ASKING QUESTIONS

Yesterday I posted on this site, an article where I raised a number of questions regarding the health, well being and future of the racing industry. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised by the reaction I have had to the article.

After further consideration, I have decided to remove the article but only temporarily. The reason being that I failed to do what I have told myself to do over the years and that is...... before I put any thoughts to print, I should sleep on the idea for a night or two, then decide whether or not it is such a good idea. Unfortunately I posted the article before sleeping on it and now realise that the better way to go would have been to pose the questions directly to the areas they were intended. That way I would have had the answers to my questions and I could then act in a more informed manner.

I have removed the article of my own free will however I will be re posting it later next week. Meanwhile a very happy new year to one and all and may all your bets be collects. Catch you in 2011.

BAREBACK RIDING....A MUST WATCH

_______________ Girl and Horse - a pair of athletes

The girl riding the horse is in her 20's. Her dad died 24 days before this performance. You can hear the dedication to him immediately before her performance. Turn up your speakers a bit. Notice it is the girl and the horse; no bit, no saddle. She uses signals and cues with no verbal commands because she's a deaf mute. She is training the horse for someone else. You would think the horse belonged to her! Kindred spirits. Amazing.

GUYNO HAPPY AND READY TO RUMBLE

What an intriguing field we have heading into this weekends 2400m Perth Cup.There is no doubt there are a number of very promising horses in the race and I believe a number of genuine chances in the race. Whilst I am naturally interested in assessing the form of my opposition, the reality is, it is hard enough to prepare your own horse for the race without wasting time worrying about the opposition. All I can say is that GUYNO is fit and ready to run the race of his life and if he does that he will run a very bold race. He is mentally happy. He has a nice weight, the lightest he has carried since winning the 2009 Cup and he is proven at the trip. On the down side is the fact that he hasn't been able to win a race since his 2009 Cup win and he has also suffered a bleeding attack since. As well as that, he is, along with a couple of others, the oldest horse in the field. Not that he knows that and the way he was stepping out this morning I would suggest that he is feeling better than most horses half his age!

This years race once again boasts a mixture of young up and coming horses and a few tried and tested older horses who have been around a bit and are fairly street wise when it comes to the big events. GUYNO certainly fits into that category and I doubt that there will be a more relaxed horse and strapper on course come race time than GUYNO and his long time handler, Keith "Tubby" Humann. I reckon I would be confident in saying that they will be the oldest combination bar none in the mounting yard come Saturday!

With another hot day tipped for Saturday, it looks like being a real staying test for horses and punters alike. If the Xmas celebrations haven't slowed you up by then, the New Years eve drinks are sure to make Cup day a true test of stamina for all.

On that note I will finish off wishing everyone a very Merry Xmas and a prosperous and enjoyable New Year. GO GUYNO!

CAN HE MAKE IT FOUR??

AMELIA'S DANCER may not have the profile of some of the more favoured runners in tomorrow's ST LEGER STAKES and he may not be tried at the distance but he is a young horse on the up and should not be underestimated. AMELIA'S DANCER will be having his last start for this campaign when he steps up to the 2100m of the ST LEGER for the first time and if his recent performances are anything to go by, he should have little trouble with the distance. The biggest thing against him tomorrow is his relative inexperience and lack of both physical and mental maturity.

We decided to throw him in the deep end for his final start for this preparation in the hope that the the race experience will help him in his future campaigns. The horse was a nervous wreck in his early days however a lot of gear changes and a lot of perseverance has helped turn the horse around lately. I am confident that the horse will handle the distance however his chances will depend upon how the race is run and where he settles in the run.

I am confident that over the next season or two he will develop into a more than useful city performer who should have little trouble going through his classes. May be a bit early next year but an ideal Country Cups type.

AMELIA'S DANCER winning last start at Pinjarra.



AMELIA'S DANCER winning at Ascot two starts back.



AMELIA'S DANCER winning at Pinjarra at the end of October.