“It is surprising how often a winner of a feature race backs up a year later and wins it again,” Peter Mair, in a worthwhile foray away from balance sheets, turnover and bagging country racing, emailed.
“Often surprisingly without either a win in between or any leadup form to suggest it would or could.
“The idea that a horse would have been ‘set for the race’ is sensible enough but perhaps questions should be asked and answered about the sincerity of which it contested its leadup races so apparently failing to flatter.
“Administrators may like to encourage their stewards to offer some guidance.”
And Peter Quayle agrees.
“Whenever I see this it makes me think of Prince Trialia who won the Doomben 10,000 in 1990 and 1991 and nothing between, coincidentally beating Planet Ruler in 1990 who was busy running up a losing streak of his own between wins in the 1989 and 1990 Salingers.”
Quayle is going back to the good, old days when trainers would run weight or handicap off the back of their horse with quiet runs. There was a skill to it.
Pelf from bookmakers was worth more than prizemoney.
Trainers had their horses prime for the target event which was GOOD. Some, too, thrive at a certain stage of the season: best in spring, autumn or winter.
During my 1960’s stint in Great Britain, the Sporting Life, a major racing publication, would feature the placings of the race the previous year, similar to gear changes currently. It was always relevant, history repeated.
Racing has changed: tryers and horses at full throttle like never before. Note the number that build up winning and placing sequences. Consider trainer Joe Pride, for one.
Pride on Sky Radio last Saturday pointed out blinkers had been taken off a couple of Randwick starters, a policy when his horses are not 100 percent ready. It did not mean they were dead but will improve with racing and the return of the gear.
Big prizemoney events like the Magic Millions encourage trainers to set their eligible types for the lucrative Gold Coast return.
Take, for instance, West Of Africa, successful on the Gold Coast last year. West Of Africa was sixth in the Forklift at Randwick on Saturday, not beaten by lack of intent but tempo. Still improvement is anticipated at the Gold Coast.
Winning is the key. Some may need race practise, more effective than barrier trials, and score on route. I cannot argue with the modern trend, hardly epitomised by a Tulloch Lodge first and last pair, Shiki, the $1.80 flop in TAB Plate at Randwick on Saturday, and Catoggio (Petaluma).
Shiki stopped as though shot while Catoggio never got hot which was BAD but the Supreme Court finding in favour of the Australian Turf Club, joyful for most, was indeed UGLY for Racing NSW, now boosted with at least another political appointment, David Tierney, a former chief of staff of Labor powerbroker, Graham Richardson, Harbour cruise fancier and mate of Eddie Obeid. For a full run-down on his form read the Sydney Morning Herald’s Kate McClymont. Richo received a State Funeral. Coupled with Qantas a scintillating quinella for Albo.
Anyway, get that warm and fuzzy feeling that a Labor apparatchik has been sent out to grass in style. Racing NSW directors get $75,000 a year to agree with Mr Big.
Horse sense: “I watch a lot of trials and watch a lot of races. I do most of it myself. You see horses flattered in trials – the lightweight jockey from barrier one, leading easily and putting four lengths on them. Horses can be easily flattered, winning a 900 metre trial by four,” trainer Mark Newnham on his successful system of selecting horses for Hong Kong.
thanks as always Max Merry Xmas