Quite A Reversal Of Form

When Merriest and I Am A Star met at Caulfield two weeks ago, both were unraced fillies, with the former running away to a impressive win, whilst I Am A Star could only manage to finish sixth.

However, positions were reversed in the Phar Lap Club Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, when I Am A Star came from behind to win well, while Merriest, an odds on favourite, led for much of the race before weakening to finish sixth.

Owners snubbed

Owners are the life blood of racing; they are the ones that continue to dig into their pockets, not always for the monetary gain, just the sheer pleasure of winning a race.

Irrespective of where it may be, it is the joy of winning, that’s what it is all about, if it happens to be Flemington, the holy grail of racing that is the ultimate.

All sports salute their winners; they are the focus of all attention, except that does not happen in racing any longer.

The Flemington VRC Handicap was a good example, all the unplaced horses had well cleared the mounting yard on their way back to the birdcage, except the winner, Good Value, you needed a pair of ten fifties to find him, he was still at the back of the course with the jockey being interviewed.

Even the chairman of stewards, Wade Hadley, looked to be getting a bit impatient waiting to weight the winning jockey in, and the owners were left hanging about unnecessarily.

Finally when the horse and rider did return to the mounting yard, it was all a dull affair.  

Racing is the only sport where the winner comes in last, even it is just a school football match, the winning team gets the honour of coming off the ground first.

Interviewing jockeys is absolutely stupid after a hard ride, when he or she could have been wasting, and the result was a photo finish, it would be doubtful if they had much to say after that, likely to be nothing but huffing and puffing.

Racing really needs a shakeup 6, 347 people at Flemington would hardly pay the wages bill for the gate attendants.

Matt Laurie breaks through

After an exasperating run of placings, Shockaholic broke through for trainer Matt Laurie, winning the National Jockeys Trust Handicap.

The gelding is a lightly raced three year old who is just beginning to hit his straps, the open spaces of Flemington suit him, he finished third to Un de Sceaux on Anzac Day 1400 metres at headquarters..

This was his fourth run in from a spell and it will be no surprise if he turns up at Flemington next week.

The second placegetter, Atlantic City, is part owned by the Rt. Hon.Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

Trainer leaves stable in good hands

While Michael Kent was away in Adelaide winning the Oaks with Abbey Marie, assistant trainer, Darren Tymms, had sole control of the situation at Flemington, leading in a winning double, via Good Value and the speed machine, Supido.

Tymms is a son of the notable sportsman Eric Tymms who had several fights at the old West Melbourne Stadium under the name of Spider Tymms, he was a fly weight, the limit being 50.80 kgs, described as a very smart fighter he earned 9th place in world ratings in the fly weight division in 1947, he later became a well known paddock bookmaker betting on all city courses.

Lloyd pulls another one out of the hat

Lloyd Williams, a renowned judge of horseflesh, looks as if he has struck gold again with smart grey gelding Sir Prospector, bred in the U S, but by his favourite sire, Galileo.

Sir Prospector was racing mid-field at Flemington with not the slightest chance of running in the first half dozen.

Once the straight was entered he gave a great sight motoring home at the rate of knots, taking ground off the ultimate winner, Spur On Gold, with every stride.

Sir Prospector came to Australia with winning form, he had won at Navan, north of Dublin, and at Leopardstown where he defeated a field of 20 runners.

He is really a nice horse, he paraded well in the yard, there is a lot of quality about him, a win is not that far off on what he showed us on Saturday.

Supido just rolls on

Supido is the find of the season, sparingly raced for various reasons, such as periodical colds and other ailments, yet he has a near perfect record, having raced eight times for six wins, all in succession.

He could have been vulnerable at the 1000 metres after his two previous wins at 1200 metres; however, he overcame difficulties in running and was doing his best work on the line, that’s where it counts.

Obviously the intention down the line is ultimately a stud career at some stage, he deserves that opportunity, Black Type of course would assist and the quality of mares as well.