The Man Who Bled Racing: Graham McNeice’s Racing Legacy

Like a vet trying to decide whether to use the mercy bullet on a stricken horse, Rex Mossop hovered over a floored Graham McNeice, who was having a bleeding attack on the Channel Seven Studio floor in Sydney, and muttered: “He’s a loser and losing is contagious”.

It was around a half century ago and we were appearing on the original Punter’s Post Mortem, a segment of Mossop’s Sports Action, with Ian Craig. McNeice was sitting in for Frank Kennedy, a former lightweight boxer and heavyweight good bloke.

McNeice was prone to having nose bleeds when excited and called for an advertising break during an attack. Prone on the floor, observed by Mossop, his nose was plugged with tissues so he could continue.

The death of McNeice, 76, this week takes precedence over the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington today, the best race so far this season, and an intriguing Rosehill Gardens, littered with promising types.

McNeice was a 17-year-old when he was taken the wing of Kennedy, a greyhound broadcaster with a unique rasp but the protégé developed into a radio personality, top television presenter and producer with Channel Ten, as well as a stint with Sky Channel where he was the playmaker for over 20 years.

Later he branched into documentaries, encompassing many subjects but the racing industry is indebted to him for those he left for the turf. McNeice travelled far and wide at his own expense to retrieve old racing film destined for the dump. My favourite documentary, produced by McNeice, was “The Master’s Apprentices” detailing the attributes of trainer Theo Green in developing saddle greats Darren Beadman, Ron Quinton and Malcolm Johnston, all who played significant roles in the history of the top events at Rosehill today. Sure, it lacks depth compared to the Makybe Diva but not potential.

In the Makybe, Via Sistina, a flash import promising new heights with Chris Waller, will be out to buck a negative statistic for mares, now so dominant in other weight-for-age events. Only one has scored in the last 27 years.

Via Sistina takes on Pride Of Jenni, devastating leading in the top grade last season yet disappointing in her recent return to racing that prompted negative comments about those who selected her. Guilty as charged.

“Don’t the so-called experts read form guides where they write them (tips),” Terry Jolley, of Truganina, Victoria, opined in the “Your Say” section of required reading in “Winning Post”.

Yes, I tipped her despite the no-win record first-up, but she was only nosed out in Orr Stakes over the same Caulfield 1400 metres when resuming at her previous preparation. Now a seven-year-old she raced flat two weeks back. Pride of Jenni is the same age as Via Sistina who has had only 16 starts compared to Aussie’s 30. On paper she’ll be better at the 1600 metres, second up, but I’ll wait and see.

Via Sistina was strong in the Winx at Randwick recently but meets demanding opposition apart from Pride Of Jenni, including Mr Brightside who notched the Makybe last year and is a seasoned weight-for-age performer. Alas Pinstriped beat him in the Memsie and opposed again here must be considered. So, too, Waller’s Atishu another seven-year-old mare who usually goes well at Flemington. And just how good is Circle of Fire, Brit-bred, listed at $100 yesterday. Circle Of Fire was dynamic taking the Sydney Cup in April. Sure 1600 metres is short of his best but he’s a European five-year-old with ability galore and should be closely watched from the Melbourne Cup viewpoint.

Improvement is a prime issue and like Circle Of Fire, Celestial Legend comes into the category. Looking good with better to come the grey scored in the Doncaster last April, and returning in the Theo Marks, Celestial Legend was the early favourite. Alas he isn’t well weighted. The grey rises from 49kg Doncaster to 59kg today against some up-and-comers and well performed types. Consider Bases Loaded, airborne in a recent barrier trial emphasising the Gai Waterhouse – Adrain Bott tactics of hell for leather conditioning.

Tulloch Lodge will also produce Storm Boy, out to overcome bull traits in the Run To The Roses. Big and burly, the colt can be sluggish out of the gates, a trait which Adam Hyeronimus usually controls. But he faces talented opposition: former West Australian ace Bustling, for one, making his eastern seaboard debut.

And what about Growing Empire in the Winning Edge at Flemington? When the Zoustar colt scored at Caulfield last start, Dan O’Sullivan on Betsmart commented he “demonstrated the acceleration of a top-class sprinter despite being eased up 60 metres before the line yet recorded the highest rating of a McNeil Stakes winner in recent years.”

What a day.

For the thoughts of a “so called expert” ponder Play the Exotics.

And a final anecdote on Graham Neice.

While verbal jousting on Punter’s Post Mortem he questioned a Randwick form reversal to which I replied: “Are you insinuating he had a live kill?” referring to the greyhound tactic involving rabbits. Harmless barter, I figured. Richmond greyhounds, who sponsored a segment and with whom Mossop had an unholy alliance, objected. Mossop asked me to apologise. I didn’t, he did and I resigned. McNeice offered to quit, too, but it had nothing to do with him. Certainly not, I insisted. Graham McNeice was fair-dinkum. Some loser.