STABLE HITS A TOUCH OF FORM.

In recent weeks the form of a lot of the horses in my stables has taken a turn for the better. There is no doubt that after getting away to a flying start in 2009 when we won the Perth Cup with Guyno, things did not go the way we planned for the rest of the season. A combination of bad luck, injuries, viruses, and the seemingly never ending list of slow horses just made last year one I would prefer to put behind me.

There is an old saying which goes something like "The harder I work, the luckier I seem to get". This is usually fairly true and correct in most things we do however there is also an old saying which goes "It is hard to get out of them what the good lord failed to put into them". When it comes to race horses, it doesn't matter how hard we work or how hard we try, if they ain't got it they ain't got it!!! No matter how hard we work with a team of slow horses, it is very hard to get results.

Since racing switched back to Ascot in October and even more so over the past month, we have started to produce some nice winners again. There is no doubt we have stepped out some nicer horses however it is more than just a coincidence that the stables fortunes have improved since my son Dion and his girlfriend Sarah have returned from there overseas trip. They both headed of to work in top stables in the U.K. during the English flat season before both working in the Melbourne stables of David Hayes and Peter Snowden respectively. Both have gained plenty of experience and it is a big relief to have them both back on the team. Sarah has gained a heap of knowledge and experience since joining my stables over three years ago and I am able to leave the everyday running of things at the stables to her.

Dion is already proving to be a great asset to my stables and as we all know there is nothing like working with family. Having Dion around takes a lot of pressure off me and enables me to get out and look at horses in pretraining or the spelling paddock without having to worry about things back home, at track work or on race day. In fact after my latest little altercation at the races which cost me a couple of grand, I have decided to put him in charge of post race interviews in future to lessen the chances of me getting into trouble. I may even get to take another trip to Italy sometime in the next couple of years. This time I hope to stay a bit longer.

FUMIO ALL GO.

Lightly raced three year old FUMIO hits the line strongly at the end of 1200m at Ascot yesterday with Jason Whiting on board. (Photo courtesy Hollands Photographics)

It was nice to see exciting young galloper FUMIO win at only his second race day appearance when he stepped out at Ascot yesterday. FUMIO who ran second at his first ever race start at Pinjarra some weeks ago is one of those horses who is lucky to even get to the race track. He is a sound horse in body however I have to say he would confuse and baffle even the best "shrinks" if ever they were able to sit him down on a couch and have a session with him.

This horse is a combination of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde rolled into the inmates of the asylum in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST!!!! I have never before come across a horse with his personality and although he likes to make life difficult for me and anyone who deals with him, we have learnt to accept him and all his strange habits. The horse shows genuine Saturday company ability however I would prefer to let him learn what racing is all about in the easier midweeks for the time being.

The horse is the second winner we have produced in a couple of weeks for long time clients Tony and Gail Bartlett. FUMIO along with TERADA were both bred by Tony and Gail at there Caversham property and both horses look like making it into Saturday company.

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS????

Jason Whiting appears to be a bit concerned where all his rivals were when he had a long look over his shoulder on ALMOHAD on Friday. The ease of the win certainly had me and many others wondering just what he could have done had he been included into the Cup field run just over an hour later.(Photo courtesy Hollands Photographics)

ALMOHAD SHOWS CLASS

I believe the win of ALMOHAD in the 1800m handicap at Ascot yesterday further strengthened my argument that he was one of the form horses accepted for the 2010 Perth Cup and in my opinion, he should have been given a start.

Enough of what could have been, the reality is we didn't make the cut and the horse was brought back to 1800m for his final run for this campaign. After being slightly slow away, Jason Whiting showed why he is a top class rider when he asked the horse to go forward in the race and take up a prominent position before running away for a powerful and convincing victory.

