OAKS A TOUGH RACE TO WIN.

The one thing I do know about the main race of the day today, THE W.A.OAKS, is that it is a very very difficult race to win. I am talking through experience when I say this as The Oaks is the only race on the local calendar that I have not been able to win yet!

Over the years I have had many runners in the race, some of them even starting favourite. I have won a number of Belmont Oaks and I have run plenty of placings including a second placing in the South Australian Oaks with PRIME AGAIN back in 1993. Invariably the race is won by the filly who has either a fair bit of a class advantage on the rest of the field or is the only true stayer in the race. Every now and then something jumps up out of the ground to win the race at good odds but not very often. In fact when it does happen I am usually on the receiving end of the defeat.

Today we go into the race with two fillies who both deserve their place in the field. SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE has been running nice races without winning and has not had a lot go her way as yet. BLACK HABIT has been a bit behind where I would have liked her to be throughout the whole campaign but has shown that she is looking for ground. What I can say is that both of my fillies are fit, well and sound for today's assignment. Neither could be said to have a class advantage on the rest of the field and neither has the form to say that they are going to be the ones best suited by the step up to 2400m. Of all the fillies I have started in the race neither could lay claim to being amongst my best. Yet something tells me that a surprise result in today's race is not completely out of the question!!!

GUYNO READY FOR FINAL RACE BEFORE A SPELL

GUYNO will have his final start for this campaign when he starts in the PINJARRA CUP at Ascot tomorrow. After running a gallant second to Lords Ransom last start in the Bunbury Cup, this horse gets the chance to turn the tables on that horse tomorrow in what will be an interesting race. Although we will be a couple of kilo's better off tomorrow, I still think we have the job ahead of us to reverse the placings from the last time they met. Either way I am very proud of the performances of my horse this preparation and he thoroughly deserves his spell.

The horse has had another long and fruitful campaign even if he did only win two races. From nine starts this preparation, Guyno has won twice, run second three times and third twice. The horse has raced in the best company at all times and always gives his best. I have no doubt that this horse will be at his best next season when we hope to take on some of the big boys on there own dung hill over east. It may sound ambitious however I have no doubt whatsoever that GUYNO will more than measure up.

MY MAMMA TOLD ME "THERE'LL BE DAYS LIKE THIS"!!!!

The words from one of my all time favourite singers VAN MORRISON, ring so true and are very sobering after a Saturday race day like yesterday's.

On Friday night I went to bed full of anticipation for what the next day held in store. With two odds on favourites in early markets along with two other genuine chances, it was hard not to expect to have a good day before heading off to watch the Eagles start off the season in great style. How quickly things can change.

On Saturday morning I was not as convinced that HIFALUTIN had recovered as well as I had thought she had from her big win at Bunbury only eleven days earlier. She looked an absolute good thing in her race however things just didn't seem 100%. For as long as I have trained and I guess for as long as I continue to I will always rely on "gut feel" to help make decisions in regards to my horses. This was simply another one of those times and the filly was withdrawn from yesterdays race. Not to worry I thought. I still had another live chance in the race with lightly raced filly GOPHER. At least AMELIA'S REASON was at his peak and ready to rumble so things were still fairly good.

GOPHER ran a top race at only her third race start so I was very confident as I headed to the trainers stand before race two. AMELIA'S REASON was looking good and was ready to explode. Unfortunately, that is exactly what he did but about one minute before he should have. The horse reared in the barriers getting both front legs over the top of the front gates of the barriers. The horse freed himself fairly quickly and after inspection, was past fit to race. History now shows that the horse galloped for about 800m only, before stopping badly in the straight. As the trainer of a beaten odds on favourite I can tell you that there is no feeling quite as dejecting.

