Valley Nights are a good concept – Friday night gallops at MV – but, too often, have pretty limited fields. Tonight, though, the stars come out with the running of the $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (R6, 1200m.). Some crack gallopers are in the field, though some, like Heart of Dreams and Vigor, will have [Read more]
Crio’s Q: One Too Many
January 24, 2011 by 46 Comments
It’s a familiar summertime trap…”one too many!” A good time just tipped too far. Sporting careers, too, are too often marred by the decision to go on for “one more”. When is the right time to go? Pundits are calling for Kevin Muscat to step aside immediately after his awful mauling of young Heart, Zahra, [Read more]
Almanac Racing: Flemington
January 21, 2011 by 2 Comments
Hopefully the VRC’s free-day at Flemington will entice punters to the ring and families on to the lawns this Saturday. I reckon you can build a Quaddy bank by getting there early and backing CHATEAUNEUF DUPAPE (R1, No 5) all up WINGED CHARM (R2, No4). If that (somewhat predictable!) doesn’t salute, re-launch your endeavours with [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Changes in Sport
January 17, 2011 by 61 Comments
We are being ambushed with old images. Hairy ODIs and sun-drenched Kooyong. Promoters love nostalgia. It can be interesting some times to reflect on what change has slipped by during your lifetime. Often it is quite difficult to recall where and when it came about. Who was last to “turn out the lights”? Who did [Read more]
Almanac Racing: A Tough Start to the New Year
January 13, 2011 by 18 Comments
Somewhat early in the week to be hastily typing a weekend racing piece. But please bear with me. The major weekend races are scheduled to coincide with the Magic Millions extravaganza and Sales on the Gold Coast. The glitz and glam will seem inappropriate against the destructive pictures we are now watching of the developing [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Home Ground Advantage or Toss?
January 10, 2011 by 5 Comments
As South Australia demolished the Bushrangers at Adelaide Oval in their “BIG BASH”, I posed to Tom – what has the greater bearing on a game’s outcome; the toss or home ground advantage? He plumped for the local “dung heap”. The stats don’t support him. Whilst only half of the home sides have won thus [Read more]
No picnic at Caulfield
January 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Chris Riordan Mid-January is usually a time of VISA bills and economic tightening and Race Clubs tend to keep their powder dry with pretty average cards at all major venues – though keep an eye on the Gold Coast where, weather permitting, some exciting events take place around the Magic Millions extravaganza. Will Gerry [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Captaincy
January 4, 2011 by 4 Comments
Geelong and St.Kilda, as usual, saw it differently. Whilst the Cats used “expert consultants” to appoint the low-profile Tom Harley, Grant Thomas declared an annual rotation of figureheads at Linton St in a bid to spread the load. In an era of leadership groups, specialist coaches, shrinks and mentors, the question of captaincy remains vexed. [Read more]
Almanac New Year Racing
December 31, 2010 by 2 Comments
Why is New Year’s Day time-honoured for racing clubs? This has always confused and amused me. Many people are “dusty” and scarcely need to back-up on another big ‘un. WA mates have horror stories of scorching Perth Cup hangovers at Ascot. What it does, I always reckoned, was give us a chance to renege on [Read more]
In their prime
December 29, 2010 by 14 Comments
by Chris Riordan News filtered through on Christmas afternoon that Maurice Rioli had died suddenly. “He’s not that old!”, was the dismayed response. Not long ago, Andy Irons’ sudden passing made shockwaves – how could it be that one so young, with so much to live for, was gone? It is not a happy topic. [Read more]
Christmas Stakes Day
December 26, 2010 by 4 Comments
by Chris Riordan Sport and holidays are essential summer companions. While cricket fans munch on leftover sangers in the outer and salties head to Hobart, race meetings take place right across the country. The Riordans would head to Victor Harbor post-Xmas for the trots where I’d swing the bag for my old man, able to kick off [Read more]
Oldies but goodies
December 20, 2010 by 39 Comments
by Chris Riordan Next week we turn the calendar to another year, staring down another birthday. Warnie aside, most of us battle the ravages of aging, looking back longingly on our “glory days”. Sportspeople know this acutely. Look at AFL clubs and their “youth policy” mantras. Read the papers on our cricketers – “inject some [Read more]
Flemington in December
December 17, 2010 by 4 Comments
by Chris Riordan The weekend before Xmas is always a difficult time to focus on race fields as social functions and compulsory distractions – too many of them financially draining – usually result in punters keeping what ammunition they can store dry until the “real” holiday break which starts on Boxing Day. There are, though, [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Comebacks and Victories against the Odds
December 14, 2010 by 25 Comments
Wow! What a backlash. The Aussies were ridiculously short odds in early markets (I laid them at $1.62 for the series) and it now seems the early Tests have generated shockwaves across all cricketing circles…so much so that, in my normal “counter-balancing” way, I now feel compelled to pump up their chances. So let’s (overlooking [Read more]
Almanac Racing: HK Racing 2010
December 11, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The surfeit of City meetings in Melbourne this weekend – Valley Nights tonight, HQ tomorrow and a twilight fixture back in Moonee Ponds Sunday – does certainly not bring seasonal cheer to punters. These are extremely moderate cards and, given my job hunting is about as successful as my punting, I’ll not be attending any [Read more]
Not so classical sporting physiques
December 7, 2010 by 44 Comments
by Chris Riordan A counterpoint to last week’s Q. Last week we established that many “athletes” don’t necessarily cut it as sportsmen. This week I want to celebrate – and with my physique, believe – that being “cut” is not necessarily the criteria for success. I’m piecing together an Aussie XI and need help with [Read more]
EastWest (Racing) 101
December 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment
by Chris Riordan Readers who followed last week’s posts and comments should be flush following heralded Lisa Cropp’s sensational week of winners. Stick with her and fellow Kiwi gun Michael Walker, especially on the wet decks confronting our immediate racing schedules. Perth is once again the featured venue (rock hard ground for sure) but I [Read more]
Wonderful athletes who aren’t great footballers
November 30, 2010 by 14 Comments
Thanks this week to Arma who contacted me with the following question/topic suggestion: This time of year, with pre-season training going on, we hear of “personal bests in the 3km time trial”, “improved endurance / recovery times”, etc, etc. And there are always references to this bloke or that bloke being “a wonderful athlete”. But that [Read more]
It’s almost Summer – time for the Winterbottom Stakes
November 26, 2010 by 5 Comments
by Chris Riordan It is mighty hard to rouse much enthusiasm for the races this weekend. The quality of the fields has plummeted and fine weather – a drawcard for Friday Nights at The Valley or even the wonderful Woolamai picnics Saturday – looks unlikely again. I’ll be at Moonee Valley on Friday. 8 races, [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Sports Stars in the Media
November 23, 2010 by 34 Comments
Sport, of course, is simply a grading phase en route to the ultimate fame game – the media. Warnie, mostly unencumbered now by actually playing anything other than cards, can spread his wisdom across both our dailies, with TV, radio, twitter and other outlets all breathless for a grab. Tim Watson (newsreader, breakfast radio host [Read more]
Recent Comments