ROB'S SHOUT - BLACK CAVIAR 'ISSUES' MIGHT SET TONGUES A-WAGGING BUT HER STATUS IS NEVER IN QUESTION
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, March 28, 2013
Robert Heathcote is the leading racehorse trainer in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout' - the personal blog of the multi-premiership and Group 1 winning trainer will appear every Thursday on HRO.
Hello again,
It’s been another busy week in the ‘racing world’ and I don’t mean globally!
Those at the’ coal face’ in this industry are always pretty much consumed by racing as it is more a lifestyle than actually a profession!
Horse Racing is a 24/7 deal … not just on the racetrack on race days but behind the scenes it simply never stops.
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Probably the biggest issue this week again surrounds the great mare Black Caviar and her connections.
Its seems the reported request by the owners of BC to have a couple of hundred members tickets and all the catering perks for her next run at Randwick in the TJ Smith has created quite a stir.
It’s not an easy argument with a number of viewpoints justified. I have read plenty about the furore this issue created but the controversy has since been laid to rest by the senior part owner, Neil Werret who denied there were indeed any ‘demands’!
I fully accept what Werret says and I don’t for one minute believe there were any demands set down by the owners. There was most probably a communication problem here.
Personally I don’t have a problem with any ‘hospitality’ that is afforded to the connections as she is undoubtedly the greatest racetrack drawcard for many decades.
I have a chuckle when I think about the Victorian State government paymaster rolling the $3million needed to bring Tiger Woods down for a golf tournament. They reckon it was a massive boost for the economy to have him here!
Appearance fees I think they call ‘em and they exist in all forms of sport and business … yeah, no problems in my eyes if the team Caviar get full value from their superstar!
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What I do have an issue with is the perception that the mare is copping a few favours … being kept clear of a barrier rogue, having her own handler at the start, the perceived easy passage she is allowed in races, the proposed switching of racetracks.
Nobody wants to taint a true champions image because none of the above is her fault … all she can do is run and win and the issues mentioned have nothing to do with her racing prowess.
The seemingly easy passage she gets in her races is due in no small part to the skill of her jockey Luke Nolen, the aura that surrounds her and pure power that she has to effortlessly put herself in the ideal race position.
As recently as the William Reid some pundits argued that Ric McMahon should have applied a little more pressure to Black Caviar instead of sitting three deep in a slowly run race … it’s easy for us armchair jocks eh!
I think most punters believe, rightly or wrongly, that most times the jocks riding against Black Caviar are out there doing their best trying to run second.
While most can allow it might be prudent to ride for second instead of taking on something you can’t beat and finishing last, it could be argued that practise in itself is a contradiction of the rules.
It’s a difficult one and I don’t believe there is a solution to this issue.
The proposed switching of race tracks from Doomben to Eagle Farm to cater for the expected bumper crowd Black Caviar head this way would become a hugely contentious issue.
Whilst the 1200m of the Group 1 BTC Cup would be the same distance at either track, the Rough Habit Plate and the Chairman’s Handicap are scheduled on the same program.
Both are 2000m races and there is no suitable start at Eagle Farm. Do they become 1800m races or do they go out to 2100? Tricky indeed!
I am happy to stay out of the overall argument for the most part, to be honest, but, like I said, I don’t have a problem with connections having a huge knees up each time Black Caviar lines up as clubs will be only too have happy to have her grace their presence!
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My biggest concern is how to beat the bloody mare!
Yeah ok, it probably can’t be done. As I have said in the past, the only way she will get beaten is through injury or illness. She is simply the best!
But, we will give it another go in the TJ Smith at Randwick on the 13th with Buffering
He had his final serious lead-up workout with a pretty impressive grass jump-out at Eagle Farm last Tuesday. He won it by three back to Excellantes who is himself pretty sharp so the Buffs where I need him to be at this stage.
Buffering was due to go down to Sydney today but I couldn’t get the transport I wanted so I am keeping him back here until next week.
I still have time to have him ready and he will still have over a week to settle into Sydney when he gets there.
Just the one run in Sydney and then back home to Brisbane for the three runs which include the Victory Stakes and the 2 Group 1s … the BTC Cup and the Doomben 10,000.
Exciting stuff ahead for us with Buffering.
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Talk about exciting, what about last week at Rosehill?
Solzhenitsyn ran right out of his skin with a gutsy third in the Canterbury stakes.
No disgrace to be beaten by two of Australia’s best racehorses in Pierro and More Joyous and I reckon if we had a touch more luck and you reverse the runs of Solzhie and More Joyous we might have jagged second place and beaten the mare?
He did beat her when he won his Group1 in the Toorak but she had a big weight and a tough run!
Whatever the case, it was a mighty effort and a beaut Doncaster trial … where he will meet his victors so much better under handicap conditions.
It is a real buzz having horses which can even compete at this level and to have genuine winning chances, well, it why we get up at 3am every day!
Gotta give it to Gai though … loved the pot of gold comment after her quinella in what was one of the year’s best Group 1 races so far as there was indeed a rainbow shining above Rosehill and no doubt Pierro is right up there with All Too hard and Black Caviar as the best three horses in the land.
Solzhenitsyn gets to have his next run back at Rosehill in the George Ryder … again at Weight For Age where it will be bloody tough to knock off Gai’s star colt but the step up to 1500 is sure to suit ‘The Big Russian’!
Yep, Brownie, my wife and I will happily journey back to Rosehill for what’s hopefully another enjoyable day.
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Just before I sign off this week I just want to make comment on the great work so many media staff, trainers and jockeys do each and every race meeting with their pre and post-race interviews either on TV or the radio on race mornings.
I sometimes read about criticisms given when the information may not pan out as expected but we are in the main doing our best to provide the public with up to date, honest and accurate information … and for free too!
The time given is often taken for granted when it shouldn’t be.
You want a great example, just look at the fantastic job Moods does with the media job associated with Black Caviar!
Take care and good health.
Robert
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