Only 25,525 went to Royal Randwick on Saturday for an outstanding program on a brilliant day, confirming racegoing is struggling to be a popular spectator sport in Sydney.
Surely no more has ever been spent on Randwick promotion, the worth of which is a matter of opinion.
Yes, Melbourne does well in the spring, but Flemington is equipped for huge crowds, public and members alike.
The new Randwick grandstand is more for corporate high flyers and owners than the average punter, but we are stuck with it.
Hopefully the Australian Turf Club can improve the after-race presentation and return to scale, once done so well and now lacking that theatre.
Still, there is much to like about headquarters: the old members' area is comfortable and attracts return visits.
As far as being fed and watered, I’ll back Lynell Peck’s Randwick fare with confidence against the SCG or anywhere at Homebush.
The autumn at Randwick has always had heroes, like George Moore with 15 winners from 29 races in 1969, but none played the role with more aplomb under difficult circumstances than Tom Berry with a treble on Saturday.
But was the massive prizemoney well spent?
“For the life of me I cannot understand why $4 million was necessary for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes,” emailed Bruce Freeman, fresh after a 27-day voyage on Queen Mary 2 thanks to his punting spoils. ”They would have got the same field for $1 million.”
McHugh loses costly AI battle
Bruce McHugh, once the bastion of bookmaking boldness, lost more in the courts than he ever did jousting with Kerry Packer, including turnover tax.
Last week, three appellant judges unanimously rejected McHugh’s claim that artificial insemination rules were a restraint of trade after Justice Robertson had earlier found them not anti-competitive.
Thus, the Australian Rules of Racing allowing only naturally conceived horses to be bred and raced as thoroughbreds remains.
Some figure the $6.5 million to $4 million bet by Packer on Myocard, most of which was held by McHugh, in the 1987 Sydney Cup was the biggest bet in racing history.
Myocard was beaten a half-length by Major Drive, part-owned by Packer. Due to Packer plunging on the three-year-old, Major Drive eased alarmingly in the betting to the degree chief steward John Schreck sent a message to Greg Hall, rider of Major Drive, that he was under close surveillance.
Packer copped losing the millions sweeter than the action by Schreck, and called Jim Bell, the AJC chairman, to his mansion to give him a personal dressing down for the impertinence.
Even before last week’s result, McHugh, a former Sydney Turf chairman, had put far more into the racing industry than he had taken out.
History against The Offer
The Offer, an impressive Sydney Cup winner at Randwick on Saturday, will be chasing a rare feat if he can notch the Melbourne Cup in November.
Only the champion Makybe Diva in 2004 was able to pull off the modern-day double in the same year.
Sydney Cup placegetters have triumphed in the Big One, but few, if any, had the attributes of The Offer, staying power for the 3200 metres and acceleration to pick up ground quickly.
Another vital factor is trainer Gai Waterhouse, now a proven two-mile trainer: she knows what is required after giving Fiorente an ideal Melbourne Cup preparation last year.
Snowden to miss colt
Three-year-old Complacent is the horse Peter Snowdon would most like to take with him after he ends his tenure with Darley at the end of the month.
Obviously this is high praise when considering the equine army from which Snowden had to choose.
“Complacent was tremendous in the Victoria Derby to finish a close second after striking interference,” he said.
The colt had to abort an autumn campaign because of injury, but the trainer is confident it won’t come against him.
Snowden also feels three-year-old Tupac Amaru could be well placed in Europe, at Cheltenham.
Tupac Amaru was strong at the end of Saturday’s Sydney Cup at Randwick but gave too much start; lack of mobility early is a problem. “He’s a natural jumper,” Snowden said.
Horse to follow
Our Voodoo Prince, a Chris Waller import, took his Australian record to three out of three in Saturday’s Easter Cup at Caulfield, and could well prove a worthy replacement for Waller’s Boban, out of action for three months after a bleeding attack in the Queen Elizabeth at Randwick.
Disappointing
Catkins, the $2.70 favourite, stopped quickly, ending up sixth in the Queen Of The Turf at Randwick on Saturday. Jockey Hugh Bowman told stewards the grey was “very awkward” when close to the rail at the 1000 metres and he “was not very happy with her action in the straight”.
