Melbournian Steve says he enjoys the friendly rivalry between his home city and the New South Wales capital.
One thing which bothers me with The Everest (1200m) is the name. Why wouldn’t they have called it the Kosciuszko? Ah, I guess, that’s Sydney for you – delusions of grandeur. They couldn’t be content with the tallest mountain in Australia.
The Everest, nonetheless, promises an enthralling contest this afternoon. The publicity it’s generated, albeit a bit too parochial and gushy for my liking, will benefit all. Plus, it’s likely to stimulate turnover on both Sydney and Melbourne racing today and increase the audience size across the board. And it will draw a decent crowd to Randwick, albeit not one of Melbourne proportions.
It’s in essence a great idea. My concern is whether it’s sustainable. Only today’s winner will have a significantly positive return on investment. Most of the others will do their ‘you know whats’ and, generally, even those with big ‘you know whats’ don’t like to lose them.
Surely the shareholders, either public or private, who knock off the best part of half a million dollars are bound to be a little restless.
At least the Sydneysiders have some bragging rights for this seemingly wondrous purse. The poor fellows have had an inferiority complex ever since Melbourne was named after a British Prime Minister and Sydney after no more than a home secretary.
The difference between Sydney and Melbourne, aside from the indisputable assertion that the Victorian capital is a lady and the other not quite so, can be best summed up by a racing story.
I well remember ‘Singo’ (John Singleton) shouting the bar after Belle Du Jour (Dehere) won the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and was astounded at the whooping and hollering from a fawning crowd. In Melbourne we’d, of course, have taken the free beer but without any hint of obsequiousness as we thought to ourselves ‘what a tosser’.
We’ve had plenty of ‘hollering’ of late about today’s $10,000,000 sprint at Randwick. Ironically, the Ballarat Turf Club and Sportsbet secured almost as much publicity on Thursday for The Hotham which was a glorious example of a great Australian tradition – taking the other you know what. The race was for the worst performed horses in the country.
And, as Racing.com’s Brad Bishop pointed out, it managed – unlike The Everest – to attract one horse from across the seas. The winner Woohoo (Dubleo) was shipped from Tasmania.
Everest slot holder Max Whitby has ‘tossed’ his hat into the ring this week to stir the pot. “I’m proud to be associated with The Everest because it will be messing with the heads of the Victorians ahead of their Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) carnival. There is a chance to stick it up Victoria a bit,” he said.
Now, Max, that’s not very charitable. You’re ‘bigger’ than that. Nonetheless, we wish you all the very best with Vega Magic (Lope De Vega) – the Victorian you’ve chosen to represent you.
Interestingly, you’ve followed suit with two of the highest profile Sydney slot holders in the Australian Turf Club and Star Casino by opting for a runner trained south of the Murray.
Anyway, Max, we look forward to seeing you down here for the real Spring Carnival. Just remember, it gets pretty busy with five or six times the number of people going to the races.
You’ll have fun irrespective of the crowds. Melbourne, you’ll have read, was for the seventh year running named the world’s most liveable city. Sydney, by the way, has crashed out of the global top ten.
So, yes, we’re considered the fashion, art, cultural, dining and sporting capital of Australia… and apparently you have finance and media!
One $10,000,000 race, for which the same field would have assembled for 20 per cent of that prize, will not have your tawdry city rival Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival nor our status as the sporting capital.
Having said that, with just a hint of good–natured mischief, I will be glued to the television at 4.15pm to watch The Everest. It’s a fantastic race but that race aside, the real action and intrigue remains at Caulfield in Melbourne.
FOUR GROUP ONE RACES AT CAULFIELD
Now, I’ve devoted so many hours to studying the form for this meeting that if I do not go close to finding a winner or two, then I solemnly swear not to mention the form for the rest of the spring.
First up it’s worth noting that in the 30 races run this day, over the past three years, there’s been only one winner greater than 10/1. And there’s been a consistent theme with the long shots who’ve run a place – they’ve all been drawn in.
The Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) offer the best betting value, up to that 10/1 range, courtesy of the field size.
I’m happy to back Gold Standard (Sebring) and Kementari (Lonhro) – oh dear, two Sydneysiders – in the Guineas and the odds allow us to do so with Royal Symphony (Domesday) and Catchy (Fastnet Rock) both false odds at the top of the market.
Catchy will need a lot of luck from an inside draw given her get back racing style. No filly has won the Guineas since the champion Surround (Sovereign Edition) in 1976 and the past five fillies to contest the race, including three who were well fancied, have been well beaten.
As to Royal Symphony, he just wasn’t taking any ground off Kementari in the closing stages of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (Gr 3, 1400m). He was beaten three and a half lengths. Seven winners since 2003 have come via the Caulfield Guineas Prelude but none was beaten anywhere near that margin.
Perast (Snitzel), of course, won the Prelude and Gold Standard had his measure in the Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m). A likely fast pace will give Royal Symphony and Catchy their chance but similarly it will suit Gold Standard and Kementari who are drawn for perfect stalking runs.
The Toorak Handicap may well be a raffle as big handicaps can be but the much maligned Tom Melbourne (Dylan Thomas) is in career-best form. Barring misadventure or an unsuitable track bias, I really can’t see him missing a place.
There’s numerous hopes in the race and they include two horses, drawn in, who are huge odds. The Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Kaspersky (Footstepsinthesand) is ridiculous odds especially if the curator has left a touch of give in the ground.
His fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) was excellent given that the first four came much, much wider on the track. The race just wasn’t ‘on’ where Kaspersky was galloping. He then beat all bar the very good miler Mutakayyef (Sea The Stars) at Group Two level over the same course – before contesting two unsuitable races, the most recent on heavy ground.
Turnitaround (Hard Spun) will relish his weight relief and a favourable draw and could certainly sneak into the placings at huge odds.
As to The Everest, $11 each-way English (Encosta De Lago) seems eminently logical to me given that the daughter of Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) turned in the best run in the key lead-up race, the Premiere Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on 30 September.
I hope she wins because I’ve backed her with the race sponsor TABcorp and she races under their slot. If she doesn’t win, it (TABcorp) might have some explaining to do at the next AGM!