The Gold Coast on Saturday gushes millions, particularly the Sunlight Plate, featuring The Grafterburners, a $70,000 yearling chasing a $1.2 million jackpot, but Flemington’s Standish Handicap is time honoured and cash poor.
A “straight-six”, the Standish goes back to 1884, carrying the title that should be remembered, if not revered, but emphasises Victoria is lagging in the prizemoney race being worth a paltry $200,000, chaff bags by comparison with elsewhere.
Yes, the Sunlight a $3 million extravaganza for three-year-olds tops the bill in the north, supported by the $1.5 million Magic Millions Quality and $1million The Syndicate.
Certainly the Standish lacks horsepower this year. Trainer Graham Begg is a hurdle for the favourite Hedged with stablemates Maharba and Samangu, both striving to find their true ability.
With most race names that come from a bygone era the Standish does not resonate, but should. And thanks to John Barker, in Best Bets, for making the point.
Perhaps raffish, Captain Frederick Standish was the founder of the Melbourne Cup like Peter V’Landys instigated The Everest.
Errol Flynn could well have played Standish; Russell Crowe doesn’t have the dash. Renowned as a known gambler on English racecourses, Standish left the Old Dart with the blood hounds (debt collectors) on his heels.
Ironically, he became a big wig around the Melbourne Club, retaining membership despite being physically horse whipped at the card table and in danger of being thrown out of the dining room window for calling another member of portly persuasion “Jumbo”.
No doubt Standish would have been a perfect fit in the Journalist’s Club, once near Sydney’s Central Railway station. Horse whips were out, displaced by being king hit if the wrong card was played.
Standish made Victorian police commissioner, and distinguished himself as the minder for Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria, during a Melbourne visit.
Prince Alfred, similar to subsequent royal family members, dabbled in the promiscuous and Standish was the playmaker with him at the leading bordellos.
Not surprisingly, Standish died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1883, and the race perpetuating his memory commenced eight months later.
Robusto is an iron horse. He was buffeted and bumped in the Group 2 Ingham at Randwick, finishing with the thumps before running third less than two lengths away. The gelding copped a torrid run when beaten under a length in the Buffering at Eagle Farm last Saturday. A wide gate and 61kg are the equalisers at Wyong.
Know Thyself is a worthy favourite but around $3.10 is too short. With a knack for the race Chris Waller gets me. But which of his three, Mare Of Mt Buller, Sun God and Chica Mojito?
Gates and handicap have influenced me in regard of Chica Mojito, who has notched one in 23 attempts, a credential to shudder. However, she should have scored in Gosford’s Belle Of The Turf last start.
Andrew Atkins, a polished lightweight from the three launch with only 52kg, is the key in what promises to be a demanding contest.
No doubt the Sunlight Plate will sizzle: Swordplay’s speed from a wide gate, with North Of England, under the Tim Clark, having the Tulloch Lodge necessity to get out and go.
The potential of Ice Kool, with Jason Collett, cool under pressure, will be tested early leaving Grafterburners, with the benefit of the world’s best hoop James McDonald, getting the run of the race. On paper.
McDonald replaces Ceejay Graham who handled him sweetly at two recent successes. Despite the pluses $2.40 doesn’t appeal.
Consider David Baxter’s Akaysha, tuned with a Peter Snowden preparation with Tommy Sherry from the one gate.
Akaysha has a big finish. Getting a split at the right time is a good gamble around the $6.50 yesterday.
And what would Captain Standish do? Have a monkey (five hundred) on Samangu at Flemington. On the nod (credit), of course.
