i think it was your sentence all along :-).

i did notice a lot of positive press for the various greyhound adoption schemes on the weekend. they look to have been a success … so they should.

my uncle trained greyhounds on his property the other side of minmi (all houses now) — the ‘nanny’ greyhound was a much-loved average ex-racer and apparently took it on herself to ‘mind me’ when i was in the backyard. my mother told me much later if i disappeared from sight, all she had to do was look for the dog and there i was. the dog also used to head me off if i decided to get into the vegie patch for some gardening … block my path and start licking me to death – good logic from the dog … she probably thought – ‘don’t go in there, everytime i go in there, i get yelled at’ .

The NSW handicaping panel seem to think Gold standard is OK … they have bumped him 18pts from his last 2 starts. Menari went up 12pts from his last two wins. Interestingly, Merchant Navy has jumped 15pts so the OHR figure suggests he will measure up.

Good speed near the rails – Formality out in the carpark and Menari drawn on the outside of G.Standard and a couple of hundred metres to the first turn — wonder how Tommy Berry will play it? i doubt whether he will give Josh any easy yards 🙂 . What do our AFL fans call it … ‘tagging’ …

And after the pace is sorted, then watch the flotilla storming from the back.

Yep … what a race!

i can see your reasoning Cam and its valid. Another question is – will this Snitzel x General Nediym cross cope with a v.quick, pressured, 1400m?

There didn’t look a lot left in the Menari’s tank but as Razzar suggests he may improve but with the main dangers coming from elite stables, they probably improve too.

i’ve kept Gold Standard in my mix. Really like this bloke. Gets better each time he steps out. thought both Chauffeur and Shogun Sun had good hit-outs behind Menari, at least, for the type of speed this race will produce.

in short, agree that a Menari at $2 is unders.

did i say ‘him’ … sacrilegious … correction ‘her’

I’m not a greyhound racing person, But like Glenn Innes, i’ve got to read Nathan’s almost single handed ‘logical’ crusade to protect something that is a lot more than dogs running in a circle. they (the dogs) love it and i love that they (the greyhounds) are willing to battle.

Always my favourite time after a greyhound race is the pen – like watching a bunch of kids jumping about saying ‘that was great — let’s do it again”. I haven’t backed a greyhound in 40 odd years but i do love dogs and i do occasionally watch greyhound racing just to see the contest that they strive for … and the fun in the pen.

i’m a horse person and if you ask me to choose – never to horse-bet again or witness Winx’s racing career – no contest – Winx every time.

Nathan is a greyhound person. He has posted here for 2 or more years and he talked about turnover, gambling etc in relation to viability but the main thrust … has always been – ‘this is unfair to the people who love this sport and the animals who create it’ – i’m not a greyhound person but i know who Zoom Top was and i went to see him race twice.

Before people regale the ‘bloodsport’ why not go down to the ‘pound’ have a look around and go back in a month and ask them how many they have killed.

i have a personal story about the quality of the greyhound animal but that would seem way too soppy — i had an old greyhound ‘nanny’ when i was a toddler.

yippee … great news. Waller has said he is going to remove the Winx ear-muffs when she runs in the Turnbull on Oct 7.

She doesn’t like them, you can see it … i seen it in the Chelmsford and that ‘confused’ attitude was there again last saturday … until she got into the straight and worked out where she was. I have no doubt that was the plugs and i believe she will jump next time out.

Hughie riding that hard, that far from home (twice) … so uncharacteristic … she wasn’t bludging, she just confused …

Again, a really good call from Waller, nothing like a bit of quiet time for him to see what was happening and have the belief to weigh the probabilities and make the call.

at moonee valley she has to be focused from the 800m … besides … we know she can miss the kick, circle, then hammer … if she is focused … as she did in the Cox last year.

Plus … she will deadset love Flemington 🙂 .

Yes Cam, certainly was statement day. just hangin around for the Epsom weights release. Handicapper did a great jog. As mentioned prev. been a fan of Comin’ Through and more so after his fighting 81.5 1400m last Saturday … Epsom = 50.5kg … he has got my attention 🙂 . Foxplay 54kg … Sound Proposition 53.5kg … Egg Tart 50.5kg.

the EPSOM IS BACK if they all make it … hope so be a great race.

I was with you Bondy about OoSG up until the Ascot Gold Cup. I mentioned that there were 2 caveats about him coming here – for Lloyd, his two were ‘travel’ and ‘our track condition’. travel became less an issue as Ballydoyle are sending a few others and he would be with similar faces in quarantine. The track … well chances are it will be a G4 or worse so thats a roll of the dice anyway.

