“Sensibly, if sadly, the Australian racing industry could be re-established as a commercially viable business. As is, too much racing in Australia is wasting taxpayer funds because it is run at a dead loss — racing that no one wants to pay for,” Peter Mair, a regular correspondent, declared in a tone most forlorn and reminiscent of “we’ll all be rooned, said Hanrahan”.
Mair was referring to “the context of only conducting individual races (and race meetings) where the expected take-tax from betting turnover exceeds prize-money offered to be paid out.”
Obviously Saturday’s $1 million Winx Stakes at Royal Randwick appealed rather than the $40,000 Narromine Cup on Sunday but both contribute to a healthy fabric that makes our racing great.
The Winx Stakes, once the Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm, goes back to 1923 and has been the battleground of champions. Tulloch was my first in 1957, but none were better than Winx. And Saturday’s Via Sistina, rates in the top category of conquerors.
Jockeys at both venues scouted across the horizon, more so at Narromine. Sopping with the heavy August downpours, Randwick was a point of criticism by champion trainer Chris Waller. Expected suitable for water-skiing, it produced a surface worthy of Group one action.
“I don’t think they should be running today,” Waller moaned on Sky Sports Radio on Saturday morning in a similar vein to Mair. “I think it’s too wet.
“Racing is not a roulette wheel but that’s how we seem to be treating it at the moment.”
After walking the course, Waller was not being critical of the Randwick track staff who worked a parting of the sea ploy getting it so raceable.
“Moan”?
Waller was expressing an opinion in the best interest of horses, owners and punters. Since Tulloch in 1957 I’ve heard trainers express views of what was best for racing but with a tinge of self-interest.
Waller was always going to be the most likely to benefit from Winx Stakes Day program going ahead. As it turned out, he notched the three majors. Apart from Via Sistina, his Autumn Glow and Lazzura showed their mettle and stablemate Aeliana, although beaten by Via Sistina in the Winx, was the best performance of them all. GOODonya, Chris.
So what concerned him?
Uneven sections of track received a mention. Consider Cigar Flick, prepared by him, hardly a prolific winner but a mare who usually relishes the heavy. Fancied and last start successful, Cigar Flick was beaten seven lengths by Autumn Glow. Jockey Dylan Gibbons put the performance down to “too many rough patches” while the stipes reported she “dipped a couple of times”.
Imagine if it had happened to Via Sistina in the Warwick Stakes in which Chad Schofield received groans of misery for his effort on Ceolwulf? It wasn’t pretty.
But navigation was always going to be vital role in the Winx. James McDonald was slick on Via Sistina, marginally better than Jason Collett urging Aeliana and plotting a passage near the fence, while Schofield was high, wide and anything but handsome on Ceolwulf making the turn, possibly BAD, rudderless, but the conditions contributed.
Perhaps the possibility of UGLY is coming to the fore with reports indicating the Australian Turf Club will raise the rent on Randwick stables. Many are run down.
Is this just another ploy to show how poverty stricken the ATC is and the necessity of selling Rosehill?
“For never since the banks went broke,
“Has seasons been so bad,
“We’ll be rooned said John O’Shea, before the year is out”.
The surface was surprisingly good given the rain of the past few weeks. Good horses and riders found a way around. But always, the wet and variable ground gets a few.
Vale the warwick stakes at warwick farm max. It was my favourite meeting of the year. The harbinger of the spring. The wattles were flowering and the laurels shady. The expansive lawns were full of families on picnic blankets replete with hampers and eskies full of reschs pilsener and tooheys flag ale. The outside fence was occupied by kids held up by their dads. It was the best of times.
Hi Max, great to see you are still plugging away. Thought I should let you know that my father Ted is entering his terminal phase of his cancer at Auburn palliative care unit. We’re hoping he can hang in till his 94th birthday on Sept 21st. I am in the throes of preparing a eulogy just in case. Would I be right in saying he would be the oldest living jockey to have ridden in a Melbourne Cup?
Chris,
Ted Kremmer?
Who would argue that he is the oldest living jockey to ride in a Melbourne Cup?
What a jockey?
What a personality?
What a singer?
What a story?
Chris, you will do him justice. I’d appreciate a copy of the eulogy.
Cheers,
Max P