What’s the Buzz: One man’s $1800 17,500km ticket for the ride of his life at Flemington
THE Melbourne Cup isn’t just about the billionaires and million-dollar horses. One Aussie flew all the way from London for one 70-second race.
Phil Rothfield
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THE Melbourne Cup isn’t just about the billionaire sheiks and the million-dollar international horses.
We found another overseas invader who travelled 17,500km from London to Melbourne for the weekend to watch his horse win at Flemington on Saturday.
Simon Pickworth is a born-and-bred Aussie from Sydney’s northern beaches, who went travelling in Europe 15 years ago but never came home.
When his mates purchased a horse called Brazen Beau for $70,000 two years ago, they offered him a 10 per cent share.
On Saturday, Brazen Beau, trained by Chris Waller, went around in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. It’s a long way to come on an $1800 economy ticket via Dubai for a race that went less than 70 seconds.
Pickworth arrived in Melbourne at 6.30am Saturday for just 48 hours. A quick taxi to his hotel, a shower and then into a suit and straight to Flemington.
An $8 chance, Brazen Beau stormed down Flemington’s outside fence to win.
“I’m not even tired,” he said. “The adrenalin is just pumping from being here. I can’t believe we’ve won. It’s paid for the airfares and left plenty of change.”
“People will say I’m mad coming all this way for one race.
“But it’s Derby Day. How often do you get a starter on the biggest day in Australian racing, let alone a winner? It took me longer to talk my wife into letting me come than it did to actually fly here.”
Pickworth heads back home to the UK tomorrow. It’s another gruelling 17,500 kilometres — but he insists it’s all worth it.
IF Japanese stayer Admire Ratki wins the Melbourne Cup, the internationals will complete a
clean sweep of the three major Spring races.
One TAB punter will turn $50 into $51,122 if that happens after having a three-leg multi at odds of $1022 on the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
LAURIE Daley is in town for the Derby weekend, but there is no sign of his mate Freddy Fittler.
Freddy recently purchased a farm on Sydney’s outskirts and is enjoying a quieter life.
I rang him to get an opinion Paul Gallen’s fine and suspension from rep footy.
“He’s had a massive six months,” Fittler said. “Everyone needs to take a deep breath. Let Gal have his appeal so we can hear his side to the story. I’d be extremely disappointed if he wasn’t playing for NSW next year.
“I’d be unbelievably disappointed. The captaincy is not my decision, but I know the players want him there.”
MIDDLE-AGED MUTANTS SHOULDN’T WEAR GREEN
YES, Derby Day at Flemington is all about sophistication and high fashion. Or so we’re told. It’s the sport of kings, after all.
Clearly, Braith Anasta and his beautiful wife, Jodi, enjoyed the trappings at one of the great occasions in Australian sport. Retirement is obviously a good fit for Braith.
Then there are the desperates. What were these middle-aged mutant ninja turtles thinking? Or clearly they weren’t.
I don’t know how our intrepid super heroes didn’t spook the horses. And I don’t think a shell quite works as a fascinator.
We should put these blokes in touch with our fashion guru Briana Domjen for the dos and don’ts of racing attire.
SAINT
BEING in Melbourne and not having to watch an AFL game.
SINNER
THE NRL integrity unity could have benefited from a day of work experience at Flemington to watch how the country’s top stewards professionally and fairly go about their business in policing the rules of racing.
WALDRON JOB APPLICATION
MELBOURNE is not just our racing capital on Derby Day, it’s also the place to be for the best sporting gossip. One of the hottest rumours doing the rounds was that disgraced former Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron had applied to Gill McLachlan for a job in AFL management.
SHOOSH
SOME low-life has taken a picture of one of Australia’s most admired sportswomen having sex with a rugby union player. The picture was sent to my mobile phone via text message but fortunately hasn’t made it on to social media.
PRETTY BOY VISIT
ONCE the racing is over, one of the world’s biggest sporting superstars could be heading to Melbourne. The great Floyd Mayweather is rumoured to be hosting an event for one of his charities to coincide with the Anthony Mundine v Sergey Rabchenko fight on Wednesday week. Promoter Brian Amatruda confirmed Mayweather’s camp has asked for 12 tickets to the fight.
