Crio’s Racing: Long Weekends and Longer Memories

Maybe some scattergun observations of this weekend’s fixtures are more appropriate than trying to pump up the racing balloon during what is still really holiday season.

Sure, there’s a G2 banner at MV to excite auctioneers at future Sales, but the Australia Stakes is a fraud. It’s been shuffled around – in a previous incarnation it was on later? – and maintaining life support during the Black Caviar PR extravaganza, but it seems marooned on the calendar (was this the race that, in 1990, begot “International Redelva Day”?). The gun sprinters know the pathway – Lightning Stakes/Oakleigh Plate/Newmarket Handicap and they’re not going to step out over 6f in late Jan. Rather it’s a failed, inflated tune up for the 7f C F Orr Stakes types and, as is evidenced by the runners attracted, the blacktype and $200k are misplaced. Although the 1200m seems short (as does the 4/5 quote), Dissident will be tuned to pick up Stallion points. His owners have a big investment in their “bleeding” top-notcher and will demand a soft kill. They’ve apparently rejected the proposition of No1 saddlecloth having to wear the Australian flag silks, wanting their own colours in the pool room – well named horse in that regard! The back-up “patriot” was to be titleholder Richie’s Vibe, now scratched! Wonder how Sportsbet will tinker their highly spruiked “money back if second to the Aussie flag” deal! If Dissident’s not right then I suspect It Is Written might be E/W to nowt.

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But this is not going to be a negative post. The last long weekend of summer is a racing extravaganza with something to sate even the most hardened of cynics.

For example, Budge, did you know that the major support to Hobart’s Guineas/Summer Cup card on Saturday is the Lady Lynette Fillies and Mares Plate? For many of us, Tassie’s Hall of Famer (http://tasracing.com.au/thoroughbreds_news/lady-lynette-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/ ) will always be a Valley star – especially in the last on Cox Plate Day – despite her being cruelly denied a fairy tale finale.

And did you know that one of the cult hoops in the land, “Little” Lucy Warwick, saddles up at Yarra Glen on Saturday, beginning a loan term with the Corstens (and reuniting with boyfriend and star Sandgroper Chris Parnham – they sure know about dynasties in the West!).

It is a weekend for some really popular race days here in Victoria – Great Western, Yea, Balnarring, Hanging Rock – each a “gotta do it once” kinda place.

These are venues where the gallopers take on a secondary role. Great Western and Yarra Valley offer Winery sidetracks, Balnarring a last hurrah for the Peninsula crowd, Yea a Cup Day for campers over the gap and Hanging Rock always maintains an iconic status.

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But my reminiscences aren’t of summer holidays nor of Cox Plate successes – they’re triggered this weekend by the unheralded Sandown meeting on Monday.

It is a pretty interesting Public Holiday Metrop option – better than the offering on Saturday. The Listed W J Adams and John Dillon have garnered small fields and are thus banished from later in the day. They are, however, worthy of some scrutiny. Moment of Change, Shamal Wind and The Quarterback offer interesting contrasts over the MR2 1000m whilst Tried And Tired, Reparations and Anlon are by no means a trifecta lock in a competitive 1400m MR5.

The feature is probably nominally the Manfred (MR6, 3yo, 1300m, G3), named for an enigmatic champ about which I wrote last year. Maybe the 1 with big watch at odds the 7.

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Caulfield, as is the default, hosts the notable races nowadays, with Sandown usually doing the hack work. This year, with The Heath being rejuvenated before Feb’s feast, there’s a longer haul down Dandy Road and, for me and some others, an even longer journey down Memory Lane.

Without much fanfare, the divisions of the Blue Diamond Preview are crammed in on Monday, strangely with the C+G (MR3, 1000m) being Listed for $120,500 whilst the girls (MR4, 1000m) race for G3 status and $150,750 reward.

These Preview races were instigated during the rush for juvenile riches that reshaped Victorian racing, with the Prelude being established a decade earlier and the initial Preview day being part of a Sandown card in 1982.

I was there.

What a memory.

I’d been in Melbourne for a fortnight, renting a room in Clayton, and, unsurprisingly wanted a first sight of Sandown.

I’ll never forget the C+G Division. A summary is simple. Rancher dashed clear and Grosvenor failed to haul him in. This fitted their patterns of racing and, though thrilling, was not totally surprising. Two terrific juveniles fought out an epic finish. But the aftermath grabbed the headlines – as reviewed in a 25yr retrospective by “our own” Paul Daffey in The Age (10/2/2007). http://www.theage.com.au/news/horse-racing/a-1982-blue-diamond-prelude/2007/02/09/1170524299891.html?page=fullpage

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So much has changed since then.

What’s a constant is the capacity of great days at the races to generate memories and connect us to people and places.

Have a good long weekend.

If you’ve got some mail for a mug punter or some tales from old times, share them here.

And, if you’re having a bet…

Good luck!

