Racing has changed since Paul Cave ran fast and loose with the aptly Tony Wildman at Warwick Farm then just coming out of title “legion of the lost”.
Looking more John Wayne in his Stetson than a leprechaun, Irishman Cave, now in training partnership with his wife Martha, scored with The Mona Lisa in her 16th race of the season.
Yes, he is old school, a demographic I support. The Caves produce hand tailored horses who get the benefit of a trainer’s eye and more personal involvement, and the durability of The Mona Lisa is another example.
Mind you the equine conveyor belts, operating under the direction of Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, produce remarkable results, the like of which was never envisaged.
When Cave and Wildman were the Warwick Farm boom colts only a few trainers had the knack with big strings. Tommy Smith led the way, and his numbers would now be regarded as more hobby than major.
Wildman is long gone, but Cave still going strong with the equine skill first gleaned in County Cork, and apparent with The Mona Lisa, winner on a special program.
CEO Steve McMahon put new life into the ATC performances of the season awards that covered the four tracks: Randwick, Rosehill, Warwick Farm and Canterbury.
Frank and Christine Cook were the most successful owners, their colours bob up for many stables with more frequency than Godolphin, while Darby Racing, immense and outstanding syndicators, were the most successful. My Racehorse received the “Ownership Recognition Award”.
As well as major outfits the Cook’s support the lesser lights where up close and personal with horses still counts. Apart from Cave, Matthew Dale also triumphed at Randwick on Saturday as did Craig Carmody with Sir Les. A former jockey Carmody tuned Sir Les to a successful tempo riding him in track gallops.
Dale prepares his team at Goulburn, no man’s land as far as Sydney results were concerned when Cave was cutting his teeth here.
John O’Shea, now back after an unjust period out in the cold, first alerted about the talent of Dale. O’Shea has a great eye for talent be it saddle (James McDonald) or on ground level.
Dale was positive in a Sky Channel interview about the prospects of So You Pence before the ATC Thank You Owners Handicap. Being a six-year-old having had only nine starts, she is obviously tricky to prepare.
So You Pence was having her first start for 38 weeks over 1300 metres and without a barrier trial but Dale had her fit, leaving little doubt she would win and proving correct. Listening to trainers for around 70 years I have a cynical ear but Dale is GOOD like Cave, and Carmody.
The South Sydney result over Melbourne last Friday was satisfactory, with a bounce-of-the-ball involvement, but 31 missed tackles in the first half was BAD, as was Brandon Smith joining the list of limping wounded when showing what a force he can be.
One commentator reckoned Matt Dufty was the best Rabbit. Dufty was strong in attack but defence? The last line would be better served by the more mobile Jai Gray who would be effective up front. Is there as talented a player on the bench anywhere?
Bad, too, is the demise of City Tatt’s, once the gambling hub of Sydney, with its last artefacts looking for disposal.
It was reputed to be a bookmaker’s club. S.P. (starting price and illegal) bookmakers have gone the way of the dodo, and the oncourse variety now lacks the instincts of old. Characters and desperates, those who survived on their wits, too, have diminished.
“Whoever sets foot in these premises does so at their own risk,” unwritten but a message that should have been carried over the door.
Melbourne Mick Bartley humped thousands in cash in a David Jones carrier bag for settling. The transactions of S.P. bookmakers were settled there on Monday, huge bets were transacted on snooker every day, and poker machines clanged most hours and days with a vibration felt at Circular Quay.
Amarillo Slim came from the United States and cleaned out the locals, itemised in “Good Losers Die Broke” and “Hollywood George” Edser cleaned out the safety deposit boxes, millions in black money kept away from income tax intrusion, in a scam worthy of “The Sting”.
City Tatt’s was renowned for the “whip around” for the needy, usually funerals and such. Alas a “whip around” employed a hit-man from Melbourne to dispose of “Hollywood” George. He missed.
Sure, I am talking through may pocket but she did enough subsequently to indicate with a clean start she would have justified the confidence in her.
But it was one of those days.
At Caulfield Miraval Rose my selection in the Bletchingly never got into the race: slow to begin and sandwiched out early. Later the stewards reported “a throat condition may have affected her performance”.
