3 minute read

Chris Scholtz looks at racing industry topics.

SHADES OF SHANNON

Racing historians would have had immediate recall of the famous 1946 Epsom Handicap when the favourites Amanaat and Arbeitsam bombed the starts of their respective races at Doomben and Randwick on Saturday.

The 1946 Epsom at Randwick sparked the most volatile punter demonstration ever seen on an Australian racecourse when the hot favourite Shannon, ridden by Darby Munro, stood at the strand start.

He gave the field almost 100 metres start and was beaten a half head, leading to uproar among the crowd of more than 50,000.

Such is the malaise of modern day race crowds that the only furore that arose on Saturday was in the stewards room at Doomben when Bobby El Issa, the rider of Amanaat, supported by trainer Ben Currie and owner Tony Khoury, argued vehemently for the horse to be declared a non-runner due to an incident in the gates.

Amanaat had been fractious in the gates and missed the start by eight lengths but El Issa was able to convince the stewards that barrier attendants had hold of the gelding’s head when the gates opened.

“I didn't ask for them. They screwed his head down, I yelled out but the field jumped," El Issa said in evidence. He added that the horse had also suffered a serious jaw injury at the start.

Evidence from the barrier staff and race footage supported El Issa’s claim, resulting in Amanaat punters getting a refund after the stewards declared him a non-runner on the grounds that he was denied a fair start.

The Arbeitsam supporters at Randwick weren’t so fortunate after the expected leader failed to jump on terms, missing the start by two lengths and settling at the tail of the field.

They were on a loser after the stewards interviewed his jockey Adam Hyeronimus and established that Arbeitsam was at fault when he became fractious as the gates opened and had not been denied a fair start.

“He just popped up as they opened and then walked out,” Hyeronimus explained.

Arbeitsam’s race was as good as over when he couldn’t lead, circumstances that would have made Hyeronimus the target of an angry demonstration from hardened punters in days gone bye.

On Saturday his backers did their money with barely a murmur…..I wonder how many have ever heard of Shannon?

SATURDAY SHOCKERS

This week’s nominations are Darren Weir, Brad Rawiller, Brenton Avdulla and Craig Williams.

Not a good PR exercise by Darren Weir with punters after the champion trainer admitted he made a mistake running the three-year-old Cliff's Edge as an odds on favourite at Caulfield on Saturday.

Weir took the blame after Cliff’s Edge led and caved in to beat just two runners home as a $1.55 favourite. It was a shocker from the Group 2 winner as he held a huge ratings advantage over his lesser rivals.

"Probably a little bit of trainer error," Weir admitted. "Probably shouldn’t have ran him but it looked the right race. We thought he was good at home but the hard runs he’s had just took its toll.

“He just went like a tired horse.”

Weir’s honesty is appreciated but all his post-race “probables” don’t help punters get their money back.

Weir’s blank day at Caulfield was costly for his supporters with Kiwia and Land Of Plenty two other heavily supported losers from his stable.

However no blame can be attached to Weir for Kiwia’s loss – it was all Brad Rawiller!

Rawiller’s poor judgement at a vital stage saw him miss the bus on the $1.80 shot Kiwia, costing him a certain win.

At Randwick the day was a complete blackout for Brenton Avdulla, most notable being his troubled rides on favourites Outrageous and Osborne Bulls and close seconds on Dyslexic and Nettoyer.

Back at Caulfield the stewards will have the final say on Craig Williams’ ride on beaten $1.65 favourite Nature Strip.

From a win over the jumps to a win over the flat. Self Sense withstands a last-gasp bid from Kiwia to claim the VOBISGold Heath. https://t.co/IR7UN5VzUn pic.twitter.com/6lKfxOhgYs

— Racing.comApril 21, 2018

It's a case of déjà vu for Nature Strip.

Sam's Image knocks him off in the Dash. https://t.co/IR7UN5VzUn pic.twitter.com/RhJ9MB74fp

— Racing.com April 21, 2018