STRADBROKE DAY PHOTOS - PLUS OTHERS OF INTEREST....Part 1

By Phil Purser

12/06/2012

Eagle Farm photos Dan Costello and Phil Purser rest Phil Purser

This head belongs to Sizzling and the ageing Justracing knees had to cop a severe bending to get down low enough to take this (great) photo - as Sizzling looked back over the scene of his narrow victory at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

There we are. That's Sizzling parading for his Group 1 assignment. At least photographers can't tell lies about who the horse is when they have it written on their saddle cloth.

This was Sizzling's trainer Kelso Wood and his main stable assistant - Patricia Gesler - watching their charge in the parade yard prior to the T J Smith. Kelso looks a tad nervous and his thoughts were well founded 15 minutes later when his colt scrambled home narrowly.

Interestingly the race was called the T J Smith and T J Smith's daughter Gai Waterhouse was photographed in the parade yard for the race checking out the runners. In fact she nearly won the 1600-metre race with a 2YO that couldn't run 1200 metres out strongly at its previous start in Sydney. Good luck backing Gai's horses. I reckon I'll add 10 years to my life through not backing them.

And here is Sizzling and Chris Munce, on the outside, nailing Kabayan and Nash Rawiller to win the Group 1 feature. The margin was only a short head on the finish line, so does anyone who took the tomato sauce odds about the winner want it over again?

Eagle Farm Race 1 winner Hoss Amor was photographed with her happy strapper, Candy Thomson, after the General Nediym filly had scored by 2.25 lengths over Sunset Affair with Saturn Rock a further 2.75 lengths away in third place. 

Michael Rodd was photographed by the Justracing camera on his return to the enclosure aboard Eagle Farm Race 2 winner Solzhenitsyn. Apparently the trainer has Group 1 aspirations for the horse. As I wrote last week, there's no harm in dreaming in this game, but time will tell if he's up to that level.

Resident Darley jockey Kerrin McEvoy returns to scale on Mental after the pair had combined to win Race 3 on the programme at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Is this horse any good in the general scheme of things? Is he a Group 1 horse?

Darley trainer Peter Snowden gets the lowdown from jockey Kerrin McEvoy after the win of their charge Mental In Race 3 at Eagle Farm last Saturday. "Geez there was some slow ones in that race Pierre", McEvoy didn't say - but Justracing will say that - when he pens an article or two on the meeting later in the week.

One of the many Justracing cameras on course snapped Australian model and Fashions on the Field icon Megan Gale on Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm last Saturday. "This is my best angle and I'll happily pose for you. I'd love to appear on Justracing. I reckon it rocks. I have it in my favourites and I must say that I reckon Phil Purser and Dan Costello are true Aussie hunks with their chiselled bods. Pass my best on to them", the model didn't say.

Gold Coast based jockey Paul Hammersley was photographed prior to the start of the Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm last Saturday aboard the Rob Heathcote trained Griffon. The pair combined to win Race 4 on the programme by 1.5 lengths over Royal Bender with Audacious Spirit 1.6 lengths further back in third place. Griffon started at 25/1, whilst his much shorter 9/2 stablemate Excellantes went missing in action - clocking in fifth, after Brisbane Sectional Times clients were accurately told following his previous win that "he's not much good in the general score of things".

Saturday Morning Mail clients were about the best informed punters in the  land on the two stable runners.

The comment on Excellantes read:

EXCELLANTES

Going for three in a row but has had the last two races handed to him on a platter with a slow first split – and won’t get that scenario here, so I couldn’t have him on top. Placed just one of five on slow and has never missed a place in five goes on dead so his CV says he needs the track upgraded to be a chance.

The comment on Griffon read:

GRIFFON

Resuming from 21 weeks off here. I have no idea where he slots in from the alley but could run a place if they snag him as he’s never missed a place on slow.

The comment on runner-up Royal Bender read:

ROYAL BENDER

Victorian visitor who can finish quickly if the stars are in alignment. Has terrific slow track form (five starts for three wins and a second) so has definite each way claims and Boss suits him ideally.

The trifecta of Griffon (25/1), Royal Bender (14/1) and Audacious Spirit (7/1) paid $6001.10 on Tattsbet for a one dollar unit. I couldn't have had the third horse in the going - but you may have. Most missed the first two across the line.

Visiting Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse was photographed by the Justracing camera on Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm last Saturday after receiving this award for her father Tommy Smith, which read: "Stradbroke Hall of Fame Legend - 2012 Inductee. Trained 1962 Stradbroke winner Kilshery".

Spotted in the big crowd at Eagle Farm last Saturday was at least one racetrack attendee in the 21,000 strong crowd looking at a copy of The Courier Mail Form Guide from last Friday's newspaper. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time sir. The "new look Form Guide" launched with a big fanfare on RadioTAB a few weeks ago, when they interviewed the Editor of the newspaper, has been one disaster after another. What monumental stuff-up did it contain last Friday? Stick with me and I'll show you.

