February 13, 2015
by Ross Stanley
Generally speaking, there will be three different types of racegoers at Lee Park on Valentine’s Day.
The regular tried-and-true punters – many with a lifetime’s participation in the game – will happily share the course with patrons who have sufficient understanding of operations to enjoy a flutter, and also with folk who are complete beginners.
The “experts” will have done their homework by accessing all manner of information that is on tap in this computerised era.
As well as form histories, the gear changes, stewards summaries and course condition are all available online, while Nanango race replays are accessible via the YouTube button at the club’s website.
However, the must-have race book provides all the material most people need to make their selections.
While abbreviations and terms may seem to be mumbo-jumbo to the rookie, racing enthusiasts are friendly and keen to answer questions from the lesser experienced cohort.
One set of chances always worth checking out are the hopefuls that are coming down in class, an expression meaning the candidate has been running against better performed opponents.
“Good” country form is usually inferior to “fair” city or provincial results. And finishing position – while important – is tempered by the distance beaten.
A horse that winds up in fifth place but less than a length astern of the winner is a better proposition than a second placegetter that ends up six lengths short of victory.
Investors who skip the pre-race parade do so at their peril.
Most (but not all) horses that play up in the mounting yard use up nervous energy and “run their race” before the barriers open. And entrants with bandaged legs are best bypassed on hard tracks.
Don’t bet early unless the price is extraordinarily attractive or you are certain your fancy will be heavily supported.
In an effort to balance their books, the bagmen will lengthen the odds of runners as other are being backed in as betting proceeds.
Theoretically, the breadth of prices at the end should be wider than when they are first framed before a ball is bowled.
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About The Gear
Given that Saturday’s Moffattdale Ridge Wines fashion theme is “A Twist of Pink Romance”, blokes wanting to impress their companion could professionally point out the gear used on thoroughbreds.
The set of photographs I’ve picked for this week’s Gossip show blinkers, pacifiers and ear muffs in action.
Blinkers, by reducing the scope of vision, are commonly worn by gallopers to improve their concentration.
Because of the cover, there is less chance of distraction and the horse can often sharpen its attitude and be more switched on.
The recent Sydney winner Vancouver worked in a trial without blinkers and was rated disappointing.
Come race day, the “shades” were applied and it won impressively.
In a subsequent workout without blinkers, the gallop was not in keeping with the potency displayed on raceday.
You can bet Vancouver will compete next time with blinkers on!
Sometimes horses fire up and do not settle when blinkers are initially applied.
Sometimes they are tad slow out of the gates the first time they experience the altered visual range.
Trainers tinker with gear changes until, hopefully, they get it right.
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Pacifiers have a see-through mesh covering across the eyes.
The item was designed by jockey Michael Pelling.
It relaxes or pacifies the thoroughbred and also protects its eyes from flying objects.
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Eear Muffs are a relatively recent commodity.
The aim is to assist in cases where crowd noise and sounds may upset a flighty, nervous conveyance.
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Winkers are made of lambswool and run up both cheeks on the sides of the horse’s head.
They fill a role halfway between no gear and blinkers.
The woollen nose (or shadow) roll runs across between the eyes and the nostrils, and is used to improve head carriage so the horse looks straight ahead,
A tongue tie is a strap that prevents the horse from swallowing its tongue, and a lugging bit helps the horse get around corners and prevents sideways shifting.
A breastplate that runs across the chest is attached to the saddle to prevent it slipping back towards the galloper’s tail.
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Food For Thought On The Menu
With Toowoomba closed for at least the rest of the month while Clifford Park’s turf rehabilitation program continues, Miles is the sole Darling Downs venue this weekend.
Accordingly, Nanango has drawn very pleasing acceptances, bolstered by a significant contingent from the Downs.Stables.
Horses from as far away as Murwillumbah, Deagon and Bundaberg will also be represented on the five race card.
Below is a special race-by-race comment that also points out matters relevant to “romantic pink”:
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Race 1: Three Way Photos Class 1 Handicap (800m) at 1:35pm
- Fashion App is by Wicked Style from Canny Lad’s daughter Appease. This modern, sartorially named contender won a city Maiden for three-year-olds last August. Its recent form has been anything but stylish so there may have been some problems. The chestnut is stepping out for the first time for its new stable. Sometimes a change in environs can swing fortunes around. Watch the market to see if Oakey’s Matthew Park has confidence in his new lodger.
