Racehorse TALK

I'm left scratching my head when I look at this field...for a Gr 2 race with good prizemoney where are the top noms we expect.

Is this about SA racing and it being badly programmed?
Is it not publicised?
Is the surrounding programming still an issue?

Is it saying something about staying races in the country...when we put them on nobody turns up?

Or are trainers not on their game in looking for good opportunities.

As a comarison I would look at two races such as the MV Cup and Lexus Stks [Derby Day staying race] not one horse from either field is nommed !

There are some good horses from both races when you look at those noms -

Hissing Sid, Irazu, The Sportsman, Miss Darcey, Think Money, Light Vision, Dandaad, Hume, Nothin' Leica Cat,

None entered!!

If somebody from SA racing hasn't been ringing some of these trainers asking for noms or asking why they aren't nommed they're not doing a good enough job IMO.

Steve, Whilst I believe genuine top class trainers can get a horse fit for staying races without a hundred lead up races, there is absolutely no lead up for genuine top class gallopers for trainers to even think about the race.

You would think at this point in Alcopops career a group 2 3200m handicap in his home state would be well with in his scope, but how would he get there ?

I agree

i went looking for Irazu in the weights as I wanted to hook into some doubles with him.

he did race a few weeks ago so maybe Sydney is his goal

Overall, it's a shocker

I'll be cheering on old Dolphin Joe

Programming could be better maybe, but I don't agree there are no leadups.

2600 G3 nine days before.

2200m L two weeks before that.

1800m L two weeks before that.

What are the conditions of those races and what will good horses carry ?

The 2600m race is Set Weights & Penalties - the others are Quality handicaps.

There are a couple of interstate races that could be used as lead ups - Hobart & Tassie Cups & Mornington Cup.

I just wonder, Steve, whether most of those horses you mentioned had very long preps in the spring and are being saved for another long Spring.

One other thought.  Would bringing the Andrew Ramsden to be between this race and the Sydney Cup help give us a proper series of long distance races at this time of year, giving greater options for those horses to target.

But I doubt you will get horses running 3 3200m in 6 or7 weeks.

Yeah you're probably onto it Manikato...of those mentioned only Hume [Doncaster] have any noms for Sydney...I mean there's obviously other races I'd expect might feed into something like this...runners from races like Caul Cup, Herbert Power, Geelong Cup, Queen Elizabeth, Sandown Classic should all be contenders.

They're obviously in a tricky position having brought it forward and the Vic carnival probably doesn't work with 3yo's from the St Leger getting the chance...but the bottom line for SA is that the once great G1 Adelaide Cup will be a nondescript race over 3200m without any group status.

Works OK as a G2 2 miler for progressive stayers trying to qualify for next year's cup, and ties in with the improved tassie carnival. Established stayers can go to the Sydney Cup, and your honest second stringers like Growl get a crack at some cups. Cup day is a full capacity crowd every year now, as opposed to the 5000 they used to get, can't blame them really.

What they did to the Goodwood however is ordinary, either make if full WFA or leave it as a handicap.

Your right, but why is that ?

Is it because they break the horses getting them to one 3200m race ?

One other problem with the current date.

The Auckland Cup (grp1 $NZ1,000,000) is run 2 days later.

You may be right, but I reckon the most likely outcome will be horses running in 2 of the races based on their class and performances etc.

You make a good point about the Auckland Cup, the quality of the Adelaide Cup often came from New Zealand.

Any thoughts?

I'm thinking the Vic form of Fairygem, Montahlia and maybe De Fine Lago looks superior - if they can the 2 miles.

Mon and DFL both scr.