Crio’s Racing: Whinny and Whimsy

Racing’s focus has been fixed on Royal Ascot this week and, despite our tough time zone, Australia’s payTV viewers have been blessed with an outstanding coverage – as DD and I have discussed on another thread.

One suggestion, though, for TVN.

Harking way back to my childhood, I’d fall asleep to John Arlott’s dulcet Ashes tones and then leap up at dawn to see Richie (“he’s a Pom now”, my Dad would say) introduce a brief highlights package. TVN show a review late morning – what about also screening it before workers have to head in to the morning chill?

For those who stay up to watch the live feed, the experts are incisive form analysts, capture the moments beautifully and also manage to canvas some important issues….last night’s, for example – though a bit melodramatic – involved “Big John” accusing Ladbrokes of quoting top odds (1/2 the now Aiden O’Brien former-Australian horse) just for the publicity and of not letting real punters “get on”. It is a widely used and reviled corporate tactic (along with the subsequent banning of anyone who wins!) and good on him for tackling it – in their defense, the marvelously media savvy Ladbrokes rep, on this occasion, presented a stout retort.

Whilst England basks in its racing heritage and pomp, our meetings are pretty humdrum.

Queensland racing acknowledges the end of Brisbane’s Carnival by giving the Saturday fixture to Ipswich. This Cup Day has been enormously successful in recent years, supported by big crowds and capacity fields.

Back here in Melbourne I’ll be swinging the Turfbet bag at the Valley and glad to at least have the luxury of a warm, indoor (though poorly configured) betting ring. Money Valley is a good winter venue with everything close at hand and a track that is mostly unaffected by our fluky weather.

Is this the old Hiskens meeting? – that abandonment has left a pretty nondescript card and, funnily, quality jumper Black and Bent is toppy for the first leg of the quaddy and has already been specked at fruity odds. It’s a tricky race and probably one you’ll have to scout wide for your multi – 1,2,4,5,6,7.

R6 is a 1200m sprint and I’ll be tempted to go skinny. Mid-Summer Music (4) will get to good odds as she’s not won here and has Linda Meech rather than Luke Nolen. Take the risk, but include Avionics (5) as a value saver.

In the mile (R7) I’ll risk the 10 and plonk 3+4.

The last will be a banker for many. Second Effort (7) is flying.

It’s a tough assignment for punters this week. Good luck.