Crio’s Q: Regrets at Sunset

If, as the AFL dreamt, the rising Sun brought a new audience to footy’s coverage, at some stage those watchers must, like Karmichael Hunt and other notables, have questioned – Was this such a good idea? As inglorious debuts go, team and stars “smoked it”. Saturday night’s debacle would take some beating. Perhaps “the grass [Read more]

Almanac Racing: ELVIS’ CINDERELLA DREAM…will the shoe fit?

Our society’s adaptation of the Golden Slipper tale is most widely known as Cinderella, in which a most unlikely, improperly disregarded individual finds wealth, true happiness, blah, blah. Since its inception in 1957 with Todman’s triumph, George Ryder’s brainchild for the STC’s Slipper “enchantment” has become the richest juveniles’ race in the world. It has [Read more]

Crio’s Q: Head to Head

Apparently another Pies Flag is a given. The world, it seems, is back on its hyperbolic axis – despite their last consecutive (can’t bear “back-to-back) premierships being over 70 years ago! Here’s a way to stay interested in what will manifestly otherwise be a “cakewalk” – using the increasingly popular “head-to-head” betting. And it is [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Summer Nights Finale

It is testament to the allure of a great horse that Black Caviar’s running at the final “Summer Nights” has managed to grab some attention amongst the excitement of a new AFL season and, to a lesser extent, the Cricket World Cup and the GP. Again, poor weather is forecast, hitting hard at the lawn [Read more]

Crio’s Q: The pre-season grind

The serious stuff is about to start but no doubt the clubs have been putting the players through some pretty interesting pre-season drills over the summer. And variations of such things would have filtered through to suburban and country level pre-seasons. There’s bound to be a story or two out there of a training drill [Read more]

Crio’s Q

by Chris Riordan Apparently another Pies Flag is a given. The world, it seems, is back on its hyperbolic axis – despite their last consecutive (can’t bear “back-to-back) premierships being over 70 years ago! Here’s a way to stay interested in what will manifestly otherwise be a “cakewalk” – using the increasingly popular “head-to-head” betting. And it is [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Moonee Valley, Caulfield

I’ve felt a bit sorry for Moonee Valley’s Fridays “under lights” this season with wretched weather blighting their chances of getting a sporting foothold. This is the last non-footy weekend, so it is to be hoped that the Alister Clark Stakes (3yr.olds, Gr2, 2040m) meeting gets a good crowd and the interest can then be [Read more]

Crio’s Q: Keep The Faith

I somehow knew that the Brisbane Roar were still a chance. Even inside the last 5 minutes a neutral supporter, such as me, hung on to the unlikely. But it is not always so easy to “keep the faith”. How often have you ripped up a betting ticket, left in time-on or switched off the [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Newmarket Hcp

The media gush for Black Caviar is further proof that a great racehorse, moreso than a jumping castle or a hat competition, is the best possible product for promoting our “game”. The VRC is now crossing its fingers for good weather and hopefully a bumper crowd for the “Super Saturday” meeting. Moody’s mighty mare has [Read more]

Venue names

by Chris Riordan I’ve never been to Anfield – “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – but the hype preceding the EPL clash with ManU  rekindled a life’s ambition to visit the Merseyside stadium  – and I support neither Club. St. Kilda at Etihad or Arsenal at Emirates doesn’t carry the charm of El Clásico at the [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Australian Guineas Day

The much vaunted Australian Guineas meeting, slated for Saturday in perfect conditions at Flemington, presents an interesting but by no means outstanding card, seemingly sandwiched between the feature Diamond Day from last week and the hyped Super Saturday still to come.

It’s all in the action

by Chris Riordan The “currant bun” (News-Pictorial) has forensically dissected Nick Riewoldt’s exaggerated goalkicking style, apparently unveiled on Saturday night. By the photos, it is certainly distinctive and has got me thinking about radical or unique actions. Whether it be Andrew Dunkley’s ball drop, Jim Furyk’s backswing or Paul Adams’ contortionist bowling delivery, there are [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Diamond Day

Take my tip! For once, this is a sure thing. Get to Caulfield on Saturday where, in the promised benign weather, you’ll see really good horses in some outstanding races. What a mix. There’s a long time between now and the Heath – including a night on the bag at the Valley tomorrow (Friday)- so [Read more]

Crio’s Q: The changing face of sporting etiquette

I’m interested in how sporting etiquette changes over time. Golf, for example, is a game of great disciplines and accepted protocol. When did players walking out the “front” (lip) of bunkers become acceptable? This was never allowed in my recollection, but has become commonplace – I saw a caddie lend a club to help wrench [Read more]

Almanac Racing: Lightning Stakes

The Lightning Stakes (1000m, WFA) is a fair dinkum Group One. Look at the roll call – Takeover Target, Todman, Sky High, Storm Queen, Schillaci, Special, Mahogany, Miss Andretti, Choisir and Citius…there’s speed, power and class. This year’s edition (Flemington, R6) has generated profile with the return of the breathtaking Black Caviar. The little paper [Read more]

Crio’s Q: The nick-name says it all

They farewelled the Doc last week. No need to clarify as Darrell Baldock…his simple moniker is enough to identify the subject to all footy lovers. Like The Don or Newk, it is a heightened level of recognition when a full name becomes irrelevant. Who else has earned this status?

Almanac Racing: The Late Mail

Computer malfunctions, no formguide and a late night at the Valley mean tonight’s bulletin will be in abbreviated form, which is unfortunate as there is so much to report… Cracking Sandown midweeker deserves notice.

Crio’s Q: Professional Pitfalls

St. Kilda’s NZ miscreants were punished with directives to gain full-time employment during their “sentence”. David Parkin, amongst others, has relentlessly advocated work/study/sport balance, lest players become bored (Fev’s online punting) or socially unprepared upon delisting or retirement. Charlie Sutton purportedly quarried all day and then rode his bike to training. Dan Harris, Redbacks’ revitalised [Read more]

Almanac Racing: The Heath…and beyond

Financially fragile following its rain-lashed 2010 Cup Day, MRC power-brokers would have shuddered as rain tumbled this morning and (much) more seems assured for their race day tomorrow – an excellent programme which precedes “Classic Caulfield” cards on the 12th and 26th of February. One thing that we learnt last October was not to fear the new track. [Read more]

Crio’s Q: Sporting All-Rounders

Boxing and Rugby League – now there are two sports where hyperbole rains like confetti.”Rabbs” Warren should call them both. “Thugby”, as it has been decried, has been known for some stoushes, but the link between the sports has been dubiously legitimised recently. “The Man” Mundine was a genuine League star and is now a [Read more]