GLAMOURZON RETIRES

Family favourite mare GLAMOURZON has run her last race and will be sent to stud this season. The mare who is part owned by myself and my darling daughter reties with the record of having had 30 lifetime starts for 4 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds and 5 fourths and earnings along the way of $152,777.00. No wonder my daughter loves her so much!!!

Seriously though, she really has been an honest, tough race mare who has been plagued by hoof problems throughout her career yet has managed to earn stake money every campaign she has had.

The mare is very aptly named as she really is quite a glamour and I am sure she will become an even better mum than she was a race horse. I have never kept any of my race mares in the past however I have decided to retain this mare in the family and hopefully get a few nice foals from her to race in years to come. I look forward to once again leading in a GLAMOURZON produced winner with a very happy and excited daughter on my arm. Now I just have to teach my daughter some patience!!

TWO FOR WEDNESDAY

Wednesdays race meeting at Belmont should be short and hopefully sweet for us. We only have two runners on the day with GLEN ERIN LASS and SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE both engaged in the first race.

Both horses will be having their last starts for this campaign and both are having their first start at 1600m. I am very confident that SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE will develop into a handy middle distance three year old filly and she will be aimed towards the W.A.OAKS next preparation. I only hope she stops growing upwards and starts to thicken up a bit over the next few months.

GLEN ERIN LASS has already one one race this campaign and has run two very handy races at her only other starts. The way she races suggests that she too may appreciate a bit more ground and this race should give us the chance to assess whether or not she is also a likely OAKS type.

Either way, both fillies will go out for the spring and will hopefully mature into nice race horses as late three year olds. Don't be surprised if they both finish in the money!

QUIET WEEKEND BUT PLENTY HAPPENING

Last Saturday was one of the few city race meetings of late where we didn't win a race. We did go very close with PRICELESS SYMBOL being desperately unlucky at his first try at 1200m for a while and I am confident that this honest little horse will not take long to win his way through to open company. He rarely runs a bad race and although he does need things to go his way, when they do, he is a smart race horse. His second to the odds on favourite on Saturday showed that!

My other runners GLAMOURZON AND BLESCAY both showed that they have had enough and will go out for a well earned break. The stable will be having a major turn over of stock over the next week or so with plenty of horses either going for a spell or just having a bit of a freshen up while I have a big team of young horses literally champing at the bit waiting to come in and take their place.

We haven't really assessed any of the young brigade as yet however word from the pre-trainers is that there are some smart ones in amongst them. I always enjoy the new season two year olds coming in and watching them as they develop into race horses. Hopefully we can unearth a few smart ones this season.

PINJARRA PARK RACETRACK??????

Here we go again. No, not Louie whinging again but here we go again with another track fiasco.

Why is it that those in charge always appear to be the last ones to accept the facts when it comes to problems with track reconstruction or track suitability for racing. All the knowledge in the world but very little common sense. A dearly departed old mate of mine used to say to me, "There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom". I know exactly what he meant.

Back in 2003 when some repair work was being done to the grass track at Ascot, we were being continually told that all was well and that the track would be ready for a return by the start of the new season. Every trainer (what would we know) who walked the track said "absolutely no chance". The result was that we didn't get back to the track fully until just before Perth Cup day 2004. That was the year we ran the Railway Stakes at Belmont.

The following year the whole track was re surfaced with new drainage put in, all done under the management and overseeing of Lex Piper. Amazing when you put someone in charge who knows what they are doing and has some real experience, what the end result is. We started the new season on time and on a great track.

Move on to 2007 and the Pinjarra track gets re-surfaced. Now don't get me wrong. As a track designer or curator I make a fair horse trainer. Why then not use the benefit of experience and wisdom and consult the people who did the work at Ascot. Instead, the work is done or managed by people without a proven "track record", pardon the pun! If they did have I am sure the track would not look like it does on page 53 of this mornings paper. Great crop of oats!

