Barrier bogeys confronting James McDonald at Royal Randwick today would not have troubled fellow New Zealand greats Jim Cassidy and Shane Dye.
Maybe he doesn’t Swan dive like Isaac Heeney or be subject to the critical eye by comparison with Nicho Hynes, but most Saturdays JMac faces more pressure than just about any elite sports person.
Perhaps I don’t use the “c” word – champ not chump- in relation to him because I’m a grumpy, old hack rusted into the past, enriched by the daring and saddle skill of Cassidy and Dye, when barrier draws were not given the current respect.
When Fangirl, the best horse racing in Australia today according to Dan O’Sullivan’s Power ratings, came up with gate nine in the 7+Sport Stakes, the best race in Australia today, negatives were raised about it.
The nine launch from the Randwick 1600 metres, the fairest start possibly of any circuit in the land? Cassidy and Dye wouldn’t have battered an eyelid over it, nor would champion George Moore, who notched nine George Moore Stakes which, until last year, held the 7+Sport Stakes date.
The George Main Stakes, moved to the King Charles title later, enabled the best horse and jockey to strut their stuff. Today’s replacement fulfills the role: the $1 Sydney feature is superior to Melbourne’s $750,000 the Group one Underwood Stakes at Caulfield where the rail is out five metres that could be a niggling inconvenience.
Apart from Fangirl JMac has other demanding barriers with highly promising Ceolwulf (Kingston Town) from 15, odds-on favourite Autumn Glow (nine) in the Tea Rose, and Moravia nine in the Real Estate.
With jockeys like Cassidy and Dye drawback starts only produced better odds. However, they were not brainwashed into “we’ve got to go back” from a wide gate. Maybe riding instructions were given to them but quickly reassessed at the jump.
Last time out it could be deduced that Fangirl, with McDonald up, was beaten by the nine gate, forced to go back early and come wide with a few hiccups down the outside, ending third to Via Sistina and Zougotcha in the Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 24.
The start didn’t help but Fangirl was downed because of two better rides: Kerrin McEvoy on Via Sistina, getting an inside passage, and Tom Berry (Zougotcha) piloting a travel free route.
Jockey skill in Sydney is booming with Berry and McEvoy, for two, never better. Berry has made the difference on two recent winners: Sunshine In Paris at Rosehill last Saturday and Buckeroo, the previous week at Randwick.
Yes, McEvoy is negated handling Navajo Peak, a $150 chance against Fangirl, but JMac is confronted by Nash Rawiller (Hinged) and possibly the wonder kid, Zac Lloyd on dual acceptor Zardozi as well as Tim Clark on the query International Royal Patronage. Just how good is he? And can Detonator Jack, with the ultra-consistent Jason Collett aboard, be overlooked? Beware, too, of veteran My Oberon, with the assistance of Chad Schofield, no slouch, plus blinkers.
Thus swashbuckling navigators will test JMac, upon which wise guys say punters have to pay the “JMac tax” or shorter price. The $2.20 looks short about Fangirl. The leading jockey had four Canterbury winners on Wednesday but only one, Mergeila, was favourite. George Moore had more impact on the betting market, but Dye and Cassidy didn’t.
Down south Blake Shinn, too, is faced with the wide gate on Pericles in the Underwood. Shinn had a stint at Tulloch Lodge where jockeys are tuned to jump fast and take up a position. A major rival Buckeroo (11) has drawn out with Joao Moreira, the magic man, performing on him.
My first experience with the Magic Man was Grand Marshal in the 2015 Chairman’s Handicap at Randwick. It wasn’t pretty. Grand Marshal was beaten at $3.50. Magic men usually pull a rabbit out of a hat. With Grand Marshal Moreira pulled out a dead pigeon. Next start Grand Marshal won the Sydney Cup at $40. Jim Cassidy made a difference.
And that’s what JMac will be out to achieve today. Like a Heeney leap, Cassidy and Dye spectaculars, he promises special memories.
