March 7, 2015
by Ross Stanley
Jim Lenihan had a successful day on the punt last Saturday so he certainly went out as a winner when he passed away the very next day.
Fittingly, the 74-year-old Kumbia icon had a marvellous send-off at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Kingaroy on Friday.
No doubt the gentleman’s wonderful life will be further celebrated at his hometown race meeting on March 14.
On the racing side, Jim spent a lifetime with horses.
His father Mick was a champion jockey in the Burnett, and along with his brother Brian, he had a stint as an amateur rider.
His extensive career as a trainer continued up until a handful of years ago.
Jim was also a keen mathematician, much to the financial chagrin of bookmakers when his form calculations were too good for them.
It was probably fair to say that when he left the track as a loser he was just a good punter out of luck.
His personal versatility extended from his work on the Snowy Mountains Project to developing a superb handwriting style.
His popular conversational artistry was in play from his chair in the butcher shop he operated with Brian, when he delivered their products to their appreciative customers and social chats at the course.
Kids of all ages will miss the generous morsels they were given as they visited the Kumbia business.
Jim’s nephew Ken Dalton mentioned in his eulogy that his bachelor uncle had long ago advised him not to get involved with slow horses or fast women.
I guess the great mare Black Caviar would have be an exception to the rule set by the Group 1 quality bloke who loved his horses, a bet, and his faith.
Condolences are extended to all of Jim’s family and his friends.
The thoroughbred industry itself will grieve over the loss of such an active participant who stuck true and went to the races in the Burnett and the Downs at every opportunity.
That line of bloodstock is highly valued.
Obituary: Honour For Kumbia Butcherby Keith Kratzmann  Love and affection for the life of a South Burnett butcher saw about 700 people attend his funeral service on Friday afternoon. The popularity of Jim Lenihan, a person who was a friend to everyone, saw St Mary’s Catholic Church overflow to standing room only. It was one of the largest funeral services held in Kingaroy since that of Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Vehicles were parked up to three blocks away as relatives and friends paid their respects to the 74-year-old former trainer, who had been in poor health for some time. The Lenihans’ interest in horse breeding and racing at provincial centres has always been a trademark of the district. Jim’s father Mick was a polished horseman for many years, and his association with champion Mick’s Luck led to a series of unbeaten performances. Both Jim and brother Brian were also competent horsemen, training and then competing at meetings in the South Burnett and the eastern Downs circuits. Every time you arrive from the northern end and swing into Kumbia’s main street, you quickly see the Lenihan butchery on the right hand side. It is a landmark where each and every one of us say “hello” to Jim and Brian, even if we do not stop on some occasions. Of course if you did stop and say hello, you invariably left with a bunch of complimentary cheerios. I first had a close association with Jim when I became a bookmaker at local meetings. I needed some local input, so brother Brian became my bagman and Jim was the alert person who kept a lookout for moves from big punters in the ring. Both Jim and Brian also kept me informed of good local stories when I was editor of the South Burnett Times. Rest in peace Jim. |
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No doubt Kumbia trainer James Curtain would love Amber Ale to go well at Dalby this weekend as a positive prelude for his runners stepping out on home turf seven days later.
Sired by the legendary Sequalo, Amber Ale has had four placings from his last six outings amd has drawn the rail for the 800 metre Open handicap.
The seven-year-old’s only run in the past three months was for a tidy second at Chinchilla in a Benchmark 70 grade over 1030 metres a week ago.
Stable apprentice Rhiannon Payne will be the pilot.
The metric half mile dash has attracted some serious claimants in The Conspirator, Miss Mega Herz and Speeding Dragon.
Boban’s half-brother Rumour and Scandal is an interesting prospect.
The ex-Sydneysider by Elusive Quality was off the scene for 32 months before running seventh at $11 at Dalby on January 16 and sixth at the Gold Coast on February 7. The drop in class and improved fitness puts the old boy in the mix as well but he will need to improve sharply.
Curtain’s other contender at Dalby is Lady Wivenhoe, but the recent Nanango runner-up unfortunately drew gate 15 in the BM 55 (1400m).
Another interesting Burnett candidate is A Rare Old Time at Kilcoy on Sunday.
This chore for the Andrew Green-trained hopeful is an easier task than her Sunshine Coast foray on March 1.
