Saturday December 1, 2007
Leading them a merry Dance
AS WITH many returning to Royal Randwick today after the equine influenza plague, fitness level is the query with outstanding sprinter Takeover Target in the Arrowfield Stud Sprint.
Saturday November 24, 2007
Eclipse hope no flash in the pan
WEIGHT aspects are against Flash Trick in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown today but not so the female influence, much to the fore in recent weeks.
Monday November 19, 2007
Jockeys not taking the initiative
"ANOTHER suspicion [about Saturday's meeting at Sandown] is that jockeys rode incompetently, as evidenced by erratic sectionals in slowly run races, writes Max Presnell.
Monday November 12, 2007
Real-life fairytale ending
NIKITA Beriman produced a touch of National Velvet at the Melbourne Cup carnival. On Tuesday it was the high rollers of the Melbourne Cup, but the Tears I Cry mob, taking Saturday's group 1 Emirates at Flemington, showed racing can still produce the fairytale.
Saturday November 10, 2007
Hussler can buck the trend
PHYSIQUE more than form impresses rival trainer Bart Cummings about the vibrant three-year-old Weekend Hussler in today's Emirates Stakes at Flemington.
Wednesday November 7, 2007
One for the team: Lloyd and co share the credit
WITH Efficient, the controversial "Team Williams" repelled the European challenge in yesterday's Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Tuesday November 6, 2007
Chance for Duric
"DAMIEN Oliver and Vlad Duric … in my eyes, I've gone head to head with Oliver and beaten him. I can sit on. I'm not as polished as Paddy Payne, but my riding style is effective." So says Duric, who rides in his first Melbourne Cup, on Master O'Reilly, today.
Where the champions go
Living Legends brings together retired champions. They may have
slowed but they still have plenty to give, writes Max Presnell.
Monday November 5, 2007
Farewell, Jack Elliott, a man who had top billing over Sinatra
LOOKING for a word to describe Jack Elliott, who died yesterday aged 85, it was difficult. "Swashbuckler" was suggested but "legend" or "giant" are more fitting. Jack was one of the great racing communicators, not only in the print media (he was Melbourne Herald turf editor for 30 years) but also on television. He was as well known and respected in Kentucky, London and Tokyo as Melbourne, and gained an OAM for his services to racing. Starting as a copy boy at 15 he later went through World War II, the Argus and Sporting Globe before the Melbourne Herald, where he produced a Melbourne Cup cover that was an art form. Soon after the field passed the winning post, Jack would slide down steep stairs from his position watching the 2.40pm race to a cubicle where he would dictate a cover, fed by colleagues, that had every quote, fact and aspect of the Big One on the street shortly after 4pm. It was speed journalism and teamwork that will never be seen again. When he visited Sydney, The Chevron had it right. "Welcome
Monday October 29, 2007
Valley betting action tumbles
TABCORP must be disappointed with the NSW turnover drop on the Cox Plate meeting at Moonee Valley. Sure, only four rivals went against the outstanding Miss Andretti in the Schweppes Stakes, hardly making it an attractive proposition. But NSW horse players contributed to only a $18.3 million turnover compared with $19.2m for the corresponding meeting last year. The Cox Plate, a good betting medium, finished at $6.87m, down from $7.6m when Fields Of Omagh nosed out El Segundo in 2006. Yet the Fat Quaddie stimulated a record $1.2m, but without a Sydney meeting more action was expected overall. Could it be that the lack of Sydney influence played a role or are punters generally switching off due to the equine influenza?
Saturday October 27, 2007
Mighty Miss can rule Valley
LEARNED turf authority Lloyd Williams has asked relevant questions about Miss Finland in today's Cox Plate. "I don't like her. Why is she favourite?" he said
Monday October 22, 2007
O'Brien times run to perfection
EXEMPLARY planning by trainer Danny O'Brien came to the fore in Saturday's Caulfield Cup and promises to carry on through to the Big One at Flemington on November 6. Sure, the Caulfield Cup was lacking class because of the absence of Sydney contenders, and even more so because of the late withdrawals of Maldivian and Eskimo Queen. However, the O'Brien quinella, Master O'Reilly and Douro Valley, had a decisive edge on the opposition with the possible exception of the European stayer Purple Moon, whose finish was blunted by interference. Under normal circumstances, Master O'Reilly would have been tested in a Caulfield Cup but he looks a real Flemington horse. O'Brien's timing came into play when he qualified for the cups with Master O'Reilly in the Winning Edge Presentations Stakes on October 13. That race has always been regarded as more of a pointer for the Melbourne Cup than the Caulfield Cup. With Douro Bay, O'Brien had to beat Maldivian in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield to get into the majors. Also his
Saturday October 20, 2007
The Princess and the pea
THE iron nerve of Glen Boss, required aboard Princess Coup from a wide gate, could prove a major obstacle for hot favourite Maldivian in today's Caulfield Cup.
Monday October 8, 2007
Good tracks going from bad to worse
"WHAT exactly is wrong with racing on a good track?" emailed Peter Lawrence. "After a week of beautifully fine weather and only 3mm of rain, the track at Flemington [on Saturday] was a joke.
Saturday September 29, 2007
Annenkov brings European class to Mornington
THE horses for courses theory will be tested by Sarrera in today's
Ansett Classic at Mornington, when he takes on former European
stayer, Annenkov, which is more familiar with Longchamps and
Chantilly in France.
