Do team playing styles reflect their coach’s personality or is that too simplistic? Lyon considered, perhaps boring Sanderson capable, innovative.Ultimately effective. Blighty enigmatic. Leigh Matthews indomitable. A winner.
Crio’s racing: Royalty or roustabout, racing has something to pique your interest this weekend.
May 31, 2012 by 12 Comments
Wednesday evening and the chill is invading. Quite rightly. Winter is officially starting, the footy season is halfway gone and the Melbourne metro meeting is a jumps feature double on a Heavy track at Sandown. Off peak? Don’t believe it.
crio’s Q: Sporting careers cut short?
May 27, 2012 by 24 Comments
Lenny Hayes played a milestone game this weekend. He is a linchpin in the side. One of the most highly regarded players in the AFL. He’s also just back from a second re-co. I remember my old man saying that he did a cartilage and that was it. Some blokes are doomed. Others make incredible [Read more]
Crio’s racing: Early tips for Doomben
May 24, 2012 by 33 Comments
Someone’s going to have to provide “colour” for the Brissie Carnival. Remarkably, I’ve never made it to the races in Queensland, an omission that always strikes me at this time of the year as the “Winter Carnival” hits top gear with the running of the time-honoured Doomben 10,000.
crio’s Q: All Stars? State of Origin? Am I missing something?
May 20, 2012 by 4 Comments
It is not unusual for me to miss the public’s “pulse”. But what a crock. Aussie Rules has a very successful, strong domestic comp. FULL STOP. Yawn. Predictably the Herald-Sun has pushed for State of Origin and then, amazingly, for an All-Stars v The Rest game. Interstate footy is irrelevant. The history of Origin’s purpose [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Crystal Web worth a look
May 17, 2012 by 49 Comments
At this time of year I search for exotic locations of meetings around the country and dream of being there rather than in the wind tunnel that is the (mostly uncovered) main betting ring at Flemington…. Headquarters indeed! A fortnight ago, a couple of blokes collected and I suggested they escape the wet and cold [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Mum’s a good sport!
May 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Sunday’s blizzard conditions really tested the resolve of footy Mums in Melbourne – none of this tea + toast with the newspapers stuff. More and more, it seems, Mums are involved in kids’ sporting development. No longer is it just “Mum’s taxi” or the canteen roster, but myriad other roles, including coach, trainer and scorer [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: 21 – the key to the city
May 10, 2012 by 6 Comments
I went to lots of 21st parties in my “Adelaide days” – in fact, I turned 21 there before heading to brighter lights and different challenges overseas. But it was all pretty low key. With considerably more fanfare, Black Caviar bestrides Morphettville on Saturday for her 21st – The time honoured Goodwood Handicap – as [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Eye-catching grounds
May 8, 2012 by 8 Comments
It must be Subi”, I deduced, glancing at the screen. There they were….M, M, M, M – the “messages on hold” stalwarts waving their signs behind the goal umpire. Somehow this amuses me. It also locates the venue. Bearings were not so evident before Saturday night’s FA Cup Final. Sure, everyone knows that is played at [Read more]
Sat’dy’s races
May 4, 2012 by 36 Comments
It won’t be easy backing up tomorrow on the bag. That, on face value, seems ludicrous, given that I’m stepping from Provincial races to the Rails at HQ (Flemington). But this has been no ordinary week. It is May. It is wet. Winter is closing in. I’ve been, like so many kindred souls, to the [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Where to get a Sunday fix?
April 30, 2012 by 2 Comments
I’m in a winter quandary. Working most Saturdays, the thought of watching a Sunday game of footy appeals. Tom and I looked at the options last Saturday night. Etihad? I know it ended as a good battle, but the venue, price and match-up held no appeal. VFL? Avalon Airport and Casey Fields! This is a [Read more]
crio’s racing
April 26, 2012 by 30 Comments
I’m really excited about the week ahead. This, I must add, is not always the state of affairs as the footy seasons take grip. Admittedly the Caulfield meet, where I’ll be “on the bag”, is fairly typical for this stage of the calendar, but there’ll be fantastic interest around the country on runners at Morphettville [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Sporting Prodigals
April 23, 2012 by 4 Comments
I’m watching ManU and Everton on Fox tonight (Sunday). Wayne Rooney, of course, is the focus of most attention. Aged nine, Rooney joined the youth team of Everton, where he made his professional debut in 2002. He played two seasons before moving to Manchester United for £25.6 million in the 2004 summer transfer window. The Toffees’ fans, naturally, wonder what [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Doncaster Day
April 19, 2012 by 4 Comments
Heavy rain and a resultant heavy track has put a dampener on what looked likely to be a vintage Doncaster Day this Saturday, with Gai preening her beloved More Joyous for a fabulous final fling. Randwick patrons should flock back after the momentous meeting last weekend. Highlights abounded. Pat Carey and Rhys McLeod won the [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Nature vs Nurture
April 16, 2012 by 7 Comments
One of my petty prejudices is against left-handed golfers. I cower as they take stance, sure the ball is about to clatter in to me on the couch. In summary, they stand on the wrong side of the ball*. I rail against “flop shot” Phil and (yawn) “Snake” Chalmers. But there’s an exception…and he’s now [Read more]
Crio’s Racing
April 12, 2012 by 12 Comments
Racing returns to Randwick this Saturday for a star-studded meeting. It’s the time-honoured Derby Day though the 3 yr olds’ big day has to be shared with the mouth-watering return of Atlantic Jewel in the Sapphire Stakes, All Too Hard’s battle with Slipper winner Pierro in the Sires’ Produce and the anticipated Rain Affair/Foxwedge showdown [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Any tips?
April 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I’m making a distinction here between tipping comps and the punt. Mostly, a tipping poll is for bragging rights but the punt is for profit. I know there is a crossover but they aren’t the same thing, though no doubt the difference is often blurred. Soccer Pools, for example, the game that made Sangster billions, [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: the Easter schedule
April 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Easter schedule has certainly changed in NSW and tomorrow (Saturday) we see the Slipper being run at Rosehill. Tinkler’s scratching of All Too Hard and some tough draws for challengers have made it look very much like Samaready’s year. I was taken with the effort of the maiden Narcissus and must respect all of [Read more]
Crio’s Q?…bums on (couch) seats
April 2, 2012 by 3 Comments
or, for fox sakes, I’ll toss in my membership Let’s face it. Fixturing is TV driven. That’s the case now in mainstream sports across the globe. By necessity, therefore, the “live” spectator’s (fan/club member/ contributor to atmosphere) considerations are secondary. AFL attendances thus far have stood up, but the International trend is that television [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: The Hard Sell
March 30, 2012 by 7 Comments
Starting now it becomes a hard sell. Ask anyone involved in “other” sports in Melbourne between March and October. But, for racing, it needn’t be a matter of giving up. Here’s where committed “horse players” need to get organized and develop a resilient punting habit to withstand footy’s destructive tsunami! I’m certainly not advocating that [Read more]
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