SEVEN DAYS (THE WEDNESDAY REPORT): THE WEEK IN REVIEW (FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 18) - PART A
By Graham Potter | Wednesday, February 19, 2014
HRO's news feature - SEVEN DAYS (THE WEDNESDAY REPORT) - provides a weekly review of racing activity, both on and off the track. Due to the positive response this feature has received it has been expanded into two parts (A) & (B)
ON OVERCOMING ADVERSITY:
We all know that the guts and glory stories that dominate racing headlines are there for a rare few who either get very lucky or else claim due reward for their hard work.
In fact the standard recipe for success, whether brief or lasting, generally needs the inclusion of both a strong work ethic and a definite dose of luck to produce the desired effect, but even then these two factors have to work in unison.
It is not easy for the stars to align and the critical margin of error becomes magnified at different points in a rider or trainer’s career, a fact that was again brought home to me when chatting to Scott Galloway at Rockhampton last week.
Galloway had only been back in the saddle for two months in April, after time off following a personal family tragedy, when he was sidelined with knee surgery.
“I had a tear … which was my second tear in four years. It happened in track-work. It could just have been a combination of wear and tear and eventually it just gave way.
"I had only been back two months after Charlie passed (Galloway’s young son) and I was just getting going and then that happened. I thought, well it’s not the worst thing that’s happened to me. It gave me more time to spend with the family.
“No I was never ‘unofficially retired.’ I always wanted to come back but obviously I did become quite heavy. Not that I’m a big eater so I could cope with that … but I think it became more a mental battle rather than physical. I had to be mentally strong to climb all those mountains which was tough.
"That’s what we’ve done since Charlie passed. You know, it is one step at a time. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves in case we fall down.
But for all the progress Galloway is still fighting a battle on two fronts.
One is weight. The other is opportunity.
“The weights coming off good,” said Galloway. ““I was up to something like 64kg. I’ve been in the sauna since I’ve been back and I do a lot of labour work at home like digging up the lawn with all the sweat gear on. Last Saturday morning after track-work I dug up some more lawn. I was out there till one o’clock and I was down to 54.9kg. I was only a kilo heavier the next day so my weight is stabilising.
“As far as opportunity and getting rides is concerned, I’ve got a manager. Alan Cowie is helping me. He loves the phone so it’s good that part is taken care of. I know I need to be as active as I can. That’s why I’m in Rockhampton. I have to take rides to build my racing fitness and to get my name in the paper so people know I’m back.
“At the same time I’ve got to measure my comeback and limit my number of rides to four or five a meeting until I’m back to full race fitness. There’s no other way you can get race fitness. You just have to keep riding. The more I go around the better I feel every time.
“That’s except for one moment. I’d only been back a month and I was about to ride and my knee blew right up again. I swear I thought it was torn again. It was the same pain. It was huge. It was about an inch thicker and I was thinking … oh not again. Then I did think I might retire if it had gone again. But thankfully whatever it was healed quickly enough and I could continue.
“Hopefully in time I’ll get back to Brisbane.
“I know it won’t be easy but at least I’m back in the game.”
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CASH FLOW PROBLEMS AT MACKAY?
When I walked into Mackay meeting on Tuesday and was met by a cross section of stories relating to the alleged troubled times of the club, I thought I would attempt to separate fact from fiction by trying to get the real story from club Chairman Lou Kinsey.
But first a bit of background.
The stories pertained to the alleged financial position of the club. They suggested the club was in debt and that poor management procedures in collecting due income (from functions held at the club etc) over a long period of time had directly contributed to the shortfall in the cash-flow situation.
The amount mentioned was substantial.
That lack of available capital had impacted on the club’s ability to maintain a good credit rating with its suppliers which, in turn, had impacted on the club’s freedom to carry on ‘business as normal.’ The main concern was how they would be able to trade themselves out of the supposed situation.
It must be stressed that the above was all hearsay and I gave Kinsey the opportunity to set the record straight.
HRO: “I’m been hearing about troubled times at Mackay …
Kinsey: “We haven’t got any troubled times. The biggest problem we’ve got is the allocated race meetings … it’s not official yet because it still has to be negotiated in Brisbane, probably in the next month, as to why we should get different race-dates, because the race-date’s we’ve been allocated are not really a good recipe for good business management. Hopefully we need to get a couple of Fridays. We don’t have any Friday meetings. We need to try and get better race dates so we can make money instead of losing money.”
HRO: The troubled times I refer to are the club’s credit and …
Kinsey: “That’s all been fixed. We’ve got a new committee now and we’re going to take a lot closer look at the way we deal with people financially. When accounts go 60 … 120 days, we’ll be paying those accounts on time. In the whole Mackay district there is a trend towards, even with the bigger companies, paying local business’s in 120 days … which affects your cash flow … which affects your credit as you move along.
HRO: “If you are not getting money in timeously from people, you can’t pay your bills … so does that create a debt as well?
