Sydney racing has never been better than the Golden Slipper carnival and The Championships at Royal Randwick, highlighted by Chris Waller, James McDonald and the becoming more frenzied Bjorn Baker.
Yes, the winning trifecta are New Zealanders, and now Racing New South Wales administrators and the Australian Turf Club have to match the horses and those that make them as the industry in Australia is at the cross-roads.
Diplomatic to a fault, Waller spearheaded with the outstanding mare, Via Sistina and five Group one winners over the period while J-Mac, underscored if not reserved, was the leading jockey riding five Group ones.
Baker, though, was with them notching the esteemed the Doncaster – Sydney Cup double which justifies the corny time-honoured tag.
Perhaps Baker is more grass roots, less big outlay owners, but his victory dance captured on camera (Bjorn Baker Racing) takes a prize, giving the impression he, too, is thriving on the stuff that makes the hair of Stefi Magnetica, the Doncaster winner, grow so long.
Again Waller showed his knack with fillies and mares, posing the question of which will be the best of his three-year-olds Lady Shanandoah, Autumn Glow, and Aeliana, carrying the Star Thoroughbred silks, was syndicated by the astute Denise Martin.
The top end of the market, including Yu Long Investments, with Via Sistina, received a considerable chunk out of the $46.1 million prizemoney but 8762 owners participated, a far number from those who contributed the great Easter carnivals in the good old days which lacked involvement of country and provincial horses who had a chance for a bountiful return recently.
While J-Mac currently holds the title of the “world’s best jockey” the local contenders are strong. Damian Lane, now based in Melbourne, so smooth on Marhoona in the Golden Slipper, blotted his copybook with excessive use of the whip, a major breach, on Treasurethe Moment in the Australian Oaks, enabling him to beat Sun’N’Sand, prepared in partnership with Barbara Joseph, one of my favourites, by a long neck.
Before the event Joseph was touting Sun’N’Sand, a $51 chance, as her next Group one horse and a former school-teacher at Bombala, her home territory, had a liberal serve, just an aside.
Back to the saddle situation Tyler Schiller confirmed he can compete with the saddle best on Nepotism in the Champagne Stakes. Nepotism is the top two-year-old in a common season for them. The colt was a reserve for the Golden Slipper and with a run would have carried my support.
Perhaps Schiller was beaten on Briasa the favourite in the All Aged Stakes. Disappointing? More horse than jockey.
However Ethan Brown, who hails from Darwin, should be rated in the top 10, following his double at Randwick last Saturday, particularly getting Jimmysstar mobile in the All Aged, unleashing his credentials for The Everest.
Of course there were other features but problems could arise whether NSW racing will be able to fund the huge prizemoney with betting revenue under threat. The Australian Turf Club is cash shy. Randwick hardly compares with Flemington and the forces of negativity want to sell Rosehill with the recent savage downslide in attendance.
No figures were announced in the ATC press release about how few were present to view so much.
Certainly more theatre is required for major days. Sell the advantage of being at the track.
Great racing produces memories, hardly stimulated recently at Rosehill or Randwick. Television may have been satisfactory but for the racegoer?
Go back to the glory days of the Cox Plate, once not even the major event on the Moonee Valley program. CEO Ian McEwan and chairman Bill Stutt made it special: not only for the turf action, advantaged by the circuit that is up close and personal, but the presentation.
Atmosphere was built when the horses went out onto the track and returned: revved up by a master of ceremonies and sound tracks.
Who can forget owner Nick Moraitis, a former South Sydney Juniors ref, jogging down the straight with his great Might And Power.
Like actors, jockeys should get stage management and want to participate. Build up a thrill.
Ugly is the best description of South Sydney at half time against the Bulldogs last week, just a shade worse than the Swans going through slow motion in the Port Adelaide clash at the SCG.
At least the Rabbits defended, albeit due to bad play, while the Swans were given a bake by former coach, Paul Roos, with only 19 tackles in the first half.
As the Swans departed the question arose of just how the club let Alir Alir go to the South Australia and even with a crutch, had Errol Gulden taken to the field with Tom Papley in a wheel chair, the team would have had more substance.
Within 60 seconds of resuming after the break the visitors kicked a goal and then after three quarter time scored another inside a minute. Did smelling salts hit eyes and not nose during the breaks?
Yet the Swans only went down by 85-77 with Aaron Francis, coming off the bench, proving valuable.
Anyway it was better than the once mighty Rabbits who were drubbed 32-0, setting a record for one out running. Are they following instructions? Don’t pass and you won’t make mistakes. But the attack is predictable and they run out of gas.
Sure, for the Rabbits Latrell Mitchell did improve in the second half but from a very low foundation. Mitchell found a new position: dummy half, passing but rarely running. Now super-coach Wayne Bennett has reinstalled him as full-back.
Can the same involvement, hitting the line with the consistency of Jai Grey, half his size, be expected. Grey, too, has been one of the form players of the season while team mates Travis Duncan tackles his heart and Jai Arrow never stops trying.
Hopefully Bennett finds a way to get the same from Mitchell. Slick ball play is good but surely there must be more to go with it.
