Ken Callander says Australian horses Shamexpress and Sea Siren not up to top international standard

IT is one thing sending Choisir, Takeover Target, Scenic Blast or Miss Andretti to race at Royal Ascot and another sending Shamexpress and Sea Siren.

Sea Siren

IT is one thing sending Choisir, Takeover Target, Scenic Blast or Miss Andretti to race at Royal Ascot and another sending Shamexpress and Sea Siren.

Shamexpress and Sea Siren are terrific horses, but just not good enough when lined up against Group 1 international competition.

TWITTER is hot with the tip that former Austar/Foxtel executive Bruce Mann will be the new CEO of racing channel TVN.

That is good news because all previous names put forward had been bean counters. If being a financial whiz was the main criterion to running a television channel, Tim Worner, Seven's best ever CEO, and Channel 9 success stories Sam Chisholm, David Leckie and David Gyngell, would have all missed out as they came through the TV ranks as programmers and salesmen.

THERE are natural footballers, natural salesman, natural jockeys and natural television presenters.

You will know what I mean if you watched suspended jockey Kathy O'Hara in the chair on TVN at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Careful TVN, Seven, Nine or Ten might grab her.

IT was bad luck that Royal Randwick had to be called off after three races on Saturday, but there was no alternative. Once jockey safety is threatened all debate ceases.

THE most amazing thing about Chris Waller's dominating nine Group 1 successes this season is that eight different horses have figured, with Shoot Out the only one to win two.

Normally a trainer having success at such a level has a Lonhro, a Grand Armee, a Sunline or a More Joyous winning three or four majors.

Every year of his training career Waller has exceeded the deeds of his previous season.

Good luck to his rivals if the trend continues in 2013-14.

I CAME home on Thursday after three weeks in the United States and once again I was amazed by the absolute nil coverage of racing in the mainstream media.

If you think racing is as big in the US as it is here, please don't be misled.

Even in the sports betting areas of the casinos of Nevada there was a lot more interest in the basketball play-offs between the San Antonia Spurs and the Miami Heat or the Stanley Cup ice hockey playoffs between Boston and Chicago than there was in any horse racing meeting.

LLOYD Williams has decided to not buy any more European horses because he believes prices have become too inflated at the top end of the market.

A few trainers who have gone to England and thrown money around like confetti have spoilt the party, but Waller still does not seem to have any trouble in finding winners at the bottom end of the market.

Remember, there is only one Melbourne Cup each year but there are eight $85,000 races in Sydney every Saturday.

I NOTICED at Randwick on Saturday that opinion is still divided on the merits of the new grandstand.

Those who have signed up at $40,000 a year for a table in the luxurious Chairman's Club think it is sensational, while members who pay $430 per year plus the general public think it is poorly designed and a disappointment.

When a club has a debt level around $60 million, which has to be serviced, money is always the No.1 priority.