SEVEN DAYS - THE WEEKLY REVIEW (APRIL 16 - APRIL 22) NEWS COMMENTARY

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, April 23, 2014

HRO's news and commentary feature - SEVEN DAYS (THE WEDNESDAY REPORT) - provides a weekly review of racing activity, both on and off the track.

APPRENTICES UNDER THE WHIP:

Apprentice jockey skill levels have been put under the microscope at Racing Queensland with a view to finding a better formula for issuing riding licences than the current system so that the process can be brought into line to meet the demands of the modern day schedule and structure of racing. That process is now being finalised.

Under the system currently used up until this time a license upgrade for apprentices followed the simple route from country to provincial and then on to metropolitan status which Wade Birch, the general manager of stewards and integrity operations, argues does not sufficiently detail or manage the skill requirements for riding at different race tracks.

“One key finding of the Riding Skills Panel’s initial report was that the current license classification structure is too broad and not appropriate for modern racing,” said Birch. “This has resulted in apprentices transitioning through to a category of license which exposes them to a type of racing that requires a skill set that had not yet been achieved.”

“There have been concerns with the level of skills, particularly at Ipswich, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast,” continued Birch. “The mode of racing at those venues is extremely different to that of most country tracks. If apprentices become exposed to that level of racing when they are not ready for it, it can have long-term consequences on their careers.”

Not to mention others they can bring down with them.

Figures have been mentioned as to how many apprentices may be affected under the new assessment, in general, and, at the top level, how many metropolitan licenced apprentices might have their status downgraded.

HRO will publish the official list of changes when it becomes available.

Suffice to say, that this project is a logical one that needed to be undertaken on many levels … safety, integrity, to enhance longevity of careers etc.

For the move to have any meaningful value though, the Riding Skills Panel, which to date has consisted of senior stewards and former career jockeys, needs to continue monitor and foster the skill development of all of the young riders after the implementation of the new system and, most importantly, the ‘apprentice school’ situation, which has lacked any substance in recent times, has to achieve a professional level of operation which the apprentices can respect.

So there is a lot of hard work to be done … and not just by apprentices.

Re-evaluating the basic skill level of every apprentice, where the differences can literally be quite scary, is a good start.

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SHORTS:

When top Metropolitan jockeys pick and choose a short selection of rides at a provincial meeting it, more often than not, can be as valuable a pointer as any other form factor. Obviously, sometimes those runners don’t quite perform as expected and sometimes, even when they do, the price is too short to be tempting. But every now and then a jockey gets things one hundred percent right, as Michael Cahill did at Beaudesert. Cahill had three rides for three winners … two for Kelly Schweida (Rock Me Fast at $1.60 and Glorious Red at $3.80) and one for Desleigh Forster (the $2.80 chance Tail Of A Diva). All three runners started favourite. Tail Of A Diva’s win was achieved in spite of suffering repeated interference at the hands of James Orman’s mount Carry The Drinks. While he might retained his normal calm and quiet demeanour in the winner’s enclosure, it was also quite clear that Cahill was not amused by the ride of the apprentice. (Beaudesert April 16).

Cahill’s treble was part of a sequence of four successive wins by favourites (Matthew Dunn’s Ten Gauge had taken out the opening event on the card), but it is a simple truth in racing that the bookmakers are almost always certain to pull one back when a run of results like that occurs and tehy did just that when the $31 chance Mahoe Lass struck in the fifth race for trainer Robert Lyford and jockey Julien Kokotajlo. The lightly raced four-year-old was second-up in only his third career start so did have some scope for improvement but most justifiably wanted to see that improvement first before siding with him, hence the long odds.(Beaudesert April 16).

In Rockhampton two runners started from the incorrect barrier position in the fifth race. Edgeroi Dixie and Flag Favourite were drawn in the two outside barrier positions in a nine horse field but inadvertently swopped their positions on loading before jumping away. Edgeroi Dixie won the race, beating the Mark Lehmann trained Vicomte by 0.80 lengths. Just when stewards realised a mistake had been made is not recorded, but they were aware of it prior to correct weight being declared. Stewards duly assessed the matter, decided that the finishing positions had not been affected by the error and declared correct weight. I wonder if Mark Lehmann has protested what the outcome might have been? But that wasn’t the end of the matter. There was some fallout with the jockeys involved, Brad Stewart and Adrian Coombe, each ‘fined $100 for negligence which led to a breach of Rule AR128(1)’ while stewards will also furnish a report regarding starting issues to the Rockhampton Jockey Club and Racing Queensland. (Rockhampton April 17).

Remember Braydn Swaffer? You should. He had his moment of fame when he won on River Vixen at the Sunshine Coast back in January 2013 when riding almost the entire race distance with his feet out of the irons. Still an apprentice, Swaffer now plies his trade in Townsville and on Thursday, riding in the more traditional fashion, Swaffer brought home a brace of winners, to move up to fifth place on the Townsville Jockeys’ Premiership which is currently being led by Graham Kliese with sixteen winners. (Townsville April 17).

