Rarely, if ever before, has Royal Randwick had the benefit of two world champions, James McDonald and Via Sistina, but again last Saturday could not exceed around a paltry 4,000 to experience their superb attributes.
And trainer Bjorn Baker added Randwick to his remarkable winning streak, albeit on the second cog below the masters, a throne on which fellow New Zealand Chris Waller now sits.
Only Paul Sutherland, under extenuating circumstances in the 1980’s, comes to mind as becoming so prominent but hardly as consistent, below the topliners.
Baker’s successful treble on Saturday, added to his previous Friday night’s three at Canterbury contributed to an exhilarating race day.
Champion trainers have the benefit of numbers, the best bloodlines and the ability to reap a rich return for them.
Via Sistina, who cost millions and worth every cent, had the advantage of the Waller touch and J-Mac’s saddle skill to withstand the sprint of stablemate Fangirl in a spectacular Verry Elleegant, once known as the Chipping Norton that goes back a century, where the best competed. The standard was maintained.
Why so few present?
Well, it was a hot day but surely this keeps more away from the beach.
Promotion?
Did it get a skerrick of the Las Vegas rugby league ballyhoo which hardly had world champion status? Nor did it receive anywhere near the exposure of The Everest, a Group one sprint without history or two champions involved.
Is racing no longer a spectator sport unless beefed up with booze and a pop concert? A few weeks back Caulfield, according to bookmaker Rob Waterhouse, did well with “free entry and $4.50 pies”.
Under the guiding play of Peter V’Landys, Las Vegas and The Everest, are ballyhooed beyond their status with an emphasises on marketing importance on which little was spent on the Verry Elleegant.
Buried behind Baker’s six winners, Arapaho, an eight-year-old gelding emphasised in the Verry Elleegant just how GOOD his team is going.
Better suited over journeys much longer than Saturday’s 1600 metres, Arapaho finished only 1.6 lengths behind the world champions and was his only third starter over the 24 hours unplaced.
In fact Baker’s significant defeat was Point and Shoot in the Australian Guineas at Flemington about which jockey Damian Lane reported he was “slow to begin and muster speed, held up for clear running from the 500 metres to the 350 metres and was not disappointing”.
So far this season Baker has 61 winners and 128 placings in Sydney, Australia’s toughest centre, from 266 starters, with his recent sizzling six centred around a bevy of owners, most under Darby Racing banner.
Hopefully Randwick can get a crowd in the near future: the Sydney Annual Racing Fraternity Mass, 11am, on Sunday, March 16, at the Winx Stand, finally a worthwhile use of the booze pavilion. The drawcard: the following morning tea is outstanding.
Being more Redfern Oval than Las Vegas, the Rugby League venture to the United States doesn’t do it for me.
Good or BAD?
“The NRL’s decision to launch its season in Vegas has been an extraordinary success, mostly because of what it does to the season. The biggest pay-off from the Vegas gamble is how it kicks the can down the road all season long,” Andew Webster, always an opinion worth noting, exclaimed in “The Australian.”
“For the record the NRL paid last year covered flights and accommodation when I was working for another publication. This year I paid for every expense,” he declared.
On the same Saturday, The Fitz files in the Sydney Morning Herald, described it as “pretty much just a feel-good exercise, there was so much hype last year and so many believed it all, that it genuinely did pump air into the tyres of the NRL juggernaut, lifting domestic ratings and ticket sales. The question remains whether it was worth the millions of dollars spent, and whether, with the hype this time, the same will happen this year…”
The Sydney Morning Herald conceded some expenses were paid for Rugby League scribes and travel reporters this year but Peter FitzSimons follows the SMH edict of “independent always.”
Like The Everest, the question should be answered just how much does the Las Vegas promotion cost and then evaluated with the return for the investment.
I enjoyed the Penrith – Shark clash but no more than if it had been held at Shark Park or Redfern Oval.
The Guy Walter, a Group two usually of significance, lacked a competitive edge on Saturday, and hardly required for the best sprinter, Amelia’s Jewel.
Was any change of riding tactics signified for the former West Australian mare, backed from $2.5 to $1.80? Amelia’s Jewel led for what possibly was the first time on what looked like race lacking pace.
It’s a ridiculous rule and J-Mac used initiative that elevates a great jockey to champion by jumping and making a gentle speed.
Meanwhile the other two strong fancies Olentia ($4.80) was back at the tail, needed to sprout wings given the tempo, while another West Australian, Alsephina ($5.50 to $9) struck trouble and finished last, figuring in the steward’s report as being “disappointed for a run and being held up and not able to be tested in the run to the finish.”
Indeed ugly.
One Response
All interesting points – as usual your reporting says it as it is!!
Thanks for mention re Annual Racing Mass – have not seen any notification elsewhere.