Weekend Wisdom 6th March 2016
Railway coffins
Who can recall the infamous Doncaster day 2003? The day Grand Armee hugged the fence, leaving the 10/9 Lohnro well astern. The day Snowland won The Galaxy from barrier one.
Randwick, rail true, up the inside. A black swan!
Back to the present, it was business as usual. The graveyard for fence dwellers that is Randwick in the true position continued unabated.
It will be countered that Libran won from a rails draw and run. However, I contend that staying races be disqualified from bias assessment; slow one-paced types negotiating extra turns are apt to defy the pattern.
Again, English thrilled many with a savage sprint up the inside, but she built her momentum behind the pack in ground sufficiently wide.
Of the eight events 1600m or shorter, Redzel was the only winner from the inside portion of the draw; barrier 5 in a field of 12 just high enough to control the pace in ground of Bowman’s choice.
Redzel’s victory was an impressive display of sustained speed.
“In the running line” is an oft-used phrase favoured by modern racecallers. Lacking an online definition, I presume it to mean “on the outside, with cover”, affording the opportunity to make your run whenever it suits.
This description is tailor-made for Randwick. The Kris Lees winning pair of Le Romaine and Savoureux used their running line positions, three-wide with cover, to devastating effect.
Less fortunate were those in-between, away from the quicksand but unable to gain clearance.
Meanwhile, the prevailing nor-easter, stronger than predicted, steadfastly hammered into those nailed to the rails.
Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Robert Pirsig, in his seminal work, gave me a glimpse of the pursuit of quality. He likened his journey to that of the railway train. The box cars represent the static, accumulation of knowledge. But they merely inform the recognition of quality; the dynamic, leading edge of the train.
So it is that form students seek a dynamic reality. A search for what is not necessarily new, but what is best. A quest for the identification of merit. But merit alone is not enough, it must be grounded. Anchored.
My point is that one run is insufficient, and in the case of “Group One, Game On”, inadequate!
The demise of the favourites in Saturday’s Group Ones, Canterbury Stakes and Randwick Guineas, may be partly explained by their preparation. Second-up into a Major is achievable but not recommended.
Both First Seal and Press Statement encountered less than ideal passages. First Seal found herself trying to build her run from an inside position, while Press Statement lacked clear room at a crucial stage.
But it needs to be noted that both well-fancied gallopers were held at bay by well-seasoned opponents. Holler was alone with two runs back (and blinkers-on to boot), while Le Romaine carried the ideal group one preparation of Fourth-up.
Hindsight wears all her makeup!
It was suggested to me that Press Statement, despite his travails, had betting credentials to reel in his lesser fancied rival when clear. In retrospect, I perceive that his lack of seasoning mattered when it counted.
And so to the contestant with the deepest expectation on the programme, Capitalist.
Of small consolation to his supporters is his performance in the face of adversity.
Finding himself in the death-seat for the first time in four lifetime starts, it demands recognition that the others in a similar predicament on Saturday wound up 5th/6, 7th/9, 5th/11, 5th/7, 12th/12, 13th/13, 5th/10, 9th/11.
Whilst the inside was a death knell, outside lead was hardly a picnic.
Bring on the Slipper.
Racing’s Consumers
Adam Smith, the Father of Economics, famously postulated in 1776, that:
Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production;
And further that:
The interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer.
Racing NSW, charged by Act of State Parliament with nurturing the public interest in Horseracing, would be well advised to take heed of the above.
My observation of their discharge of said statutory duty has been overwhelmingly in favour of the producer, racing’s so-called participants, or stake-holders.
I contend that growth of our industry requires some considerable focus on the demand-side (consumers/punters), rather than supply-side (producers/owners-trainers-jockeys).
Punters wager most when presented with a multiplicity of formlines, generating a variety of opinions.
Case in point, Saturday’s Randwick Guineas, albeit won by an unfancied contestant, starved of variety by clashing with its southern counterpart, the Australian Guineas.
Its virtual replay of the Hobartville Stakes is symptomatic of modern-day programming; formulaic, with scant respect paid to the interests of consumers.
I plead with racing’s administrators to embrace a more visionary approach to scheduling.
Racing’s consumers will respond positively.
