30/10/15
Well it’s Victoria Derby day on the first of what will be four big days of racing at Flemington and as regularly happens a dreadful field of pretenders have accepted to race in the Group1 $1.5million feature.
In fact I’ll go so far as to say that the race should only have two possible winning chances and there are two horses in the race that I couldn’t bag. Obviously the first horse that has got to be included is the unbeaten sandgroper Kia Ora Koutou. He’s had four starts in Western Australia for four wins and over the last 50 years, Western Australia has been able to come up with some nice horses, starting way back in 1959 and the early 1960’s with that good sprinter that later stood at stud there – Aquanita. Brian Russell, now in his 80’s and still writing breeding stories told website readers in the biography I wrote on him, that back when Aquanita stood at stud, they didn’t bother sending mare returns to the Stud Book as Western Australia was considered too far geographically away from Sydney to bother sending in mare returns. Hence if you go into the Stud Book website you won’t find his “fertility statistics” as no one kept records. How the world changes.
As a matter of interest Aquanita was so classy he won the 1962 Cox Plate defeating Grand Print and New Statesman. Aquanita also won two Underwood Stakes, the Turnbull Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes, Futurity in Melbourne and he even made the long trip to Brisbane and won the 1961 Doomben 10,000. Interestingly when Aquanita carried 9 stone to victory in the 1961 Doomben 10,000 the only winners to carry more weight all went pretty well Lough Neagh (9 stone 4 pounds or 59kgs), Auction (10 stone 12 pounds – 69kgs), Bernborough (10 stone 5 pounds – 65.75kgs) and Murray Stream (9 stone 4 pounds – 59kgs).
But I digress remembering the great Aquanita and Brian Russell’s story about him. And the other winning chance in the Victoria Derby should be Tarzino which runs on a bit. He was sectionally dominant last Saturday but will he back up in seven days and so on?
Racing Queensland Cadet Handicapper Mitch Treleaven has advised the website that the scaled weights for Doomben tomorrow are: Race 1 + 9.5kg (in words so there’s no confusion here that would be nine point five), Race 3 + 2.50kgs, Race 4 – 1kgs, Race 7 + 2.5kgs and Race 8 + 3.5kgs. So in my words, not Mitch’s, Race 1 is the worst race that I can ever remember on a Saturday city meeting via the race having to be scaled up an extraordinary 9.5kgs. Anyone going to Doomben tomorrow should get there early to get a spot down near the 200-metre mark and turn your mobile phone off so there are no interruptions and you’ll be able to listen to this entire field audibly squealing out “e-orr, e-orr” as they very slowly make their way up the Doomben straight. Justracing can exclusively advise that I have gone in to bat for both racecallers to be paid an extra $50 cash in the claw tomorrow, as this race will take much longer to run than your average 2200-metre Saturday city race and the racecallers will have to yell really loudly into their microphone to be heard above the squeals.
And there’s more bad news for the former Racing Queensland All Codes Board today after greyhound trainer Deborah Arnold took them to the Supreme Court over their seizing her greyhounds after the live baiting scandal broke earlier this year. Earlier today Justice Jean Dalton ruled Racing Queensland had no power to seize Deborah Arnold’s dogs and no power to retain possession of them. That Supreme Court ruling today paves the way for some interesting future events to transpire over similar treatment that Racing Queensland dished out to many other licensed trainers under their jurisdiction.
Brisbane Racing Club Track Manager Jim Roberts is on holidays so I can’t give you an update on the Doomben track.
The apprentice jockey weights for Doomben tomorrow should be:
JOCKEY
WEIGHT
Lani Fancourt
52.5 claims 2kgs
Cassie Schmidt
54 claims 2kgs
Travis Wolfgram
53 claims 2kgs
James Orman
53 claims 2kgs
Sam Payne
54 claims 2kgs
Brooke Stower
51 claims 3kgs
Matthew McGillivray
53 claims 3kgs
Today on www.brisbaneracing.com.au there’s my comment on every horse in the Victoria Derby field. On www.sydneyracing.com.au you can read all about the Cox Plate winning mare Winx, whilst on www.melbourneracing.com.au there’s the story on the woman who sold her share in My Poppette, but still cheers her home.
The Postman has sent in his thoughts and they read:
There’s no better of day of racing for the year in my opinion than Derby day @ Flemington & it looks to be a superb program from start to finish. I’m keen on Royal Descent in the Myer Classic over the mile. This ultra consistent mare has been competitive @ G1 level for the last three seasons & this race looks perfect for her to finally win a Gr1 race over 1600m. After her brave runner up effort behind Kermadec in the George Main Stakes @ Randwick, she raced 3 wide the trip in the Turnbull & was only nabbed right on the line by Melbourne Cup chance Preferment. Last start in the Caulfield Cup, Royal Descent went forward & was posted three wide up on a strong tempo. Jockey Glen Boss knew @ the 600m her tank was empty & very kindly throttled her right down & out of the race.
Tomorrow Royal Descent drops back to 1600m & her own sex to contest the Myer Classic & I think she represents terrific value @ her current quote of $6. I like her because she’s drawn to get the run of the race from barrier 5, just in behind Miss Rose de Lago, Vergara & Solicit. She’s also pitched in with 57kg against these mares & has the services of the talisman Hugh Bowman. If she can secure a smooth run in transit I expect her to join the leaders shortly after straightening & forge clear late & to score. She’s tough, battled hardened & classy. This looks her race for mine.
The dangers include the lightly raced & rapidly improving Azkadellia, who was enormous last start @ Moonee Valley. Abidewithme ran very well in the Toorak, Miss Rose De Lago can show some real ticker & Slightly Sweet was an eye catcher in the Tristarc. I’m taking a set against the star filly Stay With Me who looks unders for mine despite getting in with 49kg. Whilst it’s been a good year for the fillys, their record in this race is poor. Not even the likes of Alinghi could win this race as a 3YO. It looks a bridge too far this campaign especially when she’s drawn the car park & Sam Clipperton hasn’t ridden @ Flemington before.
Royal Descent is currently $6 with most agencies & I think she’s a great each way bet at that price. I have her marked 7/2 or $4.50.
Flemington 8-1 Royal Descent