The Good
Forgive me for again giving precedence to a female, Molly Bourke, for saddle excellence last weekend when other topliners, as good as ever, were superb.
Maybe it’s because I go back when Colin Hayes one of the first training greats to employ them, did so principally because they were so good in the stable rather than horseback.
To consider women matching strength and balance with male counterparts was like Shirley Temple taking on Charlton Heston in chariots at the Colosseum in Rome. Refer to the epic film, Ben-Hur.
Perhaps The Ingham program, renowned as The Villiers, at Royal Randwick falls short of Ben-Hur, but produced outstanding rides, while Craig Williams continued to dazzle with four Caulfield winners on the corresponding Melbourne program. Wise guys stress he has never been better.
The same came can be applied to Tom Berry, Tim Clark and Jason Collett at Randwick while Kerrin McEvoy has maintained the skill that made him in the top echelon of his generation.
So why spotlight wee Molly Bourke who has a two-kilo allowance?
On Friday night at Canterbury riding front-runner Soldier Of Rome, there’s the Bur-Hur influence, she was confronted by Kirikan with Nash Rawiller in full blaze, with arms and heels gyrating, but was able to maintain the rhythm on Tulloch Lodge gelding.
Bourke was seen in a different role handing Perfect Thought, the following day, back in the ruck at Randwick, while Berry was giving Bunker Hutt the run of the race. Those who bet in running had Bunker Hutt long odds on over the latter stages. Bourke got Perfect Thought up in the last bound after being held up from the 400 metres to the 100 metres, and then having a scrimmage with rival Zondee. Rough and ready, if not quite Colosseum, was no drawback for wee Mollie.
Long gone is the weaker gender, suited best for picnic events. Incidentally all eight races at Nowra on Sunday were won by them.
With Bourke, superb navigation was a feature of The Ingham program another, though, being the presence of His Honour Michael McHugh, former High Court judge, just as cany with race form as the law, and the fish monger Mick Doyle, an Australian Jockey Club committeeman when those in a position of authority, unlike the modern office holders, were racecourse regulars.
Possibly lacking the turn of foot in the betting ring of his heyday, His Honour, 89, still stands tall and distinguished. He was more successful at the punt and lasted longer than the Legal Eagles who made headlines.
“The figures are all wrong,” His Honour maintained regarding the odds and percentages now on offer. But for old times sake he did have a serve of winner, Kadaver ($10), at Randwick.
Earlier Doyle produced Ticklebelly who won the Highway from the 14 gate under Collett, so consistently effective. Show County was the best horse to race for Doyle in Ticklebelly colours and he also was instrumental in giving Berry early opportunities.
Doyle’s reappearance corresponds with the announcement that Asahi, in the right glass served cold acceptable, will replace James Squire, the golden ale was best, as the booze on Sydney race racecourses, prompting memories of worst beer ever poured at Randwick – San Miguel.
Fortunately for those in the know a Reschs pump, in breach of license, was operating the member’s stand. The only hurdle was getting past the formidable front-rowers Doc McGirr, and the Lolly Pig (Jack Hogan) flanked by Reg The Raffler to get to the bar. The Reschs oasis had the Mick Doyle stamp.
Being a champion jockey James McDonald rides the fine line between courageous and careless which he breached in Hong Kong last Sunday night.
The Bad
J-Mac was found guilty of careless riding and suspended until January 16 plus the fine, equivalent of around $(A)12,000. BAD for rival Lyle Hewitson who came down and suffered an injured knee and toe as well as the lucrative Magic Millions carnival on January 11 in which the New Zealander would have been a major drawcard.
The Ugly
Only one bookmaker, Rob Waterhouse, at Menangle for the Interdominion last Saturday night, was indeed UGLY and a far vision from the glory day at Harold Park. Who was responsible to the switch to the backblocks?
Back in 1960 I was at Harold Park, happy to hang off the side of a grandstand, when Caduceus won the Interdominion before 50,346, a world record.
And they want to move Rosehill to some obscure location.
2 Responses
Unfortunately Mollie still also has a lot to learn. Her ride on Floating was as bad as could possibly be. The horse would have won easily if she had of followed instructions and instead she fought the poor horse for more than half the race and still flew home from last at the 400 to finish 5 th with the best sectionals in the race.
Andrew,
No doubt Molly Bourke still has a lot to learn. For the last
half century, I have declined from criticising apprentice
jockeys because they are learning their trade and get an
allowance for inexperience.
Being a bad loser, nobody has bleated more about bad
rides than I have. After my bile subsides, I now look at
replays and the steward’s report. Obviously Floating
should have finished closer. Floating at his previous start
jumped from a wider gate and settled outside the lead
before winning. Thus your point about “riding instructions”
should be considered as Bourke had Floating was well
back in the field and “fought the horse” last Saturday.
However she told stipes Floating began awkwardly and
then didn’t have the pace to take up a forward position.
Without cover Floating raced keenly three wide. She had
to wait until the 1400 metres to get a trail and was much
further back in the field than intended. It was an eyesore
with an explanation. Many get worth out of best sections
but I am not a great believer in those clocked from
dawdling back in the field when rivals are toiling on the
pace. What about the hard work Alacance, second in the
event, did up front? Later in the Randwick program Nash
was not real flash on Contemporary. I’m waiting for the
steward’s report on “an incident” before establishing a
firm opinion.
Max P