“May the bird of good fortune dung upon your shoulder,” Stan Appleby, my first SP bookmaker and one who extended excellent credit facilities, espoused after a bet, now tagged a trade, was placed.
Every time a Ninja hits the horizon like Saturday’s Magic Millions Three-year-old Guineas on the Gold Coast the memory of Sky High and Wenona Girl in 1960 returns.
Ninja looks a put in and take out proposition: a gazelle amongst camels. At a $1.85 on Friday a steal, just a matter of having sufficient ammunition to get a real return.
Back in Appleby’s era it was just a matter of getting on the telephone and having 20 quid on Sky High in the 1960 AJC Sires Produce, a safe return better than bank interest.
Handing over currency to a bookmaker took more effort and cash was required. The “brick”, the term for the amount, taken from the colour, was more than week’s wages at the time.
Sky High, a great colt, had previously came wide and downed the outstanding Wenona Girl, carrying mine, in the Golden Slipper. The filly was given a perfect ride and Sky High did it tough yet beat her comfortably.
Well, Wenona Girl has little trouble reversing the decision at Randwick. Thus the bird involved in my gamble was an eagle, leaving droppings splattered over the face of a cadet journalist in a “time to pay” predicament.
But the lesson was well-earned. Whenever the question arises: How are they going to beat this? Sky High comes to mind. “The Butterfly”, John Mort Green, a turf sage, preached about a 11th commandment, loosely interpreted: “Thou shall not back good things”.
And Ninja qualifies. He scored last start in the Group three Vo Rogue, 1300 metres, Eagle Farm by over four lengths in what seemed a hand canter. The gelding began slow, circled the field and beat rivals in a couple of strides, described in Best Bets as the “win of the year”.
Saturday’s opposition hardly looks stronger, but beware of improvement from O’Ole, back in the ruck behind Ninja last start.
Regular correspondent Peter Mair gripes about improvement of horses set for targets and the Magic Millions is a prime example.
Tuned by Bjorn Baker, who has a taste for millions, O’Ole scored in the $3 million Magic Millions Classic last year. Yes, her recent efforts have been lacklustre but consider the Racenet comment on the Vo Rogue defeat: “Easy in market, needs a positive ride, fitness benefit.” Baker, too, has applied blinkers for the first time to the filly.
Obviously the $2 million Magic Millions prizemoney encourages connections to plan for January’s Gold Coast extravaganza. West Of Africa is another primed example in the Magic Millions Cup, probably the best race on the program.
West Of Africa won the event last year with 53kg and rises two kilos but has been given an ideal grounding by the Archibalds of Warwick Farm.
At his second start after a spell the gelding was beaten under two lengths by Know Thyself over 1400 metres at Randwick. The tempo was muddling, unsuitable to his big finish. “Next time” was written all over it.
Still the Cup has many chances. The ride will win. Craig Williams is aboard West Of Africa. I’m comfortable with him.
Navigation, though, is the key to the Gold Coast program. Big fields with strong pace anticipated, tests pilot patience and instinct.
The feature event prizemoney, if not class, is the $3 million Magic Millions Classic, a test for Rachel King on Baker’s Warwoven, unbeaten in two starts under her gentle but effective grasp.
The metric six mad dash, for often green two-year-olds, is not a happy hunting ground for females with one, Clare Lindop (Augusta Proud in 2008), taking the event.
Like Ninja, I’m wary about Warwoven, in the red on Friday, not because of the jockey, but the odds and the nagging question: “Just of how are they going to beat him?”
Going back to the 1960, I later asked his jockey Athol Mulley, a superb horseman, why Sky High was so good in the Golden Slipper?
“A bird flew around him near the turn and the colt took off,” Mulley explained.
Feathered friends should keep their place and deposits.
Good Pick’in
Last week Max pulled a couple out of a Lake which some thought were drowning.
On Friday his words and tips were:
………….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.
Race 9 – (7) Mare Of Mt Buller, (12) Sun God, (13) Chico Morija.
The F4 13-7-6-12 — these three and the (6) — paid $8000 (an exact multiple of the SP odds)
This Muddy Waters says ‘thats good pick’in’
Muddy Waters,
Some races we just get right.
Alas too few.
Cheers
Max P
Great article Max.
The best bird story I remember from Sydney racing was the day Jim Cassidy was king-hit in the chest by an errant seagull at Randwick when looking the winner on Glory Girl up the rise in the Flight Stakes in 1987, causing horse and rider to skittle into Judyann, resulting in a protest for interference which was subsequently upheld, despite the fact the favourite Glory Girl almost certainly wins the race with zero birds in the equation. I am sure I only remember this event because it was probably the last time a protest decision went my way!…Were you in attendance that day? KS
Kevin,
I was there, remember Glory Girl and Judyann, but don’t recall the incident.
The next time I am speaking with John Schreck, the former chief stipe, I’ll ask if he can jog my memory.
Cheers
Max P
Yes, it was very good tipping. I’d almost given up on Max after his tip in the Melbourne Cup came in a long last, but he redeemed himself with Chica Mojita – I wonder if he backed it?
Bill,
I have not got over Buckeroo in the Melbourne Cup.Being beaten is acceptable but by so far without the thumps, arrhythmia ,or bleeding attack leaves a void. Chica Mojita helped.
Cheers
Max P