Comments

  1. Your mention of Rancher brought back memories. Chestnut and a flying machine. Norman Waymouth only had to hang on (which is just as well).
    Found this story about trainer Charlie Waymouth (who sounds an old school larrikin) having a go at Grosvenor’s wealthy owners.
    http://www.theage.com.au/news/horse-racing/a-1982-blue-diamond-prelude/2007/02/09/1170524299891.html?page=fullpage
    “Clap the winner you Jew bastard”. Nothing like a punchup in the mounting yard to show who’s fair dinkum.

  2. cowshedend says

    Crio, acclimatising to life in Melbourne with a trip to Sandown..hmmm was this to prevent a sensory overload and the racing equivalent of ‘The Bends’ by avoiding HQ , The Heath and The Valley?
    Did you head out for dinner and a show at ‘The Swagman’ after?
    I was at the Diamond that year for the same outcome, was skint by the 4th, no handibank on course, so sat around waiting to see the appalling N Waymouth come 7 wide round the turn at the top of the straight at the heath, but even he couldn’t prevent the brilliant Rancher from winning.

  3. Rancher was a star.
    This was my favourite racing year.
    Both horses were terrific and ultimately played supporting roles on the greatest day of racing in my memory.
    Grosvenor loomed in the Cox Plate. Rancher was odds on in the Moir.
    Greg Miles agrees.

    http://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/legendary-caller-greg-miles-says-1982-cox-plate-meeting-was-best-ever/story-fndpqu3p-1226504180415

    btw – tired topic, but The Accurate One was right – at the moment , he “can’t win”

  4. cowshedend says

    Reckon Williams might have a good day tomorrow, with Gold Medals in the 5th and the very gutsy Seattleite in the 4th.
    Gold Medals is a get back type so the awful gate shouldn’t hurt, came from near last this track and distance and gets a hoop upgrade from childs to williams.
    Seattleite was a massive run at HQ last start, 3 deep from the gate and was still coming on the line, also won this track and distance 2 starts back.
    Really reckon Dissident is a huge risk , but the one I like Tudor is shocking unders considering the class jump.

  5. Two news worthy articles in the Tiser today.one was a great write up about David Jolly and “the Bud” returning to racing after a long layoff and what he expects will happen as the horse gets back to peak fitness Alabama Missile is engaged in the same race and should nearly win on the Parks Track
    The other for Bay supporters was the sacking of the coach
    Cowshedend- had a mate who is on the Committee of the Jamestown Racing Club and he tells me Hawker is a must do meeting
    (once a year -winter) its already on the bucket list.

  6. Where’s Hawker Oges?
    Better Jamestown than Jonestown, I’m no fan of red cordial!

  7. Hawker is Southern Flinders Ranges near Quorn who also have a once a year meeting in winter

  8. Was anyone else out at Sandown for the Waymouth/Tobias stoush?
    My memory of that day includes a breathtaking, barnstorming win by Pure Of Heart.

  9. Disappointing weekend of racing, mainly due to the programming.

    Crap meeting at Cranbourne on Friday and a half a good meeting on Saturday and Monday at the Valley and Sandown respectively. If only the Friday was at the Valley where they could have had the Aussie stakes and then fille dup a decent card on the Saturday.

    At this point I only really like Ustinov’s Fury in the 8th in Adelaide because it will have a soft lead and perhaps Gossip Guru in the 6th as it is ready to improve and was OK last run.

    Biggest non surprise of the week was the Bay coaching saga but at least they didn’t bring it on themselves for a change ( or maybe they did…due diligence??)

    I was also at the diamond in 82 and clearly remember a couple of the races, obviously Rancher and also Galleon beating Manikato in the Futurity.

  10. Yeah, I went to Caulfield for the diamond also – hardly missed a meeting in 1982. War chest was the big run!
    What about Morphettville tomorrow. As of this morning, each of the first 2 races had just 4 runners! Awful.

  11. Normally attend the Caulfield meeting, but heading to Hanging Rock for the first time on Monday.

    Have been on Fast Cash since his first start at Swan Hill, and expect him to win 2nd up – the long straight at Sandown will allow him to recover from the ‘flat spot’ he goes through. Can’t wait for the blinkers to go on.

    Also looking forward to the return of O’Malley in the last at MV – probably not a betting proposition from barrier 15.

    The Doncaster fav and HK Mile winner, Able Friend steps out again on Sunday at Sha Tin for The Steward’s Cup G1 1600m. Up against the old war horses in Ambitious Dragon & Gold Fun. Should be an exhibition gallop for $900k AUD

  12. Good stuff Judge.
    Wasn’t up to date with HK
    Love the Fast Cash push

  13. Yes Jock, must put my hand up for getting Manikato beaten that day.

  14. I see Robbie Laing trained the Yea Cup winner yesterday. I think that’s a first for him.

    Glen!

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