Races

The Weekly A-Z

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – AUTUMN IN THE AIR

It might not feel like it when you step outside, but autumn has come early. The brilliant racing on the east coast tomorrow, headlined by the first Group 1 of the season in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m), has put an extra pep in the step of many. While the Orr is the only elite-level race on the day, the action is well and truly heating up in Sydney also, with the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) featuring glamour mare Verry Elleegant in her first outing since taking out the Melbourne Cup, while exciting stablemate Espiona is also back in action. There is black-type racing left, right and centre, much to the glee of most.

B – BRACE YOURSELF

The Super Bowl and Los Angeles. It is a match made in heaven. With so much glitz and glamour attached to one of the world’s biggest sporting events, it is only fitting that this year’s showpiece between the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals will be held on Monday morning, WA time, in the City Of Angels. The build-up has been immense and it will only continue to gather momentum over the weekend. It’s hard not to be swept up.

C – CAME AND WENT

The sky didn’t fall in after all. Who would have thought? It was a massive weekend of pacing, chasing and racing here in WA last weekend and despite the absence of some familiar faces, the meetings were staged and winners celebrated. Chris Lewis was not seen at Gloucester Park after having only one of the two required vaccination shots. Fortunately, he won’t be sidelined for too long. For those fearing no William Pike would detract from the thoroughbred product, think again. Clint Johnston-Porter booted home four winners on the Magic Millions Day down at Pinjarra and Mambo Monelli, now in the care of Steve Withers following David Hobby’s decision to relinquish his licence, shone brightly in the final of the Sandi’s Me Mum Memorial at Cannington. 

D – DEFYING LOGIC

Just stop it, Kelly Slater. The American surfing legend proved age was just a number when he claimed Pipeline in Hawaii last weekend. The 11-time world champion, who turned 50 this week, dominated the season-opening event’s decider against 22-year-old Seth Moniz to reinforce his status as the greatest surfer that has ever lived. He is truly remarkable.  

E – EXIT DOOR

Basketballs fans Down Under awoke to a blockbuster trade this morning that had everyone talking, albeit very few sure on who the winner was. Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, coupled with two first-round draft selections left Philadelphia for Brooklyn in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap. Harden and Millsap will help the 76ers maximise the talents of Joel Embiid, but will that be sufficient to win it all? As for the Nets, they are still stacked, but have to get on their bike soon and stay healthy.

F – FAB FIVE

A little bit of water needs to flow under the bridge yet, but Jye McNeil is in the box seat to secure his first Melbourne metropolitan jockeys’ premiership. McNeil currently holds a 12-win lead over WA’s Damien Oliver with 45 victories. Fellow Sandgroper Damian Lane is a further victory away in third. McNeil is used by just about all of the big operations in Victoria and you can understand why. His achievement in booting home five winners last Saturday was another perfect illustration of his talents in the saddle.

G – GREECE IS THE WORD

Co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and ace rider James McDonald are no strangers to success with high-class two-year-olds. Only last month they combined to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Coolangatta and could well be eyeing off more riches with Greece after her brilliant trial win yesterday. A $1.2 million yearling purchase, Greece is a younger sister to multiple Group 1 winner Loving Gaby and showed she had inherited some of her sibling’s ability with an all-the-way win over Group-placed filly Bohemian Daisy in a 900m heat. She looks the real deal.

H – HEAD HELD HIGH

Justin Langer was left with no other option but to resign as coach of the Australian men’s cricket side. Cricket Australia and the players, who recommended to the board that they would like to see the back of the 51-year-old West Australian, got their man. Langer could have teed off. Indeed, had he blown up on the way out, nobody would have thought any less of him. Instead, his resignation letter and contact with staff post-resignation was full of class. Sadly the same can’t be said about CA and the players whose role in all of this is…

I – INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING

The Eastern States media were only too happy to tell everyone how brilliantly Pat Cummins conducted himself when fronting up to a voracious press pack on Wednesday. I repeat, Wednesday. Langer’s resignation became known on Saturday morning and it took until midway through the week before Cummins had his say. Aaron Finch, the white-ball captain, didn’t speak until yesterday. And don’t get me started on Cricket Australia. Let’s hope the egos inside the dressing room can be stroked sufficiently to allow the Australian side to continue on its winning ways.