On returning to the stalls after the race I was relieved to see that the horse had not done himself very much visible damage. The horse was taken home where he had some cold water hosing as well as ice applied to his legs. When I inspected the horse a few hours later he was stiff and sore and looking quite dejected. We treated the horse last night and although he is feeling a bit sorry for himself this morning, I am confident that we will still get to the KARRAKATTA PLATE with him. It is not the ideal thing to have happen only two weeks out from the grand final, however providing the horse stretches out freely over the next few days, we should still make it to the big event.

By the time I walked into the mounting yard for the second last race of the day, I was not quite sure what to expect. I had walked down with Fred Kersley and we were both discussing the fluctuating fortunes of training racehorses. As I walked back to the horse stalls after the race with my runner ST PIERRE showing that he is not ready to tackle a race as testing as the W.A.DERBY, the words of Van Morrison were ringing softly in my ears...... Mamma told me, there'll be days like this!!!!!
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When it's not always raining there'll be days like this
When there's no one complaining there'll be days like this
When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this

When you don't need to worry there'll be days like this
When no one's in a hurry there'll be days like this
When you don't get betrayed by that old Judas kiss
Oh my mama told me there'll be days like this

When you don't need an answer there'll be days like this
When you don't meet a chancer there'll be days like this
When all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they fit
Then I must remember there'll be days like this

When everyone is up front and they're not playing tricks
When you don't have no freeloaders out to get their kicks
When it's nobody's business the way that you wanna live
I just have to remember there'll be days like this

When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this

Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK AHEAD

Easter is usually a busy time of the year for everyone and this year is no different. We start the week off with a couple of runners at Ascot on Wednesday followed by two or three at Ascot on Saturday then a couple at Ascot again on Monday. The Easter Monday meeting is a Pinjarra meeting where we see the running of the Pinjarra Cup.

Tomorrow we start off with GOPHER and THUMBUSTER in a 1200m three year old race. GOPHER has done well since her last start victory and THUMBUSTER has improved since his first up run but has struggled to gain a start. They should both give a good account of themselves.

The weekend starts off with AMELIA'S REASON, ST PIERRE and HIFALUTIN all due to take their place on Saturday AMELIA'S REASON will be out to maintain his unbeaten record in the Perth Stakes and he certainly comes up against a quality field. ST PIERRE also strikes a 3yo race full of mystery and intrigue. The set weights and penalties conditions of this race will certainly sound out who is a genuine Derby contender and who isn't. I am hoping that my horse ST PIERRE can make the necessary improvement with his weight advantage and better barrier draw this week. Impressive last start Bunbury winner HIFALUTIN will run in what looks like a very winnable race even allowing for her weight of 58.0kg. The filly is unbeaten at 1400m and I expect her to remain that way after the weekend.

Monday sees the running of the 2008 Pinjarra Cup at Ascot. We will be represented by GUYNO who ran a brave second in last weeks Bunbury Cup. The horse got posted three deep for the entire journey last week and I thought his effort to hold down second place behind the promising Lord's Ransom was a mighty effort. GUYNO will be having what should be his final start for this preparation. He is due to have a good spell before being aimed at the 2008 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. I know it is ambitious however I honestly feel that with maturity this horse will improve another 4-5 lengths and will be more than competitive in the big spring races. Depending on how he performs tomorrow, THUMBUSTER is likely to butter-up at Ascot on Monday.

THREE RUNNERS FOR ASCOT TODAY.

After a busy week at Bunbury where we had two runners for a winner of the Patrons Cup and a second in the Bunbury Cup, we return to Ascot today to once again do battle. On what looks like a fairly even yet difficult program, we have three runners in two races.

We start the day in race two with unraced 2yo gelding LORD AIRLIE. This horse is a big lump of a lad who has shown some worthwhile form in trials and in training. He gives every indication that whatever he does today he will improve greatly on and will also appreciate it when he steps out over more ground. His mother was a more than useful Sydney winner and I am confident that he will develop into a good winner for the stables.

