A WEEKLY REVIEW

The Good

Man made by Nathan Doyle on ground level and Ash Morgan in the saddle, Private Harry overwhelmed the sensation of racecourse sabotage.Top of Form

The forced transfer of Gold Coast meeting last Saturday to the Sunshine Coast, prompted the question whether so much, considering the millions involved, ever been moved so quick and successful.

While the program was only a prelim to next Saturday’s Magic Millions extravaganza, highlighted by the $3 million Two-year-old Classic, I doubt whether this week will produce a youngster with the promise of Private Harry, an unbeaten three-year-old at only four starts.

Races and sales, the Magic Millions is typical of modern racing: overwhelmed like never before by the top end in every category, owners, trainers and jockeys.

However Private Harry primed light for the battler. Doyle had to part-own the three horses he started with at Broadmeadow while Morgan, from Wales, had to battle around the non-TAB meetings, the end of the food chain for jockeys.

On Saturday night they had a piece of the $3 million from the Magic Million Sunlight, a slot race, making one of Australia’s top sprinters, Lady Of Camelot, look common. Private Harry was picked up for $115,000 at a down market Inglis sale.

Lady Of Camelot carries the livery of Sir Owen Glenn, the Indian born New Zealander, a philanthropist, and is prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, of Tulloch Lodge, producer of Group one winners when Doyle was in kindergarten.

Once most jockeys from abroad, even across the ditch, were scorned. Guest appearances only. Now they sprout from far and wide. Names appears in country and provincial results with little, if any, recognition. Doyle appreciated the ability Morgan, from Wales. Bjorn Baker, with as keen an eye for hoops as thoroughbreds, uses him.

On Saturday Morgan matched it with Blake Shinn, winner of the Melbourne Cup when all Morgan could hope for was being a good track rider.

Perhaps Shinn wasn’t seen at his best on Lady Of Camelot, described by Breednet’s Tara Madgewick, who has retained the acerbic touch gained by Racing To The Max on Sydney’s radio’s 2SM, as “less than a perfect ride”.

Morgan was polished on Private Harry, another instance of whether lesser-light jockeys, given the opportunity are just as good as the best.

Down south at Geelong Soffie Osborne, a 21-year-old Pom who rides a tad fast and loose, notched the feature event, the $300,000 Coastal Classic on Holymanz plus a couple of suspensions.

But Australia wide Private Harry stole the show. Already he is being touted as a chance in The Everest, Australia’s richest if not the best sprint.

When the Gold Coast was vandalised to the point the Magic Millions had to be transferred north, the situation looked grim for the Gerry Harvey – Katie Page promotion.

Still the Sunshine Coast track probably played better than the Gold Coast contributing to a memorable period for Harvey. It was also announced that Alligator Blood, the outstanding gelding he part-owns, will return to racing with Chris Waller. Alligator Blood is now an eight-year-old who won six Group ones due to the skill of Waterhouse and Bott. If Waller can get a worthwhile result with Alligator Blood it will be one of his greatest training performances. Few would accept the challenge.

Harvey also pointed in the Sunday Telegraph that Peter Dutton had firmed, in his opinion, from 80-1 to 3-1 to be next Prime Minister. That’s Harvey – Norman value if you can get it. The best odds about the Coalition, with bookmakers, is now $1.72.

The Bad

Bad?

“Well Max, she (Lady Of Camelot) should be a $1.50 shot. The bookies have her at $3.50. That suggests she isn’t a good thing. Something tells me there is an undisclosed issue that bookies know about,” Birdcage Bill commented via Facebook last Friday.

Many figured the failure of Lady Of Camelot was due to a bad ride of Blake Shinn. The filly struck trouble in the straight. However Shinn later told stewards her run had peaked or ended late in the race. I agree. Had she not struck the traffic jam I do not think she would have beaten Private Harry.

The key to her defeat was the early stages: Lady of Camelot didn’t muster the expected speed after jumping and was couple of lengths further back than anticipated. In her lead-up barrier Hawkesbury barrier trial the filly bounded out of the gates for Tim Clark. Can Shinn be held responsible? Not for mine.

Alas growls of discontent were again heard at Randwick last Saturday. An economist pointed out the debt of the Victoria Racing Club but Flemington looks slick while headquarters is on the slide. A regular pointed out the wear and tear, plus rust on the old grandstand. Again an escalator broke down in the Queen Elizabeth. I had the worst meat pie ever on a racecourse. Road kill, recommended at Louth out West, was a Neil Perry dish by comparison.

The Ugly

Under the heading:

“Racing Media” ….

“It should ask more questions, demand more answers. This is supposed to be a key media function.

“It has been left to Mark Latham to drag Racing NSW over the coals over issues that should not have been ignored by the racing media. A coup d’état from within was required to expose the reckless spending of the Melbourne Racing Club. And so on.” – Matt Stewart – Winning Post.

“Oh my God, Stainvita has stumbled and broken its leg, you couldn’t believe it!” Downright UGLY back in 1978, particularly for a bank teller who had gained seniority to the extent of getting access to $100,000.

Some figured my reference to “bank tellers dream” last week came from the whimsy of an aged tabloid hack.

Wins around the winters of the late 1970s led to a cult following for Stainvita. Fascinated by his winning sequence, the bank employee saw the opportunity of a quick kill, he had access to $100,000, crammed it into a brief case.

A quick loan for a punt on money back investment with a sweet dividend on Stainvita at 6/4 on, longer than estimated about Lady Of Camelot on form last Saturday. He spread the money around the betting ring to get a quick cash settling so the $100,000 could be returned on Monday.

Stainvita went straight to the front on the heavy track and looked home and hosed until ….

The judge gave him 14 years. Obviously, His Honour wasn’t a punter. Ugly …

The Gold Coast course proper damage last week. Also in the category, the Caulfield grandstand fire subsequently.

Anti-racing groups may have been the cause of the Gold Coast track damage, considering it was described as “a perfect rectangle”. Too technical for vandals.

Certainly the Caulfield blaze renewed memories of 1922 when the stand was set ablaze. “Squizzy” Taylor was mentioned in relation to the arson.

Taylor became a murderer, gangster, pickpocket, pimp, sly grogger and SP bookmaker after an unsuccessful career as a jockey. Apparently, he took exception from being barred at Caulfield.