It has been quite a season for horse racing both on and off the track. There has been some outstanding performances by the four legged types, but on certain occasions they have been overshadowed by tragedy.
Down is my highlights and lowlights of the 2013-14 racing season.
Highlights
1. The emergence and rise to superstar status of Lankan Rupee
Take away Kingston Town, and Lankan Rupee has been the best example of what the advantages of gelding a horse are. This time last year, he was struggling in three-year-old handicaps. Fast forward to now, and after seven wins and three Group 1 triumphs, he is now the best sprinter in the world.
It’s going to be very exciting to see what he can dish up in the spring.
2. Gai finally getting her Melbourne Cup
The first lady of racing had pretty much done it all in such a short space of time, winning 124 Group 1 races in 22 years, but winning the Melbourne Cup had eluded her on several occasions.
Come the first Tuesday of November in 2013, that all changed when Fiorente – who had a faultless campaign leading up to the big one – charged to the front a furlong out and held his rivals at bay. Australian racing just didn’t sit right without Gai winning a Melbourne Cup. No doubt it will be the first of several.
3. The emergence of the young guns in the riding ranks
It has really been a breakout season for some of the nation’s leading apprentices, most notably Taylor Marshall, the son of Melbourne Cup winning rider John Marshall. The youngster, who was riding at his first Saturday metro program, rode five winners, including his first stakes triumph.
He followed that up weeks later with one of the best losing rides you will ever seen on Astro Avalanche in the Stayers Cup at Randwick. In a short space of time, he is challenging for the Sydney Apprentices’ Title. It has been a remarkable effort and he is a future star in the riding ranks.
Jamie Kah continued her dazzling form from the previous season and was offered a stint with the Mick Price yard at Caulfield, where she piloted Sistine Demon to a dominant win in the Victoria Handicap and proved she can mix it with the best of the best in the good races.
But over the past few weeks, it has been the emergence and due recognition from the southern states for Tegan Harrison, who is without doubt the best apprentice in Australia, as she showed through the winter on Temple Of Boom. She collected several Group wins along the way.
Lowlights
1. The sudden passing of Nathan Berry
There was not a dry eye in Australian when news came through that Nathan had succumbed to a bug he caught in Singapore. The only positive to come from it is that he was leaving the world happy, being recently married and earning an international riding contract.
His spirit lives on courtesy of his twin brother Tommy, who is arguably the in-form jockey in the world at the moment.
2. The negative media coverage of jumps racing
I’ve pretty much said what I needed to say in my opinion piece. But summing up, it frustrates me like crazy that the mainstream media couldn’t give two hoots about the remarkable stories to come from the industry – such as Gotta Take Care surpassing the $1million prizemoney mark.
They love bringing up accidents and deaths. It will never change, but the people who matter most know the sport is great.
3. The terrible track managing across New South Wales and Victoria
The usual suspects were at it again this season. In Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, one rain drop would force riders to go the outside fence in race one. But this sort of crap was dished up in Victoria as well, on courses like Donald and Hamilton.
On some occasions, it hadn’t rained days prior to the respective meetings. It simply isn’t good enough and something has to be done to rectify it.
Adam Page
Roar Guru
I agree Drew...the superstar ranks in Australian racing is very thing apart from Lankan Rupee. The two horses I'm really keen to watch are Our Voodoo Prince and Signoff. I think the former, with natural improvement, is going to be a serious, serious horse
Adam Page
Roar Guru
Many deaths this season unfortunately Tim, but this one stood out for obvious reasons given it was completely different and unexpected. Simone and Desiree did lose their lives due to race falls, and to an extent, people can handle that because they died doing what they love. It was just very hard to comprehend that this man could be taken away at the peak of his powers
Drew H
Guest
All good and fair to have views on highlights and lowlights Adam, and I suppose you've included your heart to it. (Brent too) Mine was around all the specking of real good horses that didn't follow through with the goods. I'm not convinced that we generated fantastic stallion status and subsequent buyers. (I think that fans buy a stallion for the long term) Perhaps I'm wrong and the year has been very competitive and entertaining. Put a few horses on the table for discussion like AJ, Boban, Zoustar, and perhaps even Red Tracer now and what do you have? I think constant updating of grading across the board. I call it all "search for a star". Also, it has probably been slightly in favour of the fillies and mares. err.
Tim McCann
Guest
You forgot the death of Simone Montgomerie at the Darwin Cup.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Well done Adam you've done a good job of capturing the highlights from Spring to the recent end of the Winter Carnival. My personal highlight was seeing It's a Dundeel go out on a high note and how about that Boom Quinella in the 10,000? :) perhaps also Tommy Berry's rides on The Offer. My lowlight is the falls the jockeys have had. I know it's a dangerous sport but some pretty bad injuries have occurred particularly to Kathy O'Hara and Chad Schofield. But credit to Kathy who made it back and Chad who is on the mend.