In race seven The Natasha Plate, we are represented by two runners, SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE and BLACK HABIT. Both fillies are being aimed at the W.A.OAKS and at this stage I am happy with where they are at. SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE has had a few hiccups along the way and missing an important race at York last week has not helped her cause. Hopefully this race will see her come forward nicely for the Oaks.

My other runner BLACK HABIT is a filly by Blackfriars who has shown staying potential since day one. She too has had set backs along the way and if anything is a run behind where I would have liked her to be. We have increased her work to have her ready for today however there is no substitute for race fitness. Her run against the colts last week end was full of merit and I fully expect that she will have derived a lot of benefit from the run. If she can come through today's race unscathed I will be looking forward to the Oaks with some degree of excitement.

Happy punting!!

THE POWER OF THE PEN

In previous postings on this site I have made mention of my feelings about the quality and workings of most of the racing press in this state. I have also mentioned how aware I am of the power of the press and how the old line about the pen being mightier than the sword, is as true today as it was back in the days of Shakespeare. I know by responding, I risk paying compliment to an article in the paper during the week, penned by our "leading" racing writer. Albeit, that the article written DID NOT CONTAIN ONE WORD UTTERED BY ME as quoted by the journalist. Typical! I would however like to explain the background of my aversion to speaking to the press in recent times.

In recent years I have found that most things written or said about me or my horses have become so far from the truth that it becomes irrelevant giving interviews. At the end of the day, most journalists seem to write what they want not what is said to them. Even if nothing is said they tend to use journalistic licence and write what they want to anyway. Since I have had this web site I have found more and more often that articles I have posted, appear in the press over the next few days. Unfortunately, they appear with enough subtle changes that the article rarely contain the fact and truth with which they were written; yet the journalists still have the gall to write the article as if they had conducted an interview with me.

As much as this may appear to be a "precious" attitude, I can assure you it is not intended that way. Over the years I have had plenty of good publicity from the press and have had an average to good working relationship with them. In more recent times however I have found a complete change in the style of journalism in general and it is not a style I am comfortable with. Perhaps it is me who has been around for to long or maybe our racing writers have been and have become a bit bored with it all. Either way I am happy to do my own thing and not be interviewed while the current style remains.

Now call me cynical but why do I suspect that I will now suffer the backlash of what I have written here. A few years ago at an "in house" function, I made a tongue in cheek comment about the press in this state never letting the truth get in the way of a good story. From that moment on there was an edict issued that I receive nothing but bad press. I wonder whether a similar edict will be re-issued? Has it ever been removed? I guess I should expect it because as I said earlier....... The pen still remains mightier than the sword!!

THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AT BUNBURY ON TUESDAY

HIFALUTIN cruises to the line for jockey Jason Whiting.



Proud part owners John and Di Ciprian lead their little girl back to scale.( Note the colour co-ordination between John and Jason. Very smart!)



Patron of Bunbury Race Club Helen "Snookie" Court rugs the winner.



The happy group of owners are joined by Bunbury Race Club officials and sponsors after the presentation for the winners photo.



All photo's courtesy of Hollands Photographics.

HIFALUTIN FLIES AT BUNBURY

Classy 3yo filly HIFALUTIN showed just how good she is with a brave and convincing win at Bunbury on Tuesday. After enjoying the run of the race courtesy of a good ride and a good barrier, the filly seemed to lose her position coming to the corner and appeared to be in trouble as the field swung for home. That is when Jason Whiting was seen at his best with a brilliant piece of patient riding to get the filly out into the open and have enough horse and time to round up the leaders.

HIFALUTIN showed by the win that she is somewhat of a specialist at the 1400m trip and I aim to keep her racing over a similar distance in the future. The filly is yet to be beaten at the journey and although she has won at 1000m, I am convinced that 1400m is her best at the moment. With more age and maturity she should run out a strong 1600m and maybe even further with age.

There are a number of ideal races over the next month or so where this filly can really strut her stuff and with an ounce of luck she should gain a bit more black type.

