Being a South Sydney and Swans supporter, BAD and UGLY figured prominently, and difficult to find a GOOD last week but Margaret De Gonneville came to the rescue.
“What a wonderful way to go out – with a winner,” Racing NSW reported. “That’s what Margaret De Gonneville did at Taree. Golden Galaxy scored as Margaret’s final runner ending a career that started in the 1950’s.”
This was the era when females were as scarce as a fox, the animal, who ranged at Randwick as well as the human variety, and I am chuffed to be the first write about De Gonneville.
She was riding trackwork for Tommy Smith. Not just taking the Tulloch Lodge horses to the centre of the course where the serious riders took over but in the gallops. Track riders were, and are, vital. I cannot recall any other female filling such a role for the champion horseman who was anything but a misogynist.
For decades Pauline Blanche, in the office, was a vital cog in the Tulloch Lodge operation. Major trainers now have a staff and computer experts fulfilling her role.
De Gonneville taught Smith’s daughter, Gai, to ride. As Gai Waterhouse she became a major player on the Australian turf, and a pacemaker for women impacting on the industry.
After leaving Randwick perhaps De Gonneville was a lesser-light, went bush but maintained a glow wherever she trained until the end.
Last week other highlights were slim. Graham Begg’s two-year-old filly Riverina Lulu looked promising winning at Flemington on Saturday but I don’t place prominence on the first race.
Wait and see, the same opinion on the National Tote with all States combining for a major pool. Wise guys are apprehensive. Anyway it’s pleasing to see some life from the TAB under Gillon McLachlan.
Rosehill Gardens on Saturday was winter and disappointing on two fronts. I made it to Strathfield by train only to be informed a bus would be required to Granville and another bus to Parramatta followed by the light rail.
Problems were anticipated but not this level. A camel would have been speedier. I was in transit before being aware of the 55 scratchings, otherwise I would have diverted to Gosford.
Sure, the heavy track would have contributed to the Rosehill withdrawals and the critic Peter Mair is hot on the subject of inflated fields.
“Of the 160 runners accepted, percent were at pre-post odds of 25/1 or more – 10 percent at 50/1 or more. Most likely these long-shot runners will be inflated-field clutter – likely to impede runners with better chances,” Mair, in part, emailed last Friday.
“There will be scratchings from the 160 acceptors – mainly runners drawn wide. Checking for ‘double acceptors’ – there are five– one drew 17 and18 and it is already out of both – the other four have a ‘you guess’ choice of starting from barriers 19 and 20 or barriers two, three and four. Delayed scratching decisions waste time of punters doing the form.
“How can it be lauded as sound administration for RNSW to do this? Not only inflating fields with apparent no-hopers but, by accepting too-many runners, inviting the scratching of credible runners drawn wide.
“Administrators need to rethink the inflated-field business model. It is not fair.”
Why are there so many withdrawals in modern racing? Rosehill on Saturday was always going to be rain effected, and the conditions no doubt contributed.
In the good, old days acceptors were declared on Thursday, not Wednesday. Also there wasn’t the interstate option where horses now can accept in three states, the fields studied and the best decision taken.
On Saturday a fifth reserve, Rolling Magic, scored at Rosehill. Usually form students figure horses down that far down won’t get a run. Obviously, adjustment is required.
Missing Rosehill, even on a heavy, was a pain, intensified by watching live the Rabbits’ first half fairy floss defence against Canberra. Cody Walker, 36, was a fall guy but not fully responsible.
Matt Dufty, the full-back much fancied by the highly qualified coach Wayne Bennett, played reasonable but the Rabbits would have been better with Jai Gray, who is more mobile at the back and just as involved upfront.
Alex Johnston, our great flank man, returned wearing a leg brace, something similar last seen on a trotter at Harold Park. Johnston, in a wheelchair, would be better than any others that are available.
The result? Disappointing but the spirit came as expected. Alas the Swans, on the home turf, the Sydney Cricket Ground, against Adelaide were more frustrating.
How can so many good players be such a common outfit? Surely Isaac Heaney, Chad Warner and Tom Papley are superstars. Others, too, can be exceptional, but the defence doesn’t function.
Adelaide always gave the impression of being a better team. Sydney remained viable due to individual brilliance.
Another enjoyable read Max!
……regarding Margaret DeGonneville – you will find she trained for many years at Canterbury Park – was well respected by the many that trained/rode trackwork there – always well known for naming her horses with ‘Gold’ prefix