Downgrading the BMW is a massive mistake by Racing NSW, says Ken Callander

I was set to congratulate Racing NSW for initiating The Championships at Randwick but then I heard about the downgrading of the BMW.

Tommy Berry - riding Sacred Falls - salutes on BMW Doncaster Day at Randwick.

I was all set to congratulate John Messara, Peter Vlandys and Racing NSW for initiating The Championships at Randwick next Easter (and I still will) but then I heard about the downgrading of the BMW, Australia's only Group One 2400m weight-for-age race.

What a race the BMW is, what champions it has produced. It is the one race I look forward to each Autumn, not the Galaxy, the Ryder or any other race that has not caught the public imagination.

In the past 20 years the BMW has been won by Octagonal, Might And Power, Tie The Knot, Ethereal, Makybe Diva, Eremein, Tuesday Joy and many other topnotchers. What about Freemason stalling off Northerly 10 years ago in the race or Makybe Diva running down Grand Armee two years later?

Have we had any other more thrilling big races in Sydney in recent times with the possible exception of Black Caviar running down Hay List in the T.J.Smith?

So what do we do? We stop it being the iconic distance WFA race of the country and lower the prizemoney by a third, dropping it from $2.25m to $1.5m, at a time when we are showering races with extra prizemoney left, right and centre.

Is it the influence of breeders who don't want long distance races or is it another nail in the coffin of Rosehill by degrading one of its two great races?

Watch Melbourne now make a move to cover all bases. I reckon the Mackinnon Stakes will now be moved to the fourth day of the Flemington carnival and increased in distance to 2400m to give Melbourne the best Group One 2400m WFA race in Australia.

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Having had my gripe, and I am sure it is a criticism shared by everyone who does not have a vested interest in the breeding of thoroughbreds, I must acknowledge praise where it is merited.

John Messara has done what I thought close to impossible by getting Government to give major financial support to racing and I, like everybody else in racing, am looking forward to The Championships. I am certain there is no other racing person who could have achieved the same result.

To Messara, and his hard working CEO Peter Vlandys, my sincere congratulations.

John Messara at the Magic Millions yearling sales.

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Glyn Schofield might have produced the two rides of the Melbourne Spring with his brilliant efforts on Boban at Caulfield and Flemington, but no rider has ridden better over the entire carnival than Kerrin McEvoy.

His effort on Paximadia from a tricky barrier in the Sandown Guineas was another 10 out of 10 ride in what seems an almost new aggressive style.

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The worst ride of the day at Rosehill was turned in by Christian Reith on the hotpot Specific Choice in the second last at Rosehill.

Just because you draw barrier one you don't have to set a horse alight and get him pulling on a breakneck speed. I hope Christian has a look at the replay and sees how far back the two horses finished, Raceway and Calvo, who went with him to the turn.

Chris Waller will now need to go back to square one by running this horse in a sprint race and dropping him out to teach him to settle and I doubt C.Reith will be on top.

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I am surprised a few people are yet to be convinced by White Sage. What more can you do than win your first four races by an average of almost 4 ½ lengths? She will get to Group class for sure.

White Sage storm home to win the CSR Bradford Solar Handicap

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The early favourite Sheer Style was scratched from the $85,000 Two-Year-Old race at Rosehill on Saturday to run in the $200,000 Magic Millions Juvenile at Ballarat next Sunday, which will be run in a clockwise or Sydney direction. A smart move by Garry Fraser and the connections.

RIDE OF THE DAY

K.McEvoy on Paximadia. A positive ride that ensured victory.

RUN OF THE DAY

Sertorius. A deserved win in a strong staying performance.

FORGET IT RAN

Specific Choice (Rosehill). Will prove that form all wrong. Handy galloper.