J – JAK IN THE BOX

Australia launched its Winter Olympic assault in Beijing seeking a first gold medal since 2010. And we didn’t have to wait long thanks to the heroics of Jakara Anthony, who scored an 83.09 in the women’s mogul final earlier this week. It followed her fourth placing in 2018 and rubberstamped her as a bona fide star in freestyle skiing.

K – KING-SIZED CONCERN

If you thought you heard a large gasp originating from the Gold Coast yesterday morning, your ears weren’t playing tricks. You heard right. Ben King landed awkwardly during a Suns training session and was taken to hospital for scans on his right knee. As King goes, so too do the Suns. He was found to have ruptured an ACL, like his twin brother Max did prior to entering the AFL, ensuring Gold Coast are no hope of playing finals. Spare a thought for Stuart Dew.

L – LONGEVITY

Jesse Wagstaff will tomorrow become just the second Perth Wildcat after Ricky Grace to play 400 games. It is a milestone that not only recognises his durability, but unselfishness and importance to the club. Wagstaff was adjudged the rookie of the year and won a championship in his first season with the Wildcats in 2009 and has since been a key member of the side’s title-winning campaigns in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020. His importance to Perth is underlined by the fact he was appointed captain following Damian Martin’s retirement. Congratulations.

M – MILLIONS OF REASONS

With all the prizemoney increases taking place in NSW racing, it seems one race has been left out in the cold. And nobody really knows why. The Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick tomorrow, is one of real quality. Serious horseflesh will lock horns, albeit only for a winner’s purse of $140,250. It seems somewhat disrespectful to a field of 13 that has amassed … wait for it … a grand total of $41,313,221. Victories in some rich pop-up races clearly has helped swell that figure, but it is a staggering amount of money regardless.

N – NO THANKS

Bill Robinson listened, considered his options and then politely declined. Good on him. Robinson, who is in the latter stages of his life, was offered $300,000 for boom three-year-old Trix Of The Trade. He declined pretty much straight away. Soon after another line of inquiry was forthcoming. The total this time? A handy $375,000. Again he said no thanks. Then came the Godfather offer of $1 million, prompting him to give it some real thought. Ultimately he came up with the same answer and as a result, we get to see the lightly-raced Trix Of The Trade remain here in Perth and strive for back-to-back Listed victories in tomorrow’s Challenge Stakes (1500m) at Ascot.

O – ORR-SOME

Just as we celebrate the compilation of a brilliant field in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, the level of excitement surrounding tomorrow’s card at Caulfield is extremely high. The $1 million CF Orr Stakes (1400m) features of field of 12, 11 of which are rated 100 or more. Half of the runners have won Group 1s previously. The Orr has stood the test of time for many years and the 2022 edition shapes as a cracker.

P – PROBLEM SOLVER

If you have an issue in racing, there is one man you turn to … Patrick Carbery. He has been a high-class hoop for as long as you can remember and continues to turn in quality ride after after quality ride. Carbery, who guided Regal Power to Group 1 Glory during the TABtouch Masters and was successful in this year’s Perth Cup on Midnight Blue, produced a peach last weekend to ensure David Harrison and connections were spared Magic Millions heartache for consecutive years. The diminutive dynamo’s patience and know-how enabled Pixie Chix to spear through a gap and win the $200,000 Magic Millions WA Trophy (1200m) when all appeared lost inside the final 300m. 

Q – QUEEN OF THE TURF

We love to latch on to the next superstar of the turf. And Espiona is looking very much like that horse. The three-year-old is unbeaten from two starts, the most recent being a devastating victory by more than six lengths in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) during the Melbourne Cup carnival. She resumes as a raging odds-on favourite in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick tomorrow and unless something goes horribly awry, she will be three for three. 

R – R.I.P

Condolences to all family and friends of Johnny Raper, who this week passed away after a battle with dementia. He was 82. Talk rugby league with those in Sydney and the conversation will inevitably contain a reference to Raper. Deservedly so. He played in eight successive premierships with St George and was quite rightly regarded as one of the best to have ever played the game. It is why Raper was named an original Immortal. He can now rest in peace alongside former Dragons champion and teammate Norm Provan, who died last year, aged 88.

