The Good
With the gravity of a High Court judgement Racing New South Wales stewards handed down their decision on the defeat of Gilded Water at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday that could have been capsulised in a sentence: “James McDonald on Tajanis outrode Jason Collett handling the hot favourite”.
J-Mac took Gilded Water out of his comfort zone with a sharp tactical move early, reminiscent of the strategies employed by former champion George Moore and arch rival Athol Mulley with a dash of Shane Dye when he was proving that the outstanding Octagonal wasn’t a one jockey horse limiting his tenacity to Darren Beadman.
Modern jockeys now work more for wages, sizeable too from prizemoney and riding fees, and not the sling or present for winning as they once did from their mounts being backed by connections.
It triggered an element of desperation and improvisation on the horse power under them and the best way to exploit it. Nash Rawiller, like J-Mac, at times reverts.
Currently race riding is more transparent. Tactic changes whether they will lead or get back, in the main, have to be declared before the start.
Thus stewards also grilled Tyler Schyler adapting to a situation on Zondee coming from last to score in the TAB Handicap when expected to be up front and probably beaten.
The quality of Schyler and Collett, contributes to J-Mac’s champion title, hardly worthy if he is superior to easy beats.
Circumstances forced Collett to ride Gilded Water back in the field, a tardy start, with an interrogation that exceeded the norm. He didn’t make a move when J-Mac cut Tajanis loose at the 700 metres because Gilded Water had topweight, 61.5kg.
Collett’s explanation was reasonable, and it wasn’t a bad ride. J-Mac’s was better: one of his four Rosehill winners, included Osipenko, who proved too good for favourite Saltcoats, with Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
Maybe under any circumstances Osipenko would have beaten Saltcoats, a stablemate prepared by Chris Waller, in the January Cup but J-Mac gave him a perfect passage near rail to the turn before finding the best ground in the straight. Saltcoats was forced to take a passage nearer the fence, not as good. A points win to J-Mac. Also Osipenko hadn’t won for 643 days.
McEvoy had his revenge on Midnight Opal, tuned to perfection by Nathan Doyle. Midnight Opal downed Cigar Flick, with J-Mac on her looking sweet during the run, into the minor placing in the TAB Handicap. J-Mac gave Cigar Flick every chance but McEvoy chartered a shorter and more powerful course. Unlike Saturday, Cigar Flick hasn’t had much practise in recent races hitting the finish without being impeded.
Still it was J-Mac’s day, followed by a Sha Tin, Hong Kong, treble on Sunday including the Group One Steward’s Cup, where he opposed Zac Purton, one of the world’s best. Does Sydney racing make enough of just how GOOD J-Mac, now in Dubai, is? Certainly he is the equal of any champion I’ve seen going back to Moore.
The Bad
Alas on Friday night at Canterbury J-Mac was involved in BAD when his mount, Demiana, who eased from $3.30 to $4.20, faltered back through the field in the 72 benchmark for mares. Should she have been scratched at the barrier?
Stewards reported Demiana had aggravated an “old abrasion off the hip region” en route to the course. Even on television it was visible.
Going to the gates J-Mac was looking down. If he wasn’t concerned those that backed her were. Demiana was given a veterinary examination at the gates and passed “suitable to start”.
After the jump Demiana was a mess: forward wide, back wide, and finally well back, beaten over seven lengths. She will require a veterinary clearance and satisfactory barrier trial before racing again.
The Ugly
It was indeed Ugly for backers of Space Rider ($1.14) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Space Rider was regarded as a strong fancy in the Magic Millions Two-year-old Classic for two-year-olds at the Gold Coast on Friday night but was an emergency and didn’t get a run.
The odds indicated Space Rider was a put in and take out proposition, being even shorter than Wodeton ($1.60) who scored like a good thing should at Rosehill.
Space Rider never looked likely, finishing fourth, with the subsequent steward’s inquiry indicating those involved were surprised by his lack of early speed.
The official broadcaster declared the Zoustar colt “came out last” which didn’t get a mention in the steward’s report nor did the start of Memo, favourite in the Gold Coast Two-year-old Classic on Friday night. Are the Queensland stipes concerned enough about the early stages?
Memo had a few hiccups in running behind the winner O’Ole which didn’t matter. The jump contributed more to her defeat in a Magic Millions that lacked the wow factor of Wodeton.
