Not too much to get excited about in last Saturday’s racing at Cranbourne, Kembla Grange, Doomben and Ascot. How we miss the top horses.
In saying that, it looks like punters have a new pal in leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, training three winners, including a stakes winner plus the trifecta in race three at Doomben. It paid $51.
His mare Comando Rosa certainly one to watch. News is she is being set for the Tatt’s Tiara in the Winter. Just one of a long list of young horses that keep coming from the Gollan stables.
Another Queenslander, former leading jockey now trainer Chris Munce’s youngster Fireupzous didn’t race up to his lofty expectations running last at Doomben. He does however have a crack youngster in Poster Girl who has been named for the Magic Millions race in January.
We got a glimpse of the future with the start of the big Group 1 Railway meeting in Perth pushed back 2.5 hours because of the excessive heat. Climate change is catching up with us and more days over 40 degrees are forecast.
The Moody team this week havshad one of its greatest losses of recent times with Invincible Caviar’s passing. The mare, daughter of Black Caviar, looked to have a breeding career ahead of her after racing but sadly died suddenly. An autopsy is to be performed.
Well you would think you were at the Curragh races outside of Dublin with Paddy and Mick, rather than Eagle Farm. or Doomben, so dominant are the Irish jockeys Martin Harley and Robbie Dolan at the moment. As they say, they could win on a broomstick. Erin go Bragh.
As the 2023 racehorse breeding season comes to an end over the next few weeks, give a thought to the poor old stallions, some who will serve 2000 plus mates over roughly a 100-day period. Makes a man goes week at the knees. The most recent breeding stats show six stallions covering over 2000 mares each. Two of those, Spirit of Boom and Better Than Ready, stand on the Darling Downs.
Don’t forget the shuttle stallions that will cover 300 mares all up in both hemispheres in a calendar year.
There are about 5000 active broodmares in Australia and roughly 525 commercial stallions and 24,000 foals. Certainly, it’s a numbers business.
Some months ago I gave a wrap to young transgender jockey Tyler Leslight . His star is on the rise.
He rode the Roma Cup winner 10 days ago, was granted a provincial jockey licence and has now transferred to the Desleigh Forster stable at Eagle Farm. Tyler is a very dedicated young jockey, having driven the 1000k return trip from Eagle Farm to Roma, slept in his Ute at Basset Park and
fronted to work at Forster’s stable Sunday afternoon. Remember the name.
I’m starting to get very nervous about the new Gold Coast track. It’s official reopening keeps getting pushed back. We are now told it will be January 2024. This is cutting very close and inviting disaster if the Magic Millions Day is run on a track that has been raced on only once before. C’mon Gold
Coast Turf Club and Racing Queensland, get your act together.
The Flinders Shire area and near neighbours must be the raciest area in country Queensland, with no less than seven racecourses located within a few hours of Hughenden. I speak of Ewan, Stamford, Hughenden, Pentland, Prairie, Corfield and Muttaburra. Of course the Richmond and Charters Towers tracks aren’t that far away either. I’m old enough to remember the great George Moore owning and living on Expressman Downs in the district when he was serving a long suspension in 1954.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the worst job on Queensland racecourses without a doubt would be the poor old bloke in the Santa suit over the next month. Talk about hot! And pretty much every race meeting has one. I reckon all those Santas will shed more weight than the jockeys in the saunas. If
you run into one, sling them a coldy.
Paddy was rushed to the hospital with a possible concussion. His loyal buddy Mick with him. The doctor said “Now Paddy I need to ask you a series of questions. Do you know where you are?” “Yes, I’m at St James Hospital,” replied Paddy. “What city are you in?” “Dublin,“ replied Paddy. “Do you know who I am, Paddy?” “Dr. O’Reilly.” The doctor was happy and left the room “Wow, Paddy, you sure are sharp. I was a wee bit worried bout yer,“ exclaimed Mick. Paddy replied “Yes, but I hope he doesn’t ask me any more questions.” “Why’s that,“ asked Mick. “You be doin so well.” “There’s nothin’ wrong with me readin’, the answers were on his name badge!“
