The Cup

Making movies of true stories can't be easy, particularly when the true story happened less than a decade ago.
This was the main problem I had with The Cup which is the story of jockey Damien Oliver (Stephen Curry) and the tragic death of his brother Jason (Daniel Macpherson) just a week before the 2002 Melbourne Cup.
Given I still remember the time pretty clearly when all this happened watching it unfold on screen with people who obviously don't look like the real people was going to be difficult. (Although Curry doesn't look too different).
Another tricky element is the fact that horse racing movies aren't easy either - getting the races looking authentic requires a lot of work. In some respects they get the racing scenes pretty close. The bonus though is at times they do splice in some real footage.
Anyway, the story. Oliver is introduced as the top rider of the moment (and he was) and we see the relationship he has with his brother who is also a jockey.
He is asked to ride for Irish trainer Dermot Weld (Brendan Gleeson), at the time the only Northern Hemisphere trainer to have won the Melbourne Cup. After riding Media Puzzle to win at Geelong and qualify for the Cup Oliver's world is rocked when his brother Jason is killed in a freak accident in a barrier trial in Perth.
Overall the movie is well done, there are some errors that racing enthusiasts like myself will notice quite quickly whereas other won't. Some of the casting was a bit odd but, as mentioned, I feel the movie might have been made a bit soon and that made the actors playing real life people who are still active in the racing industry seem a bit wrong.
There are some great moments in the film and it really does pick up as it goes along. Director Simon Wincer (Phar Lap) probably errs a bit in trying to explain a lot of things that might not have needed to be so explicit but, it was still very enjoyable.
The speeches at the end of the film, with the real footage used, add a nice touch. It isn't the greatest racing movie around - that honour still rests with Phar Lap - but it is well done, if just a bit cheesy. A 7 out of 10.

Something special

I was fortunate enough to be at Randwick today to see a truly super racehorse, Black Caviar, make a very good field of sprinters look second rate. 12 starts for 12 wins, unbelievable. It was a very special day. There have been some awesome moments at Randwick over the years I have been going there - Octagonal in 1996, Lonhro's farewell, Takeover Target's big wins including the TJ Smith. It's hard to say whether Black Caviar tops those moments, which were all special in their own times, but she is nothing short of a champion.

Sandown excursion

Another excellent trip south of the border wrapped up yesterday, this time the aim was to see some of the controversial hurdle racing.

Now, I love the jumps. But there are some people who think it is cruel or whatever and I am not going to debate the pros and cons of it here, or anywhere for that matter.

That is my view and it is not going to change regardless of what any anti-jumps campaigner will say or chant.

After the plane got me to Melbourne 30 minutes later than anticipated I was on the hop a bit for the rest of the day as I tried to do everything I had planned.

Friday night I was at the Gertrude Hotel in Melbourne, just off Brunswick Street. It was a fairly nice pub where there was a lot of talk about the soccer and the AFL.

Being a bit early, I sat there and observed a bit before my friends arrived.

On Saturday I caught a train to Sandown racecourse, which was about a 40 minute ride.

Being a big fan of the jumps racing I was keen to see two horses in particular - the champion 'chaser Mazzacano and the up and coming star Black And Bent.

Unfortunately the champ was off his game and didn't feature but the new star certainly proved himself with a huge win in the Australian Hurdle.

There was a reasonable crowd on hand and it was great to not be the only one applauding as he careered away from the pack in the home straight. In fact, there was quite a reception for Black And Bent (pictured).

The weather was a lot milder than I had expected and planned for (which is a good thing) and this time there were no hailstorms!

Melbourne is a great place to visit, but I don't know if I'd want to live there.

Go and jump

I'm getting tired of the anti-jumps racing people getting such a big run in the media, particularly on TV shows that don't understand racing.
Despite their vocality, these activists are very much in the minority yet because they are so loud they are getting far too much air time from everyone concerned.
Sure, I am naturally pro jumps racing.
The people who think it is cruel are being ignorant of the fact that this form of racing is saving horse's lives, not costing them.
Unfortunately, and I don't want to be negative, like most things in the world these days the minority will probably get its way. I sincerely hope it doesn't but if you scream for long enough someone is going to listen.

