Old guard showing the way

Where are all the young guys? Veteran jockeys Glen Boss, Jimm Cassidy and Nash Rawiller are outgunning the kids.

Jimmy Cassidy

Where are all the young guys? Forty four-year-old Glen Boss is dominating with Puissance De Lune one week and Regal Dane the next, 50-year-old Jimmy Cassidy outgunned the kids again on Thump at Warwick Farm on Saturday and even Nash Rawiller, the big noise in the Sydney jockey ranks, is 40 next year.

Ace jockeys used to be at their peak from 25-35, Malcolm Johnston at 21, but these days the kids aren’t as good as the old blokes.

Hugh Bowman is still only 33 and close to the top of the pile while 22-year-old Tommy Berry is the hope of the youngsters.

Often as jockeys get older, trainers and punters start to notice the “stay clear” warning signs of checking too much, not too keen to race back in a field or simply losing judgement, but there are no tell tale signs with Boss, Cassidy and Rawiller. All three are riding as good as they ever have.

Son of a gun

Talking of champion jockeys, Luke Dittman, son of champion Mick, is looking to base himself with a Randwick trainer for the final two years of his apprenticeship.

Dittman, who has competed in North Queensland, New Zealand and France in recent times, has ridden 74 winners, but most of his success has come on bush tracks and he is still eligible to claim 3kg in town.
 

Don't forget Napayshini

While all the talk is of Eurozone, Zoustar, Cluster, Sidestep and Va Pensiero for the Run To The Rose next week, don’t forget a horse called Napayshini, trained by Grant Allard at Gosford.

I have a big opinion of Napayshini who could be the smokey in the race. Early last season he flashed home for an unlucky second to All The Talk at Warwick Farm and at his only run since resuming training he had a leisurely romp to win a Gosford maiden by 5 ½ lengths.

Allard, like Napayshini, has plenty of ability and he is not worried at all about throwing his horse in at the deep end.

Top run

He failed to take the prize by a nose, but I think Glen Boss rode a terrific race on Streama in the Warwick Stakes.

Too often in Sydney when Rain Affair has been an odds on favourite, rival jockeys have let him bowl along at 90 per cent effort and demoralise his rivals before the home turn.

Boss kept punching on Streama and forced Rain Affair out of his comfort zone and the odds on favourite compounded. Many think Streama may have won, and not been beaten by the 20/1 shot Veyron, if Boss had sat three lengths further back on her. If he had I think he would have run second to Rain Affair.

Impressive pedigree

Veyron, an eight-year-old Kiwi who got under my guard winning the Warwick Stakes, is trained by Linda Laing, a lady with an impressive pedigree being the daughter of Royce Dowling, one of the smartest trainers to ever cross the Tasman and if you don’t believe me ask Jimmy Cassidy.

Dowling had terrific success in Australia with Limitless, a Sir Tristram mare who won the Summer Cup, the Tattersall’s Cup and the Anniversary Handicap at Randwick and the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm.

While Veyron took home the cash, Guy Walter would have been pleased with the run of Toydini and Chris Waller would have been overjoyed with the performances of his runners, especially Metal Bender, Beaten Up and Hawkspur.

In the other races on Saturday beaten horses who caught the eye were Royal Descent in the Toy Show, Drago in the Up And Coming Stakes and Norzita in the last. 

Royal Descent needs more ground, Drago might be Anthony Cummings’ second successive Victoria Derby winner and when assessing Norzita’s run don’t forget she carried 2.5kg more than Rebel Dane.

RIDE OF THE DAY
Jim Cassidy on Thump. Made the favourite work and enticed plenty from his mount over the final 100m.
 

RUN OF THE DAY
Veyron. His rivals may have had excuses but he didn’t need any. Good quality galloper.
 

FORGET IT RAN
Sweet Idea. The Golden Slipper placegetter bled and is out for three months.