The task of highly talented Siena Grima at Royal Randwick on Saturday and Caulfield’s Group Three John Monash Stakes, with the Graham Begg influence regarding fillies and mares, hopefully takes the blight out the Swans humiliation on Thursday.
How so many good players can form such a bad team—demoralised by the Dockers in Perth in the final quarter. The final tally against them was 111 –73 after keeping the home side goalless in the first half.
The State of Origin was good. With the added muscle of Liam Martin and Bradman Best, NSW were superior and more effective. Sydney defenders need more grit and less comedy routine seen from Dane Rampe.
But a live kill over Queensland doesn’t ignite the tribal flame like the Swans at their peak, or the Rabbits when they are mighty.
While an administrator, more a bean counter with assistance, has been established to take the reins at the Australian Turf Club, the Randwick action this week remains enthralling due to Grima, out to overcome the current bad gate bogey.
Recently Grima, 23, has been the form jockey, an apprentice with a two-kilo claim, riding as good as the seniors. She was identified in the bush by Chris Waller who only uses the best. With the valuable assistance of Darren Beadman, the former champion hoop, she is adaptable and rides with guile beyond her experience.
Earlier with Godolphin, Beadman also contributed to the rise of Zac Lloyd, back from aboard who will be matching skill with Grima who has seven mounts from awkward draws, more topical than the new management.
Much waffle has been peddled about ATC control, even regarding “calls for the directors to resign”. From whom? I go most Saturdays, dealing with the “salt of the turf”, the regulars not the malcontents. I have not heard any, and have a ready ear for agitators.
Take, Peter Mair, for instance. We rarely agree but he is an enthusiast and, at times, makes a point.
“Racing administrators could and should tip a bucket of cold water on a smouldering policy issue, and limit the acceptance of multiple runners from one stable to run in the same race,” he emailed.
“At Canterbury (last Wednesday) – a low-grade, mid-week meeting — two races illustrate the need for a display of common sense.
“Race 2 — a 1200m scamper for 2yros — had 16 acceptors of which seven were from the one stable. Three have been scratched, including two drawn out in barriers 14 and 15. Of the four still scheduled to run — one is the even money favourite while the odds for the other three average more than 15/1. If those three run 8th to10th, the prize-money paid will total some $5,000.
“Race 5 — a benchmark 64 run over 1550m – had 16 acceptors with a maximum of 10 to start. One stable had six acceptors, of which the four likely to run, at average odds more than 7/1, would be paid prize-money of some $6,000, even if finishing seventh to 10th.
“The ‘take’ from total betting turnover on the races themselves may not cover the prize-money paid — almost certainly the additional turnover on the one-stable also-rans would not cover the payouts for running down to tenth.
“Put simply, the situation so illustrated is so clearly unsound it demands a commonsense response.”
According to Mair, ideally one stable should be limited to two starters.
“However, if more than two still accept, only two would be eligible to receive any prize-money.
“Perhaps the administrator appointed to sort out the ATC could recognise and address the obvious need for a response.”
The current ATC situation, after expensive court battles, arrived out of the failure to sell Rosehill racecourse, a situation Racing’s Mr Big, encouraged.
He will get pursue his own goals. Wise guys figure Rosehill should have gone although Racing NSW is building a massive real estate portfolio while Randwick has been allowed to wither. ATC administration or an unfair funding model?
I’m rusted into the past, a situation awakened by the closure of Aqueduct in the United States.
Once the battle ground of greats like Secretariat, Man O’ War, Seabiscuit, and others the “Big A” has gone, described as progress – in the wrong direction.
Racing, though, is about horses and those that make them. With the Grima touch Saturday at Royal Randwick promises to leave memories.
Grima, striving to stitch up the champion apprentice title for the season over the suspended Braith Nock, has stolen the limelight over the John Monash.
Seven of her nine rides drew gates of nine or worse. The pattern of racing, or bias, will play a role with the rail nine metres out.
Her favourites Perfect Justice ($4.60 – 11), Tazima (4.20 – 10), and Lugh ($4.60 – 10) will require plenty of saddle assistance while Red Rags To Bulls ($7 – 13), Existential Bob ($8 – 11) Concordia Wind ($7.50 – 9) and Hurry Miss ($8 – 10) can score with the right passage.
Grima should be able to give Woodenbridge ($8-3), Benevac (3.20-2) and Sociable (8) from the same draw the run of the race, a situation that may test Begg’s Miraval Rose in the Sir John Monash who launches from eight.
Begg triumphed in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm recently with the imported mare Splash Back, and last Wednesday at Sandown with Queen Peta, a three-year-old filly by Dirty Work, a stallion with a $11,000 service fee. It was only Queen Peta’s second start, albeit on a heavy track, but in a manner that prompted course broadcaster Matt Hill to declare “we’ve seen a good one”.
Miraval Rose is resuming after a spell but the trainer has given a foundation of barrier trial and jump outs. She has acted well fresh in the past and likes Caulfield.