Star struck

Derby Day at Randwick is usually a pretty big day and today was no exception.
Then midway through the afternoon I was standing in the enclosure and Shannon Noll walked up near me as he waited to sing the national anthem.
Being one of my favourite singers I took the opportunity to go over and shake his hand (good handshake too, which I like).
In the end I had about a five minute chat with him while suppressing the excited fan inside me. I'd have just been happy with the quick hello! I also had a photo taken with him but I'll keep that to myself.
I have to say he impressed me. I told him about how much I loved a few of his songs in particular - notably his cover of What About Me and also the song Lift - and how the latter came around a time when I needed to hear it.
It's a shame my nephew wasn't there today because he could sing What About Me before he could talk coherently, or close to it.
Hopefully I didn't babble too much. He said there is new music coming soon from him, which is great. I'm not usually so star struck but it was great that he came across as 'normal' in person as he does in interviews.
While the work side of my day was a blur I have to say meeting Shannon was a massive highlight.
Randwick got an awesome day for once for their big race meeting and it was really a pleasant day out there. Aside from meeting and 'idol' I caught up with a couple of friends I haven't seen for a bit. So a memorable day all around.

A week after the storm

Last weekend I went to Melbourne for what is known as 'Super Saturday' at the races but as it turned out it was memorable for completely different reasons.

What is strange though is that when I arrived back in Sydney on Sunday how little some people knew about what happened in Melbourne the day before.

Despite the predictions of showers all weekend I didn't take an umbrella with me. Some may call that a rookie mistake when you're planning to go to Melbourne.

I arrived the Friday and it was very humid but no real signs of rain. I met up with a couple of friends for a drink (after overshooting my tram stop by one) and then headed for Crown Casino. That was mainly because I hadn't been there before and I thought I might as well check it out. I chatted to a guy called Bobby on the tram on the way (initiated by the need for some direction on my part) who was off to watch the AFL game on that evening.

Crown Casino is something else. It makes Star City look like a backroom poker lounge. It's also quite mesmerising and it's very easy to get disorientated. I suppose that's one of the tricks of casinos.

Anyway, the next day I headed off to Flemington for the races.

It was an awesome day weather wise and I arrived there on the train. If anything it was a shade on the hot side. I met up with Luke, a guy I work with (sort of), for a bit and settled in to watch the Newmarket Handicap.

You could see a storm coming. It came up a lot faster than anyone expected and five minutes after the race it started to rain. No more than five more minutes later it started to hail and we're talking golf ball size at least.

Flemington was virtually covered in darkness as the sheer volume of hail that was falling turned the setting from lush green grass to appearing to be covered in snow.

As a result of the freak storm the racecourse was flooded, the trains were knocked out and the races called off. I had to line up for a bus for about 40 minutes and ended up at Footscray train station to catch a train into the city.

Flinders St Station looked like a tidal wave had run through it, sections of road were covered in water and debris littered around town.

Quite an experience. Of course I was sheltered from the storm in more ways than one - I was under cover when the storm hit and of course had nothing valuable unprotected, unlike some whose cars were either covered in water or damaged by hail or both.

I have to say I've seen some big storms over the years but never anything like this. Lightning strikes that seemed to cut the sky in half, thunder that would put God's tenpin bowling team to shame and hail that left piles of ice everywhere.

Won't be forgetting that weekend.

Arrrr

Even if you aren't into horse racing this clip, a bit over a minute, is worth a watch.
The racehorse in question is called Arrrr - and I'm not kidding about that. The race caller has plenty of fun with it, that's for sure!!!

Outrage

Another win for the minorities.
Today, Racing Victoria announced that after the 2010 season it will cease jumping races for good.
This is a decision that is so bad it's not even close to being funny.
Not only are they placing thousands of racing industry participants in jeopardy by reducing their capacity to earn they are flying against the rest of the world where jumping is embraced and celebrated as part of racing culture.
And, they have condemned countless horses, who aren't good enough to be competitive in flat races, to certain death.
Now the do-gooders, RSPCA and such, claim that jumping racing is cruel and causes unnecessary death and injury to horses. Well now they themselves have caused unnecessary deaths to horses that would otherwise be nurtured.
People who own horses love them like children, some people more than their children, and these horses are cared for and pampered like kings and queens. These same horses will now become unviable and be sold off. There are very few places for them to go if they can't be moved into equestrian (which is more dangerous than racing, IMO) or used as lead horses. Most will end up at the knackery.
I love my racing and jumping is a big part of what keeps it interesting in the off season. Thankfully South Australia hasn't caved in, for now. They at least want to support their own industry. It is just a shame Racing Victoria doesn't.
It's more than a shame. A disgrace.

