As memories come flooding back this week of my experience at Royal Ascot, an incredible and amazing facility that the world’s racing eyes will be glued on, I decided to have a hard think about what the best racetrack in Australia is?
HERE’S WHAT I THINK
At a recent luncheon with a large number of sporting people present, I was asked, “What is the best racetrack in Australia”?
I was asked to consider two things (a) From a horse’s perspective and (b) from a racegoer’s perspective.
Thinking of the horse, you want a big roomy track where every horse gets its chance and you want a well kept surface.
You also need to consider how a track races after rain or frosts.
From the racegoer’s point of view, you need 21st century facilities, with comfort, good food outlets and good viewing positions.
Just to let you people south of the Murray know I am not always biased, I took everything into consideration and truthfully answered Flemington.
Racing now must be about an experience for it to continue to survive and prosper.
I would obviously have Randwick at number two and I would give the bronze medal to Rosehill.
Of course, Caulfield, The Valley, Eagle Farm and Morphettville have plenty to offer, but they all trail the top three tracks in one aspect or another.
There you have it Flemington first, Randwick second and Rosehill third.
I might put together a list of country track that are a must visit, any suggestions?
WILL THIS SEASON’S GROUP 1 JUVENILES TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
How are this year’s 2YO Group 1 winners going to stand up as three-year-olds?
The Australian Group 1 two-year-old races are the Blue Diamond, the Golden Slipper, the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, the Champagne Stakes and the JJ Atkins Stakes.
Good two-year-old form does not transform into good three-year-old form very often, but I have a feeling this year could be an exception.
The winning group are Little Brose (Diamond), Shinzo (Slipper), Militarize (Sires and Champagne) and King Colorado (Atkins).
There is a bit of substance there.
But we should look at the other years in the 20s to get a comparison.
The 2020 winners were Tagaloa (Diamond), Farnan (Slipper), King’s Legacy (Sires and Champagne) and Rothfire (Atkins).
In 2021 it was Artorius (Diamond), Stay Inside (Slipper), Anamoe (Sires), Captivant (Champagne) and Converge (Atkins).
In 2022 It was Daumier (Diamond), Fireburn (Slipper and Sires), She’s Extreme (Champagne) and Sheeza Belter (Atkins).
There are some top horses there, but there’s also a few that didn’t go on with it.
I would give 2021, in hindsight, the gong as the best of those three years.
Can 2023 top it?
A FEW SMARTIES TO FOLLOW
It is folly to get carried away with winter two-year-old form, in fact it is a quick route to the dole queue.
But, boy oh’ boy, Steparty won comfortably again at Flemington on Saturday and continues to look the goods.
The Paul Preusker-trained colt can take up a good position and he can accelerate.
He always had his race won at Flemington on Saturday and he now boasts three from three.
Blazing Harry, the well backed runner-up to Steparty, also hit the line well and is certain to pay his way.
I also think the Sydney two-year-old winner Tutta La Vita went well although her winning margin would not have satisfied some.
For the first time in three starts this filly was not advantaged by being ridden with a nice quiet sit, but I liked the way she responded when Kerrin McEvoy put the big question to her.
I’ll be surprised if Tutta La Vita is not contesting the big three-year-old fillies races in the spring.
THE RACE OF DREAMS
I love this quote from Wiremu Pinn and I am sure Peter V’landys will too.
“My favourite race is The Everest, I love that race. It would be a dream to ride in it and if I was to win it it would be like winning the Lotto.”
Remember when Kiwi kids used to aspire to be like Jimmy Cassidy and win the Melbourne Cup?
IPSWICH WIN A REAL FAMILY AFFAIR
When Deepour sailed down the middle of the Ipswich track for an impressive win it became a family affair that traced back to the great Even Stevens.
Deepour is trained by Adam Campton on the Gold Coast and the son of former top jockey Neil but 20 minutes prior to his victory, his cousin Blake Ryan saddled up Shadow Raiders at Kembla for an impressive win.
An hour prior to that Blake’s father Gerald led in Grebeni to the winners’ stall at Rosehill.
Adam and Blake’s mothers are sisters and the daughters of the late Les Coles, the rider of the champ Even Stevens.
Champion jockey Malcolm Johnston is the nephew of Les Coles as his mother was Les’ sister.
Even Stevens won both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 1962 shooting himself and Les Coles into racing’s history.
Back to Deepour, his victory on Saturday was better than the norm and don’t be surprised if some better races are on the horizon.
YOUNG GUN ON AN UPWARD SPIRAL
Blake Ryan has just about done it all in the racing game, working with dad Gerald from an early age, riding trackwork and riding successfully as an amateur jockey.