Well according to this photograph, The Courier Mail in Race 2 has one of the favourites, Firebolt, being ridden by three-kilogram claimer Shaun Guymer. The Sportsman and Best Bets correctly have H Bowman as the hoop, so I have no idea how The Courier Mail stuffed up. Shaun Guymer was booked to ride Sydney Race 2 Horse 2 Famous Seamus on the same day, but that galloper was subsequently scratched on race morning from the race due to the heavy track.

The tote lines were long at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke day as per this photo, as the big crowd tried to get their bets on. Many missed out getting on unfortunately.

Talking of the tote - here's the Tattsbet market five minutes out from the big race. The winner's number, 14 Mid Summer Music, (you #@!#+&^?#") was showing $34.80 for a win and $9.80 for a place at this point. The mare finalized at $28.90 and $8.60 - but anyone who got paid this price was really severely short changed. See why in the next photo.

As per this photo, the win tote pool five minutes out was $535,674 - it had grown to $838,682 when they jumped.

The Place pool was $345,418 - it finalised at $491,219.

The Trifecta pool was $311,796 - it got to $533,894.

The Exacta pool was $15,972 - it finished up at $30,930.

The First 4 pool was $121,108 - it eventually grew to $198,461.

Mid Summer Music - number 14 - was paying $41 fixed odds for a win when the Stradbroke field jumped - that's nearly $12 more per dollar invested than if you just backed her via the standard tote method of putting your money on.................and praying. I must admit she could have been $141 fixed odds for a win - and I still wouldn't have been tempted.

Whilst most humanoids age - Gold Coast based trainer Helen Page doesn't seem to. Here she is leaving the parade yard to go out and watch her runner Courtz Boy in the T J Smith. Unfortunately Courtz Boy let Helen down, but she'll find a race away from Group 1 status that suits him in the near future I'm sure. (See I can be very diplomatic) Bet you that pure gold horseshoe brooch would be worth a quid and I guess her husband John bought it for the love of his life sometime back in about 1964 when he won the three eastern seaboard Derbies - the Australian Derby, Queensland Derby and Victoria Derby with that good young horse he trained way back then - Royal Sovereign. How amazing was it that in the Australian Derby at Randwick in 1964 Royal Sovereign beat Strauss and Park Lane. In the Queensland Derby, Park Lane ran second to Royal Sovereign and in Melbourne, in the Victoria Derby, Strauss ran second to the colt.

The big crowd that stretched all around the perimeter of the terrific new Eagle Farm parade yard can be seen in the background. You might remember website devotee and Brisbane Racing Club committeeman David Dawson gave Justracing a conducted tour of that new innovation many months ago and some photos of it in its formative stages were put up here.

Talking of the T J Smith - this is the Brisbane Sectional Times recommended bet Boban and "big race jockey" and "champion jockey" J for Hugie Bowman moving on to the track. It was a great ride by Bowman, who has since apparently tweeted an apology over the ride. At my age and stage, the only tweets I'm interested in are from birds like budgies in a cage. On the day Boban would have been a chance in the Lightning Handicap over 1000 metres, but 1600 is just a tad far when you go out that quickly Hughie. I'm still waiting to back a winner Bowman has steered. Funny how some jockeys and trainers turn out to be bookies benefits, as soon as you put your hard earned on them.

Boban is a nice young prospect - ridden quietly out the back in a truly run race - but sadly you'd never know by this disgraceful effort.

And last but not least, Wattle Brae Stud's right hand man Ian Brady was at Stradbroke day at Eagle Farm with his charming wife Kellie. Kellie is pregnant again and they advised "we are thinking of calling the baby Philip, if it's a boy". Smart move, as Philip means "lover of horses"? So maybe one's fate of being involved in racing is set in concrete when one is named?

Wattle Brae Stud is up in Steel Rudd country at Nobby on the Darling Downs. It is an interesting drive from Gatton up the back way to Nobby - truly beautiful scenery, as Wattle Brae boss Gary Turkington calls it "Deliverance country" - after that famous movie.

You will note that Ian and Kellie both have their name tags on - which is really handy in later life in case you get lost and/or forget who you are.

Let me show you why Nobby is famous - and where to dine - if you follow my advice and take that scenic drive to Nobby via Gatton and Ma Ma Creek.

As when you have finished admiring the gorgeous scenery on that drive from Gatton to Nobby, there's no better place to stop for a feed than historic Rudds Pub at Nobby, where the famous writer Steele Rudd - best known for writing Dad and Dave - spent so much time. Justracing and his besotted bride have dined there and can thoroughly recommend it.

They also have a vintage museum at Nobby, near Rudds Pub, but if you visit it - take my advice and do stand upwind from this bloke. He had a heart attack and died in his dray, but they never buried him, so he just sits there.........and sits there.