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'Caught the racing bug' at a young age and a keen student of the sport's history.
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Welcome to a Roar special in Cox Plate week, to celebrate Winx’s attempt for an historic third-straight victory in Australia’s weight-for-age championship.
The Cox Plate is at the top of Australian racing. The best racing the best over 2040m, at weight for age and at Moonee Valley.
Throughout this week Cameron Rose and I have detailed how we would change Australian racing’s Group 1 calendar.
The Roar‘s racing calendar restructure continues today with a rundown of the proposed changes for Australian autumn racing, after Cam Rose walked us through our spring improvements on Tuesday.
Welcome to the first instalment of an ongoing discussion between Roar Racing experts Cam Rose and Justin Cinque on the structure of the Australian Racing calendar, and how it can be improved.
The 2015 Melbourne Cup (3200m, Group 1, handicap) will be run for the 155th time on Tuesday at 3pm.
When I watch a great thoroughbred stretch for victory, a second lasts an hour and those moments become memories I never forget.
The new racing season is under away with some underwhelming Group 2 weight for age races headlining meetings in Sydney and Melbourne.
On Tuesday, Racing Victoria announced a handful of changes which should improve the Spring Carnival program. The most important was a reduction in distance for the A.J. Moir Stakes (Group 1, weight-for-age) from 1200 metres to 1000 metres.
The 2015 Sydney Carnival comes to a close on Saturday when the final two of 21 Group 1 races are run at Randwick.
It’s one of the great debates among racing fans: which is the best race meeting in Australia each year?
For more than 12 months, the best trainers in Australia have been critical of the programming in the Sydney Autumn Carnival. And now it threatens to put a dampener on what could be one of the best Autumn Carnivals this century.
The 2014 Melbourne Cup (3200m, Group 1, handicap) to be run at Flemington on Tuesday at 3pm has brought together one of the most competitive fields in the 154-year history of the great race.
They say you need everything to go right to win a Melbourne Cup, and the same applies to the horse racing fantasy game Star Stable, which kicks off this Saturday.
On Friday night, the world’s best sprinter, Lankan Rupee, was beaten for a second time in two starts at Moonee Valley this spring. Both times Lankan Rupee was an odds-on favourite.
The winning margin may only have been three quarters of a length, but it’s hard to think of a better example of a great horse fulfilling their potential than when It’s A Dundeel won Saturday’s $4-million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m, Group 1, weight-for-age) at Randwick.
Lankan Rupee, the horse with the white heart marking on his head, affirmed his title as the best sprinter in the world with a dominant victory on Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick.
The inaugural Championships begin on Saturday at Randwick. The name alone suggests the racing will be great.
On the first Golden Slipper day in The Championships era, the brightest star was undoubtedly Silent Achiever, who won The BMW (2400m, Group 1, weight-for-age).
Jockeys are the backbone of racing. Every time they jump on a horse they place their life at risk, and their sacrifices should never be forgotten.
Then two weeks later at wfa Sunline beat Over by 6.5L at 1600m. Winx lost to Fenway at 2000m but that’s not how anyone will judge Winx at that trip.
Ultimately I went with Sunline over the mile but I admit it’s a very brave call because I think Winx is one of the best horses we have ever produced.
Winx vs Black Caviar vs Makybe Diva vs Sunline (Part 1): Who would win races between the four champion mares of the 21st century?
Absolutely agree about getting on a run too early than late so I’m on tomorrow with some confidence and will stick with him if he runs well. I was on at Caulfield last time too.
Flemington and Randwick previews and tips
The way I see it with So So Bon is that they expect 52kgs in the Rupert Clarke and he will get that if he doesn’t win tomorrow, you would think. 1400m with that weight gives him a massive chance. But with his racing style, is the Caulfield 1400m going to suit?
Tomorrow he’s so well treated. 1200m isn’t as ideal as 1400m but his straight track record is actually very good considering the races he has been trained for in other preps, and the ability to wins up at Flenington is a big plus. So I’m with him tomorrow and will stick fat while he continues to deliver closing sections like he has done this prep.
The only concern with So Si Bon is his winning record and the fact that he only really flies when ridden cold, thereby contributing to his poor strike rate.
Flemington and Randwick previews and tips
Hi Tristan,
I find the comments in your article from Harriet Connor to be gobsmacking. Really she could have stopped at “I just don’t rate Aussie racing”.
Saying that Frankel wasn’t good enough to race at other distances than a mile is just bizarre (his win in the Juddmonte over 2100 is the best middle distance performance I have ever seen outside of the USA) but then to say that if a mare races at many distances they must not be racing good opposition in the context of Winx shows that she doesn’t understand Australian racing, where – Black Caviar aside – every champion races over a distance span of at least a few furlongs.
Winx is clearly the best racehorse I have ever seen race in Australia. She probably sits higher than Kingston Town for me. Remember, the King wasn’t comfortable on his Melbourne leg – a weakness Winx doesn’t have – and his third Cox Plate was won under sufferance. A legend, undoubtedly, but Winx is winning races in any conditions unlike any middle distance horse in recent (50 years) Australian racing history.
Harriet Connor doesn’t rate Australian racing. Neither does Aidan O’Brien. When dual Cox Plate winner So You Think raced in Europe he won five Group 1s (not bad for a horse with middle distance form in Australia) and O’Brien didn’t even figure him out until too late.
If Winx went over there to spend a season she would win everything because she is miles superior to the great So You Think.
I hope Europe gets to see Winx at her best. At the moment the way she runs away from seriously good Group 1 horses is something I have never witnessed. What a champion. She takes my breath away.
