We clearly picked the wrong weekend to jump on the Duff's tips and have now added Altius to our list of "never agains". He joins Mutawarath and Whobegotyou. Has there ever been more hype on a horse?
Fascinating to hear the experts talking about that Smart Missile race. Lots of chin stroking about the run of Helmet and SM and lots of talk about the jocks. Now lets not forget that the last time SM ran Boss very nearly blew the race. This time round, winning was never an option. But once again, the experts seem to be missing the point. In covering their back having raved about SM and the others, they all seem to have missed the possibility that the lightly raced MANAWANUI might be a very good horse. Back him in whatever race he goes to next, especially if it is in Melbourne.
MARDEN was a good thing beaten. By the ride mainly. Owning a racehorse is a perilous pursuit, with getting them fit and in the right race a battle in itself. So when the jockey decides that being last in a fast field is a good thing, it can kind of try your patience. MARDEN will definitely win again and it's a little consolation that mug punters will see a fifth placing as poor form. Trouble is, every newspaper expert will have seen the run and tip the bottom out of him. We just have to hope the TAB continue their generous ante post odds. We will definitely be on him next time.
And in Brisbane, Jim Byrne rode the perfect race on TOPPING who made the ludicrously short priced favourite, Waller's Russian Jar and the Patinack horse They Wont Last look decidely second rate. That might be good form. We will be following him...
This week, we will be mainly backing DECEMBER DRAW. If he is any odds, we'll take that and we are well and truly on for the Caulfield Cup. He has to win this weekend to qualify. That's a big tip for his chances in the Naturalism.
Shame the Caulfield cup is run at Caulfield...he'd be the greatest moral of all time at Flemington...