At the odds you’d get about Afghanistan beating the Kiwis in cricket’s World Cup, the six-year-old which Andrew races with his wife Lisa and parents Barry and Mary was last to clock in Class 1 company over 1400 metres.
Although the General Nediym mare is fitter now after three runs this preparation, long odds will be available again and it is eerily encouraging that at the same course and distance on February 26, Without Grief saluted and returned a wining dividend of $107.60.
Bill Mitchell paid Widden Stud $50,000 for A Rare Old Time at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Her dam, Coast City, was by Carnegie, sire of the Group 1 winners Amalfi, Carnegie Express, Perlin, Vision and Power and Tuesday Joy.
The bay made her debut with Damien Oliver at Flemington when sixth of 7 at 12/1. On Boxing Day 2012 she broke through in a Wauchope Maiden (1650 m).
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Sand And Dirt Gradings Gobbledygook
Last week’s report that the anomalies in the ratings of non-turf surfaces were being rectified proved to be a false dawn.
The full details of the new system maintain the confusion with the term “good” now meaning (a) “more loosened surface than fast, some kickback may be evident” for a sand or dirt track and, for turf courses (b) “a good grass coverage and cushion” or “a track with some give in it”.
If a form guide shows a galloper has had 15 runs on a good track for, say, 10 wins, there is nothing in the précis to inform which ones were on grass or sand.
The relevant part of Lady’s Command’s RISA form line for her Gympie engagement on March s2 hows as:
- Track: 7: 1-2-1
- Firm: 2: 0-1-0
- Good: 32: 3-4-6
- Soft: 10: 1-2-0
- Heavy: 3: 0-0-1
- Synthetic: 0: 0-0-0
- Sand/Dirt Fast: 0: 0-0-0
- Sand/Dirt Wet Fast: 0: 0-0-0.
If the mare was running at Dalby, punters would not know that her “Good” form includes seven sand-dirt tasks at Gympie.
Other sand-dirt ratings are as follows:
- Fast – Compact/firm and at optimal efficiency
- Good Soft – Surface looser than good, kickback evident
- Wet Fast – Rain affected, track has surface water but base is solid and surface is compact (accounting for similar times to a fast track).
One simpler way would be to drop all word and use numbers only with the sand-dirt going, because of the natural give, attracting a numerical rating in the 4 to 10 range, depending on the specific conditions on the day.
It is ridiculous that a grass victory on a Good 3 comes out as the same as success on a sand venue with some kickback.
They are cheddar and crayon, or chalk and cheese in the old language.
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Wizardry Of Oz Racing Questioned
This week’s release of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities’ ratings of Group 1 races raises some posers regarding the quality of Australia’s offerings when compared with others globally.
Assessment systems are only as good as their criteria, factors considered and methodologies.
For example, Timeform’s website page that attempts to explain how their famous ratings are calculated carries the following paragraph:
“In Britain, Timeform ratings and those published by the British Horseracing Authority (which determine the weights actually carried) are not necessarily on the same level, let alone the same for individual horses. This has come about in part as a result of the two organisations having come into existence at different times.“
So it is a case of take your pick as to what you put faith in.
If the IFHRA numbers based on the rankings of the first four placegetters in the last three renewals are accepted, no Australian event is ranked in the world’s top 20 rated Group 1 events.
Our nation does prevail in the quantity department with 26 races in the leading 100, three more than the USA with Britain (16) and Japan (10) next in line.
Surprisingly, York’s Juddmonte International Stakes presently heads the list with France’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Ascot’s Champion Stakes completing the trifecta. America’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (4th) and the Japan Cup (8th) lodged in the top ten
Australia’s best were the ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (22nd), the VRC Lightning Stakes (the world’s best sprint, 27th), ATC Canterbury Stakes (34th) and MVRC Cox Plate (35th).
Despite the noises about the internationals boosting the calibre of the Melbourne Cup, it is slipping down the table and is 69th with the Caulfield Cup at 89th.
Queensland’s best was the Doomben 10,000 (77th).
This Saturday’s clash of the Group 1 milers for the sophomores, namely the $600,000 Randwick Guineas (with six starters) and $500,000 Australian Guineas (14 aspirants) prevents the best meeting the best.
The winning achievement in both contests is diluted by the fact that the top talent is spread and not meeting.
That can’t be good for the “ratings”.
Another point is that there may be too many black type events in general and horses can dodge each other and still pick up healthy remuneration.
