The Spring Carnival officially wraps up in the next couple of weeks at Sandown, but really, it ended on Saturday at Flemington.
So, what were the highs and the lows? I’ve gone through the 10 key topics from the Spring.
10. The Internationals
At the start of the Spring, I was very keen to take on the Internationals. I thought the 2014 crop of overseas raiders were no good, but looking back on the main three of the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, each were won by an International, and quite arrogantly.
Our horses were good, but not good enough, and clearly.
9. Australian breeding
The carnival proved that we certainly have the best sprinters in the world by a fair way, but when it comes to stayers, we as an industry got our pants pulled down. If we want to win our big three, something needs to change. Chris Waller could have perhaps given the industry an idea.
Preferment, the Derby winner, was purchased from New Zealand. People seem to have forgotten that the Kiwis still breed stayers. The reason why Australia isn’t interested in the Kiwi breds is because they take time to mature, and Australia is all about immediate success hence why they look for proven racehorses in Europe.
Waller has shown that with patience, you can have an above average stayer and not pay a ridiculous sum of money.
8. Shannon Noll and his national anthem on Cox Plate Day
If you’re patriotic, you’d say it was a disgrace. If you want a laugh, I encourage you to look it up on YouTube. Daryl Braithwaite, please!
7. Chris Waller on Derby Day
Prior to Derby Day, it had been a quiet Melbourne Spring for Chris Waller, but he showed Australia and the world why he is the best in this part of the world with three winners, a Group l double, a Group l quinella and another two Group l placings. So far in his career, that’s his best day on the racetrack.
6. Damien Oliver’s Cup Carnival
Ollie had a howler of a Caulfield Carnival, but when the caravan moved to Flemington, the champion hope was at his brilliant best, winning six races, to equal his effort of the 1994 Cup Carnival. He won a couple of majors, and produced absolute peach steers throughout the four days.
5. Set Square winning the Oaks
She might not have beaten much on Thursday, but given that it was only Set Squares’ fourth career start and her first preparation, and the manner in which she won, gee it was outstanding. It again showed that Hugh Bowman is fast becoming the best rider of stayers in Australia. Horses just seem to run for him over the longer distances and they power to the line.
4. Admire Rakti’s Caulfield Cup triumph
He may no longer be with us, but it’s best we remember the good times, and his Caulfield Cup win was certainly a memorable time. He had no right to win given he was wide all the way, carried top weight and was carted near the centre of the track on the turn.
But he let down with an amazing finish and ended up recording a soft win. It’s sad what happened on Tuesday at Flemington, but remember that unbelievable Caulfield Cup triumph.
3. Coolmore finally win Down Under
Aidan O’Brien had come to Australia on a couple of occasions and failed dismally, but come Cox Plate Day, he showed us why he is one of the best in the world when his star colt, Adelaide, scored a stunning win in the weight-for-age championship, coming right around the field in a brilliant ride by Ryan Moore. That win will start the wave of international stars to tackle our great race.
2. Coalition for the Protection of…
Most would know them as the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR). Most would know my thoughts on this organisation. They only seem to raise their heads when a horse dies or when it’s jumps racing season.
Any chance to get publicity, even stooping to the level of video taping the Melbourne Cup runner dying. So, I suggest you support something more worthwhile, like the Coalition for the Protection of Racecallers, or the Coalition for the Protection of Mice.
1. Protectionist – most dominant Cup winner?
I’ve only been alive since 1991, and can only properly remember Melbourne Cups since Saintly in 1996, so my visual memory of the race isn’t as good as others, but with the ones I’ve seen, I cannot remember a more dominant Cup winner.
Protectionist ran sub 12 for his final furlong at the end of 3200m, not even the sprinters on the same day could reel off sectionals like that. You can’t declare him for the 2015 Cup, but whatever he runs in, he will be awfully hard to beat.
Bondy
Guest
kv Agreed, the punting season is just about wrapped up at least the GG's ....
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
kv 20+ OS horses better than Adelaide and Protectionist! Wow... ok. They both look to haver a heap of upside so we dont really know how good they are. Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing Protectionist race in my BMW. Like you kv I also only have one more game of RL this year, but given it clashes with Mick Jagger at the Hunter on Sat I will ve watching the video. Enjoy your break, but dont forget HK.
kv joef
Roar Guru
thx max, and SCOTT, i remember the points you raised last autumn about rescheduling the BMW and the need to have our autumn grand prize over 2400m. IMHO our horses are NOT good enough and won't be for some time. I could write a list of 20+ OS horses off the top of my head that could beat Adelaide and Protectionist ... mostly different horses too. Probably why the media has to be careful with their language. call them HQ horses ... not over the top as all our G-racing is reported internationally. NHemisphere know exactly how good Adelaide and Protectionist are. BUT programming needs to be discussed. I started the spring optimistic but that was soon dashed and what i see in the autumn is not good ... this new RACING AUSTRALIA body needs a unified commitment from all players. But on the horse side don't despair, make a note ... A BOLD PREDICTION from KV = within a decade we will have some of the best middle-distance horses in the world - not one or two each year but 5/10 that will rate higher than 120. Our classics will become serious affairs. Our major breeders seem to be getting it right ... just needs time to get these fillies/mares from the last couple of years to stud. As for stayers ... we will produce more MelbCup winners but 'never' (consistently) to the WFA level of Europe (and those types don't come here) ... they really do have the best of the best ... North America gave up trying to breed internationally competitive stayers 50 years ago. My last meeting of the year is saturday ... i have a couple of articles promised for next week or two before the summer snooze. one will be on 'Racing Australia' and i hope you and other roarers contribute whether you agree with me or not ... :)
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
OK fellas, I confess I am a little bored, but we have a real lack of "super star WFA stayers" and I never enjoy seeing WFA races cheapened. Actually, a lack of super star WFA anything, not counting Adelaide. There is no stand out WFA performer. By stand out I mean head and shoulders better than its opposition.
