Racehorse TALK

I'll have a whinge about my rather limited mare Forever Autumn's luck with marbles recently, all over short courses where a decent barrier can make a considerable difference.

She's drawn 9/9 over 900m at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Sorry,. I know it's not funny but that is incredible.

BRUCE McLachlan will continue with an international search for a stable jockey when he hosts South African Sean Cormack on a fact-finding trip this week.

Cormack is highly regarded in his home country and comes well recommended by former colleague Glyn Schofield, now making a big splash in Sydney. Schofield rode successfully for McLachlan for a season before he took up a Hong Kong offer a few years ago.

"Glyn knows the Queensland set-up and how my stable operates and he thinks Shaun would be a perfect fit," McLachlan said.

"He's had a terrific run in the past couple of months, which will make it a bit harder to convince him to move to Australia. Once he sees the Sunshine Coast and the opportunities he could have here I think he will be at least prepared to give the offer a lot of thought."

McLachlan has been at his best when he has had the backing of a top-flight jockey. Over the years he had great success when Gavan Duffy, Brian York, Schofield and Grant Cooksley were doing the bulk of the stable riding.

Apparently it wasn't quite enough, dd.

Rain about and she's worse than hopeless if anyone so much as spits on the track.

Light showers over this way

Thanks for that dd and gratlog.

I see we are running, despite my preference to wait for another day.

track upgrade j.r.b.

Good ride

Good on ya JRB.

Looks a good thing you were over ruled JRB, lol. Congrats.

Barrier 1.

Overruled about scratching her.

Track upgrade just before the race.

You might say everything fell into place today.

Thanks dd.

I got excited when I saw the time - 45.10 seconds for the 800m (last 600m 31.96 seconds), which I thought was low level flying.

That is until I saw that the 2yo in the preceding race went even quicker!

Tour Guide has been very ordinary last couple.

Anything in the stewerds report?

Might be right DD.

He was beaten at the turn but only got beat probably 2 1/2 lengths.

cheers

Stewards ordered a vet check after the first up run at the GC, no abnormalities found. I backed him at EF last week as did plenty of others, very disappointing. Some good horse's don't come back the same after a spell, I wonder if he got EI? He'd want to win another one well before I back him again.

I recall the jock one day saying he believed Tour Guide sounded like he had a wind prob. He did win one race after that however.

As for Rasmussen, if you have watched him parade you would not be surprised by the way he has performed

T'was a big day out last Thursday for some Brissie Forum luminaries.  DD had to pull plenty of strings to be admitted to the inner sanctum, and the TTC still wonder what hit them.He harassed this bloke mercilessly to get in a photo.  So who is the bloke with DD?   He had a few good tales to tell.

The boy from Cunnamulla.

Has anybody else riden three Straddies?

From: dubbledee

Sent: 30/01/2008 8:28 PM

One of Australia's greatest-ever riders sent around a smart youngster at Eagle Farm today. Anabaa colt Formula One Racer looked just every bit a stayer of the future in winning his Maiden on debut for Mick Dittman.  The books were well primed to the horse's ability and the $2 wasn't on offer for long. Desley Forster might pursue a Derby path.  Out of a Zabeel mare, that doesn't look too ambitious right now.

Geez, I reckon DD is looking old.  Would explain why he went to sleep on the way back in the bus.

 

Well if thats the case DD maybe we don't want them in here?????

Anyhow, just a quick thanks and hello to the forumites I caught up with at the track on SAt. Good to see the folks again. Pity we picked such a tough day at the track. Even with Valedictum saluting in the last in Syd I still finished on the wrong side of the ledger, but managed to make it to the GABBA to see a ripper game of football. Then had it topped off to hear the mighty North Melb boys beat the pies. Top day all round and thanks for your hospitality.

Maybe Sozzani?

Also see Prince Cochise is in on Wed at Doomben.

I went down to the track 1 week to early

Lol Mono, no worries about the tri, makes for a good story. Just imagine how many times we would have told it had we have landed the thing....

Might just have to keep trying at it!

Might make it a little more regularly now I don't have a class lunchtime Sat anymore. And will leave the car at home in future so I can continue on in that shout!

Cheers ,

Did'nt someone that knew someone that knew someone else and was from Ipswich tell us that this bloke was definately retired?

Anyway I'm happy to see Stathi back but will he turn up at Royal Ipswich tomorrow?

He can ride, that is for sure.

Stewards charged him with improper conduct and alleged he took the illegal drugs to the Gold Coast races on March 29.

Pearson was disqualified for another year for failing to provide a urine sample on the day and stewards ordered the penalties to be served concurrently.

"I'm gutted but I plan to see my solicitor to appeal," Pearson said.

