Crio’s racing: International success (without the nauseous Nationalism)

Before the media mayo drowns my positivism –Black Caviar will trigger hyperbolic headlines of a “British invasion” by “our swimmers/cyclists/brave Aussies” at the Olympics!-I’ll take this chance to give due acclaim to Australia’s proud place on racing’s International stage.
No nauseous Nationalism required here. For all the historical rhetoric of our country growing on the “sheep’s back”, there’s an equally compelling case to make for the contribution to Australia’s settlement and development resting on “horseback”. This notable affiliation continues today, albeit for the purposes of this piece, on the racecourse.
Despite its tag as “The Sport of Kings”, the match race and the bush meeting have played as crucial a role in our “game” as Royal Randwick and this diversity continues today.
There have been many great feats in recent times, but I’ll just highlight two here.
Peter Moody presents as a genuine Queenslander with a knack for getting horses to run. This “knack”, one must admit, is extraordinary. His tale of a journey to the big smoke will be retold (maybe reinvented) in the popular press as he dons a “topper” and takes his champion mare to Royal Ascot and global racing fame. But his Straddy Day last week cannot go unmentioned and must rate as one of his most satisfying. He returned to his home state for their biggest day of the year and his horses won the Stradbroke (MidSummer Music), the Derby (Brambles) and the Cup (Lights of Heaven). XXXX genius!
Australian jockeys have long been highly regarded and, despite our racing style being different to European tactics, our hoops have ventured afar and experienced success. Last Sunday was a big meeting in Japan, an emerging racing hotspot. Craig Williams, from good racing stock – by Cranbourne trainer and former jockey Allan out of Glenda, a daughter of Cranbourne training legend Tom Harrison- has never stopped working and improving. He went to the UK and Hong Kong before his stellar Melbourne Spring last year and now he is making an impact in Japan – 4 winners this time! Any success is well deserved for one of our most articulate and dedicated horsemen. Pity he’ll miss the UK Dunaden ride.
While Williams chases ambition abroad, “Froggy” Newitt has declared his intention to pursue a first Melbourne Metropolitan Jockeys Title, an opportunity presented by Nolen and others being constantly engaged on the feature “carnival carousel”. That’s not to imply that Newitt would be unworthy as he is a hard-working hoop who you’d be happy to have on “one of yours” any time. His trademark left hand shillelagh urges home winners all around the State week in/week out. He’s definitely the one to watch again if you’re having a punt at Flemington this Saturday:
Rue Maple (6) will be fav in the first Quaddy Leg, so put it in with Froggy and Nolen’s mounts (2+8).
In the mile (R6) include Eraset (3), maybe Bossy’s Our Pride And Joy (6) + perhaps the 4 in multis.
I need a speed chart to help with the 1400m race. 5,9,10?
The last is the field leg.

While I’m swinging the bag at Flemington (relocated from MV) this weekend, others will be far and wide keeping the tradition alive.
Perhaps my favourite event this Saturday is the Quorn Cup, the 2nd Leg of the Outback Cups Championship. Now here’s a bucket list Quaddy for you and your SA mates Oges …..this Cups series involves races at Roxby Downs, Hawker and Port Augusta supplementing this Saturday’s $13,000 1900m Handicap at the picturesque Flinders Ranges location. The weekend starts with a Calcutta on the Friday night and then the big 5 race card the following afternoon. Gary Searle has a couple of runners engaged in the Cup. One, Stakhanovite, has city form, winning at Morphettville earlier this year whilst the other, Robdon Flyer (P.Denton) is back from an Alice Springs campaign. He’s a good trainer this bloke so that’s the way I’d punt.

For those interested, follow this link.

Despite its critics, racing is still part of the Australian fabric.
Every little corner of our country still has its races.
And all of them will feel some sort of vested interest in the mighty Black Caviar which, this time next week will be readying herself for Royal Ascot….where a big cane toad from Charleville, P.G.Moody, will leg up Manangatang’s Luke Nolen in another exciting chapter of Australian racing’s story.
But that’s next week. Until then. Good luck!

Comments

  1. Crio,

    I threw one out in the Stradbroke last week, be he didn’t get a start. Jetset Lad. He’s in the Ipswich Eye Liner at about $11. Form beind the likes of Veyron in Group Ones in New Zealand recently and ran Jimmy C to a length as a 3yo with He’s Remarkable 3rd. Didn’t do much first up but forgive. Just get on.

  2. Plonk and food rules this weekend though
    Im on tour with the Management at Clare -if its as cold as Quorn Im glad Im not there

  3. Thanks Elvis.
    I’ve got a “get on” declaration for SR2 No2…don ‘t even know it’s name but the source is pretty good.

  4. Mmm a few cheeky Shiraz’s this weekend by the sound of it. Need to have a punt for something to listen out for. Philda would usually be a reliable tip for a MVRC meeting – bet their pissed off that it got moved to Headquarters!

  5. Called Eight Straight- trained by C Waller to be ridden by Hughie Bowman. Currently $2.50 on IAS.
    I know you can’t eat value but I’ll leave alone at those odds.

  6. Eight Straight…that’s it.
    One bet. Do you usually return 150% on your outlay?

  7. Great nomination at Ipswich by Elvis. Jetset Lad was 26 in to 10 and “got beat a lip”! Well done. Glad you got on E/W.
    I played up my Eight Straight winnings (2.70 this morning; 2.10 in to 1.80 on course) on the nose.
    So it goes!

  8. btw….How’s our form?
    Just noticed that Stakhanovite won the Quorn Cup at excellent odds. A city winner this year starting second outsider of the field!

  9. Great tipping boys!

  10. Back from Clare and thawing out. Hey Budge the reds were sensational especially the ones from Seven Hills Monastery . Missed all the races yesterday but you guys will be “Captain Cash “now
    Come on Almanackers fill your pockets at Crios racing

  11. Thanks Oges.
    No time for fans to look back.
    It is ascot week.
    Tuesday nighjt promises to be a blockbuster.
    Frankel, So You think, maybe Ortensia. Better look at those fields tonight.

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