MAX
Guest
Congratulations to Scotty who is probably still counting his winnings from the NRL g/f. Thank you KVJ for your informative pieces which are fast making Roar Racing essential reading for any conscientious punter. You sure do your homework. Pleasure to absorb.
kv joef
Roar Guru
have you got bored scott? ... off season - cup week done ... Xmas parties just around the corner ... thinking what can i do now? :) with the new scheduling the Ranvet is only a week before the BMW, the Australian Cup a couple of weeks before ... there is a good chance the 2000m horses won't step up to 2400 like they did before. they will just target the QEII. The BMW will become the feature lead-in to the Sydney Cup. for me they now have revalued the Aust. Cup. from there you can either stay at 2000m or go long or come back to the Donny. Try and keep some of the good horses apart until the GF. What's the Australian Cup worth next year? still a million ... maybe they will bump it? After the Caulfield Classic fiasco maybe the Melb clubs should do an ATC joining together and distribute their prizemoney with more sense.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
The BMW (2400m), is now worth only $1.5 million after the ATC decided to reduce it by more than $700,000 in stakes. This may well be the race of the Autumn. When the Chairman of RNSW is also a stud owner and his top two sires are sprinters Redoute's Choice and Snitzel there is always a conflict of interest and I not that the Sydney Cup has been upgraded. There is no suggestion that John Messara has looked at his big money earners before influencing the new programming and prizewinner, but why create a conflict? I agree with Ken Callander.
Tim
Guest
Efficient?
pauliewalnuts
Guest
Not sure about that. Didn't pan out too well for Americain. Especially the farcically tempoed affairs our WFA races often are. But then again, with Lloyd (and others) set to no doubt display their traditional Autumn phobia, competition will be even weaker. So who knows...
Adam Page
Roar Guru
Either you backed him or are a part owner ;) He's a very good horse, but the form out of those two Group l races has been very poor.
kv joef
Roar Guru
No mate, he was winning the Canadian International on Hillstar. it's their version of the Cox Plate ... Did you notice he rode Protectionist the same way as he rode Dandino and not a word of criticism ... but ssssshhhh ... we don't want to start them barking again :) .
Bondy
Guest
Kv Did Ryan Moore have a ride in the Clfd Cup ?. He could've taken all three majors ... ___________ pauliewalnuts Protectionist should be able to sprint over the 2000 - 2400 metres if not whip the blinkers on if he's already in them he should be fine ....
pauliewalnuts
Guest
It will be interesting to see how a horse like Protectionist goes. Firstly, he exploded at the end of 3200m so I don't think he'll be anywhere near his best at the 2400m of the BMW. Then again, he probably won't have to be. Secondly, I'm seriously beginning to think it's not just that we don't breed the modern staying thoroughbred, but that we don't know how to train them properly.
kv joef
Roar Guru
did i mention LWilliams has the last horse to beat Protectionist in Europe, Almandin walking around a paddock somewhere. Also understand that Kris Lees also has another nice German horse, who also competed handily against the Protectionist, named Singing, tucked away up the valley. Almandin is a real nice horse also by Monsun who can run time. Singing is a good horse but they will probably aim a bit high for him but the 2nd string distance races look well within his range. Still the one who could set the AU scene alight may have been missed :) ... but for how long. Needs to go to J+B Cummings for a year ... needs his sprint sharpened ... he's got it but at the moment it ain't there ... i luv a good mystery :) ...
peeeko
Guest
i disagree here Michael, these are two weak G1 races that rarely produce strong formlines, look at the last 10 winners of each race, only a few good ones
peeeko
Guest
Michael, i agree the derby is a very overrated race
michael steel
Guest
The derby is the least interesting race of the carnival. In twelve months time the winner will be forgotten. In fact I've already forgotten him. There's only been 3 memorable winners in 25 years, Stylish Century who went on to win another 3 races in 50 starts , Mahogany the great sprinter and Elvsstroem.who did okay.
michael steel
Guest
I have no doubt the great number 1 thing from this carnival were the two great Group 1 wins by TRUST IN THE GUST who will be the star of Australian Racing next year if fit. He will have to become a weight for age horse and he will succeed. Can't believe he doesn't get a rap in your top ten. He made the carnival for me.
Scuba
Guest
I hear Archer was quite impressive in 1861 and 1862 sheek...
Scuba
Guest
Not sure about this. Lucas Cranach would have won just about everything by now if he'd been sound. Waldpark was a dud. Salon Soldier could have been anything (admittedly his loss was not related to soundness). Too small a sample to go one way or the other yet, but Australian Bloodstock have had downs as well as ups from their German purchases