Rubick's fantastic debut goes a long way to solving punters' Golden Slipper puzzle
RUBICK'S win at Randwick was a far better debut than turned in by any of the past 10 Golden Slipper winners.
RUBICK'S scintillating win at Randwick on Saturday was a far better debut than turned in by any of the past 10 Golden Slipper winners.
Brenton Avdulla eased the throttle over the final 75 metres yet the heavy-chested, power-built colt still ran a flying 56.39 seconds, a time that Time And Tide, Zephyr Bay or Black Caviar would have been proud of.
Five of the past 10 Slipper winners, Overreach (2013), Crystal Lily (2010), Phelan Ready (2009), Stratum (2005) and Dance Hero (2004) did not even win their first race starts and the other five showed nothing like the brilliance of Rubick when stepping out for the first time.
Pierro (2012) won the Breeders Plate in a photo, Sepoy (2011) scored in the Maribyrnong Trial down the straight at Flemington by a length, Sebring (2008) won at Rosehill by a half length, Forensics (2007) won a non metropolitan winners race at the Canterbury midweeks and Miss Finland (2006) won at Bendigo.
But don't get the idea the Slipper, or even the Blue Diamond, is all over. Ability under pressure, luck in running, the state of the track and a filly named Earthquake will all have a say in that.
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Why do I keep reading Hong Kong have the best jockeys in the world?
Their top five riders are Zac Purton, Joe Moreira, Douglas Whyte, Tye Angland and Olivier Delouze. I'd rather stick with Nash Rawiller, Hugh Bowman, Jim Cassidy, Kerrin McEvoy and Tommy Berry.
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It happened again in Melbourne during the week. A jockey on a winner weighed in light, the horse was disqualified and punters did their money cold without having a chance to win.
If you cannot win, you should not be able to lose and horses that weight in light should be declared non runners. The "culprit" whether it be a jockey or a trainer is entitled to be fined, but you cannot fine a punter who has done nothing wrong except have a bet.
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It is good the 1-10 rating system has been retained in the new suggested track readings of the Australian Racing Board, but as I have said previously, I don't see any need for any change at all. The new suggestions only seem to want to get rid of the word dead and to introduce a No.4 reading as good so that the Victorians can water their tracks and still call them good.
The word dead obviously scares some naive officials. Usually in another context, it is the word most used of all words in the dictionary by regular racegoers.
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Damien Oliver has chosen the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bull Point over the local Prince Harada in the upcoming Melbourne three-year-old classics. I wonder if it has anything to do with breeding powerhouse Coolmore owning Bull Point and the riches that can flow from riding a top future stallion prospect?
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On a drab Australia Day meeting at Randwick on Saturday (for the first time in memory there is no meeting on today's holiday), Gai Waterhouse lit up the occasion with a stirring rendition of "Come On Aussie, Come On" after her horse Travolta won the Australia Day Cup.
It was the talk of the track. I would sack the promotion staff at Randwick and put Lady Gai in charge. She's terrific.
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If one more Australian Turf Club official or committeman tells me the club cannot make Canterbury work, cannot get anybody to go there, I will grab him by the collar and take him to a Thursday meeting at Hawkesbury.
If the club loses money every time the management opens Canterbury up for business why not hand over the running of Canterbury to Hawkesbury boss Brian Fletcher? Hawkesbury with a lesser track, lesser facilities and poorer class horses makes money almost every time it opens its gates. Surely it is not rocket science to copy success.
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RIDE OF THE DAY
Christian Reith on Big Memory. Didn't win, but didn't sit back and let Nash Rawiller dictate to him as so many others do.
RUN OF THE DAY
Rubick. I don't want to go overboard, but what more could he do?
FORGET IT RAN
Create, second favourite to Rubick, did not complete and the course and pulled up sore.
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.
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.
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.