He also tried his hand in the media, as a television director with TVN and some freelance directing with the free to air networks.
Now he is starting to make his mark as a trainer and had a good week last week winning with I Am Brazen at Hawkesbury on Sunday and Shadow Raiders at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Shadow Raiders is one of several horses sent to Ryan by Mark Newnham and he will more than likely finish his career under Newnham’s banner in Hong Kong.
If he gets the right opportunities you will hear a lot about Blake Ryan, a good bloke and a good trainer.
PROVEN FORMULA CONTINUES TO GROW
Annabel Neasham has continued on big time with her formula of bringing European horses to Australia with the guidance of her good friend Stuart Boman, an Australian-born partner in Blandford Bloodstock UK.
They started of course by teaming up to buy Zaaki as a tried horse for 150,000 guineas and they have followed him with dozens of others.
In fact this lovely young lady is swamping us with overseas stayers.
Just at Rosehill on Saturday, Neasham’s European contingent were Manbehindthemoney, Naval College, Claim The Crown, Fawkner Park, Bois D’Argent, Bartholomeu Dias, Space Tracker and Vintage Choice while Asgoodassobergets was scratched to run at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Regal Lion was also scratched from Rosehill and went to Queensland instead and won the Ipswich Cup.
She also started the French import Hopeful at Flemington and the Irish imports I Am The Empire and Numerian at Ipswich.
PUNTERS LOVE BEING IN CAMPBELL’S CORNER
Young Campbell Rawiller had a day he will remember at Warrnambool on Sunday.
To show the giant strides he has made in the jumping ranks and the respect he is held in by trainers, Rawiller’s three rides in the jumping races were all well fancied by punters, Dashing Willoughby started at $2.90 in the opening hurdle race, Frankenstar at $2.45 in the second hurdle event and Armansky as a hot $2 favourite in the Steeple.
Alas all three horses let punters down with Dashing Willoughby running third, Frankenstar fourth and Armansky dislodging Rawiller just before the ninth obstacle when bowling along about five lengths clear of the field.
Lo and behold the young rider is made of pretty stern stuff.
He dusted himself off after the fall in race three, was passed fit to ride in the next race the Highweight flat over 2350 metres, and he duly landed the money on the Paul Preusker-trained Handshake, a $4.60 chance.
HEAVEN ON EARTH
I won’t embarrass the high-profile figure by naming him but I received this text after he and his lovely wife had just spend an incredible day at Coolmore Stud in Ireland kindly arranged by Colm Santry.
“I’ve been to 15 Melbourne Cups, 3 Everest’s, 4 Cox Plates, 22 Golden Slippers, 29 Mudgee Cups, 12 Rugby League Grand Finals, one Super Bowl, I saw Gunsynd win a Doncaster, watched Winx, Black Caviar and Sunline in countless victories and Cathy Freeman win gold at the Sydney Olympics and I have fathered six incredible kids and today was up there with the best.
“And of course I was there to see Commando Hunt win this year’s Scone Cup but today was just amazing.
“The whole Coolmore story was something I will never forget. The museum, the Gardens and the horse flesh and young Tom who gave us the guided tour was amazing.
“I’m been on earth a fair time but today wow”.
If you ever find yourself in Tipperary County, Ireland don’t dare miss ‘the greatest place on earth’ for horses.
UUUUUUMMMMMMMMM
- Look out for a big announcement this week with a Royal flavour. It seems while one major racing jurisdiction is struggling for dollars, another is rolling in it.
- Early invites have gone out for a well-known participant’s wedding but the mail is a few that aren’t on the guest list have their noses out of joint.
BLACKBOOKER – A WIN IS COMING
FORGOTTEN GODDESS – Inexperience showed on debut for this filly but one thing that was evident is she has her share of ability. After looking awkward early she picked herself up to charge home and grab third late on the Kensington track last week. Mark her down as she looks a nice type.
MAGNATEAR – He was never a winning chance after settling at the back and the race dominated by the leader but I liked the way he continued to chase, finishing third beaten under a length and a half at Wyong last Thursday. A bigger track will suit so don’t give up on him and he will be winning some races.
TROOPER KNUCKLE – This Keith Dryden trained galloper is in for a good campaign judging by his first two runs. He found himself in front on Friday at Goulburn and was outsprinted when the dash went on. With two runs at the 1300m he is now looking for some extra distance.
GREEN RUN – This lightly raced three-year-old started huge odds on Sunday at Coonamble but defied the price, charging home along the inside to grab third. The race was full of chances suggesting this gelding’s maiden win isn’t too far away.