“I find it perplexing that trainers in the United Kingdom believe they should be paid for interviews,” Matt Welsh tweeted which appeared recently in Winning Post.
As wise as it now sounds once Australian trainers, anyway, were inflicted with lock-jaw concerning the media which Banjo Paterson described as “his wisdom belongs to his patron, will he give it to one and all?”
Tommy Smith, legendary in so many ways, broke the cycle with quotes regarded as outlandish at the time, but made headlines on the back page of newspapers. He maintained David Jones, the great department store, would have to pay a fortune to get the same exposure.
The situation returned when viewing Tom Charlton, partner with John O’Shea, was interviewed on Racing.Com about the prospects of their charge, Schwarz, in Saturday’s Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
Unlike many Group ones the Orr Stakes that goes back to 1925 retains the title and has always been a battleground for the exceptional: speed and stamina. Consider Black Caviar and Saintly in recent decades amongst those who feature on the honour roll.
And this year Mr Brightside, to date the best performed horse in the race with eight Group ones and an Orr already to his credit, is favoured but backable.
Twelve months back Mr Brightside in the Orr was $1.95 and downed Pride Of Jenni who did it tough in front. Pride Of Jenni was better then than the still-on-the-rise Schwarz who likes to lead as he did winning first up recently in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. Looked good but ran a faster first 600 metres than the final 600 metres which doesn’t build confidence over the extra 100 metres in the Orr.
Enter the articulate Charlton being squizzed after the recent Schwarz gallop at Caulfield. Charlton disclosed the four-year-old has put on weight since Moonee Valley, “didn’t miss any feed”, and obviously is hoping that he can be contained, not as fierce early, for the longer journey.
Schwarz will have the services of Blake Shinn in a sprint that doesn’t appear to have an abundance of pace. Maybe Another Will handled by Jamie Melham, carrying her new title, will could go forward from the three gate. “Weird hearing my name,” quipped the former Kah, now married to Ben Melham.
Mr Brightside has drawn eight, tricky but pilot Craig Williams is a master navigator. Still the now seven-year-old gelding resuming doesn’t enthuse me at around $2.50.
Schwarz has the influence of John O’Shea which triggered a flashback to a half century when the great race caller Ian Craig and myself started a radio program, Turf Time, broadcast on Saturday mornings on 2KY hardly mainstream for anyone but punters and wharfies.
However it was the first, in such a capacity, to use trainer and jockey interviews. Early days I would go to Randwick for track gallops with an old tape recorder and we would replay them on air.
With the exception of Smith many didn’t give much away but quickly adapted into a free tipping rhythm. Jockeys, though, were harnessed with a tongue tie regarding selections by the rules of racing. Could only reflect on the past not the future. “Should have won by 10 lengths last start” but not “will win today”.
Occasionally we would get a knock-back. O’Shea comes to mind. Was a young bloke from Queensland. Warwick Farm based at the time? Anyway, there was no problem getting talent and he was one of the few. Mind you O’Shea made up for it later. Certainly no hard feelings.
Trainers had to handle owners, who could be difficult. They didn’t want their horse exposed over the airwaves. But the trend of being heard took hold.
Now with television and radio, trainers and jockeys lineup for a camera or microphone. Yes the Poms considering the parlous state of racing there are probably sharing the chaff bag feed with the horses.
But counterparts here thrive with the exposure. Bjorn Baker has adapted to the camera and microphone better than Russell Crowe. Gets a plug in for his own operation as well as paid job advertising a vehicle worthy of a better dividend for him than Overpass.
Ironically New Zealanders, formerly renowned for a forked tongue, are prized for their media cooperation. There is no harder toiler than Chris Waller but he makes time for interviews.
