The stewards in Sydney have really worked for their money in the last fortnight. Apart from their normal work in detailing the various race happenings they have had to take careful steps after the public scathing trainer Tony Vasil gave jockey Jim Cassidy over his ride on Psychologist in the Magic Night Stakes a fortnight ago. All punters viewing the race were staggered to see Psychologist so far in front near the home turn and perhaps wondered if Jim Cassidy thought he was out in front on Might
The stewards in Sydney have really worked for their money in the last fortnight. Apart from their normal work in detailing the various race happenings they have had to take careful steps after the public scathing trainer Tony Vasil gave jockey Jim Cassidy over his ride on Psychologist in the Magic Night Stakes a fortnight ago. All punters viewing the race were staggered to see Psychologist so far in front near the home turn and perhaps wondered if Jim Cassidy thought he was out in front on Might And Power. As it has turned out the stewards clearly felt the addition of blinkers for the first time had an adverse effect on Psychologist who, according to the stewards, overraced in the early stages of the race. The telling factor exonerating Jim Cassidy , as I read it, was that he "visibly changed his hold" on the horse at the 1000m in an attempt to stop it's erratic behaviour. It seems Tony Vasil became a grandstand jockey like us all and was far too quick in his condemnation of the ride. To add to his woes he was fined $500 for certain actions against the jockey as they were leaving the course. It strikes me that Tony Vasil should make a public apology to Jim Cassidy but I think my chances of tipping the quadrella in one this Saturday anywhere would be a better chance of happening but you never know.
While the stewards were sorting through the Cassidy Vasil problems along comes the $2000 fine handed out by Ray Murrihy for excessive whipping by Michael Rodd on Faint Perfume last Saturday. To say the jockeys were upset about the amount would be an understatement according to all reports and it seems the possibility of industrial action is on the cards unless some commonsense takes place. I have made it quite clear in my writings what a load of cobblers I think this all is and what a mistake the powers in charge have made listening to the minority groups trying to bring racing down. They have succeeded in bringing jumps racing to its knees by conning officialdom into lowering the height of the jumps when they should have been heightened. They have the racing fraternity in knots over the usage of whips and you can bet your bottom dollar a campaign against racing two year olds will be next on the agenda.
Due to the furore over Michael Rodds indiscretions the magnificent effort by Faint Perfume to come from an absolutely hopeless position to beat Valdemoro (she was bet at $1.05 in the running on Betfair) has seemingly been forgotten. All keen punters not only await their immediate clash in the AJC Oaks, which the betting indicates they have at their mercy, but hopefully some further battles around Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup time.
Just testing a few ideas
Randwick: all each way
Race 2 No 8 Happy Hippy
Race 6 No 4 Black Ball
Race 7 No 1 Monaco Consul
Race 9 No 4 Absolute Joy
Flemington: all each way
Race 5 No 4 Pre Eminence
Race 8 No 6 Okay Oky
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