FROM MY PERSPECTIVE - TRACK BIAS CAN BE JUST AS FRUSTRATING FOR JOCKEYS AS IT IS FOR PUNTERS
By Michael Cahill | Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Apart from Australia, five-time Group 1 winning jockey Michael Cahill has ridden in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, South Korea and Mauritius. He brings thirty-three years of race riding experience to the game and with this greater all-around experience Michael is superbly qualified to give insightful commentary on the racing scene. Michael’s personal blog, ‘From my perspective’ appears exclusively on HRO.
Track-bias might be an unsettling form factor for punters but spare a thought for jockeys when that situation occurs.
It is not as if we have a huge number of options to play around with when racing on, for example, an on-pace bias track. The avenues available to us to counteract these conditions are limited and they depend on the character and ability of each individual horse.
Some horses you have to ride quietly … no matter what … but, generally speaking, if I can I’ll have them closer. If I perceive the track is biased towards horses being up on the speed that’s how I’ll try to ride them.
You just naturally try to have your horse closer to give yourself some chance because if you are too far back you are going to find things very difficult.
If that takes your horse outside of its normal racing pattern it can be vulnerable though.
Again it becomes a question of how each individual horse will cope with being outside of its comfort zone so it cannot be a surprise when certain ‘fancied’ horses fail to produce their best in these circumstances or, more specifically, when an outsider upstages a favourite.
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As David Fowler correctly pointed out in his blog on this website earlier this week, race tempo is also a key element in how a race ultimately unfolds.
Tempo is an entirely separate issue from track bias but these two factors often land their biggest blows to punters hopes when working in tandem together.
We chart our speed maps and, again, if there is no speed in the race … which is undesirable … riders once again do not have any simple solutions.
Why does a horse sometimes enjoy an easy lead? Because there are many horses who don’t like to be in front and who would, in all probability, not finish the race off well if they took up that option.
That would be the bulk of most fields and, while you have to weigh up any particular race circumstances as a rider, you also have to be aware of giving your mount the best chance of winning the race.
If I know my horse can’t win if it leads I won’t lead even if there is a chronic bias because that would just get the horse beat anyway.
Of course I will discuss everything with the trainers beforehand. I’ll get their ideas. I’ll see what they think and add my contribution and we will try to work out our best options to cover all track bias and tempo eventualities but, as I have explained, there will still be circumstances which totally compromise some horses’ chances and boost the hopes of others.
As David Fowler indicated, tempo is a huge factor, particularly at midweek meetings at Eagle Farm when they have the rail out nine or ten metres, the track appears to have a leaderish bias, but it actually comes down to tempo a lot of times then because those on the speed get their position and then back off the pace which makes it very hard to run down and beat those leaders.
Every case if different and sometimes you can find yourself a ‘no win’ situation.
I know sometimes that might be hard realisation for some punters to swallow but that doesn’t make it any less factual.
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I’ve been asked by several readers recently about my views on the whip rule.
I’m sure these questions were prompted by the fact that I fell foul of the whip rule earlier this month when winning on Ferment and picked up a fine of $500 for my trouble.
Let me say at the outset … and I’m happy to state for the record … that all riders have been obliged to adjust to the rule as prescribed, to ride within the confines of that rule and if you do breach the law you are justifiably dealt with accordingly … so therefore I fully accept the sanction I received on that occasion.
No argument there but that doesn’t mean I have to like the rule … and please, what I’m about to say has nothing to do with my fine. I am merely providing a straight answer to the reader’s questions.
I believe that the whip rule is the worst thing that has come into racing in my time.
You are limited in the amount of times you can hit the horse forehand but you are not limited in the amount of times you can hit the horse backhand.
One of the reasons given for bringing in the whip rule originally was to quell the negative public perception of the use of the whip … yet, to the lay person, they don’t know the difference between backhand and forehand.
You can hit a horse twenty times in the straight backhand but you can’t hit it six times forehand. It’s just ridiculous!
I have to ride under these rules. I’ve had to adapt to them … but, no, I didn’t like them at the start and my view has not changed at all.
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On a more positive note, I’ve been fortunate enough to receive an invitation from the China Horse Club to ride at the first internationally endorsed thoroughbred meeting in China.
The meeting takes place next month as part of The China Equine Cultural Festival.
It should be quite an experience.
Till next week,
Michael.
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