Even with “Eleven Game Lattrell” being in Goliath mode, and a battle of the giants at the Sydney Cricket Ground with Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, lesser lightweights competed for the GOOD last weekend.
Racing and the football codes evolve around big names but the turf is unique because females match masculine power on horseback in which every race can be more precarious than a scrum, ruck or even a grabble tackle.
Rachel King and Jamie Melham are world class jockeys but others, young girls and capable women earning a living around bush tracks, given the chance are worthy rivals.
Makyla Weir qualifies.
On Saturday at Hawkesbury, she jousted with Adam Hyeronimus in the Highway handling Olympian. During the running a clash was described by stewards as Hyeronimus “making heavy contact on two occasions” with Weir’s mount, Oakfield Alaska, the eventual winner, who “became badly unbalanced”.
Perhaps it did not compare with Latrell Mitchell hurtling into a human wall of Steelers at Newcastle or Grundy attempting superiority on Gawn but they were, for the better part, on ground level without the risk of thundering hooves.
Oakfield Alaska, prepared by the astute Scott Singleton, at Scone, has now scored at her only three starts under Weir, and the stablemate Lord Remlap, her recent winner on the Kensington circuit, has also notched three straight.
Weir was fortunate to retain the last Lord Remlap success on the Kensington circuit due to a dismissed protest that earned her a suspension for being the aggressor. She was riding the fine line between bold and careless.
Before thoroughbreds Weir was tuned at rodeos, getting the feel of bucking broncs, an experience that would test footballers.
Apart from Weir other females impacted at Hawkesbury, the promising Mollie Fitzgerald on Sacrify, (Lawn Shed), great assistance claiming a three kilo claim at metrop meetings, and the Alysha Collett, diminutive but powerful as always, guiding Asgarda (Clarendon).
However ramming speed or bulldozer doesn’t quite nail the Latrell contribution. Taking on the human wall in the last minutes was unsuccessful, unlike his early try, but the true grit was there. No South Sydney player, not even a Burgess, has hit the line harder.
The Rabbits were beaten 42-38, without Jack Wighton after 20 minutes. Maybe it was the difference but the Steelers, under the guile of Kalyn Ponga, were that much better.
Special mention to our Sean Keppie, previously rated an also-ran. Keppie is a blood and guts, hard yard contributor like the much-missed Jai Arrow.
While Grundy and Gawn mixed artistry with brawn at the SCG, Malcolm Rosas junior, 24, the Swan, discarded from the Gold Coast, was dynamic. Traded as 62 at last year’s draft the 61 rated ahead must be sensational. Seven goals, most in difficult situation were awesome for Junior.
Despite his brilliance I reckoned he was matched by the opposition Demon, Pickett, until I realised there are two of them: Kysaiah and Latrelle with an “e”.
Yes 40,673 were dazzled by the SCG action while a record, after Covid, over 6000, attended Hawkesbury where Nathan Doyle captured the Gold Cup with outsider Churchill’s Choice. Ironic?
Doyle’s former star Private Harry, winner of his first five with the Newcastle trainer before a two-start lapse, switched to maestro Chris Waller and flopped in the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Stewards questioned the effort and were told the stallion needed the run on an Eagle Farm surface listed as heavy. To my eye, albeit on television, it was superior to the official at Hawkesbury, very BAD indeed.
While Private Harry spattered after showing early speed, Graham Begg’s Splash Back charged along near the rail, a no-go area at Hawkesbury, to take the Victory Stakes.
Alas Tenenbaum was on the fence in the opening Hawkesbury event, the Clarendon Stakes. The two-year-old, priced at $1.22, was quickly beaten in the straight.
Later jockey Tom Berry told stipes he made his run on the inside, “the inferior part of the track”. Indeed UGLY.
great stuff Max