The usual suspects go around tomorrow at Caulfield as winter sets in and racing’s profile drops away. For what it is, your basic meat’n’veg mid-season card, the meeting is OK but for many of us it is time to cut the losses. Even Elvis, our intrepid Groote Eyelandt correspondent, ruminated yesterday on trying for a [Read more]
Race Call Gone Wrong
May 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
“I think we’re gone here”. That about sums it up, as veteran race caller Jimmy Jacques has a tough day at the office. One man’s discomfit is another’s entertainment. http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/9raw-race-callers-voice-goes-lame/xrh8vf
Racing: The Ramsden Day Ramble
May 14, 2010 by 10 Comments
by Chris Riordan Budget week can be an appropriate time for us to review our financial strategies; in this case revisit some of our punting maxims and the big philosophical questions and queries that need to be addressed in the search for success. Today I’m going to incorporate four dilemmas in to the discussion on [Read more]
Warnambool Carnival: Crio gives us the latest scuttlebutt
May 4, 2010 by 11 Comments
by Chris Riordan The rumour doing the rounds of the Warrnambool pubs last (Monday) night was that Dan Nikolic will beat the rap! Watch this space and see how the journos fare when they get accused of a witch hunt.
ALMANAC RACING
April 30, 2010 by 7 Comments
Anyone who has sought my advice over Autumn racing will understand why I’m saying that the punting purse is very low. Since I am not in a tipster’s club or Quaddy team, there is every possibility that they could “go around” without me at Caulfield this Saturday. The only “early mail” I have thus far [Read more]
Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase
April 30, 2010 by 5 Comments
By Mark Freeman Mid-afternoon on the first Thursday of May through the 80s and 90s was always an important fixture on my sporting calendar. Slip down the tote, chuck on a 50c box trifecta and settle in for the fascinating spectacle that is Warrnambool’s Grand Annual Steeplechase. Such a gruelling test … up the hill [Read more]
A long weekend of punting
April 23, 2010 by 6 Comments
“Dog’s Breakfast” is an ill-advised phrase in a racing column – especially into the jumps season – but there can be no denying that this weekend’s races are “all over the place”. Victoria’s main day is at Flemington on Sunday, with Sandown and Bendigo “featuring” on the Saturday and Monday.
Racing: Doncaster Day at Randwick
April 16, 2010 by 13 Comments
by Chris Riordan Correspondent “Carringbush” joined our forum last week with some salient observations from his visit to Randwick’s Derby Day. The small crowd figure was a point of obvious concern and we can only hope that more people recognize the quality of tomorrow’s Doncaster Day and that the AJC starts to regain kudos for [Read more]
AJC Derby: Quality and intrigue
April 9, 2010 by 14 Comments
by Chris Riordan Racing purists love the Randwick Carnival which begins this Saturday with The Derby. The AJC Derby is Australia’s premiere 3 year-old event and the 2010 edition has quality and intrigue. Whilst discards like Manhattan Rain reinforce my “no pre-post” evangelism, those who make it to the barriers are chasing prestige, stud kudos [Read more]
Horseracing: Barmy Oakbank and a wet Rosehill offer plenty
April 2, 2010 by 5 Comments
Turning my racing calendar to April has clarified the scheduling confusion caused by an “early Easter”. Monday, it seems, has been conceded to glorified midweekers at Moonee Valley and Canterbury and the AJC will get the subsequent three Saturdays for Randwick’s Autumn features. Easter Saturday is a racing bonanza, from the quirky Oakbank via some [Read more]
Racing: Rosehill Guineas Day
March 26, 2010 by 5 Comments
by Chris Riordan I’m confused. The Rosehill Guineas meeting this Saturday is a beauty with excellent races across the day and much interest in the juvenile Gr2 Pago Pago and Magic Night Stakes’ as the Slipper markets remain in flux. But isn’t next week Easter? Stawell, Oakbank, AJC Derby/Doncaster?
Racing: A Red Letter day across the country
March 19, 2010 by 5 Comments
by Chris Riordan Back to reality this week as Caulfield is justifiably overwhelmed by Rosehill’s drawcard. With good noms tonight and bumper fields in both Sydney and Adelaide on Saturday, it is little wonder the Victorian metro meeting is a bit skinny. I’m going to Moonee Valley Friday night and then the MCG Saturday so [Read more]
Link: The secret life of strappers
March 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment
From ABC Radio National’s 360 Degree program, delve into the secret life of horse strappers. Click on the link below. Comments welcome. www.abc.net.au/rn/360/stories/2010/2830043.htm
Racing: Almanac on the money on Sequel Saturday
March 15, 2010 by 7 Comments
by Chris Riordan It was a wonderful day’s racing at Flemington and Randwick and, I must add, Almanackers were once again well directed if they looked to our site for guidance. I warned to avoid the early races and the first “shortie” got rolled with the winner, Master Harry (Moody/Nolen) very impressive.
Racing: Looking for a change of script on Sequel Saturday
March 12, 2010 by 21 Comments
by Chris Riordan Flemington gets a bonus Sequel Saturday this week with the dual Group Ones, Australian Cup and Guineas, icing an already interesting Blamey Stakes card. The VRC has done the right thing in offering free admission and hopefully a bumper crowd will witness the last really good meeting before focus shifts to Sydney [Read more]
Racing: All hail the brave punters
March 8, 2010 by 2 Comments
by Chris Riordan When you have been round the traps, as I have, there’s a tendency to greet most occasions with a …”but I remember…”. Cowering under the inadequate cover of Flemington’s main betting ring yesterday, I proposed to the nearest fogey – “Were you here for Van der Hum?” “Yes”, he panted,” but that [Read more]
Racing: Crio’s Super Saturday tip – watch the weather
March 5, 2010 by 20 Comments
by Chris Riordan Flemington’s triple Group One Super Saturday promises to live up to its billing. The “Festival of Racing” has been beset with problems, especially the poor attendances and the withdrawal of anticipated drawcards. Negativity and Nikolic have too often been on sportspages instead of Starspangled and Little Lonhro. But at last the threatening [Read more]
Odd Spot: Oldie but a goodie
February 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment
US 13-year-old gelding Cool N Collective “will try again to become what is believed to be the oldest horse ever to win a race in New York when he faces 6 others in the 1st race at Aqueduct (over 8 furlongs) later today,” reported bloodhorse.com. This will be his 81st lifetime start; at his previous [Read more]
Racing: Typhoon Tracy the pick on a day of little depth
February 26, 2010 by 2 Comments
Amongst a congested sporting landscape, the once prestigious Futurity Stakes meeting at Caulfield is in danger of being overlooked by sportslovers and punters, many of whom are already casting their wayward staking towards footy betting, which on the NAB Cup is foolhardy. Friday night’s meeting at the Valley is actually very good but it will [Read more]
Racing: Crio to channel Shane Dye to get to Diamond Day at the Heath
February 19, 2010 by 17 Comments
By Chris Riordan The Caulfield meeting, with seven Group races, is a strong response to media naysayers who have focused on the unfortunate injuries and withdrawals of many Autumn drawcards. It’s a tough day on the punt and in these situations it’s always a sound strategy to turn to the last, where recovery or glory [Read more]
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