S – SHE IS A BELTER

Good barriers help good horses win good races. Then there are very good horses who win good races from bad barriers. A case in point is Sheeza Belter. The daughter of first-season stallion Gold Standard produced an unforgettable performance to take out last Sunday’s $250,000 Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra. Sheeza Belter went back from her high gate and then powered down the outside in the straight to overhaul Street Parade and She’s Greysful. It improved her record to two wins and a second from three starts and prompted connections to send her interstate where she will be trained by Peter and Paul Snowden.

T – TIME AFTER TIME

The Perth Wildcats haven’t yet worked out the puzzle that is a brisk start to the initial stages of an NBL encounter. It has proved costly on a couple of occasions. What it also did last Saturday night was give them a forum in which to showcase their vaunted firepower. They trailed fellow championship contenders South East Melbourne Phoenix 27-15 at quarter-time before flexing their muscles to prevail 101-79 on the Phoenix’s home floor. It was a championship audition of the highest order. If they stay healthy, Perth will be winning another title this season.

U – UNDENIABLE

Not that we needed another reminder, but Gary Hall Snr weaved his magic like only he can do last week by winning the WA Pacing Cup with Wildwest. Hall prepared multiple runners (there is no crime in that), but for him to snare a 12th Pacing Cup with a $101 outsider is further proof the man is a living legend in the standardbred industry. He can be self-effacing and happy to downplay his accomplishments, but any person that has prepared 44 Group 1 winners should be celebrated.

V – VOICE OF REASON

Unlike Alex Carey, who with the benefit of hindsight should have said nothing, and Marnus Labuschagne, who was withdrawn from a media opportunity earlier this week, wasn’t it wonderful to hear Usman Khawaja speak sense? Khawaja spoke from the heart when asked about his Justin Langer experiences and quite rightly suggested Pat Cummins and/or Aaron Finch would need to face the media soon to help relieve some tension surrounding the issue. Let’s hope he can remain in the Test side and provide his teammates with humility.

W – WEATHER WARNING

The last time we saw I’m Thunderstruck at Caulfield, he was given a 12 out of 10 by Jye McNeil en route to downing Group 1 winners Tofane and Superstorm in the Toorak Handicap (1600m). We know he then ventured to Sydney to claim the rich Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill before heading to the paddock where he enjoyed an uncompromised six-week spell. Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have an incredibly high opinion of the gelding, but did offer a word of warning this week, declaring it would be a surprise if Thunder erupted and won tomorrow’s Group 1. Instead, they are expecting a top-four finish.

X – XTRAGAVANT INDEED

A Geelong maiden victory followed by a barnstorming effort in last Saturday’s $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick. It is a fair jump, but one the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-prepared Xtravagant Star achieved. And as a result of her brilliant win, the daughter of Xtravagant will remain in Sydney and be aimed at the Golden Slipper rather than return to Melbourne for the Blue Diamond Stakes. Given she is already there and handles soft ground, not to mention the right-handed way of racing, it is a no-brainer.

Y – YEAR IS A LONG TIME IN FOOTY

The Simon Goodwin saga made for interesting reading this week. The fact that the AFL was prepared to sign off on Melbourne moving on the coach was mind-boggling. That Goodwin has had his issues with gambling previously is well known. I wouldn’t have thought a few drinks and a couple of bets with his players was a sackable offence. That was just over 12 months ago. Now we prepare for the upcoming season with Melbourne ready to defend an historic premiership that Goodwin oversaw.

Z – ZERO COMPASSION

If you needed any reminder that sport is very much a business, especially in America, it came in the past 24 hours when Joe Ingles was traded by the Utah Jazz to the Portland Trail Blazers. Ingles has spent all of his eight NBA seasons with the Jazz and proven a revelation with his long-range shooting, ball handling and leadership. But just over a week after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament, the organisation shipped him to the Trail Blazers, who have effectively blown up their roster for a fresh start.




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