BROWNIE'S BLOG: A BONUS IS JUST THAT. IT'S NOT THE MAIN PRIZE. IT WON'T DICTATE WHERE JOCKEYS RIDE

By Damian Browne | Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Brownie’s Blog is the personal blog … exclusive to HRO … of multiple Group 1 winner Damian Browne. This week Brownie looks at the Star Of The Saddle Series, with its lucrative Jockey's Bonus, and what part it might play in where the top jockeys will ride this Spring. He also looks at the newly announced Everest slot holders which brings a racing powerhouse and an unlikely partnership into play.

The Jockey’s Bonus … the Star Of The Saddle Series … announced for the Melbourne Spring has drawn mixed reaction.

It is obviously there to entice the best riders to the five race-days involved in the Series but I don’t think it will alter any of the plans of the top jockeys as to where they will be riding at that time.

They’ll have individual obligations to trainers and connections of certain horses and that will dictate whether they ride in Sydney or Melbourne more than any bonus incentive.

The jockeys are simple going to go where they get the best rides. They definitely will not get off a good horse (with the chance of losing future rides) to chase a cash bonus.

If there is a fifty-fifty call, they might go that way but otherwise I think it will just be a question of good luck if they manage to win any of the bonus races.

You have got to remember they are on very good money anyway so while they want to get the best reward they can, money isn’t necessarily the biggest factor in that equation.

I see some trainers have come out and asked why jockeys have been offered the bonus and not the trainers … which I guess just goes to confirm the old racing adage that you can’t please everybody.

They do have a fair few trainers’ prizes around the country. I know they have one at Rocky. They have one at Warrnambool. The Brisbane Racing Club has had as well. Trainers have won cars and cash.

So, you couldn’t say it is only the jockeys getting these incentive prizes.

The trainers get a turn as well.

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It is still three months out but it is interesting times as far as The Everest is concerned.

Two new slot holders were officially announced yesterday.

Godolphin was probably the obvious choice for the slot forfeited by Damion Flower.

It is one of the most interesting races on the calendar now and it only appropriate that one of the bigger powerhouses in racing in Australia be directly involved as a slot holder.

Godolphin usually have one or two in line for that race anyway. Now they don’t have to go and bargain with other slot holders to get a run.

Also, they can play around with their choice a bit because they only have to name their runner on the Tuesday before the October 19 race-day which, in theory, gives them an advantage as everything is under their control.

They can wait as long as they want to now to get the form horse into the race, while other slot holders have to nail down a deal early to prevent somebody else coming in and taking a horse away.

In fact, five of the twelve slot holders have already named their runners.

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The naming of the other slot holder announced yesterday was just as newsworthy, if not more so.

The Sydney based Australian Turf Club, who originally held a slot on their own, have now partnered in that slot with the Melbourne Racing Club which, in its own way, can arguably be considered extraordinary development given that the relationship between the two power states has seemingly not been that great in recent times.

It would have been nice to sit in on that meeting.

That said, it is a partnership which is obviously most welcome.

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Finally, it was great to attend the final send off for Jeff Lloyd on Saturday.

Jeff was pretty touched by it all. It was good to see him so well supported by his family, friends and the fans.

It was unfortunate he couldn’t get a winner but I’m sure he had a memorable day.

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