WHO’S IN AND WHO’S OUT

Who ruled themselves into contention for the Everest and the Golden Rose and who ruled themselves out?

Some you will agree with me and some you won’t but opinions are what drives the racing industry.

• HOUTZEN- She didn’t look comfortable around the Moonee Valley circuit yet I thought she showed good fight to run third when looking like she’d run last at the turn. I reckon her biggest issue is she looked like she had lost her brilliant early speed and while Heatherly and Russian Revolution were cruising inside her she couldn’t keep up. EVEREST- NOT GOOD ENOUGH
• MENARI- He ruled himself into contention for both the Golden Rose and the Everest. Unlike the two 3yo fillies heading to the Everest this colt is big, robust, strong and powerful and looks like he’d run through a brick wall. The only query is if he will run a strong 1400m of the Golden Rose. EVEREST & GOLDEN ROSE- YES
• BRAVE SMASH- he did a good job winning on Saturday when probably ridden out of his comfort zone and forced to work through the run. He looked gassed on the line when beating El Devino a half length. The opposition he will face in the Everest if he gets there are ten steps upwards. EVEREST – NOT FOR ME
• GOLD STANDARD- Adrian Bott has told Just Racing every Wednesday in our weekly interviews that this colt is top grade and last weekend he proved himself as a real player in some feature races coming up including the Golden Rose. While the 1400m is a query for some 3yos this bloke will run it out powerfully. GOLDEN ROSE- YES
• KEMENTARI- I thought he was a shade disappointing on Saturday when failing to get past Perast in the run home behind Menari. Yes he will improve second up into the Golden Rose but he will need to. GOLDEN ROSE- MY ONLY MAYBE
• PARIAH- I thought he was disappointing on Saturday as he was camped on the back of Menari getting a drag up but when the pressure went on he was left floundering in the wake of Menari. I don’t think he will be as suited as others at the 1400m of the Rose. GOLDEN ROSE- NO
• ADDICTIVE NATURE- looked like he has had enough for his first preparation. Not ready for a race like the group one Golden Rose. GOLDEN ROSE- NO.
• DEPLOY- never thought I’d mention this horse in the same breath at the $10 million Everest but he is currently low flying recording track records as his past two runs. It’s a huge step to the Everest but I think he’d beat a few home that already have slots. EVEREST- NOT HOPELESS
• RUSSIAN REVOLUTION- hard to knock him as he did the job pretty comfortable on Saturday in winning the group 2 McEwen Stakes. He and stablemate REDZEL are both worthy players in the rich sprint. EVEREST- YES
• CARAVAGGIO- he returned to winning form last night with a barnstorming win in the group 2 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. He looked very strong in winning and from reports the jockey was glowing in his praise. For mine it’s a huge step from there to taking on our best down here. I doubt he’ll come but if he does he will add some colour and a different form line. EVEREST – NO

I reserve the rights to switch each week but as of today my long range selections are:

EVEREST:

1. SPIETH
2. CHAUTAUQUA
3. MENARI

GOLDEN ROSE:

1. MENARI
2. GOLD STANDARD
3. KEMENTARI

ONLY STEWARD’S OPINIONS COUNT

We all have short memories when it suits that’s human nature but a few of the calls from ‘punters’ on Saturday that the upheld protest decision in the last at Rosehill was the ‘worst of all time’ are miles off the mark.

In real terms we punters have long memories.

Firstly let me say the protest was beneficial to me with the quadrella yet I thought the protest would be dismissed.

But as my old man has always told me, our opinions don’t matter it’s the steward’s opinions that count.

Saturday’s protest had grounds and it centred on whether the run Tye Angland on the heavily backed favourite Interlocuter took was his or that of Brenton Avdulla aboard Wayanka.

Every punter will have an opinion and I’d say the feeling amongst the majority of punters seemed to believe it would be dismissed.

I thought Tye got to the run first and he was going better and I severely doubt Wayanka would have beaten Interlocuter fired out of a cannon.

But there were grounds no doubt.

To say or put it in the same conversation or ball park as the Planchet against Choisir protest back in 2002 when a royal inquiry should have been called for a disgraceful and totally wrong decision by Victorian stewards is embarrassing.

Don’t leave out the Ray Murrihy led panel in Sydney who upheld the protest of Take Heart against Donna’s Appeal in February 2007 even when Take Heart’s trainer Gai Waterhouse told them the interference that they upheld it off made no difference.

Or the Great Anna upheld decision against Vereza in March 2004 when the only reason its jockey protested was because the overseas owner was in the country.

Let’s not mention the Perth protest in the 2011 group one Railway stakes of Luckygray against first over the line He’s Remarkable which is still too raw for most to stomach.

EVEREST STEALING THE HEADLINES

Will the $10 million Everest live up to the hype come October 14^th?

That is to be seen on the day but it’s done exactly what Peter V’landys and the ATC wanted and that is create talk and headlines and even though we are only in early September there is no doubt the chat and debate surrounding the Everest has impacted on the usual debate about the Cox Plate as well as the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.

GOTTA KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

The way wagering works is that if there is a short-priced favourite that has been backed from $1.80 into $1.55 the majority of the television audience is on it.

Punters don’t like losing but we accept its part and parcel of gambling but hearing after the race words such as, ‘far from disgraced’, ‘don’t give up on him’, his run was full of merit’ or ‘don’t sack it’ after its just had every possible chance is the last thing your audience/punters want to hear.

Try the words ‘gee it was disappointing’ or ‘that was a weak effort for such a short-priced favourite’.

I didn’t have a bet on Sunday but I was with a mate who was yelling at the television after doing his dough on a shortie.

Punters want empathy after losing their dough so they can feel better about re-investing as they continue to fund the racing industry.