Apprentice Dan Peisley was disqualified for a year for failing to provide a urine sample.

Both riders picked up appeal forms when leaving the QR Deagon office.

Chief steward Reid Sanders said both jockeys seemed to be devastated when they heard the penalties.

Pearson, 22, was arrested at the Gold Coast races after stewards called police and asked them to investigate suspicious activities.

Stewards said they noticed "unusual behaviour", and a search of belongings in the jockeys' change room uncovered the cocaine and methamphetamine in a gear bag.

Pearson and Peisley attracted attention when they behaved in an unusual manner near the toilets in the change room.

Peisley, 21, hurriedly left the track after being asked to provide a urine sample for testing.

Stewards stood both riders down from riding in races and trackwork.

The penalties took effect from the March 29 meeting.

Pearson was subsequently bailed in Southport Magistrate's Court on charges of possession and is required to re-appear on June 4.

He is a former glamour Sydney apprentice.

Does anyone know how many bookies field in Ipswich?

Yesterday I was in Randwick and was keeping an eye on other states odds. In Randwick, the TV, which display bookies fluctuations also display total field % and the tote odds next to it.

I was incredulous to notice that the bookies regular field percentage was around 164% - 166%. The best percentage all day I noticed was 158%. In most races, your were lucky if one or two horses were better with bookies than on tote.

What the hell are they thinking? Are Queensland punters that dumb that they still bet with them, despite the crap odds? Surely they will not make any money fielding on races, considering staff wages and other costs. Why would you even bother? My mind boggles.

MB, There were three there last time I visited.

Surely any serious punter would'nt bet with them, but the other week at Doomben I donated $5 a race to Haydn Flynn and Lindsay Gallagher.  To say the least they were'nt being rushed of their feet.

Stathi had a ride in the first at Ippy yesterday. He rode Barako

As I type this , Mick Pelling is on 4BC talking about drugs in the racing game.

What brought it up is the heap (7) of riders penalised for drug abuse this last couple of weeks. That includes some trackwork riders.

Kim Mothershaw is the compere today between 12 and 4 so he is sticking up for the racing game. Kim is going for his trainers licence soon so good luck to him.

Just in case anyone missed it, I think Sky Channel said that there would be no replays tonight due to their overseas coverage. Todays races will be on tomorrow night.

Don't take that as gospel but I think it is right.

Muggins - you gotta forgive if you hated every single jockey for every single thing they've done the horses would be ridden by monkeys

Any of you 'old' fellas remember a quality Qld sprinter called Innisfree?

It's namesake ran at Kelso in the UK tonight in a 3m4f (5600m) steeplechase and ran 2nd @ 55/1

I remember him very well, won a Straddie,

Geez, Larsy, what do you mean old?

That was only thirty years ago.

Don Eduardo

Is today R. McMahon's first day back after his fall?

Thanks DD, I thought so, and also believe he may be a chance at ew odds on Guy horse R7.

Jockey's fundraiser at the Pineapple Hotel today was a top function.  Shane Scriven & Jim Byrne very generous with their time and gave some remarkable insights into their trade. Tony Noonan whispered a tip for one of his runners at Caulfield on Sat.  John Baker, foreman for Greg Eurell told me Apache Cat is spot on, despite being unsettled by a polo match in the paddock next door at Canungra last weekend.Swiss Ace connections pretty happy with theirs.  Don't believe any rumours about being under a fitness cloud.

DD, I see that Railings is still in Melbourne due to transport problems.

I know the paper prices are silly most days but they have Railings at $31 in the first in Melbourne tomorrow.

Why would it be a shame if Railings can't go to Brisbane?

Just some plane problems with getting him here I think .

BTW I see the Tenterfield Saddler is sponsoring the 5th race tomorrow.  If you ever have reason to drive through that way , call in and say G'Day. They also have a good mail order service.

Another brisbane carnival - always a great carnival but gives me the poops that i can't access replays on the net unlike bris and syd through TVN/ bigpond sport- as pay television unavailable here - how can i get sat replays- even sent on dvd through week? anyone know?

Ortensia

Ever since Charvicky shot me down in flames last win, I scour every opportunity for enlightenment

I see in Obi's column this morning that Our Jangles from the Trevor Miller yard is also a look alike of Apache Cat with a few people taking his photo on Saturday by mistake.

will  be looking at fixed odds as they open - can we be pretty confident of good rating for saturday or is there some moisture around up there?

It's Queensland .... beautiful one day, perfect the next 

Seal, there is a rough chance of some showers.

