A WEEKLY REVIEW

The Good

When Via Sistina dashed clear in last Saturday’s Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, one of the greatest chapters of a race that goes back to 1922, visions returned of Dulcify taking the weight-for-age championship in 1979.

Still from the Melbourne Cup viewpoint I prefer Makybe Diva a champion and spectacular in the Cox Plate but not as flash as Via Sistina.

Certainly Via Sistina’s presence will put zing into the Big One at Flemington next Tuesday. Will she run out the 3200-metre journey?

More recently the same question arose about the outstanding So You Think after he scored in the 2010 Cox Plate but was found wanting in the Flemington staying test.

On class alone Via Sistina is the horse to beat considering no other Cox Plate winner has been more impressive.

According to Dan O’Sullivan, of The Rating Bureau, Via Sistina produced superior to the best of Winx at Moonee Valley on what has been a circuit that brings out the best in the greats.

However being a seven-year-old mare O’Sullivan doubts she will ever reach that rating again but doesn’t regard the metric two miles as a problem.

“Given her ability to relax in races and her aerobic capacity the 3200 metres doesn’t look a major risk,” he commented.

Via Sistina has scored over 2100 metres but never tested beyond. Makybe Diva, a champion with three Melbourne Cups to her credit, won an epic Cox Plate in 2005 but only carried 55.5kg compared to Via Sistina’s 57kg last Saturday.

Following his seven-length demoralisation in the Cox Plate but not as strong as this year, Dulcify was considered a distance risk at Flemington. Alas the gelding broke down in the Melbourne Cup. 

Obviously Via Sistina, Irish bred but with an Australian influence being by the sire Fastnet Rock, was better than GOOD on Saturday but the Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick, taken by El Castello, trained by Anthony Cummings, was also a highlight.

Anthony is the most affable male of the clan that included his father Bart and sons, James an Eddie.

But Anthony showed the master’s touch with El Castello who looked superior for last Saturday’s engagement than his previous races during the campaign.

Bart was great, James has made his mark with Godolphin while Eddie is in the process of joining Anthony in a training partnership.

Yes, there are financial details to tidy up, but Anthony has been confronted with hurdles in the past but never stopped being Anthony with a ready smile and booming laugh. He did crack it for a tear on Saturday. Was it the family allergy to horses that effected his father?

Randwick, too, last Saturday produced a reversal from the previous week of being the most uncomfortable experience I ever had on a racecourse to one of the best. Around 40,000 less was a contributing factor for a program that including the esteemed Callander – Presnell. I was stationed in the Director’s Room as a guest of Peter V’Landys and Racing NSW.

Being a racecourse wowser, I don’t drink during the program but was assured the Penfold’s Shiraz, decanted, was an excellent vintage by family members at the table. The beef made you marvel how the chef could cater so well for so many. Always more of a sausage sanger on the run at the races to the degree Lynell Peck, one of the great Australian Jockey Club hospitality managers, had a short order Randwick outlet tagged “Max and Kenny’s” in the era when Ken Callander also never had time to dine during proceedings.

The Bad

It’s good that Benny Scarf has an Instagram account following of nearly 200,000 and the Weekend Australian mentioned his “God Of The Punt” title. Apparently, Scarf, 23, dwarfs the following of Jamie Kah (42,000) and Chris Waller (37) but BAD that I’ve never heard of him.

“Followers” in the good old days pursued Hollywood George Edser around the racecourse in the late 1950’s to see what he was backing. I’ve witnessed every major plunger since: Kerry Packer was the biggest but Zjelko Ranogajec the most successful. Ranogajec plays the percentages worldwide more than backing a winner but has stood the test of time, the downfall of so many. Anonymity plays a role.

Asked by the Weekend Australian if he is good for racing Scarp replied: “A hundred percent. Everest sold out for the first time ever this year. I am not fully responsible for it but you’d be naïve to say I had nothing to do with it.”

Generally, the punt giveth and the punt taketh away.

Eddie Birchley, the fireman with a penchant for red hot favourites, set betting rings alight from the 1960 for over a decade, but ended up in 1980 being pinched for nicking sausages at a supermarket.

The Ugly

UGLY, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. No doubt it was pleasing to see James McDonald, a virtuoso on horseback, so exuberant before the finish of the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Stewards, though, took a dim view and fined the jockey $2,000 for “having made a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post”.

However jockeys, with less control, can try and emulate JMac with disastrous results.

JMac was entitled to stand high and deserved acclaim for notching his century of Group ones. Before the finish of the Cox Plate is taking an encore before the final curtain.