For the past two months we have all been hearing rumblings of discontent coming from everyone who has looked at the track, to say that any racing at Pinjarra this season is a long shot, let alone racing there in January. Just remember the season usually gets underway in mid November. These are not the people involved in doing the work making the comments. These are only simple people like horse trainers and people who have years of experience with track and grass management.

People in the industry deserves a lot better treatment than this. The participants and stakeholders are the ones who's livelihoods become effected by the poor decisions made by those who will continue to collect their wage at the end of each week regardless. When will somebody in charge please stand up and sort this whole mess out as quickly as possible instead of seemingly sitting on their hands waiting for nature to take its course.

In my lifetime I haven't seen mother nature make many mistakes. Its only when humans think they know better that she becomes a bit confused!!!

BLESCAY IS ON HER WAY

Smart filly BLESCAY is eased down on the line by her Jockey Jason Whiting as she makes it win number three for this preparation. The filly is really getting the hang of things and a proud part owner Shirley Piper looks to be deep in discussion with her jockey after the win on Saturday. Shirley has been getting plenty of lead in practice lately with the very familiar orange and red colours winning races with monotonous regularity. Lex and Shirley have invested plenty into the racing game over the years and deserve every win that comes their way.

Photo's courtesy Hollands Photographics.

THREE POSSIBLE RUNNERS FOR WEDNESDAY

At this stage we look like having three starters at Belmont on Wednesday. We will have ALCEDO resuming after a short let up. We will have OUTSIDE EDGE resuming after a spell and SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE will have her second run for this preparation. She is still about six months away from developing into a complete race horse so she will probably only have this run or maybe one more before she goes out for a spell.

OUTSIDE EDGE and ALCEDO have both shown that they can take the next step and become consistent city performers so hopefully they will not take long to hit winning form.

WEEK ENDS ON HIGH NOTE

The past week has seen some good times and some frustrating times and after what started out as a disappointing day at Kalgoorlie last Sunday with GLAMOURZON, ended yesterday with the win of BLESCAY. In between we also had the first up win of SHAREV along with my HANNANS HANDICAP runner, ROYALE HARVEST, being galloped on and requiring treatment.

In what can be seen by outsiders as a a busy, social and sometimes glamorous life, I can assure everyone that without the joy of winners, the losses and disappointments would soon send most sane people to an early grave. I am sure that is why most trainers really let their hair down after a good day at the races as they fully understand that the next disappointment may only be one runner away.

Even though he didn't win, the run of STRIKEN in race seven was good enough to send me home with a smile on my face. I am sure his next win is not far away.

HOOFNOTE: My smile was short lived. On my way home I received a call from the Stewards, informing me that I had been fined $100 for presenting Striken into the mounting yard without his winkers on. I know. My fault but.... The horses were not walked around the back parade ring for this race as is normally the practice and I was only informed as we walked into the mounting yard. Normally trainers are given the chance to fix things like that when the horses are checked in the back parade ring but due to the small fields and bad weather, few people gathered to inspected the runners in the parade ring. I can't remember the last time something like this happened to me but that doesn't seem to make any difference to the Stewards. I am GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE in their eyes.

Their "GESTAPO STYLE" attitude sure goes a long way to ensuring a happy harmonious working relationship with the industry participants!!!! Considering the horse did race in winkers which were fitted at the barriers, you have to wonder just who was effected by it all. Don't get me wrong. I know they have a job to do and ensuring horses wear the correct gear is one of them. I just wonder about the size of the fine when in actual fact the problem was fixed and could have been fixed earlier had things happened in the normal way or had I been more vigilant. Not to worry. As long as I have ever been involved in the industry, it is not unusual for an "us versus them" attitude to exist. Shame really! Then again, I am sure I will be more careful in the future.

