Racing expert Ken Callander reviews the past week on and off track
KEN Callander says John O'Shea has all the attributes to take over at Darley while jockey safety is too often overlooked.
THE recent deaths of Simone Montgomerie in Darwin and Desiree Gill on the Sunshine Coast and Kathy O'Hara's sickening fall at Randwick on Friday have once again stressed the dangers jockeys face every time they pocket $175 to go onto the track to ride a horse in a race.
As blood flowed from under her shattered skullcap as O'Hara lay motionless on the turf in Friday's twilight, many feared the worst. Thankfully the result was good and Kathy will make a complete recovery and be back riding soon, but again it drove home how risky it is riding racehorses.
Many fear modern jockeys exaggerate the danger by having just their toes and not their complete foot in the stirrups. I will leave that for better horsemen to argue, but I do know it is hard to tell a competitive sportsman not to try and seek an advantage.
I also know jockeys are not overpaid.
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Nobody rides Zaratone as good as Kathy O'Hara, but Brenton Avdulla almost did at Rosehill on Saturday when he let the grey run and left the chasers with no bullets to fire in the straight.
Now that Kathy, probably Sydney's most popular jockey, is well on the way to a full recovery I wonder if TVN will use her again while she is recuperating. When she was last on the sidelines Kathy showed as much poise and charm in front of the cameras as she does in the saddle.
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John O'Shea has three strong attributes that will make him a terrific fit for the Darley job. He can handle a big string, he is a dab hand with two-year-olds and he has proven he can train big race winners.
The tip is former O'Shea employee Simon Miller, now training in WA, will take charge of the Darley Melbourne stables.
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It has been the talk of the track the lean trot Gai Waterhouse has had in Sydney while she has been trekking around the country inspecting yearlings and showing off her Melbourne Cup.
Before Travolta won on Saturday, her previous Sydney winner was Vitello at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day. Mind you, I am not being too damning, it is not every year you win the Cup, but then again punters bet every day.
I hope our favourite lady has more luck at home while she is away overseas with husband Robbie on a Christmas holiday.
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A lot of owners cash in their horses regularly by selling them to Hong Kong and they have every right to do so, but for Racing NSW it is a continual drain on the pot of good horses that make up the Sydney racefields.
Three smart gallopers who have recently left the Chris Waller stable and are getting ready to race at Sha Tin and Happy Valley are Photon Willie, Relaxed And Happy (now called Caga Force) and Oompa Loompa (now Happy Bao Bei).
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It is not even a whispered topic these days that our administrators would love to sell Canterbury.
The final call came when Racing NSW decided not to build the quarantine centre at Canterbury for overseas horses that will race in The Championships, the new Easter race series. Why spend $5-10 million on capital expenditure at a venue you are going to sell?
After being gifted $100 million plus from the treasure chest of bookies turnover tax when the recent court case went racing's way and then gaining $150 million for the Randwick grandstand when the animated racing game was sold to the TAB, why does racing need any more money? And note I haven't even mentioned all the Australian Turf Club properties that have been sold in Doncaster Avenue, Kensington, adjoining Randwick racecourse.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Tommy Berry on Mecir. Dashing and daring effort to snatch victory in the final 50 metres.
RUN OF THE DAY
White Sage. Continued her unbeaten run with her best win. Who knows her limit.
FORGET IT RAN
Suit. Disappointing, but everything went against him despite the small field.
Rain only concern for Moody filly at Flemington
Talented filly Eneeza has one box left to tick this spring when she begins her campaign in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Sargent buoyed by Sea’s Group 1 potential
With one eye on Group 1 goals later this spring, trainer John Sargent is expecting China Sea to lay down a marker in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: Mitch’s moral ‘just wins’
Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances in all the big races at Royal Randwick on Saturday, where Mitch has a moral on a day featuring three Group 1s and a Premiere sprint.