Racing journalist Emma Freedman described this Saturday’s Caulfield Cup and The Everest being on the same day as “nirvana for racing fans”.
Do I simply agree, or do I play devil’s advocate? From a punter’s point of view on paper it is a great day with black type racing nearly wall to wall at both Caulfield and Royal Randwick to load up on, however as a racing fan, I am not so sure.
We saw a very thin Epsom a couple of weeks ago and we will again see an average edition of the Caulfield Cup. While I don’t blame owners or trainers for chasing the novelty races for the big money, I believe having dual feature meetings is a negative outcome as a result of success.
What I mean by that is the novelty races have been successful and will continue to be so, however it has come at the cost of some time-honoured events that barely resemble their former selves.
There is nothing wrong with progression, change, or goal posts moving, however I don’t think there is enough quality in Australia racing to cover firstly the ridiculous amount of Group races that we have now followed by Pop Up races that share the stage on the same day.
This also leads to a false economy at the sales with “Black Type” horses that would have merely dreamt of having their name in bold selling for overs based on good luck, placement, and default. Yes, you can only beat or run a place against the ones around you, but does good luck, good placement equal good value?
It is time for Racing NSW and Racing Victoria to swallow their pride and sit down together. No one owns a certain season or weekend, but by accommodating each other and formatting the season for the benefit of racing and not only their own jurisdiction, racing would be the winner for generations to come.
At the moment it resembles an AFL or NRL competition with the addition of 10 teams in each. It isn’t sustainable.
peeeko
Roar Guru
its not best for Victoria
peeeko
Roar Guru
they beat the best sprinter in the world. well done
Chips In
Roar Rookie
Yes yes yes and yes, well put.
Chips In
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more!!!
Chips In
Roar Rookie
Stockman was a great performance on Saturday!
Snowman
Roar Rookie
Yes none won shows how good there group 1 were
Corlette Eel
Roar Rookie
We need a national racing body to get the states to pull their heads in and stop cannibalizing each other's carnival. So many pop up races with ridiculous prize money, all at distances of less than an mile is not good for racing. The Caulfied Cup field is very average. Sadly, over the last twenty years foreign stayers have improved the quality of the fields and have cleaned the locals up on numerous occasions. Ours stayers are shithouse, but what do we expect. While ever we have races like the The Everest, All Star Mile and the Golden Eagle all popping up over the last 5 years along with the Golden Slipper, Golden Rose, Blue Diamond etc as a carrot, why would you bother to breed stayers.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
It's the races that interfere with the Cox Plate that are a dud idea. Moving the Spring Champion Stakes to Cox Plate day and having the four year olds in the Golden Eagle just isn't the best for racing.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
used to be that longer distances had the most prizemoney, but the everest alone can make you a major prizemoney winner
Snowman
Roar Rookie
Cheap goup1 most them apart from top 2
peeeko
Roar Guru
7 group 1 winners
peeeko
Roar Guru
i dont think any st leger horse would get into a caulfield cup, maybe stockman at current ratings
TheFireFighterOfAntarctica
Roar Rookie
In a perfect world, each region/city should have their own spotlight. But it's too simplistic to remove, (as an example), The All-Star Mile and Australian Cup to the spring, in exchange for The Everest and The Golden Eagle to the Autumn. Sure, it would definitely beef up their respected carnivals - But it will never happen!!!!!
Snowman
Roar Rookie
Everest also very weak race,maybe worst ever
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
The St Leger (2600m) is on at Randwick on Saturday, granted in a strong year it might not have mattered, but this is a weak year and dilutes the field a bit more. The big money races are here to stay, Geldings will target those but colts and fillies will still likely target the Group races (diluted I know). It should be a nationalistic approach but Racing Australia has no backbone.
peeeko
Roar Guru
it is a weak Caulfield cup because we dont produce stayers. there is not one race in sydney taking away horses from the caulfoeld cup