Now the rising sun in the saddle, Ethan Brown, once a homesick youngster from Darwin, will be the key in an enthralling test of navigational skill in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast during an afternoon where the importance of barrier draws will be tested in the major Australian events.
The Hollindale is only Group two standard in which Brown jumps Fawkner Park from 14 with the other major candidates Antino (11), Buckeroo (12), and Linderman (10) inside under the guidance of outstanding jockeys.
Considering Antino has the services of Blake Shinn, leading the premiership Australia-wide, Buckeroo under James McDonald, currently the best in the world, while Lindeman has Nash Rawiller, a name that signifies enterprise and the daring, it promises a significant battle of tactics.
Thus the jostling for positions early will be vital, reviving the last advice from the recently departed Bundamba Slim, Peter Cameron, on just how important barrier positions are in modern racing. I have always figured the only effect a bad gate had on a good thing, not a half chance or some hope, was the odds, making them a better price.
“Good things” was a situation much stressed by “The Butterfly”, John Mort Green, another Queenslander no longer with us. In fact he figured it should have been the 11 commandment: God protect me from good things admonished in the same vein as Adam and the apple.
And no doubt Giga Kick in the Group one Goodwood at Morphettville qualifies. Winner of The Everest, Giga Kick is an accomplished top-class sprinter, with a benchmark of 116, but due to the conditions of the sprint only has the carry 54.5kg. The next highest rating rival, Charm Stone and top weight with 56.6kg, is only on 108. In a normal handicap Giga Kick would be giving them all weight and still be favourite.
Alas Giga Kick has drawn 12. Fortunately, the gelding will carry Mark Zahra with the eye of the tiger tuned to take short cuts.
Even at the stand-alone Gosford, Know Thyself, one of the shortest priced favourites on the excellent program at $3.80 in The Coast, starts from 11 if there are no more scratchings
Know Thyself will be without regular jockey Aaron Bulloch, who guided him to five out of his six successes. I am more comfortable with the replacement Ashley Morgan than a gear chance for the gelding: bandage on an off-hind leg.
But the Hollindale is the feature, won the last four years by Annabel Neesham, now Annabel Archibald in partnership with husband Rob. Anyway Annabel, whose rise is so pronounced, like Gai, is recognised by her first name.
Annabel notched three Hollindales with Zaaki under J-Mac who has switched this year to Chris Waller’s Buckeroo just recovering from the spring experience with Joao Moriera.
Apart from Fawkner Park, the Archibalds have Bois D’Argent, and Port Lockroy opposing Buckeroo and stablemates Militarise and Kovalica.
Like Buckeroo and Lindeman, Fawkner Park is coming out of the Queen Elizabeth at Randwick in which he was not flash. Still I figure the Hollindale would have been a target for the gelding and his previous efforts were strong.
Now it’s up to Brown out of the gates. Rawiller can be countered upon to use the tactical pace of Lindeman, giving him the run of the race. At his best Buckeroo is superior to rivals but where will he be on settling down?
Unlike the other top fancies Antico has a distance query. Shinn will attempt to adapt. Being inside the others he is likely to make them extend early.
Maybe the Darwin’s Fanny Bay dirt made Brown adaptable. Brown was at his best on Jimmysstar, not only taking the All Aged Stakes at Randwick recently but the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield – from the 14 gate.
Odds are relevant and that’s the reason I’m with Fawkner Park, and very wary of Giga Kick, $2.25 yesterday. My selection in the Goodwood is Ameena, a three-year-old with only nine starts on the score of improvement. Ameena isn’t flash early and from the eight barrier will require a smooth passage from Dean Yendall, an accomplished lightweight.
Short prices have never appealed. A.J.Bellanto, then eminent QC and punter, maintained he was a logical man and the favourite was the logical winner. My early education in the public bar at the Doncaster in Kensington alongside Randwick racecourse, was that they were also the logical dead-un. Racing has changed.
The advice of The Butterfly and sage, Bundamba Slim, rings loud. But there are exceptions.