My main caveat was … the way he would be ridden. through circumstances in AscCup he got out-of-position in a good clip race. when Moore let him down, he sprinted great to get to Agent Orange, but unfortunately Ryan moved him close to that horse for a fight he lost – the horse runs well by himself – should have kept in the middle and probably would have won.

That sprint showed me, ridden quietly than is his norm, he had the sprint to do a ‘protectionist’ – sprint to a lead within the final 300m than stay and fight if something goes with you, like Almandin did last year.

The bad news was that they reverted to his normal plugathons for his last two in ireland – if he does that in the Arc well good luck let alone he will have to cope with some very proficent animals at 2400m (with lens higher ratings). i’d like to see Enable start as i have her on a similar mark to Treve as a 3yrold filly and Ulysses has really furnished into a powerhouse. So even without France’s top male and female this year’s Arc will be back to a championship as opposed to last years good race that was nothing special.

The Everest has few slots filled by ‘commoners’ syndicate horses – Redzeal, She Will Reign, Fell Swoop.

Really excellent Tristan — agree with just about the lot particularly with the “It ain’t over just yet” sub-header. Fine work.

What a days racing. Can’t remember when so many fantastic performances from class horses happened on one day.

Agree Bondy, can only think of one other horse who could put 3L in an in-form Hartnell. Redkirk Warrior answered my questions with a gap — other than time but am now more than willing to defer to Lindsay Park’s on top of the ground bullish assessment of his talent after that class-above performance. The 3 y-olds Royal Symphony and Catchy were dominate if not spectacular and it goes on … and we even haven’t got to Sydney …

The 3yrold Viridene (62.5), Redzel (track record 1100m) … Alizee, finally the penny has dropped … and the world’s best horse in another ‘she-can’t-win-performance’ Winx (93.5 1600m). it’s funny with her i ceased thinking in-the-running-calls in her races and like Chris Waller says “don’t worry about it, just watch it” and enjoy. … oh and did you see Chau’s last 150m – looked to me if it was a 1200 race, it might have been the TJ all over again. The Everest should be catching everybody’s interest, it is going to be one hell of a race.

What a day’s racing!

i’m keeping Japonisme in my exotic mix and maybe a smaller interest. His trials have been good and IMHO he is one of those horses that handled the wet as a younger horse but as he aged changed his mind particularly on a Soft7 and worse.

Take those wet runs from his form over the last 12 months and it reads … unlucky 5th in the William Reid, a down the track ridden against his pattern in the Darley where he was parked when out of contention and before that was most excellent 3rd in a genuine G1 Manikato. He also runs v.v.v.v.well at Flemington and Ben Melham will suit him and with 2kg above the limit …

So hopeful that Razzar’s indication about the track holds and doesn’t get any worse.

Chautauqua has just lost his crown to english sprinter Harry Angel in the latest release of the World rankings HAngel (125) to Chau (123) … i’d like to bet against that opinion …

Quality overview Cam. I don’t know why (or maybe i do :-)), i’ve never been sold on Redkirk Warrior but if he is going to be competitive in the Everest he would need to gap them … i don’t know what Scales of Justice is doing in this race? probably have top expect another piece of Weir magic. thought the Voodoo was great FU – he’s a terrific horse.

nice to hear from you BPhil thought you had disappeared into the racing ether, which i’m pleased to see hasn’t happened.

if you take a line thru the ‘endurance’ ratings …. well …. OoSG is at his number ,,, hartnell for instance has dominance at in the 2400m range (staying) but as it extends into ‘endurance’ range … not so chirpy. OoSG is at a fair weight but it just so happens at 3200m (with 2 caveats) that there isn’t a horse in the world can run with him regardless of the weight differential.

That is not the OHR’s fault , that is just the way it is. You are blending the OFFICIAL staying & endurance criteria and that is the difference … otherwise hartnell would be giving weight to all and sundry … but at the ‘endurance level’ he is found wanting ,,,, needs to stay at the CaulCup …. the Mackinnon and off to HK as he should have done last year.

Phil, as i’ve done in previous years …. i have 4 criteria that for me measures a Cup horse and it is only as i reported to Tristan 2 monhs ago in our dialogue about the Ascot Gold Cup tha OoSG has now ticked the last box … so let’s see if the Irish are up for it !!!!

Great pipe opener Tristan …

Thought Order of St. George has a fair and predictable weight at 58kgs and all the chances weighted to their ranking. i think OoSG is going to be the first weight-release top-weight to win the cup in over 60 years. Not because he is advantaged at the weights but because (with two caveats) he is easily the best at this trip.

