FROM MY PERSPECTIVE - HEAVY GOING FOR MOST BUT SWAFFER 'STEPS OUT' AND STEALS THE LIMELIGHT

By Michael Cahill | Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Five-time Group 1 winning jockey Michael Cahill is the latest addition to the HRO blogging stable. Apart from Australia, Michael 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’ will appear every Wednesday on HRO.

Travelling to Caloundra on Saturday I didn’t really share the popular opinion that we would be wasting our time and that they would not race.

I’ve ridden at Caloundra quite a bit since I’ve been in Queensland. I’ve ridden on some very heavy tracks there.

I remember at a Caloundra Cup meeting in 2005 I ran second in the Glasshouse on a horse called Wildly, from Victoria. He was a really good wet-tracker. Top Marc beat me … so the track does cope well up to a point.

Until Saturday I thought that was the heaviest track I have ridden on … anywhere, but I think last Saturday’s meeting at the Sunshine Coast would compete with it. Certainly none have been heavier than it was on Saturday.

It was a safe track though. Horses got into it, but there was no danger of anything slipping over.

The only way it becomes a real problem is through visibility. In the first race I raced towards the rear of the field and the level of visibility was acceptable.

I did go out and walk the track between the first and second race.

As most people know, when the track is very heavy and the rail is true, everybody wants to get out onto the crown of the track. I just wanted to have a good look and make sure what my options were.

I thought when I had a look at it that just to the inside of the crown may be better than just to the outside of the crown. How a race unfolds obviously can dictate your running, but, as I say, I just wanted to be aware of my options.

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Ultimately we probably did well to get through six races … including the feature race, The Sunshine Coast Cup.

I thought my mount, Fillydelphia, ran well in the Cup. I think it was just too wet for her.

She went up to win, but Lucky Luna rallied to well and was too strong over the concluding stages.

I had a pretty good run behind Lucky Luna and was well placed to challenge, but I just think the ground beat her.

Over the last 200m he was stronger. He got through the ground better than she did.

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Racing has a way of producing a story that rises above the ordinary though and, in the end, the story of the day coming out of the Sunshine Coast meeting was not the weather and the effect it had on the meeting … it was the remarkable ride of apprentice Braydn Swaffer on Running Vixon.

I’ve never seen a jockey ride without irons for such a long distance and win the race.

I was looking for the lead on my horse (Quick Peek) and when I saw Braydn coming over and then crossing me with his feet out of the irons I thought, well, this is going to interesting.

The other jockeys never shouted at him at all to get out of the way at any time. It wasn’t necessary because I think he was always aware where we were.

He always seemed to be steering his horse. I don’t think it was ever out of control which shows what a big job young Braydn did!

It’s a credit to him that he was able to complete the course, never mind win the race.

Once again, as with Fillydelphia later in the day, I actually went up to win on my horse in that race. I think that was around the 350m, but Braydn’s horse rallied and then just pulled away. It was a big win.

Personally I’ve never been in that position of having to ride without both irons at any time in my career.

I have lost an iron on occasions of course, but I’ve always been lucky enough to be able to regain it … sometime up to 100m after the start.

One night at Happy Valley in Hong Kong I had my stirrup leather pull out shortly after the start. I had to lead. I eventually finished second in the race.

I’m sure it cost me the race … I had to ride with one foot in the stirrup and I had to hold the other leg high up throughout the run.

I can tell you I was sore the next day … sore in the calf and the thigh muscles, so I can only imagine how Braydn pulled up.

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So, Saturday might have been a dark day and a washout for some, but it was certainly a day that Braydn Swaffer will remember for a long time, as will those who witnessed first-hand a win in exceptional circumstances.

Swaffer has only recently relocated from Rockhampton. He is currently on loan to Pat Duff and he could not have asked for a more dramatic first win in South East Queensland.

It is sure to give his career a good kick-a-long.

Good luck to him.

Till next week,

Michael

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