TIME TO HELP – www.walking2help.com.au
All aboard………………….
Hugh Bowman, Kathy O’Hara, Corey Brown, Stephen Baster and Kris Smith jet out of Australia early Sunday morning heading to Papua New Guinea’s harsh jungle of the KOKODA Trail.
No flash hotels, room service or swimming pools or other luxuries that this group is used to enjoying on holidays this will be sleeping rough and trekking some 12 hours a day all in the aid of making a difference.
The jockeys along with model and television presenter Kris Smith are facing the jungle hoping to raise awareness and money for the National Jockeys Trust and the mark Hughes Foundation.
The jockeys trust helps support jockeys and their families who are facing tough times due to serious injuries or death.
The Mark Hughes Foundation is making a difference for all us as they are chase a cure for brain cancer through research.
The best news is that all donations over $2 are tax deductable and 100% of donations through www.walking2help.com.au go to the front line with both charities.
EQUINE WELFARE PURCHASE SPOT ON
The purchase of a 2,600 acre property at Capertee some 40 minutes north of Lithgow by RacingNSW for the purpose of retraining, rehabilitation and rehoming of ex-racehorses after their racing careers is a wonderful move forward for the sport.
It is also a huge step in the right direction of showing those against the racing industry what the animal and their welfare means to all involved in the industry.
“This is a major investment, not only for the rehabilitation of racehorses which is a paramount objective of the board, but also as an investment for the future as a land bank that could have a multitude of uses for the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry in the future” said Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding.
WATCH THE MIGHTY WINX ‘LIVE’ IN THE COX PLATE
WINX returned this morning at the Randwick barrier trials and I thought went outstanding.
I have been lucky enough to see her many times over the past month and as each week comes and goes she tightens up and looks more imposing than ever before.
There is no doubt as an older mare she has strengthened up and matured and the only sign I can see is that she looks bigger and stronger.
Courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au *anyone that donates $5 or more to support the team walking Kokoda as they raise money for Brain Cancer research and the jockeys trust could be watching in luxury at Moonee Valley as WINX chases her third Cox Plate in October.
You know the front lawn at Moonee Valley right where the horses go on and off the famous track, well that is where the party is on and you could be there.
To donate, head to www.walking2help.com.au.
Once donated, you will be automatically added to the draw.
*T&C’s apply
WALLER PLAYS STRAIGHT BAT
Leading trainer Chris Waller outlined the likely spring campaign of superstar mare WINX following her first barrier trial this morning as she heads towards her tilt at her third Cox Plate but left everyone asking where will she be on October 14?
Waller has left the option for either the group 1 Caulfield Stakes in Melbourne or the group 3 Craven Plate at Randwick with both races over 2000m.
On the road to her first Cox Plate victory Winx’s lead up race was the group 1 Epsom handicap over 1600m three weeks prior as she had gone to Queensland for the winter so she didn’t need much racing.
Last year WINX raced a fortnight prior to the Cox Plate at Caulfield in the Caulfield Stakes over 2000m.
That was the expected lead up again but as Chris Waller has shown throughout his career the longer he can keep his horses under his nose in Sydney the better.
Waller works from his Flemington stable at least one day a week and during the spring spends more time south than at Rosehill so where WINX will race will likely depend on where her trainer is going to spend more time.
Routine routine routine is what Waller has based his training upon and it’s fair to say it’s worked pretty well.
You can read between the lines and see nothing but blank paper but the page I am reading from is showing come Saturday 14 October WINX will be at Randwick running in the group 3 Craven Plate over 2000m.
HEAD AND HEAD
Champion jockey Hugh Bowman walked into Randwick last weekend with most expecting him to extend his premiership slender half win lead over Brenton Avdulla.
Instead Bowman had to get busy aboard the short-priced favourite Kings Of Leon in the eighth race to peg back Avdulla who has won earlier to snatch the premiership lead on Argent D’or when beating Bowman a nose.
Both riders have a full book of seven rides at the second last meeting of the season at Canterbury on Wednesday.
SPIETH READY FOR EVEREST
As Jordan Spieth held aloft the claret jug of the 2017 British Golf Open this morning a slot owner of the $10 million Everest who is yet to publically declare his runner was seen cheering home the golfer with the words to the effect,
‘I hope the horse shows as much class and finds the line like that in a couple of months time’.
Jordan Spieth shot five under par the final five holes of the British to win the major tournament by three shots.
EAGLE FARM REPORT HELLO!!
Where is it?
The much awaited Dale Monteith report into the dramas at Eagle Farm was due out last week but there has been no sign of it.
A slightly delay with the report was reported but now all silent on the Eagle Farm front.
GIVE ME A PUNTER IN FRONT OF GOOD LOOKS
Every wagering operator has a number of spruiker’s whether it is Joel Caine for Sportsbet, Matty Campbell for CrownBet or Nick Quinn and Glen Munsie from the TAB and the way I understand the job it’s to promote their brand and convince the punters to have a bet with them.
Ask yourself how many of the spruiker’s (not those mentioned) understand betting and do they make you want to bet?
I remember well known bookmaker and the boss of Australian owned bookmaker BlueBet Michael Sullivan telling me ‘no one talks to punters better than punters’ or my favourite saying told to me by one of my brothers, ‘You know what punters want to hear from non-punters?- Nothing’