So You Think has trampled on our old truisms for a hot Cup fav…just 11 starts and none beyond a mile and a quarter – but 2 Cox Plates and five times unbeaten this prep are irresistible credentials. To beat him, punters are plumping for Maluckyday, a Hawkesbury maiden winner in March, having his 9th career start in the Big One. Meanwhile, in the AFL, where early drafts and rising stars are the catch phrases, ex- Werribee boys Michael Barlow and James Podsiadly pushed the case for more mature bodies and minds being valued. It is an intersting debate and there are valid case studies for both perspectives…EARLY ACHIEVERS and LATE BLOOMERS
Light Fantastic World beater to ???
Steve Cauthen
PF – who’s that?
Tim Watson was a great early achiever. 15 years and about 6 months and playing VFL footy.
Late bloomer – gold medal to Cliff Young.
Dips,
An American jockey.
He started at 16.
By 17 (still an apprentice), he was Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year having won a poo-load of races.
At 18, he won the Tripe Crown on Affirmed (last horse to do it).
He then rode with great success in the UK.
Triple not tripe.
I’m marking some assignments at the minute and I’ve just bagged a student for using the word slop instead of slope.
For late achievers on the cricket field, one cannot go past Bert Ironmonger and Don Blackie.
Ironmonger made his Test debut at the age of 46, and played test cricket until he was 50.
His career bowling figures make extraordinary reading.
Blackie also made his Test debut at 46, but only played three Tests.
The Blackie-Ironmonger stand at the Junction Oval is named in their honour.
Timmy Watson bursting onto the football scene at 15 was sensational.They were the years for Bomber fans. Joel Selwood in the same mould Dips
Dirk Nannes is a good late starter story in cricket.
Jackie Robinson – Broke Major League Baseball’s “colour barrier” and won the Rookie Of The Year award in 1947 at the age of 28.
Jorrocks….won as a rising 19year old at Bathurst in 1851 (how would you be paying the training fees?..also coincided with the last time Gai Waterhouse or her dad didn’t tip one of their horses!)
And at the other end of the scale what about Murphy’s Blu Boy….had more wraps on it than $80 worth of fish and chips, they sold a share to breeders for about 1.2M prior to the Blue diamond prelude..was at the Heath that day.ran like a busted(you know what)Mick Hicks would have been the happiest man on course after off loading 60% prior.The horse now stands at stud for a paltry $5500 inc gst.
Melissa Wu – Australian diver who competed in the 06 Comm games at 13 years and not much over 13 inches.
Hot off the press – Xavier Doherty.
Batting strike rate of 150
four fer (so far) and a run out.