Kinsey: “Yeah, so we’ve got a new way we are going to do business in the event’s centre by way of functions. Normally in the past people who had functions or weddings at the event’s centre … we would send them an account. Now they have got to pay up front like everybody else.
“There has been a little bit of an incorrect way that the past committees have dealt with this, but we’ll run this place like a business in future.
HRO: “That’s good news. But, as a starting point, have you got something around your neck? Have you got the debts and do you still have to get money in from other people?
Kinsey: “No. This club is one of the rare ones in Queensland that has never had to go to Racing Queensland for financial support and our financial position this very day is still in a sound financial situation and we want to keep it that way.”
So there you have it.
From the above it is relatively clear that Kinsey looked to deflect certain questions, and perhaps understandably so given the delicacy of the situation.
The final question is: Did Kinsey ultimately provide any real clarity on the situation at Mackay? Is it troubled or is it under control?
I’ll let you draw your own conclusion.
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CEO POSITIONS ON SALE!
With the departure of the previous CEO at Mackay the club now has an Acting Chief Executive Officer. A new CEO took over at Rockhampton in early December. Toowoomba has a new CEO on a trial basis and the new CEO for the Brisbane Racing Club takes up office on Monday.
Seldom, in any period of time, can there have been so much change of personnel in such a high position at so many clubs.
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SHORTS:
Not everything seemed in order with the saddle on Agitate when the $2.60 favourite returned to scale after being beaten by a whisker in the last stride. But, contrary to some observers first instinct, the saddle had not actually slipped in the traditional sense, but something a bit mystifying had happened … as trainer Kelly Schweida tried to explain.
“The saddle peeled back” said Schweida. “Ric (McMahon) said it was a new saddle. Everything else stayed in place but the saddle peeled back towards the rider and folded over in front of him. It was weird.”
Weird enough to affect the result? (Doomben – Feb 15).
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Whether the aforementioned saddle episode was a factor in the result or not, most reasonably-minded critics would agree that the 6.5kg pull at the weights in favour of Exceedingly played a huge part in the Exceedingly’s last gasp snaring of Agitate.
But that should not undermine the effort of Exceedingly who twice struggled with traffic problems in the running (see Stewards Report Extracts) before getting out late and charging home. Agitate will be well worth another chance, but don’t forget to give due credit to the winner. (Doomben – Feb 15).
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“He just gave me the feeling that he had them covered that far out,” said Brad Stewart, who expressed the opinion that he never felt in any trouble at any stage during Mishani Warrior’s facile win in the Open Handicap.
The Les Ross trained five-year-old was slow away which surprised Stewart. “I wasn’t expecting it. He was standing very good. I had no inkling he was going to be slow away but I thought I could still make up ground without using him up too much. There were only a couple of chances in the race. Fillydelphia was beside me. Typhoon Red (Jimmy Byrne) was in front of me. I got in behind Jimmy and started making ground at the 200. As soon as I got to the outside of him I had it won.”
Ross harbours hopes of Mishani Warrior earning a Stradbroke start but he acknowledges the son of Show A Heart, himself a Stradbroke winner, has more work to do before that option becomes a reality. (Doomben - Feb 15).
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It is interesting to see where the wheel stops spinning sometimes although every result is a lucky result for someone.
Take the jockey engagements for the Open Handicap for example. Trainer Rob Heathcote was under the impression that Damian Browne (who had ridden Fillydelphia to her last start victory) would be heading south on Saturday so he engaged in-form jockey Anthony Allen for the ride. Allen accepted choosing Fillydelphia over Mishani Warrior which suddenly left Les Ross looking for a jockey and he went back to Brad Stewart with whom he has enjoyed a number of successes.
Browne did not have a ride in the race. Allen finished unplaced while Stewart grabbed his opportunity with both hands! (Doomben - Feb 15).
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While Anthony Allen as rightfully earned his share of positive headlines with his regular run of winners (he followed up his treble at Beaudesert on Friday with a victory aboard Exceedingly on Saturday), there is always a downside waiting to happen in the life of a jockey ... even if it ultimately just turns out to be an irritation.
That downside can take various forms … some more unusual than others. On Saturday Allen was called in front of the stewards and issued with a charge under AR137(d), ‘in that as the rider of PURE WHISPER, when leading, he excessively reduced the pace between the 800m and 600m’. (See Stewards Report Extracts).
After studying the sectional times of the race stewards subsequently found that Allen had not slackened the speed as severely as it appeared live.
Deputy chief steward Daniel Aurisch stated: “The sectional times showed he was slightly faster between the 800m and 600m than he was between the 1000m to 800m so on those grounds we elected not to proceed with the charge.” (Doomben – Feb 15).
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Not surprisingly in a race of muddled pace, Glen Colless out-strategized his rivals to help the Lawrie Mayfield-Smith trained Star Sammy to score his fifth win in eleven starts.
While there are a host of capable apprentices emerging to compete with senior jockeys for rides, sometimes there is just no substitute for experience. (Doomben – Feb 15).