Certain parts of the northside of Brisbane had some showers yesterday and we had some on the southside today.  Not much but enough to settle the dust

thx

best bet for the brisbane winter carnival !!!!- have opened bareena at $9 and $3p for this sat - tab fixed - drawn 6 compared with well outside last start - huge run , as super impresive start previous - get on before the price goes

Which race is Bareena in? I can't see it in any fixed odds markets on TAB

Thanks Muggins, I sorted out which race it is but NSW TAB not betting on that race

no winner yet- thx for asking - but hoping this horse should supply my first - 4th - wide throughout and bit green -

Reported in the Courier Mail today that former jockey and trainer Jim Parr, 52, died in Brisbane on Tuesday night. 

A true racing character who had a dip at most aspects of the industry with a good story to tell about them all.

From memory he first moved to Brisbane to be foreman for the Brian Mayfieldsmith satelite stable.

by Bart SinclairSTATHI Katsidis's career was again in limbo last night after stewards stood him down indefinitely following a positive drug test.

Katsidis declined to comment after stewards ordered him to forego six rides at the rich Doomben Cup meeting tomorrow. He will have to face an inquiry after further tests on a routine urine sample.

Chief steward Reid Sanders said he could not make further comment until the inquiry into the report was held.

It is understood the sample was taken at an Ipswich meeting on April 30, the first day Katsidis resumed riding after a self-imposed exile to sort out his private life.

In February, Katsidis was charged with driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.163 while driving from Brisbane to Toowoomba. He was fined $1000 and disqualified from riding for six months.

In the same incident police charged Katsidis with possession of an illicit drug.

He faces a prolonged stint on the sidelines. Already his career battle with weight has severely tested his relationship with stewards and trainers who often have been left to find last-minute replacements for well-fancied mounts.

His rides tomorrow included New Zealand three-year-old Mission Critical in the $500,000 XXXX Gold Cup.

Just a human interest story from yesterdays Courier Mail

That's a good read gratlog. The average joe doesn't know how much goes on behind the scenes.

From: <NOBR>gratlog1</NOBR>

Sent: 5/18/2008 8:23 AM

Just a human interest story from yesterdays Courier Mail http://groups.msn.com/woodridgenews/scansofinteres.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=621&LastModified=4675673422268029476

--------------------

I've heard Shannan was involved in a nasty fall at trackwork Monday Morning. It was touch and go there for a while but fingers crossed she should be ok.

Sniper's Bullet would love some more water at the Farm thanks

What is happening with the handicapping of races in Brisbane these days?

In R3 the weighting of Equates is a bit strange comparing it with others runners it raced against last time

On the 10th May R3 was a C6 race where you had

Moglich 1st allotted 56kgs

Ulladulla 2nd allotted 54kgs

Equates 5th allotted 53kgs

So if there was any change to the weights next time you would expect Equates would be better off versus the first two home but that was not the case today

Today R3 was a C6 race where you had

Moglich allotted 57.5kgs

Ulladulla allotted 53kgs (it was scratched and did not run)

Equates allotted 56kgs

So Equates was clearly worse off at the weights for being beaten by Moglich and Ulladulla

Now I notice on the RSB site it says today's race was a set weights race.  So I assume the May 10th race was a handicap and that explains the difference in the weights.  But it still seems a fairly silly system.  I can understand level weight, set weights or weight for age racing for high class horses but not sure it is a great idea for C6 horses.  All C6 races should be the same.  If not they should be designated as something else

7th race at Rocky on Tuesday should be OK

This might be of interest to Brisbane fans who don't get the Courier Mail.

The Doomben group 1s have certainly recieved a boost today with horses beaten along way in those dropping back in grade (good grade) and winning well.

 Luvuleo a Galileo superstar was beaten 9 lengths in the Doomben Cup by the champion right way of racing gelding Sarrera and came out and won the WJ Mckell cup instyle.

Tan Tat De Lago beaten a similar margin in the 10,000 pulverised her 3yo opposition in listed 1400m sprint.

DD, much damage to the track yesterday in your opinion?

Probably around 100 horses would have run over it yesterday so let 's hope we get some decent weather from at least Wed onwards.

CMC receives allegation of relationship between Beattie and Merri Rose

Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane writes:

The Queensland Opposition has referred to the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission serious allegations relating to attempts to conceal a relationship between then-Premier Peter Beattie and his Tourism and Racing Minister Merri Rose.

In May 2007, Rose was sentenced to eighteen months gaol for attempting to blackmail Beattie. She was released after three months. There was considerable speculation at the time about the nature of Rose’s blackmail threat.

