Punters left at the gate again

WILL somebody explain to the Chairman and CEO of Racing Victoria  the most important people in racing are the punters?

Damien Oliver wins on Divine Calling at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

WHILE the Chairman and the CEO of Racing Victoria are chauffeuring Damien Oliver around Melbourne to make life as easy as possible for the leading jockey will somebody explain to them the most important people in racing are the punters.

To allow Oliver to take a suspension early after accepting rides for Caulfield yesterday so that he would not miss the Caulfield Guineas meeting on October 12 they did not consider punters who had bet on the Caulfield meeting at the TAB Fixed Odds prices on Friday.

Without punters there would be no racing. Along with owners they keep the industry going.

I also thought a suspension was supposed to be a punishment, not an inconvenience.

Having said that, it is not Oliver who is principally to blame (although not considering his supporters was selfish). It is the rule that allows him to do it.

Melbourne racing leads Australia in so many ways and the Melbourne Cup carnival is sensational, but in integrity and customer support in Melbourne is sadly lacking.

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How good did Samaready go in winning the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night?
Perhaps the pre race rain flattered her a little by softening the track, but she sure was dominant and is now the benchmark for sprinters this Spring.

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Some horses have luck with barriers, others aren’t so lucky.
At her past five starts Red Tracer has drawn 10 of 10, 16 of 16, 16 of 18, 18 of 18 and 10 of 11 and all have been in Group races. Amazingly she has chalked up two wins, two seconds and an unplaced run in the Doncaster.

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Perhaps he is an out and out 2400 metres plus horse, but I thought Drago was disappointing in the Gloaming Stakes on Saturday and he will need to get a bit of zip in his legs if he is to turn the tables on Complacent and Savvy Nature in the Spring Champion Stakes in two weeks.
 

Coming straight from a Hawkesbury maiden win and at just his fourth start in a race I think the winner Complacent was sensational. There is nothing wrong with his pedigree either, being a magnificent colt by the 2007 English Derby winner Authorised out of a mare by the 1990 English Derby winner Quest For Fame.
 

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After the losses of Liberty’s Choice ($2.15) and Woodbine ($1.55) at Canterbury on Wednesday and Ecuador ($1.40) and Aussies Love Sport ($2.35) in the first two races at Rosehill, I bet Gai Waterhouse breathed a huge sigh of relief when Julienas ($2.60) led all the way to win the third at Rosehilll.
 

Julienas also put paid to the myth you could not lead and win at Rosehill as did Champagne Cath who humped 58kg to lead all the way in the very next race. You can blame the wind, you can blame bias, you can blame jockeys, but as I have said before only the losers need excuses.
 

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It only needed another 212 punters for the crowd to top 10,000 on Saturday and the ATC continues to promote its Ladies Day at Rosehill in fine style.
 

It also lets those committeeman totally centred on Randwick see that people are keen to go to Rosehill and use its excellent grandstand facilities. With a bit of promotion they would find Canterbury would be the same or don’t they realise Canterbury not only has the best racing surface in Sydney but it also has a totally under-utilised purpose built grandstand that would not be out of place on any racetrack in the world.
 

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RIDE OF THE DAY

Kerrin McEvoy on Complacent. Settled his mount well and saved plenty of ground in the run.
 

RUN OF THE DAY

Complacent. Looked the good at his first middle distance run and the sky is now the limit.

FORGET IT RAN

Shahad. Very heavily backed, but lost all chance when she missed the start.