Ken Callander: Robbie Waterhouse’s tips raise eyebrows as NSW Racing stewards look into bookmaker’s $10 service
IS Robbie Waterhouse breaking the rules of racing by selling his tips to punters for $10? Ken Callander looks at the highly contentious issue.
IS Robbie Waterhouse breaking the rules of racing by selling his tips to punters for $10?
Chief Steward Ray Murrihy admits the matter has been brought to the attention of his panel, which will need to determine whether Waterhouse is in breach of Australian Rule Of Racing 175 (i) which deals with a licensed person who by advertisement or other means offers to give information in return for monetary consideration.
Getting Waterhouse’s tips for $10 was blasted all over SKY Racing Radio on Saturday as punters tuned into the early punting preview show with Andrew Bensley and Ron Dufficy.
Now Waterhouse might argue that by logging on to “robsmail.com.au” and paying $10 to receive text messages you get better value than paying $2 for your Saturday Daily Telegraph and getting my tips, but I am not a licensed person or a leading rails bookie and I am not married to one of Sydney’s leading trainers.
In the days of Rufe Naylor, Hollywood George and a few other notable gentleman of the turf, selling the tip was looked down on by the socially elite of the racing community. Things must have changed.
Crown might fit for Group 1 success
BILL Collins’ famous “Kingston Town can’t win” is the most famous blooper by a racecaller in my time, but hot on its heels was in the 2000 Golden Slipper when on course caller Terry Bailey shouted, “Here comes the winner Crowned Glory” only moments before the filly was gunned down by the actual winner Belle du Jour.
While Bailey, a good sport now based in Melbourne, often laughs about his call, Crowned Glory was denied a Group 1 success. Where Bailey can get square is by calling Crowned Glory’s son, Hallowed Crown, to a Group 1 success.
The way Hallowed Crown won the Run To The Rose at Rosehill on Saturday, he might be notching up his first Group 1 in the Golden Rose before he gets on the float to go South.
Hallowed Crown might be the galloper to give a big kick to the career of fourth generation trainer James Cummings in his partnership with his grandfather Bart, who I am sure would not mind another top-line spring horse.
Newcastle slipping further behind
IT was good Peter V’landys got on the front foot in the Sunday Telegraph and explained why Newcastle has not had money spent on a track upgrade.
I was particularly pleased to read the reply as I cannot tell you how much correspondence I’ve had from the Hunter in the last few months of people disenchanted by the state of play.
Newcastle’s feature sprint, the Cameron Handicap is now worth less than Grafton’s Ramornie Handicap and the Spring Stakes, a race won in recent years by the likes of Ebony Grosve, Universal Prince, Magic Albert, Ilovethiscity and Savvy Nature, has had prizemoney chopped from $175,000 to $125,000 in two years.
I note there is a committee election coming up at the end of next month which could be interesting.
Berry allowed to dictate speed limit
HOW slow did they let Tommy Berry go in front on Greatwood on Saturday? Any slower and he would have been booked for parking.
Despite everything playing into his hands I still think Greatwood went great and it is no surprise the TAB now has him on the second line of betting at $8 for The Metropolitan.
Bonfire, the runner-up, also raced well on Saturday while Hugh Bowman did not have many options on He’s Your Man the way the race was run and that horse may go a lot better ridden more quietly when there is speed on.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Linda Meech on Weinholt. Navigated a great passage on the tricky track.
RUN OF THE DAY
Hallowed Crown. Obviously loves the wet. Will he be as effective on good ground? Watch out if he is.
FORGET IT RAN
Beyond Thankful. Was backed from $3.20 to $2.70 and just has to be better than he showed on Saturday.
Originally published as Ken Callander: Robbie Waterhouse’s tips raise eyebrows as NSW Racing stewards look into bookmaker’s $10 service
COMMENT: Weir is entitled to a second chance … just not as a horse trainer
More than 600 days since covert video revealing Darren Weir using a jigger on three horses was first aired publicly, the disgraced trainer has been handed a new two-year disqualification. But in racing’s case, time doesn’t heal all wounds.
Randwick Turf Talk: Top tip ‘on the up and knows how to win’
Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass are both pinning their hopes on a lightly-weighted stayer proving too strong for a ‘fascinating’ import at Randwick on Saturday. Get their best bets for the 10-race card.
Ray and Shayno’s Turf Talk: $41 top tip at Randwick on Saturday
Ray Thomas and Shayne O’Cass preview the 10-race card at Royal Randwick on Saturday, where Shayno is taking a punt on an import who looks well over the odds at $41.