3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on April 22.

THE STARS

POLARISATION: Did it once and then had to do it again to claim a fine official Sydney Cup win. All credit to James Ferguson, Charlie Appleby’s man in charge, and Corey Brown.

PARNHAM POWER: Historic day for Perth’s leading racing family of trainer Neville Parnham and his three jockeys sons Steven, Brad and Chris with wins at Ascot, Morphettville and Caulfield. Steven won his first Melbourne race on Malibu Style for his father, Brad landed a double at Ascot and Chris won the Irwin Stakes at Morphettville.

DESERT LASHES: What a success story. This flying unbeaten filly was purchased as a yearling at a sale in Alice Springs for $2500 by trainer Lisa Lefoe and has now won eight from eight and has earned more than $235,000 prizemoney.

SINGLE GAZE/KATHY O’HARA: Satisfying Doomben win for an inseparable pair after the near tragedy of their Oaks accident.

BURNING FRONT: What a dream horse for his connections. Has now won a million in prizemoney plus a record amount in VOBIS bonuses. They are laughing all the way to the bank!

Polarisation wins the Sydney Cup... again!

The @godolphin 5YO produces a tough effort to win the $2 million staying feature #Randwick! pic.twitter.com/qUb0PT4OzD

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 22, 2017

THEY SAID IT!

“I told them they should have left it a fortnight ago, it’s going to be the same result.” - Corey Brown has the last laugh in the Sydney Cup rerun.

“He works and works and wears his heart on his sleeve. He gave 110 per cent two weeks ago, he gave 120 per cent today." - Polarisation’s co-trainer James Ferguson

“Are you even listening and paying attention to me, sir? You are not even looking at me?” - An upset Blake Shinn questions chief steward Mark Van Gestel during a heated inquiry.

“It has been along road back but I really thought she was back to her best - I declared her to the connections this morning." – Single Gaze’s trainer Nick Olive.

“What more can you say, he just keeps doing it." – Burning Front’s jockey Brad Rawiller.

“Just keep me on, boys.” – jockey John Allen’s plea to the owners of impressive filly Kenedna.

“I’m a good judge. I told the owners it couldn’t win. I told them this was a warm-up run.“ – an honest Tony Gollan after El Campeador’s first-up win at Doomben.

“He’s a gun, this kid. People say he’s the best young rider to come out of Perth since Ollie (Damien Oliver).” – trainer Lloyd Kennewell praises young jockey Chris Parnham.

SIN BIN

I THOUGHT SO: What a head case! Gave Tim Clark a horror ride and nightmares for the punters who took the short odds.

KIRK MATHIESON: An absolute slaughter on Sidestep at the Gold Coast.

LASQUETI SPIRIT: They really should have a rethink about her race tactics.

Here is the head-on vision of I Thought So coming out of the gates in Race 2 at Randwick @superracing pic.twitter.com/yA0Fvmml1L

— brad davidson (@braddavo) April 22, 2017

RIDES OF THE DAY

KERRIN McEVOY: Makes it 11 wins from last 15 city rides with a treble at Randwick – all gems.

JIM BYRNE: He was in fine form with a treble at Doomben. His ride on Tiyatrolani was 10 out of 10.

JOHN ALLEN: Produced two superb rides at Morphettville on Broadway And First and Kenedna. Riding with supreme confidence.

BEN MELHAM: Daring ride on French Emotion. His split second decision made the difference between a win and a loss for the favouirite.

JAMES ORMAN: A cracker on Don’t Tell Mama to win the last in Brisbane. Just more proof of his talent.

TALKING POINTS

WHIP RULES: Seems stewards now spend most of their day counting whip strikes by jockeys. At Randwick on Saturday there were 14 incidents of excessive whip use, resulting in two large fines (Glen Boss, Jay Ford) and 12 reprimands. It’s a record that almost rivals over-zealous parking inspectors. Seriously, it suggests stewards are as fed up with the rules as the jockeys! It also seems there is an unwritten code among the riders not to protest against another rider for overdoing it!

VOBIS AND BOBS: Saturday’s Caulfield program was a great advertisement for the success of Victoria’s VOBIS scheme. NSW has BOBS and it is also a successful bonus program but still lacks a day to match what they do in Victoria. Is putting all that money into the top end for The Championships better than sharing it at all levels through a SUPER BOBS day like the VOBIS Gold program? I doubt it!

MONEY TALKS

RICHARD OF YORKE: Favourite backers were cheering after the heavily tried favourite won the slog over 2400m at Randwick. Richard Of Yorke was responsible for 65 percent of all win bets with TAB fixed odds on the race

GRAND DREAMER: Is there a better money stable to follow than Robert Smerdon. Backed from the time markets went up on Wednesday up to the jump – on course he was $3 to $2.50. Held 50 percent of the total fixed odds investment

NIETA: Carried 70 percent of the money and some of the day’s biggest bets. They were happy to take the shorts from the time markets opened.

BURNING FRONT: This model of consistency is better than bank interest. Easy money for those who took the short odds ($1.80-$1.55).

FRENCH EMOTION: Opening at $4.20 on Wednesday and off the map, from $2.70 to $2.35 on race day.

SWORD OF LIGHT: Favourite backers love it when they win the last. Early shoppers lapped up the $3.20, never better than $2.90 on the day.

KENEDNA: Another Weir special. $4.50 to $2.70 says it all.

Nieta keeps her unbeaten first-up record intact with a strong win in Race 7 at #Randwick for @JTRacingRwik pic.twitter.com/cTj62LIuCj

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 22, 2017

IN THE BAG

SUPER MAXI: They miscued ($6 to $4) backing the speedster with confidence to hold out Nieta.

I THOUGHT SO: Labelled one of the day’s best and backed accordingly ($2.50 to $2.15) then put in a horror performance. Held 76 percent of the total investment.

KAZIO: ($6 to $4.40). Plenty of smart punters wanted to be on this one top beat the favoured Sword Of Light.

BLACKBOOK

BLACK ON GOLD: Not suited on the fence and lost all chance when checked

PAINTE: Tough run and an awkward ride off a break. Certain improver.

SILVERHAWK: Eye-catching debut. Nice type.

LUCKY LIBERTY: Left with too much to do from the back.

RIVER RACER: Likely type for a suitable race over the Brisbane carnival.