Victoria has two Group 1 races this weekend, at different venues across Friday and Saturday night. The Australian Cup is the marquee event, with an honour roll that is long and distinguished, but the race doesn’t hold the same appeal as the glory days of the late 90’s and early 00’s, when the likes of Saintly, Octagonal, Dane Ripper, Northerly, Lohnro and Makybe Diva were in the winner’s circle. The William Reid has tended to get a bit lost among the sprinting riches available elsewhere in this country, but any race that counts Black Caviar as a winner will always hold a special place. Austral ..read more

In his almost 12-month tenure, Andrew Jones, CEO of Racing Victoria, has offered up a number of interesting (troubling?) insights into his thinking about the strategic direction of the racing ‘industry’ (let’s forget its sporting origins). I’ve identified four main themes, and there may be others I’ve snoozed through. Chief amongst these is the dedication to a gambling-led fan proposition. RVL’s increasingly cosy relationship with corporate bookmakers, to the detriment of ‘responsible gambling’ sits front and centre. New facilities for laptop-toting punters was the new GM of Gambling (Matt Wel ..read more

The All Star Mile is supposed to be Victoria’s answer to The Everest, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way yet. The Everest, run over 1200m at Randwick in October, without question attracts the best sprinters in the land. The All Star Mile, trying to find a home in March while rotating around the three major Melbourne metropolitan tracks, is yet to truly assemble a field worthy of the name. Chris Waller makes a mockery of the concept every year, nominating and accepting with his horses before pulling them out a week or two beforehand. There is usually a better field to be found from who isn ..read more

There are five Group 1s on the Rosehill card this week, which is what makes Golden Slipper day such a special one on the racing calendar. Add to that the All Star Mile down in Melbourne, and it’s a day for the purist. Golden Slipper The Golden Slipper is here again, and as ever a full field of colts and fillies will greet the judge for the mad scamper of two-year-olds. Sydney form usually holds the whip hand when it comes to the Slipper, but the Blue Diamond is always well represented and those from it invariably run well. Little Brose won what many would call a “messy” Blue Diamond this year ..read more

A Netflix documentary looking at the so-called  ‘worth’ of people killed or seriously injured in the 911 attacks caused me to reflect on the price that racing puts on serious injury and death. During the recent Perth carnival, a horse died as a result of jockey carelessness. As noted by Perth Racing CEO James Oldring, “Horse racing is a high-risk sport for everyone involved”. In any other field reckless, negligent or dangerous would be considered more fitting descriptions of such behaviour in high-risk settings. Think running a red light. But in racing, such actions are framed around a ve ..read more

What a great race the Newmarket Handicap is. Everyone knows about the Melbourne Cup of course, and many people have heard about the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper and latterly The Everest. But the Newmarket is one of those races that truly excites genuine fans of the sport. The Flemington straight is unique in this country, where horses can race up to 1200m in a straight line rather than around a bend, in a field of up to 24. And being a handicap, every horse is weighted to give them a chance, which makes this the sprinting equivalent of the Melbourne Cup. Befitting a race of that st ..read more

It almost feels like yesterday that we were in the midst of the Melbourne spring carnival, but time flies along quicker than Black Caviar and now Blue Diamond Stakes day is upon us once again. The difference this time around is that the Blue Diamond and it’s supporting Group 1 features are being run at Sandown instead of Caulfield due to the redevelopment of the latter. The racing industry participants, punters included, love the Sandown course with it’s sweeping bends and long straight to give every horse their chance. Blue Diamond Most are agreed that this is an even year for two-year-old’s ..read more

R1: Tricky way to kick off the program and It is hard to bet into. PRINCETON AWARD will need luck from back in the field after drawing a low gate (2) but he relished the step up to this trip last start when a fast finishing second to WAHINE TOA. He just got too far back and had to sustain too long of a run so I think the run peaked at about the 100m mark. He drops 3kgs off that and is probably slight value at the $8. SO UNUSUAL is a progressive Gelding out of the McEvoy yard. He stomped home to beat them at the Valley over 2040m two-back and then was very tough when winning over this track and ..read more

R1: Hoping the track plays fairly because if it does I think DON CORLEONE will be hard to beat in the opener. I loved his first trial last preparation which he won well and his debut at this track over 1000m was simply outstanding. He was trapped 3WNC the trip and still had plenty left in the tank to go straight past the expensive Kundalini. He races like the 1100m will be more suitable and he draws to settle a touch closer here. McDonald chooses him over the second elect which is also a good push. CAFE MILLENIUM is a strapping Colt who is over the odds at $13 on debut. I loved the way he has ..read more

Another weekend of racing is upon us. Here are my tips for Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes Day at Sandown Park this Saturday, 4 February. Race 1 The price is probably right about Inundation at $1.90. The Price and Kent gelding broke the track record at the Valley on resumption over 1000 metres when beating Unflinching with ease by 2.75 lengths. He then went to this track last start and got run over late by a smart horse in On the Lead after sitting just off the leaders in the run. He will lead here and I think he is just too fast for them. He should be beating this field if bigger and better things ..read more