Almanac Racing – look away now!

Stewards are under fire.

Vets are discredited.

Trainers are nervous.

Jockeys are agitated.

It’s the Carnival hangover from hell as the mess swept under the carpet finally has to be cleaned. And what a tale is unfolding – and what repercussions may be in store!

The jockeys’ unease – over the whip ruling and other issues – has barely rippled compared to the grenades being tossed into RVL.

Kav and O’Brien will find out their fate soon enough and the tsunami will head towards P.G.Moody.

Vets from Flemington Equine are at loggerheads and anytime the mention is of “vitamins” used on harness racers the eyebrows click up another notch.

Meanwhile Steward and head of RV’s compliance team Kane Ashby has resigned.

Watch this space.

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It’s easy to forget that there’s a $1m G1 on this week – mostly because it is over in WA and must be the most overprized and overgraded race in a very long time (PR8, Kingston Town Classic, 1800m, WFA). They’d get the same field for $400k G2. I’ve written of this race in past years and also of “The King” having bravely crossed the Nullabor, but this edition is hardly vintage. Olly heads home which always gives the meeting a boost and Douglas Whyte seems to pop up whenever a big stake is on offer – and I notice my old mate Randy Tan’s getting some rides in support races!

I’m driving past the metro offering at Sandown on Saturday and heading to the picnics at Balnarring. Must be 20 yrs since I’ve enjoyed the beautiful old  trees and “keen socialising” that characterises this meeting. The forecast is perfect so it will be a bumper day.

From there we bet to all points of the compass, so any tips welcomed.

Good luck!

Comments

  1. Crio,

    I see M Kavanagh has one called My Cat Saved Me in the first at Moonee Valley. If he gets off, I’m buying a cat.

  2. Very funny.
    good luck with your horse at Sandown.

  3. Crio,

    Thanks mate. Melb Sat Metro win is my Holy Grail. Toppy is a Group 3 winner of $670K but I reckon I’ve got a pretty promising mare who has drawn to “smoke a pipe” behind the leaders and look a chance at some point.

  4. no doubt you’ll confuse the whole thing by loading it up in multis?…btw, did you hear that Slug’s Dad passed away last week? You could do with some of the legendary HP luck.

  5. Cowshedend says

    Good luck for Sat. Elvis!
    Kavanagh…is he still training.. how lean has he been going?
    One going around in Sydney sat I’ve been sweating on for a while, Clearly Innocent, won in hand canter at Scone twice , spells and wins trial by 4 1/2L last week, pilot can be the only thing to stop it

  6. Have been waiting a while for Bow Noculars to make his debut. Jump outs at Caulfield have been impressive.

    Heads to Adelaide for race 3, which carries a $20k SABIS bonus.

    Would expect him to be snapped up by Asia buyers promptly.

  7. Elvis,
    I assume yours in the 3rd isn’t called Sense and Reason…. Actually did notice the name good luck, hard race to line up the form.

  8. Andrew Walker says

    Lovely story on Racing.com re:Darren Weir returning to his home town Berriwillock the week after the cup. Worth a read. Our mare Bel Dancer begins a new campaign at Wangaratta on Tuesday (R7 H5).
    Think she’s a chance but beware. Owners are always optimistic!

  9. Good luck there Andrew. Keep us posted.
    Anyone have anything for tonight? – I’m heading down for a while on the punt.

  10. Crio
    I wrapped up Dylan Cabooche as an apprentice on the up few weeks ago and he’s ridden a few winners since ( even carrying me) he is on board Trueno in the last which could win if it’s not a leader dominated night.
    Race 4, Four Carat a month between runs but huge drop in class should just about do the trick for the night, value for money as well–2 laps.
    Adelaide tomorrow-
    Race 4 Cavaloche is a spec. drawn very poorly last 2 runs and went well.
    Race 5 Ready Sunshine, give no hope last run better draw and could get over the top of them
    Race 7 Double Pockets EW at double figure odds, looks a lot of speed and he gets home well.
    Sandown race 8 Galaxy Pegasus biggest class drop for the day, if it doesn’t win sacked forever
    Ascot- Delicacy to bounce back in the group 1.

    It’s going to be 40 on Sat & Sunday here so I’ll be viewing a lot of sport over the weekend.

  11. Jock,

    Thanks mate, No, Race 4 No, 9. She has won 2 from 7 and in both her wins, she carried saddlecloth no 9. A horse named Sense and Reason smacks of oxymoron.

  12. Cowshedend,

    Thanks for your best wishes. Significant class rise, but stable thinks she is a good e/w chance. Don’t they all.

  13. How about Brisbane Race 1 Horse 13 wonderfully named Mo Tucker. Sire is Drumbeats. Obviously the owners are Velvet Underground fans.

  14. Good get Ras.
    Can it win?

  15. Glad to see Felines salute first up in Sydney.

    Back in Melbourne I was impressed by the run of Crackajack over the 12 furlongs. I loath putting $$ on a horse, then watch it finish 4th but I wasn’t too peeved by this run. The first time it had stepped up to this distance , so it was a decent run. I’ll keep tabs on it for the stayers races this summer.

    Over a very different distance the 4 furlong race at Kilcoy today was good to watch.

    Glen!

  16. I note that the horse tipped to us for Dunkeld, Beau Brammel, won the Traralgon Cup today at 10+/1!

  17. Kilcoy: the Moonee Velley of the north

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