It wasn’t the first time that young Deagon based trainer Brad Smith caught punters on the hop when Diamond Trail saluted at odds of $41. Diamond Trial was first up at Eagle Farm on Saturday and he simply turned in a repeat performance of his previous first-up run where he scored over the same track and distance, with the same jockey (Michael Hellyer) on board at odds of $60. Smith did have a question mark about Diamond Trail’s chances going into the race. “It was certainly a big jump for her but she is very honest, very consistent and, as we’ve found out, first-up she is an absolute specialist.” (Eagle Farm April 19).

The broad smile on the face of Aiden Holt when he brought Angusroy back to scale said it all. The young rider had led the Metropolitan Apprentice Premiership in the first half of the season but then succumbed to weight problems which kept him sidelined for a good period of time and you could see what a pleasure it was for him, to not only be back riding, but to be back in the winners’ enclosure. Holt light-heartedly put his weight battle in perspective. “About a month ago I was about 68.5kg. I’m riding 57kg today. Mr (Brian) Smith helped me out along the way. This morning he let me mow his lawn for him.” (Eagle Farm April 19).

The Gerald Ryan trained Angel Of Mercy looked the class of the field in the third at Eagle Farm on Saturday and she franked that assessment with a superb come from behind win showing impressive acceleration in the home straight. Stable representative Brendon McKay commented after the race, “We were very grateful there was a little bit of tempo mid-race. Gerald (Ryan) said this morning that we needed to ride her cold and as quiet as we possibly could and keep her best for last. We got that bit of tempo. She got to the outside and really attacked the line. We’ll target the Hollindale with her now.” (Eagle Farm April 19).

There are twenty listed owners of Shinji, the two-year-old filly trained by Paddy Cunningham at Grafton. Think they are having fun? You bet they are as Shinji maintained her unbeaten record with another win at Eagle Farm on Saturday to complete a hat trick of wins. “She had to do a lot more work today (from the outside barrier) than she did last time she won here,” said Cunningham. “I thought she might be found wanting the last bit but she really dug deep the last furlong. The best part about her is she can go to sleep if we need her to so I think she will get 1200 (all wins have been over 1000m) because she will relax in her races if left alone … but she’d had three runs now and a couple of trials so the spelling paddock is not far away.” (Eagle Farm April 19).

Jason Taylor is one of the value bets in the jockey’s ranks. We already know how big a danger he can be to punters on a long-priced horse but he gave us another reminder when he guided the Kim Craft trained Natural Dancer ($81 in to $51) to victory in the first leg of the Quadrella at Eagle Farm. Taylor thought the filly should never have started at that price. “She’s been racing over the border against the older horses and I’ve been desperate for her to come up and take on the three-year-olds. That race today looked like the race for her. I knew my horse was fit. We did roll along a bit but I was just quietly confident we could run Agitate down.” (Eagle Farm April 19).

After Natural Dancer Taylor’s win was in the mood for more and he duly made it back to back race wins aboard the Victorian visitor Best Is Yet To Come … and this time it was a nail-biter! The three-year-old filly was having only her fourth career start and her first race on a right-handed turn, but her ability and will to win overcame her relative inexperience as Taylor strength in the saddle helped Best Is Yet To Come get home by a nose in the Listed Princess Stakes. “It was a massive effort,” commented Taylor. “She showed a little bit of gate speed. Once we tucked in behind them she dropped the bit and travelled beautifully through the run. Was a little bit awkward around the corner and was bumped a little bit down the straight and being a big, gangly horse she really didn’t appreciate it … but she fought on strongly.” (Eagle Farm April 19).

Defending champion Robert Heathcote moved to within two-and-a-half wins of the leading dup of Matthew Dunn and Tony Gollan in the Brisbane Trainers’ Premiership when Excellantes returned to the winners’ enclosure winning the Listed Hinkler Handicap by a decisive 1.50 length margin. Damian Browne has partnered the six-year-old in seven of his nine career wins and his affinity he has with the horses was clearly in evidence as Browne guided the gelding to victory. “It’s been a great association with this horse for me. It did get a bit tight in the race there for a moment. Trying to get in-between Chris Munce and Michael Cahill isn’t an easy job so I played the numbers game and elected to come out and give myself a clear opportunity. He finished strongly and there might be a bit of luck for him over the carnival. He is probably not quite a Group 1 horse but there are plenty of good pickings just below that.” (Eagle Farm April 19).

Bushy made it five wins from eleven starts when he took out the last race on the card at Eagle Farm. “He doesn’t run many places. He either wins or doesn’t come anywhere,” observed trainer Jack Duncan. “All three runs have been good this time in though … except for last week when we took him to Toowoomba. He got scratched in the mounting yard. He was bouncing around the yard and ended up bouncing over a fence so they scratched him there. He always bouncing around … but he was bouncing sideways at Toowoomba and the fence was a bit low. That might have happened for a reason. We wouldn’t have come here today if he’d run there.” (Eagle Farm, April 19).

