Good morning John and Fortuna followers
How good is the latest news about Bellatrix Star? To hear that she’s progressively slowly but surely after her freakish swimming pool accident early last summer must be music to your ears and your fellow owners.
Fingers crossed she continues to make in roads into a return to the track. After Bellatrix Star’s dazzling run in the Coolmore last year clearly she was a genuine contender for further elite racing and hopefully the unfinished business will be realised this season.
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING OF BART CUMMINGS
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since Bart Cummings, arguably the most recognised name in Australian racing, past or present, died. It was 20 years ago next January, that Bart returned to Wellington as a guest of the the WRC to celebrate the Trentham centenary at Te Papa. I had the pleasure of interviewing Bart a few times but that night was very special.
I recall Bart acknowledging the special significance Trentham had in its good old days of staging the NZ Yearling Sales and the scores of outstanding yearlings he sourced from the venue.
From his first Melbourne Cup winner, Light Fingers, to Galilee, Think Big and Gold and Black; all Melbourne Cup heroes.
Bart often spent many days leading into the sales visiting the stud farms and making a short list; something most top buyers do today. I recall him telling our packed audience that night how the soil elements of the Waikato clearly outweigh the often drought stricken land areas of Australia and the respectable rainfall we enjoy here trumps his homeland almost every time.
I also recall him highlighting conformation of yearlings is more important than pedigrees. He said while decent pedigrees are necessary the horse must look the part, too, and to be good at the game of buying you need to have an eye for the colt or filly.He went on to say if you haven’t got a good eye for a horse you’ve got no hope!
BART’S WIT UNMATCHED!
Bart had a razor sharp wit made up of crazy one liners to either journalists or jockeys or others who were game enough to raise a question.
Let’s share a few.
JOURNALIST: “What do you attribute all your success to?”
BART: “Horses!”
ROY HIGGINS, who was victorious on Red Handed and Galilee: “You won 12 Cups. I won 2 for you by that much as he was holding up 2 fingers an inch or two apart. If it wasn’t for me you would’ve won 10!”
BART: “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have won any!”
HEALTH INSPECTOR doing the stable rounds: “Mr Cummings, you need to somehow limit the flies. You have too many.”
BART: “How many am I allowed to have?”
In 1997 Darren Beadman shocked the racing world by quitting the industry to become a pastor.
BEADMAN : “I’ve spoken to God and I’m joining the ministry.”
BART: “I think you should get a second opinion.”
Not only did Bart Cummings train 12 Melbourne Cup winners, his stable saddled up 89 runners in the great race!
For the record Bart also won 7 Caulfield Cups; 4 Golden Slippers; 13 Australian Cups; 5 Cox Plates; 9 VRC Oaks and 8 Newmarket’s!
A RING IN – WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?
It wasn’t quite a messy paint job that surrounded the Fine Cotton controversy ring in all those years ago but we had a “ring in”nonetheless on an Australian race track last week.
Two horses belonging to trainer Paul Jordan went to the Northam meeting in Western Australia last Thursday; one, a winner and one, a maiden. Evidently the two horses aren’t too dissimilar in looks; a brown and a bay. Both were down to race in blinkers, too.
Sadly the one win horse, Urquhart’s Bluff, was saddled up for the maiden and Murphy’s Law, it won!
The error wasn’t discovered until well after the race and dividends unfortunately were paid out.
Naturally there’s egg on the face on all tied up with the controversy; I dare say from the trainer to the steward in charge of branding checks and the starter and a full investigation is currently underway.
It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out and you’d have to think it won’t take long.
Betting enquiries reveal nothing sinister with the winning “ring in” who in fact was a drifter in the market.
THREE TO FOLLOW
HOORAY FOR HARRY: After a decent trials run there was a bit of hype around a big run on Saturday at Riccarton but it didn’t play out that way.
However, put a line through the run and go again!
He was held up for the majority of the final straight and he went to the line seemingly untested.
PERFECT SCENARIO : the first up run saw him just behind the leaders in running at Riccarton but he didn’t get the chance to extend his stride and was in tight quarters near the rail for a good part of the home run.
LITTLE BUT FIERCE: began awkwardly and then checked and lost ground in the rating 65 over 1400m at Riccarton.
She charged into second and you’d have to say she’s a next up winner if she finds the right track conditions around the soft 5-6 range.
PUNTING FOR ENJOYMENT – BUT MAINLY FOR PROFIT!
We are in line for some terrific racing over the next few months and if you don’t have time to study the form so you can enjoy a flutter or three on this great period drop me an email and I’d be happy to hook you into my top 2 tips with a Best Bet and a Value Bet per meeting on my subscription email service which seems to be growing in popularity.
Three months of NZ racing from now until December Ist for $240 gst inclusive.
Email is:
dcoppins@xtra.co.nz
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
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