went via the Oakleigh to protect his handicap for this.
Peeping is a value play in the Coolmore. I dont see how Ghisoni is favourite. Peeping is 3 from 4 at Rosehill and meets Solicit (who I think is the horse to beat) 2.5kg better off than when she finished 3rd to her in the Guy Walter. Has won 3rd up at her last 2 preps. Only concern is the wide gate.
Now that Mourinho is out it might help Bow Creek break a hoodoo. No horse has won the Cup from gate 1 or gate 11 in over 35 years. Suavito for me in this, should get the right run and she is hitting all the right notes. Fenway is the odds play, settles handy to the front and if there is no pace can get going early in the straight and give them a target. She is was 2nd up in the Peter Young- didn’t trial before her 1st up effort and is a G1 winner over 2000m.
Australian Cup and Newmarket Handicap: Group 1 preview and tips
Once again some thoughtful and well researched ideas.
Myself I would keep the 10,000 as a G1 but I can see the point in that it is merely a WFA replication of the Stradbroke and you are working towards keeping G1’s as the Grand Finals. I love the Cole Diesel, an old fav of mine.
Taking it a step further- with all the downgrades G1 -> G2 etc I could see a lot of G3 or listed races being wiped. I think this would be a good thing and use the increased stakes that are used to inflate these races to obtain the Group/listed level, re-distributed to bump up metropolitan prizemoney.
You often hear owner/trainers/breeders talking of chasing black type and adding residual value to their horse. Many are of the belief that these extra black type races then give the owners more return (and it is proven it does). Stallion fees and yearling prices are only at the price they are now because of the stakes increases and black type added. All of a sudden we have mares that place in the Bucktussle G3 Stakes and their 1st progeny is somehow able to bring an extra $x amount because of this. Does it make that foal any better because the mare beat a bunch of walkers? No, but it is part of the problem that racing has now perpetuated for itself.
Cream always rises to the top, regardless.
Australian racing calendar restructure: QLD, SA and WA
Well done gents, some thoughtful insights and changes that, as you say, are for the good of all racing. A defined and clear path to the big races. I especially like the removal of the G1s like the Memsie so early in the carnival.
I know its 1 step at a time, but have you thought about how good we could have a racing calendar if there were no state jurisdictions? The sport overseen by a national administration. Imagine that!
Australian racing calendar restructure: Melbourne and Sydney spring
That’s what I was trying to lead towards. As an avid racing enthusiast, I know already how good the females of the sport are. It’s the other stories that we need to make aware, like Michelle’s bond with Stevie, those types of yarns. The females are top notch in harness racing and Fernando Bale, Australia’s 1st millionaire greyhound is trained by a female, Andrea Dailly.
I just want more mainstream media coverage of racing altogether because it’s my passion. I know how many great yarns that are out there that revolve around racing and great stories need to be told.
Why the Payne fairytale is not about feminism
Thanks for the kind words. I will keep chipping away, waiting for an opening.
Why the Payne fairytale is not about feminism
This borders on being unbelievable.
Anyone who has owned or raced at horse will attest, that at some point at which the horse has not raced that you go and view the horse at track work.
If this has happened and another horse has been substituted in to scam the owner more, it defies belief.
From the control bodies perspective, the fact that someone has “owned” a horse for 6 years without lodging ownership transfer papers will sound an alarm bell and expect this area of the sport to now be heavily policed.
It’s a wonder the horse never raced because it was flying in track work! Probably because it was a unicorn.
10-year ban for trainer of 'imaginary horse'
Tuesday’s win was in fact the 63rd time that Destreos has won for Ken Rattray.
The horse had 10 wins in the period of October 2011 through to March 2012 when trained by Cristina Monte.
Destreos still has the most number of wins by a pacer (trained in Australia) since Cane Smoke.
By recording his 73rd success when trained in Australia, Destreos surpassed Blacks A Fake who had 72 career wins. Smoken Up retired with 74 career wins, of which 72 were recorded after his sale to Australia and transfer to the Lance Justice barn.
Destreos: The King Of The Creek
There is no doubt Jason Robinson had a tremendous career. 171 tries for Wigan alone confirms that. How many games would he have got to if he continued until 40? To play the amount of games he did by age 35 is also impressive.
What sways the best label in Thorn’s favour is that as a forward very few have been able to make the transition, let alone dominate. Going back to league and then back to union, just shows how good at his craft the man is.
The end is in sight for the amazing Brad Thorn
Nice piece, certainly got me thinking.
As a racing (trotting particularly) lover, it would be the Little Brown Jug in Ohio, then the Kentucky Derby.
A trip to Augusta would be the on the itinerary to see the Green Jacket being decided.
I have been to the old Yankee Stadium back in 2003, which was fantastic. Especially the area in the outer left field that paid homage to all the great Yankees of yesteryear.
Would love to see a ball game at Fenway Park and for football would like to see a game under the Cowboys new Dome.
Lambeau Field is top of my sporting bucket list
Can’t comment on those matches as was not at the ground. The situation rugby finds itself in at present, they need to make sure that they don’t lose fans.The loss would have been a bitter pill I’m sure. As for Link quitting, it supposedly was not announced until they were in the sheds so removes that excuse. Again I think instead of excuses there needs to be accountability. Pretty sure that the post match engagement didn’t go unnoticed from a few differing quarters.
Wallabies stars' disconnect with fans is disappointing
They certainly could watch how other teams and sports do it. As the National team I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect a higher level of fan engagement or gratitude of the fans presence.
Wallabies stars' disconnect with fans is disappointing
Was definitely strange that AAC didn’t do a walk around considering it was his 100th cap. Ticket price for a “dead rubber” needs addressing. A crowd well under capacity surely is a wake up call to the rugby administrators.
Wallabies stars' disconnect with fans is disappointing
Great piece.
Sunline any day of the week from 1400m to 2000m for me.
Winning a Doncaster with the topweight for a mare carrying 58kg where she defeated Shogun Lodge who ended his career with 3 G1 wins and was a runner-up in 12!
She competed in 4 Cox Plates, won 2 and the other 2 beaten by arguably a top-ten (if not higher) of all time in Northerly- his 2002 Spring may not ever be repeated.
Cant wait for who you have taking out the Cox Plate.
Winx vs Black Caviar vs Makybe Diva vs Sunline (Part 1): Who would win races between the four champion mares of the 21st century?