SECOND WIN WILL HAVE TO WAIT

Smart filly SHAREV showed just how tough she is by sitting three and four deep the whole way and still getting up in the very last stride to win the race. The filly was racing first up for the stable however her second up start will have to wait at least three months as the filly bled in running and will need to go out for a spell. She shows enough to suggest she has more wins in store for her if we can keep her trouble free.

NO JOY AT KALGOORLIE THIS YEAR

Over the years I have enjoyed considerable success at Kalgoorlie. Unfortunately, this round has been fairly disappointing for this stable. We headed up for the Boulder Cup on Sunday and I had expected GLAMOURZON to run a mighty race. After enjoying a good run throughout,the mare failed to run on at the business end and finished well back. The mare did not appear to handle the firm track nor the high up front pressure of the race. She has pulled up well and should not take long to bounce back to her best.

Yesterday we took ROYALE HARVEST up for the HANNANS HANDICAP, a race I expected her to be the one to beat. Jason Whiting rode a superb race to get the mare into a perfect position after 200m and things were looking good. After going about 600m I was starting to get excited as she travelled strongly following the third favourite and eventual winner Keyton Grace, with the second favourite locked up on her inside. That is when the mare got badly galloped on behind, dragging down her hind quarters and effectively taking away any chance she had. Jason felt she was travelling well enough at the time to shake the life out of the race but never felt comfortable from then on.

The mare has arrived home a bit sore and sorry for herself but I am confident that with some chiropractic treatment she should not take long to pick herself up and get back to the winners list. She is a very smart mare who is capable of winning a nice race over the summer.

The winner of the HANNANS, Keyton Grace, was very impressive and has been a top class mare throughout her career. She thoroughly deserved her win and should hold her own when she heads East.

ONE DOWN. TWO TO GO!

As I said earlier today, if SHAREV had any luck from her wide barrier she would be hard to beat. Well the luck she received was all bad however she was still good enough to get up in the last stride to win first up for us at Belmont today.

The filly showed above average ability and can develop into a more than handy winner. Unfortunately, the filly had blood in both nostrils after the race and will now have to do the mandatory three months before she races again. She should be worth the wait.
Now its off to "KAL" to try to repeat the dose. Here's hoping!!!

BUSY DAYS AHEAD TO COVER MANY MILES

With so many race meetings scheduled over the next few days, I look like covering plenty of miles in between meetings. We start off today with SHAREV, a new comer to the stable, racing first up in race one at Belmont. The filly has done everything asked of her so far and I think she has a bit of a future. Providing she doesn't get caught off the track from her awkward barrier, she should give this race a real shake.

Tomorrow we head to Kalgoorlie with ROYALE HARVEST to compete in the Hannans Handicap. This mare is in peak form and once again her main danger could be her awkward barrier. The mare is racing in good form and has been unlucky in her two races so far this preparation. It would be an awesome result if she can bring home first prize for her owners, Peter Walsh and the AMELIA PARK Syndicate.

Back to Perth on Wednesday night then off to Northam on Thursday for one runner in race one, the lightly raced mare TRICTRAC. She faces a small but tough field but on her best form she is more than capable of shaking the life out of the race.

I may spend Friday resting up for another two days of racing on the weekend with races at Belmont on Saturday and York on Sunday. "Become a horse trainer and see the country"!

WHAT A BLOODY JOKE!!!!

O.K. If the headline didn't get your attention then read on anyway. Now I know I have had plenty to say from time to time regarding various things "racing" and as far as I am concerned, I will probably continue to. I know I must not open my mouth in the mounting yard and voice my opinion as it can prove very expensive. I don't think that having my say here, will constitute an offence nor, I hope, will it be seen "to be bringing racing into disrepute". (whatever that means!)

What i want to talk about is the weight structure for this years HANNANS HANDICAP. Now before I go any further; Yes I have a runner and Yes it affected my horse probably more than anyone else and Yes I still think she can win in spite of the ridiculous situation that we find ourselves in and Yes I believe the system sucks! Not just because of this race but the system in general. What we now find is that we have a spread of one kilo between top weight and bottom weight in a $120,000 Listed race .

