MY CALL - GENIUS OR MUG, JOCKEYS RIDE A FINE LINE
By David Fowler | Tuesday, December 6, 2011
David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.
Did Chris Munce make a "blue" on Carry Me Bluey?
This was one of the main talking points at Eagle Farm on Saturday when the heavily backed favourite was grabbed in the last bound by Wonderful Lass and beaten a nose.
"Slaughter job" … “Shocking ride" … were a few of the catch-cries emanating from punters' mouths after the race.
I disagree.
Let's analyse the race and the ride. Carry Me Bluey made his usual average getaway. No surprises there.
Munce then has the option to ride him back or ride him forward. He believes he has one major rival in Fillydelphia and she is going to be in front of him so why not stride forward and be as close as possible to your enemy. Tick there.
It's also worth remembering he raced on the speed when he won at his only other attempt at the metric mile.
So far so good … but the real bone of contention seems to be on the approach to the home turn when Munce took off and sailed to a clear lead soon after straightening.
His detractors will say he went too soon.
But this is the horse that Munce has pointed out has the ability to maintain a long sprint. You only have to watch his previous two runs to know that.
Further, by executing such a move he again puts the sword to Fillydelphia who now has to chase "Bluey" and carry her 57kg against his 53kg.
The plan failed by a nose. Genius or mug ... it's such a fine line and we've seen it
many times before.
Chris Munce rode Carry Me Bluey to the horse's ability and he missed out by a few centimetres.
It was far from a bad ride.
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He mightn't get the number of opportunities other jockeys get, but no one is riding
better than Brad Stewart.
You can almost see the fire in the belly.
The masterful display on last race winner Hidden Kisses has been well documented, but a losing ride bears mention as well.
Equissential was a semi-outsider but he rode the horse perfectly and, most importantly, he rode it to its position the betting market.
Rather than hook wide, he took inside runs knowing he needed every saloon passage to get the horse home.
Unfortunately, Equissential simply wasn't good enough.
The winning ride of Military Bride was also a treat to watch.
Stewart has been his own worst enemy in the past, but the stars are certainly aligning at the moment.
Let's hope it continues that way.
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Had a chat with Tattsbet's Brad Tamer regarding the quadrella legs on Friday night Sunshine Coast meetings.
You might recall a few weeks ago I made mention how it surprised me that the quadrella legs were on the later races which generally have a lighter acceptance than those of the first couple.
History is always an important guide to the future and Brad says the analysis of 12 months ago show pools increased when they went from the earlier to later races in placing the quadrella legs.
He also found it surprising, but the stats don't lie.
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Several punters were right to express disgust that Grand Homme was "re-instated" into the fields at Ipswich last Friday.
When QCAT amended Darryl Hansen's disqualification starting date, Grand Homme was put back in the race almost three hours after it was scratched.
So for that three hours punters bet on Grand Homme not being in the race!
A disgrace.
It was an unfortunate chain of events but the horse should have stayed scratched.
Simple as that.
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