One of the top races on the Australian calendar is the 1600m Group 1 Doncaster run at Royal Randwick and this year all punters would have agreed it was it's usual conundrum before the race. However if you look at this race from one point of view, that is the wfa George Ryder formline, the race was quite easy as the same quinella again repeated the result. I would suspect most punters who did ratings of any sort would have had both high in contention as they would have rated highly in the George

One of the top races on the Australian calendar is the 1600m Group 1 Doncaster run at Royal Randwick and this year all punters would have agreed it was it's usual conundrum before the race. However if you look at this race from one point of view, that is the wfa George Ryder formline, the race was quite easy as the same quinella again repeated the result. I would suspect most punters who did ratings of any sort would have had both high in contention as they would have rated highly in the George Ryder and their subsequent weight drops, especially the 7.5 kg for Vision And Power, must have shown up in the ratings.

The race is over and the George Ryder fans are counting their money, especially if they bet the quinella at an amazing 80/1, however all of those who collected would totally agree that Whobegotyou should have strolled in. One of the greatest views of all time in horseracing is the aerial view provided from the hovering balloon prevalent at the special meetings in Sydney and Melbourne. This years view clearly showed the trouble Whobegotyou experienced through no fault of his rider as the required gaps closed time after time yet the beaten margin was just short of a length.

This is one exciting horse who, along with All Silent, must surely be WS Cox Plate contenders later this year and if we add Theseo to the list we have a most interesting trio to start with. Naturally, others will step up and some will drop off but if this trio make the race I will be one excited punter.

Well, what do we say about Takeover Target that has not already been said many, many times over during an outstanding career but even more so this weekend. One television personality rated him the best sprinter in the world and although that may be a fraction over the top he is certainly Australia's best and that is a fact. One wonders when this equine freak will finally show his trainer he has had enough but I hope he can race until he is twenty years old. Horseracing thrives on such horses and may God give this particular animal longevity way beyond the norm. We punters deserve champions and he is a champion.
As you all know by now I am not a great fan of betting in distance races for three year olds with Derbies and Oaks races high on the list. There are just too many issues to deal with especially related to distance and pace and again I feel vindicated these races are not a serious punters betting medium with the win of New Zealand filly, Daffodil at $13. Down the track towards the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup I always have a look at the staying three year old form and there are times when these races give excellent pointers towards the Cups however leave me out of them at this stage.