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The disappointment of Agitate’s narrow defeat was to come later in the day but trainer Kelly Schweida was always going to go home with a winner from Doomben after Little Bit Ditsy struck in race three.
“I thought she was in a fair bit of trouble back there,” admitted Schweida. “I left it to Michael (Cahill) to allow here to be where she wanted to be but she did look in trouble about the 300. She was never really going anywhere until the last 100 when she pricked her ears and got there. I think she is well above average, particular being able to beat the older fillies at this time of year.
“Michael’s probably got the biggest wrap of anybody on her. He’s wrapped her from the word go and he’s ridden her in all of her races … so that says something given the choice of rides available to him. We’ll have a look at some races for her. Wet or dry she handles the going. I think she’ll get 1350m and I think she’s got a future. (Doomben – Feb 15).
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Sparkling Sound’s three length win was the most decisive victory at Doomben. She certainly proved good value at $4 equal favourite. In twenty-four starts, Chris Munce has only been on Sparkling Sound’s back on twice and has won on both occasions. Their previous win was achieved by an even wider five length margin.
It was a far closer call at the Gold Coast for the Rex Lipp stable but Argie’s Heart got the decision by the narrowest of margins in the third race to give Lipp a welcome double in the space of twenty-five minutes. (Doomben / Gold Coast – Feb 15).
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Since Feb 1 the David Kelly stable has saluted three times from its last eight starts. Two of those wins have come from Hi Son who looks to be furnishing into a highly competitive four-year-old.
Credit Kelly too for keeping faith with under-rated apprentice Rikki Jamieson who has been in the saddle in four of Hi Son’s six wins. Tegan Harrison and the late Ashley Mundy were the other riders who have saluted on the gelding, meaning that the girls have carried the day on this horse proving more successful in this particular instance than their male counterparts Chris Munce, Tim Bell, Daniel Griffin, Matthew Palmer and Travis Wolfgram who have all had the opportunity to guide Hi Son to victory.
Apart from their city successes, Kelly and Jamieson both currently sit in third position on the respective trainer’s and jockey’s Premiership ladders at the Gold Coast. (Doomben – Feb 15).
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Aimee turned in a solid performance to win the 2yo QTIS Handicap but trainer Noel Doyle was more interested in working on the flaws in her performance than getting carried away with the victory.
“She has going to have to mend her manners,” said Doyle. “She was slow away again today. She did it last start … but she’s won so I’ll forgive her this time. It was a good win too, especially at the 1100m race here at Doomben. If you draw a bad alley or give them any start it is very difficult to win. I think she is going to go on, but she has got a mind of her own so we’ll just have to work it out together.” (Doomben – Feb 15).
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Trainer Kelso Wood is seldom without a good horse … and the indications are he could have another one in the making after She’s Miss Devine’s demolition job on her opposition at the midweek meeting at Eagle Farm.
One run might be too early to tell but the Show A Heart first-timer was certainly an eye-catcher on debut when romping in by a seven length margin as a well-supported second favourite at $3.60. You have to think that a lot more will be heard of this one!
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Two riding trebles were recorded this week. Anthony Allen scored a treble with Smokin’ Elle ($6.50), Rocking Empire ($8) and Street Rose ($3) at Beaudesert. Cassandra Schmidt’s treble arrived at the Gold Coast where she saluted aboard Argie’s Heart ($5), Heza Bobby Dazzler ($4.20) and Taystar ($6.50).
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Heard the one about a pair of expensive ear plugs? Well, a pair was fitted on Liam Birchley’s Sunshine Coast winner only but they were only intended for use while travelling the horse to and from the track. Unfortunately, due to an oversight the plugs were not removed on arrival at the track and thus the horse raced with gear which was not approved under the National Gear Register. The result … a $300 fine.
Would a protest from the second placed runner have had any grounds … or would it have fallen on deaf ears? (Sunshine Coast – Feb 16).
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Sometimes a horse needs an easy kill to gain confidence. Well, that’s exactly what the Desleigh Foster trained Alquero was allowed at Beaudesert when strolling home by 4.30 lengths. He is no world-beater but it will be interesting to see how he goes next time out. (Beaudesert – Feb 14).
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Alquero was to be Michael Cahill’s only ride for the day, but the champion rider picked up another couple of rides and a second winner, Romba Tom, when replacing Ric McMahon who let his trainer and his horse’s owners down by arriving at the track without his required doctor’s clearance certificate after being sidelined at a previous meeting. (Beaudesert – Feb 14).
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Romba Tom might also be one to keep an eye on. After a very ordinary first preparation, this Kelly Schweida trained runner has now won three out of five starts this time in … perhaps beating little at Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast and Beaudesert but the fact remains that this relatively lightly raced son of Bradbury’s Luck appears to have scope for more improvement. (Beaudesert – Feb 14).
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Trainer John Manzelmann, fresh from saddling four winners at Mackay last week, kept his fast moving scoreboard rolling with a double at Rockhampton. (Rockhampton – Feb 13).
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