Linebacker heads for Hong Kong’s Champions Mile
John O’Shea is set to take Linebacker to Hong Kong for the Champions Mile after next month’s Doncaster.
Last year’s Randwick Guineas winner will take on Autumn Glow in Saturday’s George Ryder Stakes before the Doncaster.
“I’m not conceding to mare yet, she’s very good but he can match her,” O’Shea said.
“He was very unlucky in the Doncaster last year and I think he is at his best when he gets to the mile and gets in the Doncaster with a very good weight this year.
“But after the Doncaster, there isn’t another mile race for him here, but the Hong Kong race fits into a program perfectly.
“You are taking them on, on their home ground, but I think he can measure up over there.”
Who speaks for racing?
The committee to drive the future of Australian Racing, the Black Type Advisory Group, has drawn praise, but does it truly reflect the Australian industry?
Around the world, such a group would have a similar make-up, but Australia is unique. It’s a free market and is more than sales houses, bloodstock agents and breeders.
First and foremost, there is one fundamental member missing, where is at least one female member?
It is a glaring omission for a sport that is among the most inclusive, where men and women compete against each other, but not on this board.
There are plenty of women involved in the buying, selling, training, and racing of horses.
However, Racing Australia opted for a group that is highly experienced yet likely to share similar views.
The breeders, who have two members of their board in the group, should know that they sell to trainers and syndicators in Australia.
For the past couple of weeks, the breeders have been wooing trainers and their clients in the Hunter in the lead-up to the Easter Sale.
The trainers understand the horse and programs, and are the most affected by the stakes schedule. They are a highly educated group in this matter, but don’t have a voice.
We don’t have any of the people who deliver the sport to the masses, syndicators.
They spent their own money and make-up a large proportion of the horses sold, and helped make Australia envied by the rest of the world.
There have been suggestions a ratings analyst should be included, but the only rating that matters when it comes to Black Type racing is the International handicappers’ panel.
Their mark is the only one that counts, so using someone else would be useless.
The group was not allowed to draw on the Principal Racing Authorities and race clubs because they have politicised the Pattern for the past decade.
But this group of men doesn’t represent or reflect the Australian industry in the 21st century. It is not too late for it to be fix and draw a wide range of opinions.
We shouldn’t be trying to appease anyone in other parts of the world. We should be driven by the best outcome and a suitable model for the Pattern, which needs diversity of opinion.
Racing Australia needs to think more broadly and avoid the obvious or token choices.
It is important because the Australian Pattern needs to be internationally recognised and back in Australian hands.
Willo v Jmac in Slipper day showdown
James McDonald will be the centre of the show on Golden Slipper day as he looks to surpass Damien Oliver’s Group 1 record, but does Craig Williams have a better book of rides?
Williams is having his best season for Group 1 wins and leads McDonald 7-6 for the term at the top level.
He rides Golden Slipper favourite Chayan and the top pick in the Rosehill Guineas, Observer. The support act isn’t bad with Sir Delius in the Ranvet Stakes along with Pericles and Inkaruna in the Galaxy.
McDonald’s book is highlighted by the unbeaten Autumn Glow, a short-priced favourite in the George Ryder Stakes, and he will go head-to-head with Williams on Aeliana in the Ranvet Stakes and Autumn Boy in the Guineas.
Challenge Stakes winner Generosity will be his Galaxy mount, if it gets his weight, while he is on outsider Fireball in the Golden Slipper.
McDonald should make the record but he won’t get the Prime Minister rushing the mounting yard.
However, it may be like Alex Johnson, who broke the NRL try scoring record for Souths against Easts, with the real victory may go to Williams.
Championships qualifier missing from betting
Harry’s Bar is on his way to next month’s Provincial-Midway Championship Final but don’t try to back him with your friendly bookmaker.
Harry’s Bar qualified by running second at Gosford on Saturday, but wasn’t in the market on Monday.
The TAB generally lead the way and others follow with markets, but this is example of the lack of attention to detail in pre-post betting.
Where are the Godolphin two-year-olds?
Godolphin’s decision to send its horses to different stables around the country seems to have paid off with nine Group 1 wins this season, but where are their two-year-olds?
The older horses were up and running and Tempted, Observer, Pericles and Tom Kitten have built on good foundations.
But the two-year-old team has only produced three Saturday juvenile winners and the blue army will be represented by a maiden Zambales in the Golden Slipper.
The problem with the two-year-olds was they mostly stayed in the Godolphin system under James Cummings until the changeover on August 1.
It put them behind the eight-ball from the start, so expect Godolphin to get stronger as the season goes on.
The yearlings this year are starting to go their trainers, which will probably mean next season will be more successful.
Meanwhile, there is no news on what is happening with Crown Lodge or Agnes Banks.
Court action risks being a distraction
The sideshows of court cases and battles for power are taking away attention from the best Sydney carnival in a decade.
Racing NSW will appeal the Supreme Court decision that it was invalid for it to put the Australian Turf Club into administration, which will cost the industry millions.
If a fraction of that was put into the horses, trainers and jockeys of this carnival, it would be infinitely better spent.
James McDonald will set a Group 1 record as early as this weekend.
Autumn Glow is unbeaten and heading along the Winx path.
Observer could be set to give a three-year-old to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes if he wins the Rosehill Guineas.
Three of many storylines.
Remember, wagering drives the industry funding, not power struggles.
Walk away
The horse walkers at Rosehill are for communal use, but we are hearing stories of locks and bolt cutters being used and trainers butting heads over who can use certain walkers.
