The Flemington Carnival comes to a close for another year and the attendance numbers are somewhat concerning. The Total attendance for all four days of the carnival is the lowest since 2001, even though the sun was shining for three of the four days. After not attending Oaks day to have a ‘day off’ myself, I would have thought the Channel Seven coverage of E-grade celebrities being shown instead of mounting yard vision would have forced punters on course for Emirates Stakes Day. All joking aside (I wasn’t joking), the coverage broadcast by Seven when the races were being run using jockey cam and aerial shots was great, but the constant promos of Seven ‘stars’ (I use the term loosely) and side-promotions that prevented viewers from actually seeing the horses in the yard, when that vision was banned from TVN in the deal, is simply bad for racing. Hopefully between now and the 2014 carnival, the key stakeholders at Racing Victoria can sit down with the network and figure out how to improve the coverage.
There were a few races run during the week where a ride or the run of a horse just simply stood out for mine. Whether it was the excellent breaking of the whip rule to win a race by an international jockey with nothing to lose or one of the cheapest purchases going around all the carnival winning one of the richest prize money races on offer all year, it was hard to select just five.
Rags to Riches Award
Polanski had shown constant improvement all prep after finishing his 2YO career with two wins at Caulfield (DQ in the 2nd of those). His return at 3 was similar to his start at 2, he went around ‘for the run’ in his first two before winning at Flemington over 1800m by 0.5L, 2000m at Caulfield by 0.2L and then finally stunning a few (including myself) by taking out the Victoria Derby by close to 2.5 lengths from Complacent. Not bad for a $4,000 yearling purchase! It just shows, you don’t have to spend $5.5 million to get a star.
Follow Forward Award
Bernabeu came down to Melbourne for her first run down the straight after winning her maiden and two strong seconds up in Sydney. Her times were solid but no one expected that front running performance followed by a VERY strong kick in the final 300m to win by 3 lengths. She looks a top class horse, especially down the straight and I expect her to be winning Group races all throughout her career. Key point of order is that her second behind Surge Ahead in a very fast time was one of the key factors that lead to that Best Bet on Oaks day that got up. It may also be worth adding Biloxi to your blackbook who beat her home the previous start at Kembla Grange.
Whip it Home Award
Jamie Spencer gave Side Glance one of the rides of the carnival. The two blokes standing next to me on course had backed him in at the $15s and were abusing the ride Spencer gave him half-way through the race. Side Glance was ridden three-wide early on and worked hard to get the lead, but Spencer knew what he was doing. The pace wasn’t overly fast and he produced his horse at the right time. Most importantly, he knew how to get the most out of his mount. Some of the hardest whipping you will see in racing today, huge forehanders on the butt and boy he responded to stay on for a sensational Mackinnon Stakes win. Needless to say the blokes opinions had changed by the end of the race.
Ice Man Award
Damien Oliver got the ride on Surge Ahead in Race 7 on Oaks Day. A talented Gelding trained by the Anthony Cummings, Surge Ahead had won two of his three runs. Breeding suggested he would appreciate the step up in distance but most importantly, he mapped to get the run of the race with little speed on the map. Oliver’s mount was headed in the straight by the favourite, but Oliver didn’t panic. He rode his horse firmly down the straight with hands and heels until he hit the distance marker and then pulled the whip. The horse responded and gave him the kick that was needed to win by close to a length at the line. If the race was 200m further, I doubt they would have passed him. An absolutely perfect example of not asking your horse for everything early in the straight.
Forgive and Don’t Forget Award
Smokin’ Joey had always shown huge promise, but his last few preps had been very disappointing. If you class speediness as a very good horse, then his runs around Speediness certainly match up to Group level. After running dead last in the Gilgai first up over 1200m at Flemington, Boss suggested the horse felt short in action and was a forgive run. Most of us ignored this information, including me, and boy were we shocked. Smokin’ Joey blew them away next start in the Chatham winning by 1.8 lengths from Galah and then backed it up in the Emirates with a huge run 2nd behind Boban.