Winx is Australia's best athlete by far, but not everyone is a believer
Lovely preview Cam! I can’t wait for this. Traveling down to Melbourne this afternoon.
I just hope both horses are in positions to strike at the 800m mark. When the first move comes, the noise is going to be incredible.
I have a slight leaning to Hartnell because as I wrote yesterday I think he is racing with a sharpness at the moment that gives McDonald a tactical advantage. All being equal that opinion will be tested in the Cox Plate.
I have been waiting for a race like this for many years in Australia. Sunline v Northerly was marvellous but as a 11 and 12-year-old I couldn’t truly appreciate the magnitude of the rivalry and their epic battles.
Tomorrow is a dream come true.
2016 Cox Plate Preview, Field and Tips: Winx vs Hartnell
The Australian Cup must become a handicap. How it fits into the autumn means it should be a high priority.
Cam and Justin: The new Emirates Stakes and Longines Mile
Razzar reading Paul Bloodworth’s tweets yesterday I am guessing Plan A was to keep the Emirates on the last day but the VRC did not want to move the Mackinnon from Derby Day unless it was replaced by a fourth G1. I think it’s disappointing because there is no doubt in my mind that having the Myer and Mile on the same day is poor programming.
Cam and Justin: The new Emirates Stakes and Longines Mile
Don,
There will be some flow-on to races like the Lexus and Geelong Cup as a result of the Mackinnon moving from Derby Day but I don’t know how big that flow-on will be. The Mackinnon gave horses wanting to protect their handicap a blow-out-the-cobwebs Cup trial. It wasn’t heavily used but those looking to enter the Cup on a shorter break will have very limited options.
Just on the Geelong Cup – has it diminished as a Melbourne Cup guide in the last three or four years? I have noticed a drop away personally.
Cam and Justin: The new Emirates Stakes and Longines Mile
Great article Phil. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Tavistock filling the void left by High Chaparral
Good point Sheek. Thanks for your valued contributions through the week. I had hoped you would get involved so it was nice to see.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: The summation
Great point Nathan! It is something that Cam and I actually spoke about privately the other day.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: The summation
The early retirement of our stars annoys me more than just about anything. It rips racing of its soul.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: The summation
Thanks Allanthus. Glad you enjoyed it. Good luck tonight too!
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: The summation
Absolutely Cam. That article was a disappointment. The four days at Flemington are not the only thing that happens in racing.
As I said on Monday, anyone who isn’t embarrassed by the situation tomorrow is either motivated by self interest or doesn’t care enough.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: The summation
Absolutely Sausages, seeing the greats clash is what we wanted to achieve through our suggested changes.
Tomorrow’s racing is great but I’m not bouncing off the walls to see it because Press Statement should be in that Australian Guineas, searching for a new career best to win.
I will be at Randwick tomorrow but it won’t quite feel the way carnival racing should.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: The summation
Hi Wal,
In relation to Point 1, I don’t think so.
In relation to Point 2, there is nothing stopping any club from running any of their races at any prizemoney. By all means run the G2 Winterbottom at $2m to the winner.
Fair call on point 3. Opinions make the racing world go round.
Australian racing calendar restructure: QLD, SA and WA
I would say the argument is that as it stands all SA and probably WA G1s don’t cut the mustard. In our restructured climate I can make a case to say they deserve what they have been given.
Australian racing calendar restructure: QLD, SA and WA
In fairness the walls of Rosehill are decorated with famous BMWs and Golden Slippers. The race should stand on its own without being a lead-up to anything. It just happens to be a Cup lead-up and has been for ages. We are embracing that. I understand that not everyone or anyone will like it but its how it is at the moment and we have run with it.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: Sydney and Melbourne autumn
I reckon 6 in every 7 Sydney Easters are wet. That hurts the racing.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: Sydney and Melbourne autumn
Who Shot Thebarman doesn’t get around Caulfield. His Melbourne Cup form, especially in 2014 speaks for itself.
Silent Achiever was a funny mare in the sense that we only saw her best in the autumn of 2014.
For the record she beat easily It’s A Dundeel in that 2014 BMW. He’s the only horse to have beaten Atlantic Jewel. She also beat Fiorente a few times that autumn. He won the Melbourne Cup.
The BMW suffered for five or eight years recently when our wfa staying stocks were rubbish but it will be a good race this year.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: Sydney and Melbourne autumn
I hear you Moose. If we took down the Sires as well, the Blue Diamond would be easier to argue. But I hear you.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: Sydney and Melbourne autumn
Yep run at Rosehill in the spring.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: Sydney and Melbourne autumn
Ok Sheek, here is the theory.
The BMW is required to be run before the Cup because it is a major lead up. It remains at wfa because it is a great wfa race and still is the championship 2400m race in Aus. It will draw less 2000 types than before but it is still the pinnacle 2400 in Australia for mine.
The Aus Cup at handicap conditions robs Melbourne of an autumn wfa race but it doesnt really matter – they have many in the spring – because the best horses will go to sydney and run in either the ranvet or qe or both against the best 2000 horses in the land. It will mean plenty.
The Roar's Australian racing calendar restructure: Sydney and Melbourne autumn
If it’s an assessment of the most versatile mare of the four, you will see when part 2 runs tomorrow that Winx wins hands down. In my opinion Winx is also the best of the four generally because at 2000m especially she is unparalleled. And then from 1400-2000m she is a champion. But, when I turned my mind to the mile I went with Sunline. By the sounds of things, I might be getting good odds if the race was actually run.
Winx vs Black Caviar vs Makybe Diva vs Sunline (Part 1): Who would win races between the four champion mares of the 21st century?