A WEEKLY REVIEW: The Good The Bad The Ugly

Epsom day at Royal Randwick, with the benefit of Autumn Glow, was more great than GOOD but Reece Walsh in the Rugby League Grand Final was better.

Before Sunday, seeking the right description for Walsh, I toyed with “boom colt”, “show pony” or “poster boy” but following his effort for the Broncos against the Storm only “champion” is sufficient.

A few slick passes don’t qualify, particularly when Storm defence lacked surprising substance, but last-ditch defence by Walsh was devastating, producing the equal at least of Nathan Cleary as a match winner in the Melbourne Cup of Rugby League.

Seven triumphs out of seven attempts, produced by Autumn Glow, was an Epsom program highlight but her figures weren’t flash.

The Rating Bureau’s Dan O’Sullivan puts perspective into them. “She didn’t put the field away late but considering some early work and distance rise, it was still a top effort.

“For me she seemed to peak late, and this type of performance in her first to at a longer trip is one she could springboard off to a new peak for the next assignment.”

O’Sullivan also highlighted Vauban, another import ready to explode under Tulloch Lodge treatment, in The Metropolitan—a race in which jockey Tim Clark told stewards he made contact with a rival on jumping, was further back than intended, and raced in restricted room between the 200 metres and 100 metres.

“Beaten 1.4 lengths after not having the best of luck (?) in the straight he ran especially well once the weights are accounted for. He faces a big task in the Caulfield Cup carrying 58.5kg and will need to go to another level again to win but this run shows he’s back to his best.”

Stablemate Sir Delius, with Gai Waterhouse down south doing the tuning at Flemington, was the best of last Saturday, Sydney or Melbourne, taking the Group one Turnbull from Antico, gutsy in defeat while O’Sullivan rated Via Sistina “far from disappointing” on the score of tempo.

Well, she is Australia’s best horse. She was $2.60 and never looked a winner. But Chris Waller has set her for the Cox Plate and he’s a cobra when it comes to targets.

Alas Ciaron Maher’s Gilded Water, owned by His Majesty King Charles, was downright BAD, in the Bart Cummings, bolting with a daylight lead under Jamie Melham before staggering into the minor placing at $2.15. Considering his antics it would take Arnold Schwarzenegger to handle him. Melham recommended a norton bit.

Perhaps a gear change could get Mark Latham, a turf tragic, back on track. Latham was marched off Randwick last Saturday.

UGLY?

Reminiscent of “Hollywood George” Edser who was given life, to all racecourses worldwide, by the Australian Jockey Club in the good, old days over betting misdemeanours, but the urge to see the action live was so great he had ladders rigged on the fence outside the tracks and even hid in the long grass at Warwick Farm.

Frank Lynch, a copper seasoned in Sydney’s razor gang era, was the AJC dick, and escorted off him the property to the crescendo of language unbecoming.

On Saturday Latham showing his passion after leaving Randwick headed to Kembla Grange which wasn’t under ATC jurisdiction.

The AJC let “Hollywood George” return after 18 years in an era abundant with punters and enthusiasts. Not so now. Let Latham back, but with a togue tie.

Whether the departure of Sam Fitzgerald from racing administration is BAD or UGLY is difficult to define. Fitzgerald was instrumental in getting the Dubbo Turf Club out of the scrub to the “TAB Country Race Club Of The Year”.

Yes, the industry in New South Wales has Mr Big in Sussex Street but up and coming officials, particularly with Fitzgerald’s potential, are scarce. With the promise of Brian Fletcher (refer to the Hawkesbury Racing Club and Penrith) Fitzgerald will now join Ciaron Maher.

I consider the loss in the category of South Sydney letting Adam Reynolds go.