One of the many attractions of sport is the endless possibilities for discussions post events beginning with the word “if.” The beauty of such arguments are that they are all hypothetical, so no-one can be proven wrong ! In the wake of the greatest Melbourne Cup of my lifetime, one of the fascinating post-race events [Read more]
Crio’s pre-Derby Day deliberations
October 25, 2011 by 22 Comments
by Chris Riordan It’s Tuesday night. Incredibly, this time next week the Melbourne Cup will have been decided and I’ll have my feet up on the couch during what is half time of the Flemington Carnival. There are so many great stories waiting to unfold and I’m looking forward to being a part of [Read more]
Geelong Cup Almanacker Selections
October 19, 2011 by 22 Comments
The titular heads of tipsterdom are back to solve the Geelong Cup (Gup according to some) equation. Good punting. Smokie’s Smokies 1. Dunaden 2. Bauer 3. Perfect Pecs Smokie says the French stayer (Dunaden) has some decent form behind it. He highly rates Luca Cumani as a trainer, but probably [Read more]
GIGSTUFF 57
October 14, 2011 by 2 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz CAULFIELD CUP BY THE NUMBERS – AND LETTERS Every punter has their own method of picking winners during the Spring Racing Carnival. Some look at factors such as the weather, form and the horses’ weights. Others look at barriers, distance and which jockeys are on board. There are many factors that come [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Whinny and Whimsy
June 17, 2011 by 2 Comments
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 [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Have a bet at Eagle Farm this Saturday
June 10, 2011 by 8 Comments
Have a bet at Eagle Farm this Saturday. It’s always the best Qld meeting of the year. Justify it, if you must, by dedicating your presumed winnings to escaping a frozen winter for next year’s Straddy Day! Focus your funding on the 3 feature Group Ones, the first of which is for the juveniles (T. [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: AUSTRALIAN HURDLE AND STEEPLE MEETING 2011
June 3, 2011 by 6 Comments
Here’s what’ll happen. It did last year: A mini-bus will pull up just as I am getting to the gates and out will tumble a small and motley group with rag-tag placards. They’ll wait for the pre-arranged TV camera and then froth at the lens like so many others who somehow yearn to be on [Read more]
Crio’s racing preview
May 20, 2011 by 5 Comments
RACES May 19, 2011 Despite Brisbane’s Winter Carnival having a month still to run, there is a sense of a let-down after the massive crowds, hype and excitement of Black Caviar’s BTC Cup win last week and the breaking news that she is now to be rested until the Spring. crio
In between days
April 30, 2011 by 5 Comments
by Chris Riordan This is truly the “in between” weekend. Proof is that, clearly, the best “city” meeting on Saturday is at Hawkesbury, where an excellent Guineas Day deserves its metrop status. In the feature, Torio’s Quest has been backed for a stack. With Sydney’s Easter Cup races finally over, national focus will soon move [Read more]
AJC Derby – a special day at Randwick
April 8, 2011 by 11 Comments
by Chris Riordan It is not my habit to sneak a midweek look at Webjet, eyeing a throwaway fare to Sydney, but the AJC Derby meeting is on my Australian racing bucket list. Alas, finances determine that I’ll watch the main races, the T.J. Smith and The Derby from a bar at Doglands – dragging [Read more]
A grand Friday night of Cats and Caviar
March 27, 2011 by 1 Comment
THE bride aside, the two greatest joys in life are watching the equine athlete in battle and investing on the outcome (the punt), along with watching the mighty Cats in full flight. As the Geelong faithful enveloped the stands at the G on Friday night and belted out We Are Geelong The Greatest Team Of [Read more]
Giga Bites 5 – Director’s Cut
March 9, 2011 by 3 Comments
Below is an extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in the Saturday Age on 5th March, 2011. by Andrew Gigacz RYDERS RIDE AGAIN Two sporting Ryders were scheduled to be in action last night. Paddy Ryder was due to line up for Essendon in its NAB Cup semi-final against St Kilda; and Jesse Ryder [Read more]
Giga Bites 4 – Director’s Cut
March 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Below is an extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in the Saturday Age on 19th February, 2011. by Andrew Gigacz DRAWN-AGAIN SAINTS There appears to be something about drawn matches that attracts the St Kilda Football Club. Last Friday night the Saints drew with Essendon in Round 1 of the NAB Cup. This came, [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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
The Mug’s Cox Plate Preview
October 22, 2010 by 2 Comments
Not sure where to start it’s been so long since I put pen to racing paper. Not too many wins to report either which is about to change, now that Cox Plate Day has become one of mine: thanks to Gallic and El Segundo and Wally F. Beaver about a decade ago. I spotted [Read more]
Recent Comments