From Left Of Centre with Steve Morris
If there is one thing that really grinds my gears it is seeing people get burnt in racing. Although the BC3/Punter's Club debacle is not entirely based around racing directly, too often in this industry do unsuspecting victims have the wool pulled over their eyes.
Many of those bitten will never return to enjoy what this wonderful industry has to offer. As the saying goes, 'Once bitten twice shy'. The story of why I am so passionate about this particular topic follows.
As a 19 year old I stood in my lounge room in South Australia glued to the TV screen. I had been involved in thoroughbred racing for years, however I was about to watch the first horse I had ever owned a share in race at Sandown.
Don't Tell Pat, which I’d bought into as a tried horse, certainly didn't fill me with much confidence on this day. It is fair to say he had not provided his new owners much excitement. He had barely beaten a horse home in his previous five starts, and was suited to dry tracks. Sandown had thrown up a Heavy 9 for him to deal with.
To cut a long story short, Don't Tell Pat jumped to the front, held the lead, kicked three lengths clear at the top of the straight and ran out a 2.3-length winner beating the short-priced favourite. Eight hundred kilometres away here I was yelling at the TV screen cheering my boy home, jumping up and down with excitement. I owned a staggering 2.5 per cent and it felt like I had just won Lotto.
This is why I am so passionate about the industry. It is easy and affordable for anyone to be involved, and everyone should be afforded the opportunity to experience the feeling I felt that day, horse-lovers or otherwise.
Unfortunately events such as those that have hit the media in the past week deter people, especially the younger generation, from putting their hard earned dollars into owning a share in a racehorse and the amazing thrills that accompany it.
SNOW STORM
Peter Snowden has done an amazing job with the Darley operation in his time at the helm. He will relinquish his duties as head trainer at the conclusion of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
He may have had a shocking weekend with the 2yos (by his standards), by failing to win the 2yo race on the Sydney program for the first time in a month, yet he still walked away with a quartet of winners from the meeting.
Not a bad day at the office. It is difficult to see how the impending partnership between Peter and son Paul will be anything other than a raging success. Forgive me for thinking they will be just fine on their own.
LOOK AT HYMN GO
His stars have been few and far between but the Irish-bred Ihtiram looks to have produced another one out of the box. Best known for his deeds as the sire of superstar sprinter Miss Andretti, Ihtiram now has a serious top-liner in 3yo gelding Ihtsahymn.
Ihtsahymn was able to upstage the highly credentialed three-time Group 1 winner Luckygray in Saturday’s Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Defying the racing pattern from his previous barnstorming win in the G2 WA Guineas, Ihtsahymn took up a more forward position and was able to claim his maiden G1 victory. This continued the solid run of 3yos in early-season WFA races.
Have no doubt, this horse will be headed east to test himself against the best and race for the riches on offer next year. With natural improvement, he may just have the scope to measure up.
LORDY LORDY
Lord Kanaloa was without doubt the star of the show on Hong Kong International Raceday last weekend at Sha Tin. Positioned three-wide with cover throughout the run, Jockey Yasunari Iwata hit the go button on straightening and the 6yo entire exploded away to a 5 length victory.
The form of the Melbourne Cup certainly stood up on the big stage once again with both Dunaden and Red Cadeaux exceptional, however it was the Irish-bred locally trained Dominant who proved too good after a trio of G1 placings over the course of his career.
Other feature winners on the program included Glorious Days and Akeed Mofeed, a horse we look forward to seeing perform over the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
THIS WEEKEND
The Villiers Stakes looks to be an intriguing race with many heavily supported runners, and others that have been totally friendless. Strike The Stars, Ninth Legion and Said Com have all been solid shorteners in the market at a good price.
At Doomben there is black type on offer for the babies, with proven juvenile sires Falvelon and Snitzel favoured to add to their stud record. Falvelon's flying colt Vienna Royale will be out to emulate his debut performance when he absolutely trotted home.
The regally bred Oakleigh Girl (Snitzel ex Miss Kournikova) will be looking to further enhance her record after an impressive win down the straight on debut over the Flemington Carnival. Both horses have been very heavily supported in early betting.
Until next week, good luck and good racing!