Jockey Kevin Forrester was left red-faced and out of pocket after the opening event at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Forrester used a towel at the barriers to wipe sweat from his mount Roman Conflict and forgot to hand the towel back to the handler before the field jumped. It would be interesting to know what Forrester was thinking while he had the towel as a passenger and when it fell from the horse at the 300m. From the stewards report: ‘As the towel did not form part of the gear which Jockey Forrester weighed out with, Stewards were satisfied that Roman Conflict had carried its correct weight and subsequently declared correct weight.’ Forrester was fined $100 for his negligence. (Gold Coast April 19).

Janette Johnson shared the riding honours with Luke Rolls at the Gold Coast on Saturday. She rode winners for her master Bryan Guy (Platinum State) and Pat Duff (Abu Ben Adam). If she can harness and implement just a small percentage of the advice she receives from these two trainers her career will be moving in the right direction. Rolls saluted aboard Thaiday (for Mel Eggleston) and Hydrazine (for Helen Page). (Gold Coast April 19).

The steward’s report from the country meeting at Flinton contained a couple of interesting items. An indication of just how bad kick can get came in the first race where it the jockey of Dazarae reported that when, he racing in a rearward position, he shifted wider on the track to avoid the very heavy dust kickback! Not a place for a slow horse. Then, in the fourth race, the available Patrol Video was inconclusive and unable to assist stewards in there endeavour to inquire into the reason for Beautiful Barb losing ground at the 900m. Riders evidence was tendered which established a possible reason for Beautiful Barb being compromised but, ‘as this could not be confirmed, no blame was apportioned to any rider.’ The report does not whether the Patrol Film issue related to video quality, camera positioning or just the dust factor that was prevalent on the day. (Flinton April 19).

At Boulia the first three favourites saluted on the card. The clean sweep of favourites didn’t eventuate though when the last two main fancies were upstaged … by their stable companions! (Boulia April 19).

Kelly Gates rode half the card at Gladstone strikng twice for trainer Denis Schultz (with the $8 chance Superb Effort and Blaze To Fortune - $4) and once for Michael Pearson (aboard Dane Fire - $3.80). Schultz shared the training honours with Clinton Garland whose double came in the form of Wongaranda ($8) and Niseko Gold ($5) who were both ridden by Shame McGovern. (Gladstone April 19).

Trainer Barry Gill and jockey Chelsea Jokic completed a double at Nanago. Lady’s Command ($5.50) gave the duo there first of two winners before the $4 chance Outback Cheryl completed a good afternoon’s work for the stable. (Nanango April 19).

Jockeys Leslie Tilly and James Baker shared the first four races on the card at Roma but their individual quest for outright superiority was stumped when they had to settle for second and third best respectively behind Matthew McGillivray who brought the Craig Smith trained Telesius home 0,20 lengths in the last. That gave Smith back to back winners after his success with Ice Melody one race earlier. (Roma April 19).

Only one favourite (Kelly Schweida’s Rock Scent) got home at the Sunshine Coast on a ‘slow 7’ on Sunday. If punters felt frustrated maybe others were as well as both Michael Hellyer and Tim Bell were reprimanded by stewards before failing to seek permission before leaving the track. (Sunshine Coast April 20).

Jockey Dale Evans rode the winners of three of the five races at Emerald. Two of those were trained by Glenda Bell who took out the trainer’s honours at the meeting. (Emerald April 20).

The John, Dan and Chris Meagher training partnership had a good day at the Gold Coast on Monday. The stable went home with a double after Shantung Boxer and Comacina both saluted. That feat was matched by trainer Helen Page who sent Power De Ted and Tricky Rocket out to victory. Three riders, Tim Bell, Luke Rolls and Ryan Wiggins all rode doubles at the meeting. (Gold Coast April 21).

It might have just been a 900m dash but when a two-year-old wins on debut with daylight back to the second horse the run is always worth a second glance. The Tony Sears trained Payback did just that in the opening event at the Gold Coast, trouncing his field by 5.00 lengths suggesting that the Toowoomba trainer has another useful juvenile on his hands. (Gold Coast April 21).

Apprentice Matthew McGillivray continues to rack up the winners away from the spotlight. He won on his last ride at Roma on Saturday, came second in his only ride at Emerald on Sunday and then won three times from four rides at Augathella on Monday … meaning he has won four times from his last six starts!

Trainer Donald Baker was the only person to get on the scoreboard twice at Goodiwindi. Baker saddled two winners, Virginia Plain and Mr Favulous. The latter, not surprisingly, won by 2.80 lengths (the biggest winning margin on the day) after coming off two useful city runs which included a 0.40 lengths fourth placing behind The Storeman. (Goondiwindi April 21).

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