“First, City Of Troy, the latest horse to be anointed by the incomparable Aidan O’Brien as the best he has ever trained, flopped like a wet sponge in the 2000 Guineas.
“Then with Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin team mopping up top races to demonstrate that their comparatively poor 2023 was merely a blip, their Hidden Law passed the post as an impressive three-length winner of the Chester Vase.
“As bookmakers’ fingers flicked laptop keys to install the Dubawi colt as new favourite for the Derby, a few yards further on he took a false step and shattered his right foreleg. Within minutes he was euthanised.
“These animals are so powerful and yet so fragile and as so often it was John Gosden, one of racing’s proper grown-ups who explained to TV viewers why it is almost impossible to save a horse’s life in such circumstances. It is really time he was given a knighthood.”
Why lead with this quote on my first Saturday preview, over the new website course and distance?
Well, I want to tip a winner.
If there is a better intro to a racing column than the recent effort by Robin Oakley of The Spectator, I would be delighted to read it.
In an interview with John Tapp (for his John Tapp Racing podcast) I was asked about turf authors who influenced me.
Going back to the original Shakespeare, most great writers – whether they be on racing or any other subject – leave a mark.
Those who come to mind include US icons Damon Runyon, Red Smith and Joe Palmer… Locals – headed by Banjo Paterson and Les Carlyon – are by no means overshadowed.
But Oakley, now a must every second week in The Spectator, gets top billing today – a half head in front of an outstanding Eagle Farm program.
The $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup over 1300m tops the $20 million Everest for depth. And there is a highly attractive Queensland Derby – made so by the classy filly Autumn Angel, which has the Peter Moody influence.
In the sprint, I Wish I Win, is up against the Everest winner Think About, and out to avenge his neck defeat in the Royal Randwick clash in October.
In Secret, who was on their heels after coming from last, lines up again with strong prospects. As usual Espiona – another candidate today – was behind them getting into traffic jams.
Last-start Group one winners, Bella Nipotina and Magic Time, absent from The Everest, add substance to the race. The local Antino, successful at 10 out of 15 and triumphant last start, will also have supporters.
Moody, who now trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman, won the Derby with a filly, Riva San, in 2008. The last female to score was Dariana two years later, confirming the task ahead for Autumn Angel and making her short odds ($2.60 on Friday) a negative factor.
Autumn Angel has to overcome Tannhauser, who beat her last start by over a length. Still, the filly gave the impression she would be better for the run – her first for over a month.
Springing from the three gate under Nash Rawiller and with blinkers for the first time, Tannhauser is geared for the run of the race and presents as a formidable rival.
Another quandary regarding the filly are the “potential” three-year-olds, which can explode over the Derby distance of 2400 metres.
Like his stablemate, I Wish I Win ($3.90 on Friday) is favourite. Autumn Angel is a standout on paper – and with many ratings agencies – but the New Zealand-bred gelding doesn’t have much on the opposition.
I Wish I Win launches from the one barrier, a negative when he was beaten by Bella Nipotina last start in the Doomben 10,000 due to the ground closer to the rail being inferior.
Inside gates don’t have a flash record in the Kingsford Smith. Five out of the six last winners have commenced from seven or wider. With little if anything on the opposition the ride will make the difference thus Luke Nolan, back on I Wish I Win after being replaced by James McDonald is in the hot seat.
Rawiller handles the difficult and erratic Espiona. Doing everything right she can upset the favourites. Trainer Chris Waller will attempt to get her focused with winkers against them. (For my final selections locate “Play The Exotics”.)
But I’ll end with Oakley….
“Lawyers get them (knighthoods) as a matter of habit, political party donors buy them, ex-ministers get them as a consolation prize and as any decent businessman who has done so much for their industry as John Gosden has done for racing should expect such recognition. Is it racing’s association with betting which keeps denying its deserving figures such an accolade?”
I could add a few racing colonials worthy of the distinction. Lady Gai has always had a ring to it.
