The Greatest Australia Day Performer
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday January 28, 2008
WITH dumb racing administration and the Tabcorp move on the Northern Territory very much major topics, it's pleasing to reflect on one of the outstanding Australia Day horses, Manikato, and who made him great. Under the guidance of Bob Hoysted, a meticulous horseman, Manikato won five William Reid Stakes, the weight-for-age race once held at Moonee Valley on Australia Day. Manikato was a heavyweight which flew like a gazelle and left his opposition stung like a wasp. Loaded with raw ability carried by dicky legs, he had a bleeding conviction, meaning one more and he was out. Manikato was kept intact by the remarkable Hoysted. Manikato's regular jockey Gary Willetts recalled how, on hot days at this time of the year, Hoysted even rigged a Coolgardie safe, with wet bags on the walls of his float, to keep the gelding cool and contented. On Friday night for the Carlyon Stakes, the wfa sprint now at the Valley, Maldivian, despite being runner-up, showed he is a class act. He's no Manikato but a different type with the potential to produce the same measure of satisfaction.
WELCOME MOVE: Bedgerebong - rightly tipped to me by the bush legend John Lundholm as "the best picnic meeting you'll ever see" - was in danger of oblivion before the NSW Minister for Racing, Graham West, stepped in at the country racing awards on Friday night. Maybe there are only 80 people living at Bedgerebong but 40 are on the race club committee. The track and race day are a credit to them. West came good with $5000 so the meeting can go ahead this year. I always said the young bloke had promise. Minister, if you get there, so will I. You bring the Resch's and I'll take the smelling salts. Also at the dinner, country supremo Don Hopkins gave an award to Mick Doyle, the former AJC committeeman, for his support over 40 years of bush racing, emphasising the mean-spirited act by the AJC committee of denying Doyle life membership. FINE LINE: Would the announcement before the race that Nuclear Sky was going to make a pest of himself around frontrunner Buzzy Henry at Randwick on Saturday have made it any more acceptable? South African Glyn Schofield rode a fine line with aggressive tactics but was it any worse than jockeys backing off in a ridiculously slowly run race and getting diplomatic immunity because stewards were informed beforehand? Anyway, an inquiry into the race was adjourned just like the one at Randwick last Wednesday featuring form jockey Jim Cassidy going too hard too early on Ray. Incidentally, Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy will not be called as an expert witness in the Kieren Fallon appeal against an 18-month holiday for a drugs positive in France. Maybe Robert Downey jnr is being considered.FACING THE MUSIC: Wags at Randwick on Saturday reckoned Norman Gillespie, the AJC chief executive, would look more comfortable with an oboe than around horses, going on the pictures taken at the Gai Waterhouse stable for a feature in the Weekend Financial Review. Unlike many I found no fault in his revelations to the Fin Review. Comparing Randwick with his former position at the Opera House, he commented: "Both have at their core something precious and unique. In the arts you've got artists, here you've got thoroughbred horse racing, neither of which on their own is economically viable." He seems to think opening the curtain on Carmen and even the Chemical Brothers will be an innovation to Randwick. "Blood, Sweat and Tears" have played there and that's what he's up against with what has developed into the World Youth Debacle. A few irate members were looking for him on Saturday. Australia Day is one of some significance to the club, but Gillespie was hiking in Tasmania, not due to battle fatigue over his recent exchange of letters with Noel Bracks, but possibly to a prior arrangement. One of the few positives, though, for the AJC is the engagement of Elizabeth McIntyre as marketing director. Give the lady her head and the club and racing will benefit.HORSE TO FOLLOW: Kimillsy, in finishing a strong second to She's Meaner in the Fringe Bar Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, didn't look nearly as finely tuned as trainer Kim Waugh and the filly will be much fitter next start.DISAPPOINTING: Beauty Watch, backed from $8 to $6, could finish only ninth, beaten 13.2 lengths, in the Australia Day Cup.QUOTE OF THE WEEK: 'Walking normally was a problem but I could crouch OK, so I knew I would be right to ride.' Jockey LARRY CASSIDY after winning the Australia Day Cup on El Meroo at Randwick on Saturday.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald