My first CEO or general manager at Randwick, then without the Royal title, was Derek Glasgow, stiff of back and stern of eye, in 1957.
With the recent appointment of Steve McMahon to replace Matt Galanos as Australian Turf Club CEO, a reminder of Glasgow and the Australian Jockey Club’s old guard committee, returned.
The departure of Galanos was followed by two directors Ben Bayot and Natalie Hewson. Did we ever know they were there?
The first reaction to the McMahon appointment centred around being just another example of the recent elections of ATC Club chairman Tim Hale and Caroline Searcy bending the knee to Sussex Street, the headquarters of racing’s Mr Big, Peter V’Landys.
Is the Rosehill sale off the table?
Anyway McMahon is a turf enthusiast who actually goes to the races. He served time with the New South Wales Trainer’s Association, a good foundation. Trainers cry loudest and have good reason.
Be it permanent or temporary McMahon takes over when Randwick has never been in such a sorry state, highlighted by a recent visit from Gai Waterhouse, racing’s first lady.
Justifiably termed headquarters in 1957 Randwick was the centre of the turf universe, under the iron grip of the AJC, attended in big numbers who went for the horses, the punt and not the booze.
But the horses and those that make them, the trainers and jockeys, are as good if not better than 1957 with Saturday at Royal Randwick a prime example.
Caulfield is strong because of the Underwood Stakes and Rupert Clarke Stakes, with a major Sydney influence, but Randwick superior.
Certainly The Shorts, a sprint that dates back to 1867, this year is much better than 1957, won by Reign who had only 49.5gk in what was then a handicap.
While conditions have changed to set weights and penalties, the potential remains untapped for two major prospects, Briasa (58kg) and the unbeaten Private Harry (58kg), as well as Golden Slipper winner Marhoona.
And Briasa ($4) and Private Harry ($2.30) are shorter in the betting than Chris Waller’s Joliestar ($5) who already has a Newmarket, one of Australia’s best sprints, down the straight six to her credit.
Sure, Private Harry holds a decision over Briasa who went back from a wide gate but the grey appeals to me due to barrier trials and odds.
Perhaps the Shorts has taken the edge off the 7Stakes, the 1600 metre weight-for-age sprint, in which navigation again is a vital factor after the last two Saturdays, at Flemington (Makybe Diva) last week and previously Randwick (Chelmsford).
Without lingering on those affronts to the eye James McDonald handles favourite Fangirl ($2.60), a Waller backmarker in the 7Stakes, while Nash Rawiller will weave his magic on stablemate Lindermann up front.
With Royal Patronage and Private Eye, prepared by Joe Pride, opposing him, Lindermann surely won’t get it as easy as his Chelmsford success in which Ceolwulf (fourth) was beaten nearly two and a half lengths.
In my opinion Pride’s Ceolwulf was not at his best last start. Sections in the Chelmsford were strong but he gets back and was outmanoeuvred by Rawiller’s uncanny judgement of pace. Pride told me Ceolwulf had an off-day, was reacting different in the dressing sheds before the event. With such big teams, trainers don’t have the personal touch of 1957. Pride is one of the exceptions.
Gringotts, under Tom Berry from the one gate, could be the danger to Ceolwulf with the possibility of others striking traffic.
Of course Waller has a strong Caulfield hand with five highly talented acceptors: Buckeroo, Land Legend, Moira (a mere $6.46 million purchase), and Anisette. However, they trail behind the Waterhouse-Adrian Bott import Sir Delius, who ‘could be anything’ in the spring after his stylish if erratic second to Lindermann.
With the 11 gate, seen as a drawback for most, Sir Delius has the benefit of Craig Williams, who rates with Rawiller when it comes to tempo. Tulloch Lodge horses, too, are not dragged back at the start.
Melbourne Cup weights, once headline racing news, were released earlier this week and I will be paying particular attention on Saturday to Land Legend (53.5kg) for the Big One.
So screen, screen on the wall who will be the most promising of them all this Saturday?
Beware of Waller’s Angle Capital in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
“Angel Capital made a superb debut for new trainer Chris Waller bolting in by three and a half lengths (in the Chautauqua at Moonee Valley) marked by fast overall time and strong sustained sections …she looks ideally placed in the Rupert Clark,” Dan O’Sullivan in The Rating Bureau.
Alas Angel Capital has drawn 13. Invariably Waller horses from outside barriers are sent into reverse when the gates open.
Going back to 1957, I cannot recall The Shorts day being better across both venues, giving McMahon great reason to flash a beaming smile at Randwick.
His predecessor, Matt Galanos, wrote novels for children. McMahon could produce an epic: “War and Peace”.
