RV’s track policy needs a little common sense
Preparing safe racing surfaces must always be the priority. But surely Racing Victoria’s track preparation policy needs some flexibility when rain is forecast?
In 2019, RV shifted its target starting rating from a Good 3 to a Good 4, requiring track managers to maintain moisture in the surface and avoid Firm tracks.
The intentions are sound. But does a one-size-fits-all approach always deliver the best outcome?
Take Saturday’s meeting at Sandown.
With rain forecast, the track received 10mm of irrigation on both Wednesday and Thursday (total of 20mm) to comply with RV’s policy.
Having walked the track on Friday, I can assure you it was well into the Good 4 range before the rain arrived, with plenty of moisture still in the surface. There was certainly no danger of it being too firm.
We all know how unreliable weather forecasts can be. Just ask anyone following Flemington’s forecasts over the past fortnight.
But when there’s reasonable confidence rain is coming, surely track managers should have the discretion to leave a little more firmness in the surface?
Consider the alternatives.
Had Sandown been prepared to a Good 3 and the rain missed, we’d have raced on a Good 3. Hardly a disaster.
And we’re not talking about a rock-hard summer surface. With cool weather forecast, there was little prospect of significant drying.
If the expected rain arrived, we’d likely have had a Good 4. If more arrived, as happened Saturday, perhaps a Soft 5 or 6 rather than the Heavy 8 posted on race morning.
Instead, the track manager followed the guidelines, did exactly what was expected, and we ended up with a swathe of scratchings.
Who wins out of that?
Not owners and trainers who’ve spent weeks preparing horses. Not punters who’ve done their form around runners that never make it to the barriers. And certainly not an industry reliant on competitive fields and wagering turnover.
We asked RV whether track managers could aim for a Good 3 ahead of forecast rain, knowing the surface would likely soften to a Good 4 or worse. We also asked whether that flexibility could be introduced if it doesn’t already exist.
RV didn’t directly answer either question, instead reiterating the Good 4 target and noting track managers shouldn’t be criticised when weather produces a softer surface than intended.
I’m not advocating for rock-hard tracks. Horse welfare is paramount. But surely experienced track managers can be trusted to exercise some judgement when the weather warrants it?
A policy designed to protect horses shouldn’t inadvertently produce outcomes detrimental to the racing product.
RV says its guidelines are reviewed regularly to support safe and competitive racing. Perhaps this is one area worth reviewing.
Surely there’s room for a little nuance and common sense?
For the record…
The track raced pretty well. The section inside the cutaway was a no-go zone and they wanted to get wider in the straight, but one thing they didn’t lack was room!
A stirring battle in the Zipping
Strong opinions make this game tick, and there were compelling cases being made for Small Fry, Juja Kibo and Kingswood in the Zipping Classic.
As it turned out, everyone was pretty much right!
The race became a magnificent three-horse war, Kingswood nosing out Juja Kibo with Small Fry charging late to finish just 0.36L away. Another few bounds and he might’ve reclaimed the lead.
One of the finishes of the Carnival.
The Caulfield Cup winner, alongside placegetters from the Geelong and Melbourne Cups, the spring’s three pre-eminent staying contests, fighting out a thriller.
Hats off to Tom Dabernig
I don’t know Tom Dabernig particularly well, but whenever we’ve spoken he’s struck me as a genuinely good bloke.
Since leaving Lindsay Park at the end of 2020-21, Dabernig has built an impressive Warrnambool operation.
Punters know his horses generally possess good early speed. He’s clearly worked out winning is considerably easier when you’re in front!
But he’s no one-trick pony, as a horse like Fiorenot demonstrates.
Shadhavar is more typical of the Dabernig mould. Tough, fast and happy to eyeball her rivals.
She did exactly that in Saturday’s C.F. Orr Stakes, quickly seeing off Beiwacht, who was clearly below his best, before proving far too strong.
The Heavy track reduced the field to six, but take nothing away from the winner.
Jimmysstar was hopelessly buried inside horses, with Ethan Brown desperately searching for a way off the inferior ground.
He’d have finished closer with a better draw, but it was academic. Shadhavar was winning regardless.
A deserved Group 1 for a trainer doing a terrific job. Hopefully those who backed her four starts back when she was beaten by The Stalker at Murray Bridge (had two starts since in a BM84 and BM88) stuck far!
Connie has more to give
Most punters, myself excluded, were willing Concord Connie over the line in the last at Sandown.
She got there, but only by a head. Don’t be fooled by the margin.
Willo was forced to abandon attempts to get wider at the top of the straight, switching back inside onto inferior ground.
She still won, but that ground cost her momentum and dulled her finishing burst.
There was far more merit in the performance than the bare result suggests. She’s one to stick with.
Don’t underestimate the wind
A strong headwind up the Flemington straight on Derby Day took its toll on those who faced it.
Natural Fling was a prime example in the Coolmore.
Leading into that wind over 1200m while providing cover to rivals was always a tough assignment. Yet she comfortably beat co-leader Paradoxium home.
Fast-forward to Sandown, where she found a favourable Lakeside circuit, moderate winds and weaker opposition.
Suddenly, 1200m was no issue.
World Pool punters are a sharp bunch
The slight difference in takeout rates between World Pool and One Tote is well documented, but the accuracy of World Pool punters is something to behold.
At Sandown, Shadhavar paid $3.85 on World Pool against a $5.50 SP, and better was bet. That’s a significant discrepancy, well beyond a few percentage points in takeout.
Interestingly, Jimmysstar and Pericles both started at considerably better prices on World Pool than their official SPs.
And it’s hardly isolated.
Across the Flemington Carnival, World Pool punters seemingly had winners covered at every end of the market.
From Autumn Glow at $1.05 ($1.18 SP) to Watchme Win at $10.20 ($17 SP) and Lawbornough, they were deadly accurate at both ends of the market.
Importantly, World Pool is separate from TAB’s recently launched One Tote, which TAB reports has beaten fixed SP around 60% of the time.
And TAB isn’t oblivious to shorter World Pool dividends, offering an SP price guarantee on eligible bets up to $200.
Surely walking the track isn’t going to hurt?
Wayne Hawkes suggested on SENTrack that trainers shouldn’t need to walk tracks.
I’d rather side with trainer Mitch Freedman: “I don’t know any outdoor sport where you don’t inspect the playing surface or course to see what is going to best suit your team to get the best result.”
Hard to argue with that.
Given the time and money involved in preparing a horse, is a 20-minute stroll to inspect the surface too much to ask?
Sandown was example number 7,567 this spring of why it matters. The track was in great condition after its rrenovation, but there were still sections that walked better than others.
Similarly at Flemington the week prior, the outside straight had been aerated, as always, while the inside was chopped up. The middle lanes looked likely to offer reasonable ground.
Walking a track doesn’t guarantee you’ll get it right. Grass is a living organism and conditions change throughout the day.
But there are edges to be found, and you won’t find them by not looking.
Owners pay substantial training bills. Surely understanding how the track might play, and giving jockeys the best information, is part of that preparation? It doesn’t need to be the trainer, but I’m sure the stables have access to someone who can at least provide insight.
And a blackbooker…
I think everyone saw Cavill Avenue at Sandown so I will go off broadway…
Geelong Friday Race 3 Ocean Mirage: A filly making her debut for Ken and Kasey Keys who still has plenty to learn but did a terrific job form the rail, flashing into third behind a smart winner in Lafarna (who herself will win better races). Won’t be a maiden for long and I’ll be following her up to 1400m next start.