BUSY BUNBURY

This weeks sees the running of the Bunbury Stakes and the Bunbury Cup. Although I don't have a Stakes runner, I do have a runner in the race prior to the Bunbury Stakes. The race is a fairly new concept and is called the Patrons Cup. It is a handicap race for three year olds worth $80,000 and this year we have a real live chance with top weight HIFALUTIN. The filly has drawn well however she has got 57.0kg which is not easy for any three year old filly. On her current form the filly should be hard to beat and I have been happy with her since her great run in the Champion Fillies Stakes last start.

On Thursday we again venture down south, this time for the big one, The Bunbury Cup. Once again we have a real big chance in the race with stable favourite GUYNO. The horse has been unlucky at his past few runs with bad draws and big weights. He is not an easy horse to ride from a wide barrier however if he gets a fair crack at them and can be handy on the corner he should run a very bold race. There are some handy up and coming types in this race and one of them, a horse called Lords Ransom will be very hard to beat.

I have accepted for my two year old filly MOCCASIN BEND however a start for her will depend on how she draws on the weekend. If she draws well on Saturday I will probably take her out from Bunbury.

Hopefully we will have something to celebrate on either Tuesday or Thursday night. If it happens to be both nights I am sure my crew can handle it. We've had plenty of practice. If we get beaten we will still enjoy a cold ale somewhere down south so here's hoping. I'm getting thirsty already!!!

WELCOME BACK TO THE 70'S

No. I am not inviting you to a party. Simply stating my observations of what happened at the York races today. Or more to the point; what didn't happen. In case you haven't heard, the York races were called off today after race one because the track was deemed to be unsafe for racing. Amazing!! Not to worry. It was a lovely day for a drive in the country and most of us had nothing better to do anyway.

Well as far as I (and I think I can safely say most people that made it to the York races today) am concerned, enough is enough and I have had a guts full. We continue to hear how the state is in a boom time and how racing has never gone as well yet here we have a situation where a race meeting could have and should have been called off yesterday afternoon, saving a lot of industry participants plenty of time, money and frustration.

There is no doubt that the track received overnight rain which probably made matters worse however the section of track which was deemed unsafe was due to wear and tear and not recovering from the previous meeting. Now I know and appreciate that York is trying to help the industry out by running meetings for Pinjarra however that topic remains another unaccounted disaster but that's another matter. As far as I am concerned, the time has come for these clubs to act and run their clubs in a manner which reflects the importance and responsibility that they have to the industry or else employ some one who is capable of doing so. If that much is to hard to achieve then the club should not exist.

If we are so flush with funds and everything is going so well, why then can't we afford to send up a Steward or equally qualified person to inspect these tracks the day prior to a race meeting to give the track the all clear. Or are three hours wages to a person designated to make a competent decision going to break the industry? If not the day before surely we can have someone there by early morning to do so. I accept it may not be the best system but it sure beats the one we have. It has to be better than getting everyone there only to send them home. It is hard enough to accept when a meeting has been called off because of weather or track conditions arising on the day. It is not acceptable nor should it be, to treat the industry participants with the total disregard and contempt with which they have been today by the York Jockey Club.

The reality is that the York track was closed years ago and only reopened because of political pressure. If RWWA is so dictated to by the same political pressure today, then we really have not moved on very far over the past 30 to 40 years have we? In my opinion the track should have been closed permanently back when I stopped riding and our industry leaders should bite the bullet as soon as possible and ensure that it does close permanently. As much as we need somewhere to race, we need somewhere safe and reliable to race. That has to be the first priority. Otherwise lets all get out our slide rules, and calculate how many pounds shillings and pence one stone of potato's will cost us at the local fruit and veg shop!!! It seems that our priorities haven't advanced much since back then.

HOOFNOTE: To make matters worse, I am informed by the stewards that a sprinkler was left on in the 1500m chute overnight flooding the whole area and forcing a change of distance to a couple of races had they been able to race. Nice one!