EARLY NOMINATIONS: Why on earth in this day and age race clubs such as the KBRC or any other provincial club for that matter, call for early nominations is beyond me. We can nominate for the $500,000 Group One Lightning Stakes in Victoria five days before the event yet we still have to nominate weeks in advance to run in the unlisted Boulder Cup or the Listed Hannans Handicap. Apart from raising a few extra dollars for the clubs, there is no justifiable reason to continue such a ridiculous and outdated custom.

What this does is help to create the farcical weight structure which exists in this years Hannans Handicap. When nominations were called for (some weeks before the race) the best horse nominated was ARCTIC PARK. By the time the weights were issued (five days before the race) ARCTIC PARK was having a let up after a successful winter campaign. Because he was such a superior horse to the rest of the field, the handicapper compressed the weights to such an extent that there is now no spread in the weights. After acceptances, the weights had to be raised 3.0kg because ARCTIC PARK did not accept for the race. The handicapper gave him a "compressed" weight to give the connections an incentive to start which they declined.

Now this practice of nominating a good horse to compress the weights ( and I am not saying that that is why ARCTIC PARK was nominated but simply the effect of his nomination.) has been going on since Adam was a boy and will continue to take place unless a few things change. Everyone must become far more pro-active. By everyone I mean Race Clubs, Handicappers and Trainers.

There is one simple thing which can help fix the problem and that is scrap the early nomination system for these so called "major races". By having a larger nomination fee at the normal time of nominations, it will lessen the desire for people to nominate and waste money when they really have no intention of running.

What should have happened in the situation that exists is the handicapper could have called the trainer to confirm his intention to start before the weights were issued. Knowing that this one horse was going to have such a marked effect on the weights if it was not going to be a starter, one phone call from a pro-active racing department could have averted this. The other thing which could have happened is the trainer of the horse, also knowing how much the presence of his his horse would effect the weights, could have done the pro-active thing and withdrawn his runner before the weights were to be issued. After all, he was quoted as saying that the horse was left in the field as a mistake. Thanks guys.

Yes I know what most people will be saying. This is just Louie having a whinge again. Well unless we all start to work together in a more pro-active way to make things in the industry better for everyone, we may as well turn our calendars back twenty years. We have all worked and struggled our way through some of the toughest years the industry has known. Lets not go back there. As I said..... WHAT A BLOODY JOKE!

BLESCAY ALL THE WAY.... AGAIN!!

Jason Whiting asks BLESCAY for an effort about 200m out and she responded bravely to win well.

GLAMOURZON HITS THE LINE A WINNER.

Daniel Staeck eases Glamourzon down after another exciting win at Belmont last Saturday.

THE OLD AND THE YOUNG AT THE LEAD IN.

Tubby shows Jec how to lead in a winner. I'm not sure who loves this horse the most!!

THE STAND IN TRAINER. WHO IS THAT MAN????

Keith "Tubby" Humann dressed up to kill as the stable rep on Saturday.

ANOTHER ALL THE WAY WIN FOR BLESCAY

Flashy chestnut filly BLESCAY once again proved too good for her rivals with a gutsy all the way win at Belmont yesterday. The filly has won on both occasions that she has led although I am sure she will be better suited with a sit. The filly has won twice and run second twice at her last four starts and with more luck she could have won all four.

At this stage I am not making any grand plans for her however I am confident that she will win a handy race during her three year old career. Blescay will probably only have one more run before she has a short break. We will then look at a few races during the summer carnival for her. JASON WHITING once again rode a very heady well judged race on the filly to score with something in reserve.

A WEEK AWAY IN THE BUSH.

Those of you who know me know that you can take the boy out of the bush but you can't take the bush out of the boy!!! That's why a few mates and I headed "bush" last week when things in the racing world looked pretty grim. I must admit that when the opportunity to book the trip came up a couple of weeks ago, I jumped at the chance and it was both fortunate and unfortunate that the trip away happened to be when things were in such a mess back here.

