Warped Wisdom

Randwick’s sprint course is a visual delight. Starting from a chute nestled under High Street on the southern side of the track, contestants barrel their way down a long, straight, wide lane to the only turn, spacious and cambered, before presenting themselves for the run to the judge. Unforgettably spine-tingling was the “TJ Smith” of 2011, when Black Caviar found another gear topping the rise, and mowed down Hay List.

There have been four Randwick meetings conducted on a dry track with the rail true in the past eighteen months. Of the sixteen sprints decided, barrier 1 is winless and barrier 2 has a lone victory. Sophisticated punters would hardly be shocked by the assertion that inside draws are inclined to disadvantage. Pity the poor novice, however, confronted by such form comments today as “Tessera; Gets all the favours from the inside gate” and “Flashing Speed; No surprise to see a forward showing with the advantage of the inside gate”.

It is an item of no small interest that the five short course events contain key runners drawn the despised inside marble. The Reisling hosts the return to Randwick of impressive Gimcrack winner Calliope. Her resumption in Blue Diamond leadup posed more questions than answers. Her unbeaten stablemate Tessera has stretched his neck gamely to date, but must contend not only with the inside but also the Snowden gun Capitalist.

Fast forward to race six, The Fireball, and last start victor Strindberg is asked to jump from gate one, although I suspect his connections may line up with the errant wisdom referred to previously. Listen intently for a pre-race interview with Michael Hawkes for confirmation of this.

The penultimate has been invested with Group One prizemoney and Group Two status. Joe Pride has taken Ball Of Muscle from defeat in a short courser at the coalfields on debut to at least tier two in the nation’s sprinting hierarchy. However, the combination of inside marble and cutting into the steady nor-easter should bring out the bears.

The nightcap brings on the acid test for the exceedingly promising Flashing Speed who partners the exceptionally gifted James McDonald, perhaps her best hope of avoiding the inside curse.

What price barrier one?