He has to come – he can’t beat Enable or Ulysses or his stablemate Highland Reel at the Arc 2400m. This is his moment to shine. This is his race.

the Everest is a sweepstakes isn’t it? its not costing RacingNSW anything like $10m other than promotion etc and probably the consolation prize-money race.

But your comments about the longevity of the race is valid Scuba, and it will come down to future ‘slot-holders’ stumping up the cash in 3 year commitments but i can tell you right now they have more interest than disinterest from high-risk investors. DamianF was on to it like ‘the Flash’.

this year — OS visitors would have met the world’s top-rated sprinter for the last 2 years … on his home track ,,, and at the moment i can’t see any heir apparent to chau … so next year if a slot holder went looking for Harry Angel, Lady Aurelia or Coolmore decided to keep Caravaggio going after his form return at the curragh last weekend, who knows what could be come of the race.

As a horse owner, i would think an invitation comes along to split a purse of $10m less exes and it’s going to cost you zip … i’d be interested.

Anyway, this year, i think the race holds tremendous interest that will only be intensified after the Shorts on Saturday … and after the Everest … its off to the Darley.

58kg Tristan … put him on the plane and then work out the trophy sharing arrangements 🙂 …

Just gave RacingNSW a rap on the the Cam’s post and you’ve got to give them credit here too. had a quick look at it on friday and all the points you’ve raised Tristan are valid. It works but … when i first looked at it on a win10PC, all my security went ape – a ‘kill-switch’ popped up begging me to neck-it. But i stuck it in a sandbox and had a look … did think it was a beta and a work in progress.

Glad to see, the Digital Manager more or less said it was a start and feedback would make it ‘just gee-willikers trippy’ but glad to see the senior management/board of RacingNSW starting to think FREE punters info at last.

Tristan, your comments about CSV’s is essential as well as other core material … you know for the first time, as a punter i’m starting to feel the love from a Racing Administration … maybe, just maybe no more lip-service but quick effective action. might just get around to writting something … 🙂 .

i was like ‘sausages’ at first. While USA’s $10m Peagus was successful, it was only so because it pulled the world’s top two colts looking for a rematch. With the Everest, initially, i thought who will trouble Chau … but as we know he doesn’t necessarily turn up on cue anymore and each week a new pretender lifts their hoof whinning… “pick me, pick me”.

thru the Golden Rose and now the Everest focal point with prize inceases in traditional NSW spring races. RacingNSW recaptured a traditional genuine spring carnival for NSW. When i was growing-up, until 20 odd years ago there was a vibrant NSW spring carnival with QLD horses stopping off on their way to Vic. NSW horses, and some Vic horses would target the Epsom/Metrop long weekend and from there to Melb and the GFs and rematches would begin in earnest.

badly managed Syd race clubs cut costs/prizes just as Vic increased their money and historical great races like the Epsom and Metropolitan were trashed. The Metro used to be the No.3 staying handicap in the spring. Now, as we seen a couple of years ago, a last start metrop-winner can’t even get a CaulCup start. A common pathway to the MCup was the Newcastle Cup, the Metrop, CaulCup, MelbCup – BJCummings used it often – Gurners Lane used it on his way to the double and the list goes on.

RacingNSW has ignited the sport right across the state. Something to behold – they reinvigorated the heartland of our sport, the state’s regional racing – they blossomed the Autumn into an emerging international event and now they have recaptured the NSW racing spring and elevated it to it’s former status plus some. My old heart grows warmer every minute of this wonderful spring.

The only time she Hugh opens her up is in her grand finals – Cox Plate x 4 lens and 8 lens, QEII x 5 lens – the other GF was the Doncaster … she won by 2L on a Soft6 giving 6kg to the next 3 over the line … lets see what happens in 6 weeks 🙂 .

And i agree with the Waller tactic, long employed by elite trainers – one solid hitout a prep to make sure there is no laziness developing.

She ran a 94.5s mile with a 44s last 800m being sooled along hands and heels … nothing ‘flat’ about that.

Got stop using the mantelpiece clock to time races 🙂 .

she handles pace pressure with ease and than ups the ante — that’s why she is a legend.

Gun Runner won the Woodward last night and he has a dodgy international rating of 127 (a couple to high) — she’d pulverize him

She has beaten hartnell by an average of 6 lens — that’s a second.

no, i’m pretty sure alex is right.

Pretty obvious, she wasn’t used to her ear-muffs and hugh losing his whip confused her a little. She didn’t know when to go. Luckily, she worked it out for herself and knowing where the Randwick winning post is … no prob.

Just love it when she changes gears – you can actually see it – watch that kick-in stride she takes around the130m … then the surge and race over. her last 800m in 44s and small change under hands and heels.

Seems to me … she is doing quite well.