Last week I flew out to the Northern Territory and met up with a good mate and long time client Ken Whittaker, along with his mate Colin Hounsell, whom I had never met before. We picked up a four wheel drive which was waiting for us at the Darwin airport and after stocking it full of "supplies" we headed out to the middle of nowhere, to a couple of stations owned by another client of mine Colin Crossley. The first station we visited was LONESOME DOVE which is situated on the Roper River near the southern most part of ARNHEM LAND. After a few days of barra fishing and sight seeing we headed back up to Colin's other station, MAINORU STATION, a bit further north and also on the edge of ARNHEM LAND.

There is a lot of history attached to both properties and we all thoroughly enjoyed the "TOUR GUIDE" provided by Colin as he proudly showed off all the improvements he has made to both properties. Between fishing, hunting, drinking, laughing and telling tall stories, I can honestly say I haven't had some much fun in years. We all got on like a house on fire and nobody was exempt from a good shit stir. I am not convinced that my liver was quite ready for the shock of the whole trip but hey, it is important to put it into training for KALGOORLIE!!!

I would have to say that I prefer a bush holiday any day than one spent lounging around a resort in the sun but each to his own I guess. Out of site and mainly out of phone contact suits me fine. The staff are usually glad to see the back of me for a few days. Just to prove that I am not indispensable, the staff managed to keep a good handle of things while I was away and with the three starters on Saturday managed to win one race and run third in the other two. Top job guys!

FOOTNOTE: Colin Hounsell won the barra fishing competition from yours truly with Ken (no fish) a distant third. Yours truly won the hunting competition from Colin Hounsell (one pig) with Ken once again a distant third. Ken did dead heat with Colin Crossley in the VB drinking competition with Hounsell a close third and me a distant last. I killed them all on the red wine drinking finishing a good few bottles ahead of the pack. As I said, You can take the boy out of the bush but you can't take the bush out of the boy!

GLAMOURZON ALL THE WAY.

Tough old mare GLAMOURZON, showed at Belmont on Saturday, that there is still plenty of life in the old girl yet with a gutsy all the way win over 1650m. The mare was racing second up for this preparation and it was a much deserved win for the consistent but often unlucky mare.

The win was her third in Saturday company and her third over the distance of Saturdays race. A very heady ride by Daniel Staeck saw the mare who is more renowned for sitting just off the pace, taken to the lead and winning in good style. Daniel was quick to sum up the situation with the leader putting the brakes on early, meaning he would get caught working outside the leader. Daniel quickly sent GLAMOUZON to the front and dictated the pace to a nicety.

Daniel has been riding in superb form of late and he is never shy to back his own judgement and make a decision in running. Sometimes things go wrong and I accept that but most times when Daniel takes matters into his own hands in a race he ends up having the last laugh. It is always very satisfying to see my ex apprentices riding well and now that DION has pulled the pin it gives more opportunities to guys like Daniel, Link Robertson and of course our number one rider in Jason Whiting.

Glamourzon will be kept racing while she holds form and we may even venture to the Goldfields with her this weekend and give her a crack at the BOULDER CUP. If she doesn't go to Kal, she will run in a similar race at Belmont on the weekend.

WHAT A WEEK.

Nobody can ever say that life with an involvement in the racing industry has to many dull days. The past week or more is certainly testament to that with the EI virus sending the racing industry into shock waves. And rightly so!

Without wanting to go over old ground, what happened over the past two weeks is something none of us wants to see happen again and one can only hope that those in charge get to the bottom of what went wrong and make sure it never ever happens again.

We in W.A. have been spared the worst of the effects of the virus and I really feel for those involved in the industry on the Eastern states. It is a worst nightmare come true and I certainly hope that they can clear things up as soon as possible.