PUNTERS GET RAW DEAL AGAIN
Last week punters tried to kick start the week by launching into the Kris Lees trained RAIDEN at Port Macquarie. Following plenty of support he started very short odds at $1.28.
Turn away now if you backed him as this is not pretty reading.
Following the race stewards established that Raiden was fractious in the barriers and was being assisted by an attendant. They also established while the manual start was being performed, A. Gibbons (Raiden’s rider) had his right hand on the side barrier petition and as a result the colt began very awkwardly missing the start by some four lengths.
It gets worse.
Due to the mishap at the start he settled last before charging to the line grabbing third placing in the final few metres.
Please turn away if you backed him.
Raiden’s rider Andrew Gibbons then sought to have the horse declared a non-runner, on grounds he was denied a fair start meaning all the punters would get their bets refunded.
Last warning turn away.
There are no provisions in the rules of racing to declare runners placed in the first three from being declared a non-starter.
What?
So if a horse or rider is obstructed in some way which would deem them a non-runner but they somehow get into the placings they remain runners and punters do their dough cold.
Correct weight was declared and the punters left licking their wounds.
You are reading it right, if Raiden had finished fourth the stewards could have deemed him a non-starter.
Gotta be a better solution.
As this type of incident doesn’t happen all that often surely the industry or club could fund the owners their prizemoney yet still declare him a non-runner therefore in-turn protecting the punters.
GREAT JOB NOW FOR THE DONATIONS
A standing ovation required for Kathy O’Hara, Corey Brown, Stephen Baster, Hugh Bowman and model and television presenter Kris Smith who required every inch of their toughness both physically and mentally as they completed the arduous Kokoda trail in under 3 ½ days.
“Kathy, Stephen and even Hugh seemed to handle things pretty well but they will tell you it wasn’t easy but I was gone nice and early. I was feeling my knees as we came down every hill but as bad I felt and looked Kris was in a world of hurt.
“He’s a big man and I’m pretty sure he felt every kilo of weight every step of the way.
“But what an experience it was as well as being an emotional one when you start thinking about what the soldiers endured.
“A final note of thanks from us jockeys and Kris to Jamie Stumer (Just Racing) who walked with us and sponsored the walk. We couldn’t have done it without him and from the bottom of our hearts and from both charities big thanks” a still exhausted Corey Brown told me on landing at Sydney airport on Friday.
To help both the Mark Hughes Foundation with brain cancer research and the National Jockeys Trust you can still donate through the trek’s website, www.walking2help.com.au
MIS-GUIDED FAITH
Punters betting at Randwick put their eggs in the Glyn Schofield basket in an attempt to finish on a winning note but things went belly up.
Schofield rode the last three favourites at Randwick but to the cries of punters he couldn’t get the job done on any of them.
- Le Romain $1.95
- Launch Code $2.90
- Ghostly $4.20
DIFTED ALARMINGLY BEFORE BOLTING IN
‘Follow the money train and you shall find your fortune’ has been said many times through the years about well backed runners at the track.
Not this time.
The Chris Waller trained stayer SAYED blew like the Fremantle doctor at Randwick on the weekend easing from $2.8 out to $5.50 which was freely available.
I wasn’t clever enough as I had already locked in $3.3 believing I was getting over’s.
Seeing the $5.5 I was looking to jump ship.
Kerrin McEvoy had the son of Stormy Atlantic travelling sweetly throughout and when given some rein the race was over in two strides as he went onto win by 5 ½ lengths.
He looks a perfect group one Metropolitan handicap galloper.
FRANKEL- TAKING OUR TIME
Chris Waller’s $1.6 million Frankel colt out of More Strawberries debuted in March as an easing favourite at Newcastle finishing sixth of 14.
Waller had been quoted prior to his debut that he’d need time to mature and show his best but one thing for sure was that he has ability.
Now three years of age he steps out on Wednesday at Canterbury off the back of two quiet barrier trials.
“He is obviously a horse who we hold in high regard and he has shown us a good amount of ability through both his track work and his barrier trials and I am really looking forward to getting back to the races.
“Without ruling him out of Wednesday where he has drawn wide there are a lot of options for him over the next week so I will wait for the right race for him that he is best suited to” Chris Waller told www.justracing.com.au
Time will tell for this colt and all the Frankel’s.
DON’T FORGET SPIETH
With She Will Reign, Houtzen and Fell Swoop all locked-in for slots in the $10 million Everest I am still in disbelief that Spieth remains unsigned.
Houtzen and She Will Reign are no doubt nice fillies but gee they have just turned three and are now going to go up against some experienced tough sprinters.
The $10 Everest will be a different kettle of fish to the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper.
Take out Chautauqua I’d be happy to be with Spieth before anything else.
With the depth of quality sprinters thin on the ground I’d be throwing my hat in the ring if I was Ability or Lankan Rupee who ran the quinella in Sunday’s group 3 Bletchingly Stakes 1200m at Sandown.