Roar Rookie
Joined April 2014
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All eyes will undoubtedly be on Warrick farm and Caulfield this weekend as the many of the stars of Australian racing pursue autumn glory.…
For so long, Silent Achiever has lived by her title. Now she is beginning to show class. Last spring a distraught Roger James announced…
Ban children from horse races? Are you kidding? What a ridiculous over-reaction! Yes take measures to ensure that accidents like this don’t occur but for gods sake how about choosing one that doesn’t go about killing the industry?? Banning kids would just alienate an entire generation, when racing already had issues with getting young people interested… If it happened to be some drunk fellow (which considering the state of some people I don’t know how it wasn’t) would you be crying ban alcohol??
It is a tragedy, but before banning children from races how about we thing of some less ridiculous measures, say banning flags? or widening the rails so that the horses have a bit of space between themselves and the public? Honestly most adults there wouldn’t know how to behave around horses any better than the kids! It’s the middle of Melbourne, most of them have probably never seen a horse before! Spare a thought for the poor kid, I imagine he’d be pretty upset about the whole thing.
Melbourne Cup 2014: Araldo sadly euthanised follow freak post-race injury (Updated)
The pre-race drama continues! What could possibly be next??
2014 Caulfield Cup: Japanese raider Bande scratched
Thanks for that Kv. Some of the decisions made by racing boards boggle the mind, and this looks to be another…
2014 Caulfield Cup Day preview
I’ve Read Gris Caro has been scratched due to a bruised heel, So brambles will make the Field. Pity for gris caro but i’m glad to see brambles get a start, he’s not a bad outsider
2014 Caulfield Cup: Runner by runner preview
Looks like some good fields!
I’ve been a fan of catkins, but have really cooled on her this spring. She doesn’t look anything near her best. I’ll be backing Sweet Idea for this race, she’s been ticking over nicely I think looks good for another win.
Of the rest, I can’t say I’ve seen many of them, Look forward to seeing them strut their stuff!
Also, slightly off topic but I’m curious, can anyone explain to me how the allocation of prize money works in aus? Like here, The classic is allocated $750,000 and is Group3, whereas the other group 3 is down to $150,000, With the two group 2’s at $200,000 each. I take it from the name (The caulfield classic) that it’s historic, which I guess would explain a bit, I’ve seen this sort of thing happen before and have been waiting for some good examples like this to ask. I’m not necessarily complaining, I’m legitimately curious is all.
2014 Caulfield Cup Day preview
Looks like a race for the mares doesn’t it? For me It’s lucia valentina’s race to lose with her form and the draw, I’m quite sure the distance won’t trouble her. However I think Rising romance is being massively overlooked here. Poor draw yes, but her run last start, being forced to lead, go back, lead again and still fight on like she did was nowhere near as bad as it was billed i thought. J-Mac back on too, who loves the horse. This has long been their target and Logans are just fantastic and having their horses absolutely humming on the big day. Along with having the weights on her side i think she’s a huge chance at frankly ridiculous odds. Unbeaten at the distance. True if she wins it would be her biggest to date by some distance but i think personally shes a better horse than Lucia.
I don’t think the barman will have the pace over 2400 to beat the class of horse in this race, he’ll be far more in his element come the melbourne cup with the extra distance. I’m damn excited for this rcae!!
As a side note the barman would have to be the “worst” bred horse in the race by some distance?
2014 Caulfield Cup: Runner by runner preview
Perhaps the “I’m just here to collect my match fee and leave duck”?
Pakistan vs Australia ODI: The everything ratings
Well he’s still being an allrounder isn’t he? just unfortunate for him it was all round awful..
Pakistan vs Australia ODI: The everything ratings
Good article Phil. She’s clearly a great chance on her current form. She is like you’ve said very small, so she’ll need the same sort of ride she’s been getting. If she can avoid getting bumped around by the bigger horses and gets a bit of daylight in the straight She’ll be mighty hard to beat!
Little Lucia taking giant steps toward Caulfield Cup victory
It always bugs me a little that people can’t seem to see that people may watch and be involved in racing without the interest in gambling. I sit down most saturday afternoons when I should be studying to watch the races. when mates come round they don’t see it as me watching a good sport for interest, they see it as me sitting round gambling. This despite the fact that I’ll usually watch all the main aussie and Nz meets and usually only have a bet on 3-4 races.
Anyway, rant over, I never have had anything to do with racehorses themselves, but my family has been and I had and rode my own pony as a youngster before we had to give it away when we moved into town. I remember going to the boxing day races at ellerslie each year for a few years, and being amazed at the festival atmosphere, and the grandeur of the whole thing. But it wasn’t really that which i liked. There was a meeting in our small town each year, (when i say small town i mean a pop of about 6000 people) and loving it maybe more. They weren’t the best quality nags as you can imagine, but they had a rail right up close and would make an effort to parade each horse past the straight before heading on down to the start, and i just loved watching them romp on past to finish. It amazes me still when i go to that meeting how many people turn up from around town, who I know have no affiliation with racing or any other interest so far as i’m aware, turn up for a good day out. It’s still one of my favorite meetings.
