The siren should shrill with the volume of the London blitz to warn punters about Chris Waller's riding-tactic changes, particularly for weight-for-age events. Junoob, in the Hill Stakes on Saturday, was yet another example of how Waller can control vital tempo, following Hawkspur in the Chelmsford two weeks back. Nobody doubts the genius of the trainer but Wallerism, multiple runners with the favoured choice failing, under any circumstances gives me a pain and I have been backing losers since I was seven. But when a horse has a complete change in pattern and you don't hear about it through being in the wrong place at the wrong time or hearing defects accentuates the misery. With disco music at times booming into the Theatre of the Horse to the degree that Godolphin's Henry Plumptre questioned whether he was at a race meeting or a dance party on Saturday, changes can be difficult for the aged ear to pick up. Apparently stewards reported before the race Junoob was "going to be ridden more forward" in what was a slowly run race, favoured by the bias, thus the gelding went at an easy swish-of-oars rhythm. Meanwhile, stablemate Moriarty, the $2.80 favourite, was "midfield halfway around" ... and ... "only plugged in a disappointing effort", reports The Sun-Herald's Shane Montgomery.
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Missing numbers game
Despite the dismal field size, Sacred Falls, ridden superbly by Zac Purton, saved Royal Randwick on Saturday with a George Main performance that won't look out of place with the greats. Purton is being mentioned as the best jockey in the world and while that is tad premature he is certainly a contender. ATC types were delighted with the 13,000-plus attendance but possibly the youngsters were there more for a drink, a sniff or a pill than the quality of racing. John Hawkes reckons says the lack of race substance on Sydney Saturdays is because of a lack of smaller stables here with "20 or 30 horses", which isn't the case around Melbourne. Gai Waterhouse has 180 horses at Randwick and a spokesman says she is keeping more two-year-olds under her watchful eye now than before, when her system had them prepared early at outposts. Maybe the benefit of this will be seen at Monday's two-year-olds' trials on the Kensington track where she has representatives in the 10 heats.
Jury out on new Racing Minister
"Trust your minister," Troy Grant, an ex-copper, beamed at Randwick on Saturday. Now Minister for Racing, Grant hardy fits the profile of the old Sydney law enforcer epitomised by an ABC documentary last week dealing with the case of Veronica Mabel Monte, who nobbled Balmain winger Bob Lulham with rat poison for purposes other than to dull his speed. It came up that wife beaters in those days were taken into the cells by policemen for a little corrective treatment. Generally, NSW State politicians, unlike their Victorian counterparts, are not worth a peanut to racing. Yes, they have contributed with the punt. Premier Sir Robert Askin and Rex Jackson were prime examples. We will give Grant a project to support his words. Nationalise the tote in Australia, a suggestion from Neville Begg, one our training greats, at Randwick on Saturday, not for the turf action but to see the Phar Lap "Mighty Conqueror".
Swans bound to disrupt
Be ready for delays with horses leaving the enclosure at Rosehill next Saturday if the Swans are in a delicate position in the grand final. Two years back, starters circled the mounting yard while chief stipe Ray Murrihy waited for Nick Malceski to apply the knockout kick. Many decades back the jump of a Randwick feature was delayed by the Australian Jockey Club committee for the GPS Head Of The River, to the anguish of punters. And Murrihy will have even greater interest this year as our fast and furious Gary Rohan hails from Cobden, the stipe's home town. The Australian Turf Club is getting into the spirit of the occasion, encouraging racegoers to wear red and white to Rosehill, which will have specialist telecast facilities.
Disappointing
Damien Oliver's ride on Spillway in the Naturalism at Caulfield on Saturday. "Most unfortunate," he later said. "Never got a run at any stage." Stewards also severely reprimanded him for failing to ride his horse out hands and heels to the finish.
Horse to follow
Import Crackerjack King ($51) made a bold bid when kept wide to lead throughout before ending up third in the Underwood at Caulfield on Saturday. Jockey Michael Walker later said: "I'm not going to hurt the horse this close to a Cox Plate. It's well-publicised he's had two years off and done two tendons. The track was no good on the fence today and [the tactics] nearly paid off."
