Crio’s Racing: Looking to the Old Dart

Rattling the cage, and the resultant squirming, can be good watching.

The RVL must be congratulated for Monday’s “Trainers’ Day”, where they threw open the doors and, amongst other challenges, tried to demystify mechanisms that can lead to whispers and disquiet…track ratings, barrier draws and so forth.

And the inclusion of a Keynote Speaker qualified to address the crisis of trainers’ mental health/depression was a proactive/relevant initiative. But J.G. Kennett never misses the chance for a few extra swipes so, under the veil of “Integrity”, he slapped the “Corporates” (a cancer), the ARB and, with a flamboyant flourish, D.Oliver on the day after his feting for another Scobie Medal (“if he had been in Hong Kong, he probably would have been jailed. He certainly wouldn’t have been allowed to stand down for eight [months] during the non-racing season in order to come back and race in the carnival.)

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/jeff-kennett-savages-damien-oliver-ban-calls-corporate-bookmakers-a-cancer-20140818-105dvw.html#ixzz3Av3WMBeN (this link, of course, is laden with ads for corporate bookies!).

Whilst some of his details are contentious, the benefit is in Kennett’s capacity to make issues public and, hopefully, generate some debate and reform.

Racing authorities will be furious that the negative comments have made the best copy and they’ll need to feed the media some “fascinator” stories to detour focus from “important stakeholders”.

The race fields this week will certainly not provide adequate distraction. Hopefully this is the last weak meeting before things really start to heat up. At the moment we are still playing the sad game of “spot the hidden $40k BM85” scheduled to fatten the card to 9 races (R4 this Saturday).

The main races are interesting. R6 is the McKenzie (1200m, 3yoC+G, Listed). Include the 7 @8/1 and 12 @16/1. For the Carlyon Stakes (1000m, SW+P, Listed) I’d suggest Villa Verde 1st up (3), with Shamal Wind (10) and Kencella (2) the obvious threats.

The threat in Sydney, unfortunately, is the “big wet”. This is Warwick Stakes Day and a Saturday when some of the top shelf like to strut their stuff (and the maligned ATC have mandatory $85k min unlike the skunks down here!). Some of the feature acceptors might not line up given that Randwick is a Heavy8 this morning (Wednesday) with no respite in sight.

That would be a pity.

I really look forward to the return of Earthquake (but 5/4on is no enticement on a bog) in the Silver Shadow (SR4, 1200m, 3yoF, G2).

In the Show County Quality (SR5, 1200m, G3) the Waller stable has 5 runners and I’m keen on Bull Point (9), unbeaten 1st up, at about 8/1.

The main race (SR6, 1400m, WFA, G2) – in which Waller has 6 of 11 – is a warm up for half the field and a risk, in my mind, for Hawkes’ early fav, Messene, a wet track query. Maybe the bottom one?

Hopefully the rain doesn’t affect Hawkesbury’s big day tomorrow (Thursday) where the $100,000 Rowley Mile (R6) has attracted a terrific field. La Amistad (6) is the one all will be watching (progressive stayer is the appropriate catchphrase!). 5 would be my selection.

The best racing this week, though, is in Yorkshire, beginning tonight (Wednesday) where Australia steps out again at a skinny quote in the G1 Juddmonte. His great Derby adversary, Kingston Hill, also races but in the G2 Voltigeur on a likely St Leger pathway.

Try to catch some of this meeting if you have cable coverage. The 4 day “Festival” concludes with the Ebor day on Saturday – Purple Moon nearly carried on from there to The Cup and it just might, again, be this week’s main formline to Flemington.

Good luck!

 

Comments

  1. cowshedend says

    Great topic Crio, don’t know why RVL would be that sensitive about the topic of corporates,particularly this time of the year.
    The once a year punters will not be opening corporate accounts, their donations will come via the tote.
    Deregulation has brought with it good things such as Betfair, but the plethora of shonks, who mislead by offering unatainable ‘free bets’ are blights on the racing landscape.
    It is well overdue for the states to relinquish self-interest and have a federal racing minister ,who’s powers would include restricting corporates from being able to field on the local product without returning an adequate amount to the racing industry. The distribution of funds is then done according to the amount wagered on each states racing.

  2. To be honest, mate, the on course bookies brought a lot of their demise on themselves but, personally, I mourn the lack of vibe the old betting rings used to display….colourful characters etc. Now, with the corporates, losing punters have never had it so good!

  3. Back in Oz, ii’m looking for a few smart flutters. At the Valley Girl Guide looks a good prospect. I was advised to support Hippopus in it’ s race but even with Steven Arnold , 60 kilos is too much to carry over twelve and a half furlongs. Just a Bullet can add value to the multiples.

    In Adelaide Riziz always appeals. Not yet won over the seven furlongs, but there’s always the first time; hopefully this Saturday.

    Glen!

  4. cowshedend says

    Warwarick was beaten by a combination of pilot error and bad luck last start and gets back to the valley as a last start track winner, like him a lot.
    Jacquinot Bay had a lovely cold ride last start and will be right in the finish at the Valley, the ex-Guy Walter trained horse was being set for bigger and better things this spring and the great man reckoned it was going to be his best prep.

  5. Randwick wrecked by scratchings

  6. I’m with Cowshedend and Jacquinot Bay, great last 300 meters first up and well in today and will probably be double figures. Also like Villa Verde in the sprint.
    Much former track in Adel today and I think that gives Gamblin Guru a chance of beating Riziz and also Impulse Buy in the 2nd and Mr Lowndes in the 4th

  7. cowshedend says

    If there hadn’t been witnesses to Sadler trying to smack Wayne Hawkes, stewards would have to go through the phonebook to eliminate suspects.

  8. What happened?

  9. cowshedend says

    Sadler hip and shouldered Hawkes in the mounting yard, then asked him to come around the corner for a slapping.
    Sadler told stewards there was nothing in it and added “I can’t stand the bloke”

  10. Oges, I hope you are back on the punt with your man D.Yendall winning his 3rd consecutive Mindura Cup today!

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