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September 06
Edition

Pages in PDF

Regular
Features

› The Fat Lady
  Sings
  with JoAnn Pacholli

› In Tents Thawt
  with Mick Pacholli

› Sid's Comments
  with Sidney
  Somerville-Smith

› The Lie Detector
  with Mitchell
   Faircloth

› Fab's Ravings

› Technology
  with Chris Jacobs

› Your Views

› The Artful Stock Picker
  with
  Peter Hegarty

› Marketing Advice
  with Andrew Hickinbotham

› Family Issues
  with
  Marilyn Brideson

› The Culture of Appearance
  with
  Suzanne Walker

› Gallery Gazing

› Planet Clare

› Lovatts
  Crossword

› Social Scene
  with Ken James

› Live Theatre
  with Blair Edgar

› Movie Scene
  with
  Marcus Sinclair

› Entertainment
  with Gary Turner

› Grazing in the
  Suburbs
  with Mick Pacholli

› Fab's Travel

› Talking Manure
  with Mick Pacholli

› Furry Friends
  with
  Dr Graeme Smith

› Racing
  with Ted Ryan

› Rant & Rave
  with
  Paddles Hackett

› Bowls
  with Mick Pacholli

› Motoring
  with Garry Fabian

› Short Cuts
  Writers
  Competition

› Competitions

At The Races With Ted Ryan

Major Races On The Horizon

The next few weeks contain plenty of action that could dramatically change the face of the markets for the Rich Spring Plums.

Dual Oaks winner, Serenade Rose, prepared by Lee Freedman heads the list for the Caulfield Cup coming up on October 21, but plenty could change over the next few weeks.

Our Smoking Joe, another of Lee’s, is second favourite after a big run first-up in the Liston Stakes at Caulfield. His jockey was going to be Damien Oliver. But it all depends how long he is going to be out of action after yet another bad fall at Werribee.

AJC Derby Winner, Headturner, from the Hawkes camp is one who will come in for plenty of support, hoping to give the stable successive wins in the Caulfield Cup after Railings’ good win last year.

Although the unlucky runner of last year’s Cup, El Segundo, is in the 2400 metre classic, his main aim is the Cox Plate.

I had a chat with his trainer Colin Little at Caulfield recently and we both agreed that the Caulfield Cup is the biggest pressure race in Australia. Hence, he may look at the Cox Plate where 18 runners won’t go around.

The Mick Price trained, Pompeii Raider, who was most impressive first up in winning the Liston must be one of the big chances.

It’s incredible to think last year’s winner, Railings, is being quoted a 25-1 chance.

The Cox Plate should be a great race and once again it all depends how Eremein goes at Randwick.

El Segundo after his flashing run first-up in the Aurie’s Star at Flemington over the short trip of 1200 metres is going to be one of those hard to beat.

Sydney galloper Racing To Win, who escaped a track mishap recently, has plenty of potential and was recently named Champion Three Year-Old for the 2005-2006 season.

The unknown quantity is Haradasun, prepared by Tony Vasil, who blitzed a great field of three-year- olds at Caulfield after blousing a maiden field away by ten lengths at Swan Hill.

Tony Vasil cannot believe how good he is, and to get two Champions like his half-brother Elvstroem is a miracle.

The Melbourne Cup is interesting at the moment with Headturner head the fancies in front of Eremein and Railings.

Our Smoking Joe, Serenade Rose, and the international galloper, Yeats, are on the next line.

Railings Controversy Gathers Pace

After Damien Oliver’s bad smash through the running rail at Werribee recently, a number of jockeys are pushing for the plastic style which is a system used exclusively in England with great success.

The plastic rails have been under trial for some eight months at Cranbourne, and it looks a certainty to be a forerunner of better conditions for our jockeys who, after all, take all the risks.

Jocks, on an average, weigh in about 52-56 kilos and they try to control animals that weigh in around 500 kilos, roughly ten times their weight. Considering this, all that the jocks have to protect them is a vest and the helmet. There is no other stabilising padding anywhere else.

The plastic rails being tried at Cranbourne are manufactured by a French firm, Farnell, and have been installed in high traffic areas and used under trail conditions.
On a number of occasions, Cranbourne have a great amount of trails. But touch wood, it appears no mishaps have occurred.

Racing Victoria chief executive, Stephen Allanson, said that before they install the new plastic running rails at the re-vamped Flemington track, the rails would be given strict forensic testing under laboratory conditions. The aim is to check for wear and tear, as well as, their reaction to ultra-violet rays.

Racing Victoria will install about 600 metres of the new rail down the straight chute at Flemington in about a month’s time.

Allanson was of the opinion that severe testing was needed because a plastic rail that splintered would be an even greater hazard than the aluminium rail.

Whatever way you look at it anything that is going to help our riders is a must.

Wren Exhibition Relives Glory Days

If you lived in Melbourne around the time of the Second World War, you would know who John Wren was.

An exhibition depicting his life and loves, plus a reconstruction of the Collingwood Tote where Wren conducted his bookmaking operation, will be on show from September 6 at Champion, Australian Museum, Federation Square.

Wren rose from the Catholic working class in the heart of Collingwood to become a well-known businessman.

He was a controversial promoter of racing, boxing and wrestling and had a passion for organised entertainment. Wren was a corporate thinker decades ahead of his time.

For more than 70 years Wren touched the lives of Melbournians every time they sought entertainment through his venues such as the old Stadium, later Festival Hall, and the Athenaeum Theatre. This is an exhibition not to be missed.

Derby Winner Back at Work

Winner of the 2004 Victoria Derby, Plastered, has surprised everyone and is back at work in Western Australia after finishing his great career due to wind problems.

On top of this, the talented galloper was at the centre of a bitter confrontation between the trainer Lindsay Smith and the owners.

Connections haven’t decided who will look after him, but evidently it won’t be Smith.
It’s tipped that the big Carnival in Perth could be the comeback scene.

Ted Ryan

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