A WEEKLY REVIEW: The Good The Bad The Ugly

Last Saturday’s action emphasised the spirit of racing with different demographics: the Gold Coast, ablaze with guildersterns for the Magic Millions while the salt of the turf sweltered at Wyong.

Shakespeare featured a Gildenstern but the dictionary describes them as “symbolic of ambition and opportunists”.

Obviously they are well placed at the Magic Millions, while s.o.t (salt of the turf) is a mix of those intrigued with racing, the punt, the live action, and prepared to suffer for their indulgence.

The Gold Coast entices internationals with yearling sales and lavish prizemoney for two Saturdays, but Wyong is more for the locals and a welcome break from Sydney Saturdays.

Yes, wise guys reckoned only 1300 attended the blistering heat at the provincial circuit last week. Horse players, many clad in shorts and thongs, handled the conditions. Horses, though, if anything looked more comfortable. Only one, Bojangles, a local, had heat stress.

The Gold Coast was more Royal Ascot, fashion to the fore. Kate Waterhouse, a Channel Seven presenter, was garbed like a Chanel model, more tuned to a Paris catwalk than Queensland racecourse.

Waterhouse, daughter of Gai and Robbie, is the granddaughter of Tommy Smith, who never sullied his steel on the old Southport racecourse, now the Gold Coast.

Queenslanders took the honours with Kelly Schweida having a successful double with Miss Joeline and Grafterburners, more bread and dripping types rather than the caviar and French champagne sale toppers.

Certainly Gerry Harvey and Katie Page have taken the Gold Coast and racing in general to a new level with the Magic Millions. Promotion is an element. Ambassadors, “A” listers from home and abroad, featured. The twilight events produced a vision splendid on Channel Seven.

But Wyong had character. Anne Munsie was there as was the Carrol Cake Kid. Once The Kid, a chef by trade, dispensed free cake and coffee to the racecourse famished before the Australian Turf club barred him. Subsequently he came into money and now has property at Warner’s Bay.

Politicians, too, braved Wyong, headed by David Harris, Minister For Racing and Gaming, and the Mayor, Lawrie McKinna, who has a brogue more Culloden than Terrigal.

McKinna is attempting to get me for an ocean swim. I am waiting for the shark situation to subside. It reminded me of being offered the mount on a horse called “Bucky” at Fernhill. I declined.

During a brief discussion Harris struck me as having common sense, a rare commodity for his ilk. Street smarts is handy too.

My first drink with a politician, Bob (Later Sir Robin) Askin, a punter, pulled plenty out of City Tatts, one way or another. Add animal cunning to his repertoire.

Thus Wyong and the Magic Millions produced GOOD with the BAD, for some, arising from the Gold Coast with Ceejay Graham, superb on Miss Joelene earlier on the program, being jocked off Grafterburners for James McDonald in the $3 million Sunlight. Graham was successful on the gelding at his previous two successes.

Sure, I’m a supporter of riders who contribute to the development of a mount before a big name takes over for the lucrative races.

Still this was a massive prize in a very competitive arena. J-Mac is the best in the world. I would have pulled the same rein as connections.

A week earlier Tom Berry replaced Andrew Atkins on the highly promising Ninja in the Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm. Atkins had won twice at the development stage of Ninja but following a defeat was replaced by Tom Berry.

Berry paid tribute to the effort of Atkins after the triumph. Chivalry still exists. Atkins may never be a leading jockey but he gets the accolade, rarely disclosed, as a “money rider”, carry mine at any time.

Former stablemate Sam Clipperton is in a same category. Both had the benefit of a Ron Quinton education.

UGLY comes up with the jovial, Harrison Ford-like Bjorn Baker concerning stablemates Amor Victorious and Robusto wilting at the tail of Wyong’s Lakes Mile. Puntin ($3.30), also prepared by Last Race Bjorn, in the final event went little better. Baker horses didn’t travel last Saturday?
He sent Disneck to Flemington for an easy kill in the weak Group Three Standish.