- Swish Wish (pictured) bolted in with an Esk Maiden just before Christmas for her owner Linda Huddy of Shoot Out fame. Then at her first attempt on a soft track the $100,000 buy went poorly. She is back on top of the ground here and, although widely drawn with newcomer Stephanie Lacy in the irons, she will be in the firing line for quite a while. The $100,000 filly is by Starcraft from the Redoute’s Choice mare Swish Trish so you have to put something on if your partner or friend is called Patricia.
- Shinzo Mashuranbo has a large pink spot on its silks. His form was encouraging on good tracks prior to a long break. There are pink hearts on the jacket of Marrew Mia.
- Interest for Wondai surrounds Kristen Wenck’s duo Nug’s Pocket and Col’s Pride, a mare by Show A Heart.
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Race 2: Ken Mills Toyota Benchmark 65 Handicap (1000m) at 2:10pm
- This is a most absorbing affair: the pacy veteran Captain Clayton (Danbird-Princess by Night) improved to finish second to Latin American here at the last meeting. The local hope has banked almost $180,000. The engagement of Hannah Phillips will take three kilograms off the topweight’s back.<./li>
- Igneous (Rock of Cashel-Glamour Baby), with two provincial wins and a third from just three career outings, is in receipt of just a half a kilo ‘The Captain’. Fledgling apprentice Isabella Rabjones’s four kilograms allowance will be a help and the Steele Ryan team have had many happy hunting days at Nanango. The five-year-old runs in the vanguard and it will not surprise if tomato sauce odds appear on the betting boards.
- Latin American is trained at the Gold Coast by ex-jockey Ben Hull, the beau of leading rider Tegan Harrison. The son of Flamenco Queen has a one from one record at Lee Park and is up just half a kilogram for his powerful victory in similar grade here in January. Jodi Worley, the northern New South Wales junior hoop, replaces that day’s winning rider Matthew Powell, the apprentice who will compete at Mackay’s Saturday TAB fixture.
- Mafia Princess may sound like a lady not to be messed with but she does carry the Andrew Hayward livery with all its pink hearts. The downside is that the Hidden Dragon mare has been off the scene since August last year.
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Race 3: Barambah Vet Surgery Benchmark 55 Handicap (1200m) at 3:00pm
- Canid (pictured) has been running a good race no matter what grade he steps out in. This time he has been allotted 59.5 kilograms but will “claim three” for Rick Johnston-Bell. His regular partner Nathan Evans switches to Clifford, the other Glenn Richardson stable prospect.
- Hitman Harry has been going fairly in the richer $16,000 events at the provincials. This is a drop in grade but he is widely drawn and, although the seven-year-old does specialise in running second, he should give you a good run for your money.
- For those that love greys, Kiara Queen is worth a look. She went down to Clifford by three parts of a length at Kilcoy at her second outing after along spell. Trainer Darren Bell will have the Dance Hunter mare cherry ripe for this. The hurdle is her wide alley.
- When Sheza Lonhro’s sire Lohnro made a special farewell appearance at Eagle Farm before heading to stud, there were pink caps everywhere !!! Sadly that’s all this five-year-old from the Quest for Fame mare Feelers has going for her this time out. However, horses so summarily dismissed can often deposit egg on the face of scribes.
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Race 4: Samios Plumbing And Hardware Maiden Handicap (1200m) at 3:45pm
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- Events for steeds that have yet to win a race are often a lottery. Again, for theme backers there are lists of related names to consider and some to shun. Good Lookin’ Girl, Mr Seduction, Shot of Happiness, Social Delight and Meteoric Woman all create romantic aspects. but husbands may well avoid Under The Weather, Entire Savings (by Nothing to Lose) and Take No Notice, a son of Lady’s Opinion
.
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Race 5: Nanango Gas Supplies Class B (1600m) at 4:25pm
- Take No Notice’s elder brother Never Ignore actually has claims here following a sound second in a $10,000 Class 3 (1500m) at Warwick a fortnight ago.
- Red Warning is the omen neddy as he is the product of the mating of Red Dazzler and Bridal Suite. He has been best man rather than groom of late with three second placings in a row on the Downs. Apprentice Sarah Eilbeck is in form so there is a glow of a ‘green light’ about this sparingly raced five-year-old.
- Burnett district hopes lie with the Richardson pair Ede Fuse and Latarno and James Curtain’s charge Lady Wivenhoe.
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Saturday will be a great day both on and off the track.
The fashions will be of immense interest, particularly given the special category for couples.
And if you get there early, the ladies in the party receive a keepsake rose.
See you trackside!