I don’t see any live racing really at all during semester, but when i’m home during I’m only an hour or so away from both Te rapa and ellerslie, and my brother and I make a good effort to try visit a few group1 meetings. I’ve seen some decent horses too, ones you all are probably familiar with like Bounding, Lucia valentina, Silent achiever and a few more. I’m always a little disappointed when they head off shore, but I know it’s the way of things with the serious lack of prize money over here. The spin off is when i see them racing in your big group1’s it really gives you a connection, someting to cheer for. It then kinda becomes no different to watching you favorite sports team all of a sudden. Not gambling, Not boozing, just Backing your nag to get to the line. It’s bloody brilliant. I really would love to get over and see some of the big spring and autumn races live sometime. I have time on my side at least. I really just wish more people could see it as a sport rather than a televised casino.
Why I love racing
I’m pretty sure i’ve read that too on the Nz racing websitel. Shes a 4xG1 winner, Including twice in australia within the last year. I’d be pretty shocked if she missed out because of two mediocre runs. In saying that it’s a pity we can’t fit them all, should be a hell of a race!
Past the Post: Randwick and Flemington wrap
Read this morning that Silent achiever will head to the Cox anyway. Also Adam you were right about oliver, he’s got the boot and apparently Nash Rawiller gets the ride back.
Past the Post: Randwick and Flemington wrap
I have no idea who owns Royal descent, but man they’d surely be getting sick of being pipped every week by the same guy they’re paying to train her.. nerves must be shot!
Lucia valentina was impressive. I’m always a bit timid to back her however. I saw her once in the flesh when she was racing in Nz, shes such a slim thing! Looks like she would break with a decent bump. My concern is if she’s given a rough run I’m not sure she’ll hold together too well. She’s a hell of a chance in Caulfield on this form.
I like bounding, awesome record and fought well this weekend, buy boy oh boy she wasn’t a patch on Chautauqua.
After a nothing run from silent achiever, and puccini failing in new zealand which means he’ll almost certainly miss the cox… maybe the first cox plate in recent years without a leading kiwi contender?
Past the Post: Randwick and Flemington wrap
If you like seeing a horse run out to a big lead over a long way check out last years Great Northern Steeplechase over 6400 from Auckland. One of the best races I’ve ever seen and undoubtedly the toughest horses I’ve seen too. It was a cracking race!
The best horse race and the best ride in Australia
Agreed, 2 lengths is a big margin over some of those horses. Shes lacking a big victory in the spring, and that will hurt her horse of the year chances. But she’ll put her name into consideration if she can take the QES. Surely she has to go race that over the Sydney cup?
Silent Achiever not so silent after BMW victory
I can’t say I was a big follower of racing during her derby days, however some of my family loved telling me how good she was. A while back I went through and watched her lead up races to the derby, then obviously the derby itself. she beat some pretty good horses in the lead up and then pretty comfortably won the main event like you said. Pucchini vs Rising romance this year kinda reminded me of Silent Achiever vs Shuka, excpet this year the front runner won! The n.z derby is probably one of the best races we have over here, and always seems to produce quality winners.
Absolutely loving watching her take it to the big boys of aussie racing!
Silent Achiever not so silent after BMW victory
I can’t agree much more with this piece Justin.
It was a seriously impressive run from Silent Achiever, and proves that shes the real deal, and her win in the Ranvet wasn’t a one off. If she doesn’t start in the QES I’ll be a bit disappointed, it will be a far better and stronger race with her in it.
This was easily the best Dundeel has run since the cox, but like you said, he still has a lot of ground to make up if he is to take out the QES. I think it says alot about the class of Fiorente that he can look disappointing yet still run 3rd in a race of that quality. if he shows any kind of the form we know he can produce, he will cruise home in the sydney cup. hell, even if he doesn’t improve, he might just win anyway. He’s that good.
Really looking forward to the next couple of weeks!
Has Silent Achiever finally made a lie of her name?
I feel it says alot about VSB that he has been part bought by Rosemont stud despite being a gelding. That surely means they have him pegged as a big race runner for the future? it sure as hell ain’t for breeding. I agree with scuba re khan vs VSB over the distances. khan looks a more traditional stayer, he’ll be better suited to the derby, although he certainly isn’t out of this. I’m so very interested to see how they line up against this aussie crop of three year olds. They’re trained by Murry Baker and Donna Logan, neither of whom are new to australian success, so they should have a good chance!
Golden Slipper day: Group 1 preview and tips