RABCHENKO: I WILL SHUT MUNDINE’S MOUTH
DOG CATCHERS
THE Bulldogs were fined almost $40,000 by the NRL this year for various offences. On top of that they copped $20,000 for being late on to the field in the grand final. They have hired lawyers and are refusing to pay.
SPOTTED
SAM Burgess and his stunning partner Phoebe Hooke waiting for the NRMA after breaking down on Southern Cross Drive last week before heading to England.
A FINE IDEA ... NOT
ONE commentator says Paul Gallen deserved a $50,000 fine because he earns $1 million a year. Does this mean James Packer and David Gyngell should have been fined $10m for their Bondi stink because they’ve got heaps of money?
ENOUGH WITH THE ‘POOR GAL’ BLEATING
BLUES WON’T SACK GALLEN
PAUL Gallen WILL be captain the NSW Blues next year as long as he’s not injured.
Powerful figures on the NSWRL board, coach Laurie Daley, CEO Dave Trodden and chairman George Peponis will not be pressured or bullied into sacking him.
It’s a fact but they can’t say it publicly because of the way the NRL operates on anyone in the game who dares to criticise or question them.
The NSWRL is so fed up with the NRL that they want to vacate their offices at Moore Park and move elsewhere.
The George Peponis and Paul Gallen issues have driven a wedge between the two organisations like never before.
BLUES BROTHERS GET BEHIND GALLEN
CONLON: THERE’S NO JUSTICE IN GALLEN DECISION
EGO CAN CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT
FOR all those punters quick to tear down Paul Gallen, allow me to tell you a story.
Not so long ago your columnist worked on this newspaper as executive sport editor.
A young up-and-coming sports writer got awfully drunk on an interstate assignment. Among other things, he called me the ‘F’ and ‘C’ words when I phoned him. (Many, in fact, might actually agree with him.)
No, we didn’t sack him or fine him. He apologised and got a warning. He became one of the best sportswriters I’ve ever worked alongside.
Take note Dave Smith and don’t let your ego get in the way of making the right decision.
PLAN TO BETA MAJOR HICCUP
WHILE the nation eats, drinks and parties on Tuesday afternoon, spare a thought for race caller Greg Miles, calling his 33rd big race.
He doesn’t touch any food on race day.
“I have a fear of getting hiccups or something stupid,” Miles said.
“I once heard a caller with hiccups and it is not what you want. You have to be mindful of something like that.
“I might have a cup of tea and maybe a little piece of chocolate but I don’t like eating during the day.”
EELS-EAGLES TO LAUNCH 2015
THERE was plenty of mail at the track from NRL officials (a couple still talk to me) who are in town for this afternoon’s Test match.
The draw for 2015 was discussed at Moore Park HQ last week and it appears we won’t be getting a Rabbitohs-Bulldogs grand final replay for the premiership opener on a Thursday night.
I’m told they are looking at playing Manly v Parramatta instead. Anthony Watmough, Will Hopoate and Darcy Lussick against their old Sea Eagles team mates, most likely at Parramatta Stadium.
I WAS MADE TO LOOK LIKE HITLER: WATMOUGH
ROOS’ ONE-TRACK MIND
A NUMBER of Kangaroos stars were invited into the corporate areas at Flemington on Saturday.
In a sign of how seriously they are taking this afternoon’s game against England, not one player went. Instead they stayed in their hotel rooms to watch next week’s opponents Samoa against the Kiwis. They have also knocked back invites for Melbourne Cup day.
AFL BLOCKS A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL PLANS
NEW BATTLE GROUND
MELBOURNE Victory are favourites with bookmakers to play in the A-League grand final.
There’s a chance they’ll finish on top and get the home ground advantage — which creates problems.
It’s booked for the same weekend as the opening round of the AFL and both the MCG and Etihad Stadiums are booked out.
Originally published as What’s the Buzz: One man’s $1800 17,500km ticket for the ride of his life at Flemington
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