Criterion?

Criterion has arrived in Hong Kong, his objective next Sunday’s Hong Kong Cup over 2000 metres at Shatin, he is the sole representative from Australia, whether he is the right horse is open to conjecture.

His winning strike rate is open to question as well, with 5 wins from 22 starts, even though 4 wins were Stakes races.

Whilst he won the Australian Derby in the autumn, he has not made the expected transition from three to a four year old.

He has not yet won at open age; a couple of placings at weight for age is no redeeming feature, as our weight for age races are getting weaker by the year.

Thompson Still Riding Winners

After riding a winner at Mudgee on Friday, Robert Thompson was off over the border the next day riding a double at Doomben, plus another double at Taree yesterday, he has now ridden 4,064 winners, which is a record in southern hemisphere.

Wins are wins irrespective, however, winning the George Moore Stakes, on the favourite Big Money, gave him great pleasure, as he rode against Moore in an era of great jockeys.

If “cotton fingers” happened to be looking down, you can be sure he would have given the ride the seal of approval.

Surely Thompson is now a worthy candidate for a berth in the Hall of Fame, his record is a fine tribute to a great career.  

Two Year Olds Need Racing

Every capitol city in the country programmed a two year old race last Saturday, all except Melbourne for some reason.

This is the time of the year when juvenile racing should be at a premium, with the major yearling sales commencing within a month.

The progeny of first season sires are in need of opportunity, as they were in the past, when there was a recognised two year old season.

Get The Best - It Pays

Chris Waller doesn’t mind going further afield to get the best, with a large number of runners at Rosehill and all his regular riders booked up, the ride on Moriarty, in Perth, went begging, but not for long.

A quick call to Hong Kong soon had the issue settled, Douglas Whyte was happy to accept the mount with knowledge he was on a definite winning chance.    

The South African born Whyte, who settled in 2001in Hong Kong, was leading jockey in the region 13 times, up until this season when Zac Purton has taken over the mantle.

The Villiers Part Of An Era

The Villiers was the beginning of an unparalleled era of the turf, the Bernborough phenomenon, an experience never to be forgotten.

The war was barely over, there were no new cars about, petrol ration was still on, yet crowds swelled onto racecourses in record numbers, 108,500 for the Caulfield Cup in 1946.

Bernborough attracted people to racecourses like bees to a honey pot, the Villiers Stakes opened his barnstorming campaign that saw him win 15 races straight.

Connections Ponder Late Entry

Voilier turned in a nice run winning the Sires Custodians Plate at Rosehill, and could easily develop into Golden Slipper material.

He is a likely improver by the ill fated Beneteau, who died after a couple of seasons, the only snag, Voilier is not in the Slipper, and to get in is going to be costly.

The original entry fee was $375, first declaration $500, plus $1,000 to be paid in February, the late entry fee is $150,000.