Yesterday, Nationals frontbencher Rob Messenger wrote to the Crime and Misconduct Commission with allegations from a former Rose staff member that Rose forced staff "to shred official documents, sign off on invalid overseas and intrastate trips, schedule unofficial business and official business and process false parliamentary leave requests to conceal a relationship between former Premier Peter Beattie and Merri Rose."

Read the full letter here.

The allegations were made by Ms Barbara Daddo, Rose’s former personal secretary, who died in May 2006. Daddo prepared an extensive statement relating to the activities she was required to undertake for Rose, which Crikey has seen, along with Messenger’s letter. Daddo’s statement alleges extensive bullying and offensive behaviour by Rose, as well as repeated requirements to falsify documents facilitating and concealing meetings between Beattie and Rose.

The material does not suggest that Beattie ordered any illegal or inappropriate activities or even knew of efforts to conceal the relationship. However, efforts to bring Rose’s behaviour toward staff and others to the attention of the Premier’s office and Beattie’s chief of staff, Rob Whiddon, were unsuccessful.

Crikey understands that the material was brought to Messenger’s attention by another former Rose staff member in the context of a Parliamentary debate over the right of public servants to speak to MPs.

Ms Daddo’s statement indicates that her role in assisting Rose to conceal the relationship, as well as Rose’s behaviour, placed enormous pressure on her. The stress is considered by a former colleague to have directly contributed to her death.

The statement said in part: "Many times in the lead up to my breakdown I told the Minister I was finding it difficult to handle the demands of the workplace and the additional work that I had to carry out as a result of being ‘the only person’ who could manage her relationship with the Premier and other liaisons. I also realised that I had been instrumental in many illegal and corrupt activities.

"I had to shred documents, sign off on invalid overseas, inter/intrastate trips, scheduled unofficial business as official business, process false parliamentary leave requests so that she could meet with the Premier on Parliamentary evenings. He also filled in parliamentary leave forms for fictitious functions for her to represent him so that they could meet on Parliamentary evenings.. I found it offensive, immoral and unethical that so many people in public office were so unaware that staff such as myself were being imposed on."

Rose was appointed Emergency Services minister in 1998-99, Minister for Tourism and Racing from 1999 to 2001, and later Minister for Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading. There were repeated allegations that Rose bullied staff, and two successful compensation claims against her. She lost her seat of Currumbin in the 2004 election, after which she demanded that Beattie provide her with a high-paying public sector position.

The statements seen by Crikey paint a sad picture of a woman wholly out of her depth and incapable of managing her staff or her life. This dysfunctional minister’s office inflicted a massive toll on Daddo, as well as another staff member who has since died. The real story here is how a Premier could decide that a women like Rose was capable of performing effectively as a Minister – or whether her appointment reflected other motivations on the part of Beattie.

Crikey.com.au

I had just sent this to a mate in NZ who was interested.

Bart did this story in todays Courier Mail

Done

According to The NZ Racing Site DD, Craig Grylls is 18 years of age. has had 1642 rides and 127 winners. Has outridden his allowance.

The jockeys seemed to roll of ok.  Too many runners!! around a dog track

How many falls on Ipswich Cup day the last few years?  There was at least one other a few years back.  Too many runners per race for that track?

It looked to me that the horse broke its hind leg...seemed to be swinging uselessly after it got up... just what people want to go and see..

DD

I was 20m from it and watched it unfold.  It was horrifying.  Stella Joy was midfield and snapped a leg, dropped quickly and Lacey went over its head.  She hit the turf OK but then copped a pummeling from the traffic behind.  Those following sprayed in all directions with three others falling in the wake.   Then the poor girl was rolled on by Stella Joy. 

First reactions were that she is badly injured.  Good news is that she seemed to get some protection from the vest and did not appear to have head injuries. 

All happened in a flash and I have not seen the video, but it looked a total accident.

It is interesting that they race at Ipswich 30 or 40 times a year and my guess is the number of falls is no greater that at any other track in the country.

However invariably there is trouble on Ipswich Cup day. I suspect it is a result of bigger fields and bigger prizemoney which creates more urgency for the jockeys who might push a little harder than in the $12000 maidens the ITC usually host.

Its not a fair track for good quality horses. The last 10 years results on Eye Liner day is perfect proof. Time to take the stand alone Saturday meeting away and allow the best horses in the state to race at the best tracks.

They realised it in Sydney and took away the Canterbury Guineas meeting, its time Brisbane follow suit and then we can work on the Victorians moving the last meeting in October away from that crappy saucer to a decent venue.

Ex-Qlder Striking Point having first start for 20 months in the last at Warrnambool today.

If we could take a look at the probability of a fall at a track taking into account the the shape, size and field size then maybe the stewards are smart enough to beleive that there is an increased danger at Royal Ipswich than other roomier tracks?