The Good
With the passing of Black Caviar, the scent of champion abounds enhanced by James McDonald and Chris Waller last Saturday.
Make no mistake JMac and Waller are comparable with any of the past greats, five winners for the jockey at Rosehill Gardens plus the trainer’s four and a nose second out of eight attempts is just par for their course.
But Black Caviar leads to the definition of “champion”. I regard it as personal: the feeling of being in the presence or viewing the exceptional. Sure, topliners, human and horse, can produce outstanding performances but champions maintain a standard.
Even when she scrambled at Royal Ascot in the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, Black Caviar, ailing, wouldn’t lie down. Trainer Peter Moody, who handled the pressure and responsibility of a champion with the same aplomb as he did packing down in the South Sydney Junior League, put it down to her “unbelievable pain threshold”, emphasised by her for 25 wins and never beaten.
Having been blessed with champions and greats for over seven decades none stimulated that special feeling better than Black Caviar’s 2011 triumph in the T.JSmith at Royal Randwick.
Haylist, a brilliant Group one winning speedster, came up the rise cruising, well in front of Black Caviar prompting the thought she can’t possibly give him that much start.
It took me back when I sought the definition of “champion” from the racing fraternity. The best came from Arthur Ward, a former jockey who handled Tulloch and Redcraze. “A champion is a horse that not only beats another good one but donkey licks them.”
And that’s just what Black Caviar did to Haylist in the T.J.Smith. And what about Royal Ascot? Bart Cummings, who described her as having “a neck like a Duchess and arse like a cook” (big, but magnificently structured) decreed after seeing her in preparation gallops on television that there was “something wrong”. He didn’t like her action. And this was apparent with partner Luke Nolan cuddling her in a heart stopping finish. Unforgettable.
Black Caviar was a champion, not champion sprinter, not champion mare, only the elite qualification, justified in the memory it stimulates.
Last Saturday at Rosehill hardly kicked off as hunting ground for greats but JMac and Waller lifted it to good. Sceptics questioned the opposition quality against the leading jockey but when Sam Clipperton is relegated to Kembla Grange on Saturday Sydney standard must be very strong indeed.
Is the JMac “tax”, shorter odds than his mounts should be, relevant? Compared to those of champions George Moore and Tommy Smith in their prime they are generous.
The shortest priced JMac winner was Godolphin’s Tom Kitten ($2.40) while his three Waller successes were $4 and over and Intervarsity ($4.40) for Arrowfield. Intervarsity drew 15 as did Waller’s Etna Rosso (12), both gaining from a master’s touch in the saddle as well as ground level.
Maybe I get enthusiastic about the small, up close and personal equine mentors, but viewing Waller’s Autumn Glow, who scored in the Schweppes, and Gatsby’s (Rosebud) prompted the deliberation of how a horseman can get so many, looking so well, developing superbly with training wings far and wide over the eastern seaboard. Systems against hands-on? And as he pointed out in the recent Parliamentary inquiry to the ridiculous Rosehill sale proposition his stable gates are always open to the RSPCA. Once trainers would set the dogs on them.
Hoofnote: While on the subject of champions Damian Oliver’s “The Cup -2011” will screen on SBS World Movies next Saturday at 4.30pm.
The Bad
Those who backed Battleton in Rosehill’s Toyota Material on Saturday no doubt felt it came under the regrettable sphere.
Battleton was $17, a beaten a length fifth, and should have won. However, the very capable navigator Josh Parr gave stewards a detailed explanation, ducking and weaving for the best ground, adjusting to responses from his mount but ended in a poor result. Parr rides a good race but, in this instance, talks a good one too.
The Ugly
Lost, the beaten $3.5 favourite in the James Squire Handicap, qualified for the description at Rosehill with his lacklustre three length fifth.
Prior the race in the enclosure Lost looked coarse in the coat- winter acceptable for some – and worse during the running, tugging and pulling, under James McDonald whose gentle touch was seen to advantage on other mounts. Lost also ended 1/5 lame in the off-hind leg.
2 Responses
Hi Max,
With Saturday’s news of the passing of Black Caviar it seems inevitable that pundits will try to place her amongst her pears. Being unbeaten in 25 starts and a winner in UK at Group 1 level, she deservedly is entitled to a high ranking amongst the outstanding racehorses to have graced the Australian turf.
As a mare it’s natural that commentators will want to make a comparison with the other outstanding mare that we have been fortunate to have seen so close together in time, of course, Winx. Statistical comparisons are easier to make but where each rank among Australia’s “greats” is much more of a challenge.
Comparisons are of course in the eye of the beholder but factors such as longevity, the number of Group 1’s, status of the opposition, versatility among others should be critical considerations.
Some judges are already saying Black Caviar is our ‘best ever’, a big statement. My view, Black Caviar certainly is entitled to be considered as our best sprinter. However, Winx’s record of wins were from 1000m to 2200m, with good judges believing if she had been trained for 3200m she was good enough to win the Melbourne Cup!
My view is that Winx is close to the best I’ve seen in 70+ years following racing, certainly our best ever mare, but whether she can be rated above the likes of Tulloch, my pick as the best in my time, is up for debate.
No doubt readers would love to hear your opinion Max?
Cheers, “Speed” of Norwest
George Moore was asked about his riding in the UK and in particular for the Queen, for whom he won The Derby aboard Royal Palace. He was asked to compare Tulloch with Royal Palace and said something along the lines “Tulloch could have pulled a cart and beaten Royal Palace”