Punters hurt in latest TV war after Racing Victoria go own way on a digital free-to-air channel

THE punter is the one getting hurt after Racing Victoria decided to go it their way on a digital free-to-air channel rather than align themselves with the rest of the racing industry on Sky Racing.

Photographer: Simon Bullard. Race 8 CELLARBRATIONS HANDICAP (3YO&UP BM84) - 1500m. Winner 'Hollywood Bound' ridden by Blake Shinn.

RACING’S latest television war has already claimed a high profile casualty — the punter.

Because the punter is the one getting hurt after Racing Victoria decided to go it their way on a digital free-to-air channel rather than align themselves with the rest of the racing industry on Sky Racing.

The selfishness of this move was highlighted last Saturday when Racing Victoria made an 11th hour decision to change their race times for Caulfield so there was a bigger gap to the next race at Donald.

This seems fair enough except Caulfield was originally programmed to be about 15 minutes before Rosehill but the amended times meant there was only seven minutes between the two prime racing venues.

CIVIC STAKES: Thrilling win by Haussmann

LATE CHARGE: Blake Shinn's lean day

Often Caulfield races ran quite late meaning they cut further into the preview time for Rosehill. This practice only poses more questions.

Why did Racing Victoria alter Caulfield race times? Couldn’t the race times for Donald only be amended? As a professional courtesy, why weren’t the other states racing bodies informed of the time changes? Was this move designed to fragment viewers between Channel 78 and the Sky Racing channels? Won’t the split vision impact wagering turnover nationally?

There will be those suggesting Tabcorp, owners of Sky Racing, should immediately agree to restore Victorian racing to the wall-to-wall channel.

But why should Tabcorp now pay Racing Victoria for the vision rights when that organisation is paying another television carrier to show their racing?

The only certainty with this complex issue is that punters are going to have to get used to the split vision because this impasse is unlikely to be resolved soon.

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THE Australian Turf Club’s marketing department should seize the opportunity and heavily promote the final three weeks of an enthralling Sydney jockeys premiership.

Three world-class riders, James McDonald, Blake Shinn and Hugh Bowman have only 4.5 wins between them and seven city meetings left before the end of the season to determine the title.

Blake Shinn on Bohemian Lily.

With McDonald due to return from Europe next week, the premiership outcome is likely to go down to the final meeting at Canterbury on July 29.

Racing has to do more to promote its champions — both human and equine — so hopefully the ATC takes up the challenge and provide incentives for punters to get trackside and watch these champion jockeys showcasing their skills.

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PREFERMENT and Pride Of Dubai — these are two horses that most excites the nation’s leading Group 1 winning trainer and jockey going into the new season.

Chris Waller trained an extraordinary 14 Group 1 races winners during the season — with only Brazen Beau winning twice at the highest level.

The champion trainer nominated his Victoria Derby winner Preferment as his horse to follow during the spring.

Pride of Dubai in action. Pic: George Salpigtidis

Waller, who left for England yesterday to finetune Brazen Beau’s preparation for the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket next weekend, says Preferment is coming up well for a campaign he hopes can culminate with a Melbourne Cup triumph.

Bowman was the leading Group 1 jockey with nine majors and has selected ATC Sires Produce Stakes winner Pride Of Dubai as the horse he is looking forward to riding most in the spring.

ON a similar theme, Godolphin’s John O’Shea has a wealth of young talent at his disposal for the new season but he unhesitatingly rated established stable stars Contributer and Hartnell as his big-race hopes for spring.

“The two weight-for-age horses have come back in great order,’’ O’Shea said.

Contributer is being aimed at the Cox Plate, while Hartnell may also go there as part of his Melbourne Cup preparation.

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BIG Money needs to set a modern weight-carrying record to defend his Ramornie Handicap crown at the rich Grafton Cup Carnival on Wednesday.

The talented Rod Northam-trained sprinter, who won the Ramornie last year with 56kg, is carrying 59kg in the feature sprint.

Big Money winning at Doomben. Pic: Tim Marsden.

No horse has shouldered more than 58kg to win the Ramornie since Scottish Crag had 61kg (9th 8 lbs) when he took out the race 50 years ago.

Robert Thompson is booked to ride Big Money but before Grafton the Hall of Fame jockey is striving for an incredible 11th win in the Jungle Juice Cup at Cessnock tomorrow.

Thompson will ride rising 10-year-old Youthful King who is already a three-time Jungle Juice Cup winner in 2011, 2013-14.

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DARREN Gauci turns 50 later this year but the former three-time Melbourne premier jockey showed he can still mix it at the elite level with his double on Rich Jack and Lord Durante at Caulfield

Gauci has always had wonderful balance in the saddle and there are few finer judges of pace. He was at his best on Rich Jack, controlling the race tempo upfront, easing away from the rail on the turn in search of better ground before racing clear for a dominant win.

Jockey's (L) Kevin Forrester and (R) Darren Gauci. Pic: Colleen Petch.

SATURDAY SNAPSHOT — ROSEHILL GARDENS

RUN OF THE DAY

Shiraz might have enjoyed the run of the race but he unleashed a very impressive burst of acceleration to put his rivals away quickly. He has the ability to race through the grades this winter.

FORGET THEY RAN

Alegria was a certainty beaten in Land Grant’s race. She was held up behind a wall of horses at the top of the straight, forcing jockey Hugh Bowman to check and manoeuvre wide for clear galloping room. The blinkers switched this filly on and she can win next start.

Similarly, Fiftyshadesofgrey’s get-back racing style doesn’t help her cause but she should have beaten Hard To Hold. With any sort of luck, Fiftyshadesofgrey could have won all four starts this campaign instead of having only the sole win and three fast-finishing seconds. She is racing in great heart.

THE BLACK BOOK

Vanbrugh ran up to win the juvenile race but Surfin’ Safari’s superior fitness kicked in over the last 100m. Vanbrugh was first-up on a heavy track and will take considerable improvement from this run.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Brenton Avdulla’s decisive and aggressive move early on Land Grant negated the wide barrier was rewarded with a win. Avdulla was able to control the tempo in front and the promising Land Grant was able to withstand challenges late.

Originally published as Punters hurt in latest TV war after Racing Victoria go own way on a digital free-to-air channel