I have to say that although the victory was sweet, I can't fully explain how I felt all day prior to the race after learning that we had not gained a start in the Cup.
I sit down every morning with the staff for a cup of tea when we return from track work and there is all kinds of banter and stories to tell. Most of the time there is an air of excitement or anticipation at the table. Yesterday morning I could sense a real feeling of disappointment amongst the staff and everyone seemed a bit flat. This may have had something to do with New Years eve celebrations but I am tipping it was more to do with the disappointment of our horse not gaining a start in the Cup. It really was amazing the effect it had on everyone but not really surprising. My staff are a great team, do a top job and wanted to see the horse get his chance.

Speaking of staff a special mention should be made of Christy, Teagan and the staff who have handled ALMOHAD during his short stints back at Amelia Park. The horse has spent time in between runs back at the farm and the girls have done a great job with him. They would have also gained a lot of satisfaction from the win. ALMOHAD will have a couple of easy days now before I take him back to Amelia Park for a few weeks of swimming and walking before we step him up again.

MY MAMA SAID THERE WOULD BE DAYS LIKE THIS!!!!!

When will I ever learn? Surely a trainer with my experience should know by now that one should never make comment about a RWWA official (unless it is handing out a bouquet), especially at a post race interview.

After my horse ALMOHAD won the 1800m handicap at Ascot this afternoon I was asked by the on course mounting yard host Wes Cameron, how I felt about the win? I do recall saying something about it being a fairly hollow feeling and that I had fully expected the horse to win the Perth Cup later in the afternoon in similar fashion had the horse gained a start.

I then went on to express my disappointment in the fact that there were discretionary balloting conditions in place on the race however the handicapper had not seen fit to elevate one of the most in form nominations for the race in preference to a more higher rated but out of form galloper. I did say something along the line that the handicapper should either use or remove the discretionary balloting conditions instead of being a weak bastard and doing nothing.

In the following half an hour or so I had owners, trainers, press and even committee men of various associations congratulate me for my comments. Unfortunately later in the afternoon I had the chief steward call me to tell me that an enquiry had been opened into my post race comments and I would be advised next week as to when the inquiry would be held.

Once again it would appear that I have chosen the wrong place or the wrong words to bring a ludicrous situation to the fore. Irrespective that I have yet to hear from anyone who disagrees with me either pre or post race. The only ones who don't seem to get it are those in charge. Pardon me for thinking that the distance of the Cup was reduced from 3200m to 2400m in an attempt to get a better field in order to maintain the status of the race.

Before I go any further let me say that I took the risk of running when and where we did prior to the Cup and I was well aware of where we sat as far as gaining a start. I also realise that we could very well have been 30th in line to gain a start. That being the case I wouldn't have an argument. The fact is we were 17th in line to gain a start and in my opinion there was definitely room to exercise the discretionary clause.

Now don't get me wrong. I would be upset if my horse was balloted from a race in preference to a lower rated horse as would have been the case if ALMOHAD had been elevated into the race. The truth is that we either accept that the discretionary balloting conditions of a race are such that this is what can happen or we get rid of the conditions.

Once again, no disrespect to the horses or the connections of some of the horses which gained entry in front of ALMOHAD as some are or have been very good racehorses. Like most races run in this state, the fact is that there are no qualifying conditions for the Cup. Stakemoney and or ratings seem to be the sole yardstick. That is the very reason that discretionary powers were given to handicappers many years ago.

In the field for the 2010 Cup, there was one horse who had not won or been placed at further than 1400m albeit he is a very good horse and another who had won two races, a maiden and an open handicap in November 2008. Since that win it had run one minor placing in its next 11 starts. Both horses were rated as 70/1 shots for the Cup by the bookmakers at Tuesdays barrier draw and calling of the card. ALMOHAD was rated at 10/1 or 12/1 by both bookmakers officiating at the same function.

I will say it again. This is not a whinge nor a cheap shot at those horses or their connections. I am simply saying that the conditions for the race state clearly that discretionary balloting conditions apply to the race. In my opinion the handicapper failed to use that discretion.

All that said, I doubt that any of this will count for much when I attend the inquiry next week. MY MAMA SAID THERE WOULD BE DAYS LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!