Saturday November 22, 2008
Marasco's right at home
WITH market movers and shakers Mark Read and Sean Bartholomew stressing the risk factors with Marasco, the local idol promises to be a worthwhile gamble in the $1 million Railway Stakes at Ascot today.
Friday November 21, 2008
Not enough horses for the merry-go-round
A summit of NSW racing should be called over the poor Saturday fields, a blight on Sydney racing, according to Michael Kenny, the Sydney Turf Club chief executive and the most experienced turf administrator in the state, writes Max Presnell.
Monday November 17, 2008
Bookies shell out but is it enough?
Winners and losers: PUNTERS have never had it so good thanks
to the competitive aspects of corporate bookmakers. Nor have
bookmakers in recent times done so well out of racing. Yesterday
The Sunday Age divulged the corporates will produce figures to show
they will contribute about $15 million to the sport this financial
year. Is it enough?
Saturday November 15, 2008
Go Zipping and the old one-two
ZIPPING, in today's Sandown Classic, leads the repechage of the disappointing and unfortunate of the spring carnival. No doubt the gelding, is entitled to be at the $2.40 odds on offer about him, due to the class factor.
Monday November 10, 2008
Time for the whips to crack at Racing NSW
THE politics poxing NSW racing is akin to Nero fiddling while Rome burned. Another substandard Randwick meeting on Saturday, the major betting day of the week, indicated no progress is being made in this vital issue. Why does Victoria do it so much better? Sure, it has had a sympathetic government as well as the Victoria Racing Club, which benefits the industry so much with the Melbourne Cup carnival. Meanwhile, in NSW we are waiting for Racing Minister Kevin Greene, "a good bloke", to announce the three wise racing men who are going to appoint a new governing body. NSW badly needs guidance, people in control who understand the industry along the lines of the VRC. We haven't got the time to educate some well-meaning do-gooder because he or she may not have a conflict of interest. And save us from good blokes. Can we have effective ones?
Saturday November 8, 2008
One to leave you lost for words
THE Serious Speed team, with a major female influence, will be out to play a big role in the Emirates Stakes, a vital leg in today's Flemington quadrella.
Friday November 7, 2008
Listen, Aidan, here's how it works ...
"CLASH of the cultures" came to the fore after the Irish joke in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Not only did their three hoops ride like kamikazes but trainer Aidan O'Brien was nearly as aggressive in the stewards' inquiry.
The other King rides off into the sunset
The first Melbourne Cup for Bart Cummings, with Light Fingers in 1965, is the most memorable for Tony Bourke, who retires from The Age after a long and distinguished stint as a turf writer. The redundancy angel has landed on the oldest computer still in operation.
Wednesday November 5, 2008
Shinn has whip hand in Irish farce
PERHAPS it will be the last time a jockey will be seen wielding the whip as Blake Shinn did on Viewed in yesterday's Melbourne Cup, which turned into an Irish joke.
Tuesday November 4, 2008
Prepare for another Ollie good show
GLEN BOSS gets the vital "balls of steel" rating, a British term
for courage and excellence in the saddle, for a jockey in the
Melbourne Cup, writes Max Presnell.
European posse riding for a fall
Will the European jockeys hold back their superior stayers again
this year, asks Max Presnell.
Monday November 3, 2008
Let's look at whine list
THE Irish call it blarney, we the droppings of the bull. Are they going to pull Septimus out of the Melbourne Cup tomorrow because of the ground?
Saturday November 1, 2008
Shooting star of the north
Victoria Derby day at Flemington is one of the world's great days of racing. Max Presnell gives his Verdict on the biggest races.
Friday October 31, 2008
Why Flemington puts a spring in your step
Had Tommy Smith walked on to Flemington last Tuesday, the only
recognisable feature would have been Jack Franklin, attending the
entrance to the course proper with his usual style and authority,
writes Max Presnell.
Monday October 27, 2008
Rodd has plenty of front
"THERE is a serious epidemic of leaders or on-pace runners winning
in Melbourne. No initiative by jockeys. Makes for boring racing.
Stewards know about it but what can they do? Cox Plate a joke. Time
farcical."