The challenge

After having a mixed November when it comes to my punting I've decided it would be good for me to take a break.
Now, before I go any further I have to say this. I haven't got into any trouble, but aside from the Melbourne Cup trifecta it hasn't been a winning time of late.
So, as I said, I believe it will be good for me to take a break and find other things to do on a Saturday afternoon. Sure I will still have to watch the races eventually but that's what recording devices are for.
This is something I would usually do in the middle of the year but since I haven't for a few years it's a good time to prove to myself that I don't need to gamble.
One good thing about this little personal challenge is that it is something I have done before so that makes it (hopefully) much more manageable than it would otherwise.
I'm also hoping that by doing this it will help me to reduce the amount that I invest when I lift the ban after Christmas.
So, wish me luck.

Farewell Sunline

Sunline , the best racehorse I've seen, died today.
She was one of the best gallopers to race in Australia and was a champion for the best part of five years.
I saw her race many times and when I watch the replays of some of them I still get chills.
I have photos of her hanging on my wall and there are only four racehorses with that privilege.
Of her 32 wins the best was probably the 2000 Cox Plate, if you know anything about horse racing then you know that you just don't win the Cox Plate by seven lengths.
It was a smashing and was awesome to watch.
She was 14 and had four foals, none of whom will be half as good but at least she lives on.
Like Harry Telford, trainer of Phar Lap, said in the film - `(s)he wasn't just a horse, (s)he was the best'. At least I think so.

I was there when....

...Takeover Target won the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 18, 2009.
Sometimes there are moments in racing that you will never forget, today was one of them.
Why? Takeover Target (I took the photo from on the fence in the mounting yard) is the ultimate fairytale in horse racing. He was bought at a tried horse sale for about $1250 and now he is closing in on $6 million, not bad for a horse who will be 10 years old in a few months time.
My big disappointment today was that I didn't tip or back him. There is an old saying, never write off a champion and we all saw why as the broke right away from a damn good field. It left me and many others with shaking heads, in awe of an unbelievable performance. It's one of those `I was there when' moments that are so rare and reserved for the remarkable.
Overall it was a very good day and thankfully I showed sense and didn't go out after a long day at the track. It actually took me about 80 minutes to get home due to the traffic.
On the work front, I stopped in there on the way to the races and moved desks back to where I was sitting a few years ago before changing jobs. Hopefully that will make things a bit better, and it will be interesting to see some reaction from one or two others. I still think it was the best thing I could do under the circumstances.

Derby Day

And I thought there was a recession on!
Some 30,000 people, and I was among them, packed into Randwick racecourse yesterday for Derby Day, one of the bigger race meetings in Sydney.
It was a long day.
I had a new mate come up from Canberra on Friday and we were on the road early to the city.
One of the benefits of going early is you tend to get a decent run with traffic and that was the case (I even had a good run out of the course at the end of the day which was weird given the numbers).
You don't realise how hard a day on your feet is until you sit down at the end. And I was watching the Storm vs Penrith game as I dozed off, not making it to half time.
Back to the races though. As far as the actual racing went it was a bit of a ho-hum day and next Saturday promises to be much more exciting.
However, the great trainer Bart Cummings (pictured, I managed to get a great angle) scored his first Group One win for 10 years in Sydney and is the oldest, at 81, to train a Derby winner.
I hope I'm that successful at 81! He certainly has a way with words.
I actually had a chat to him earlier in the week and he's quite a character, a legend of the sport, and it is a privilege to have access.
I also caught up with a couple of other mates at the races which was great, including one who really intrigues me with his seemingly controlled recklessness, if that's possible.
Anyway, unfortunately I didn't win so let's hope next week is a much better one.

A fitting result

Racecourses can be very cruel places at times. By nature they are unforgiving, punters are critical (why not I guess when you invest money on something) and sentiment is only very rarely appropriate.

One of those times was yesterday and I was fortunate enough to be at Flemington to witness it.

A week earlier jockey Craig Newitt was told his father had been killed in a car accident less than an hour before he was due to ride in a big race. He rode and ran second, only beaten just before the post.

Yesterday he rode Heart Of Dreams (pictured) to win the Australian Guineas and received a reception that nobody can deny he deserved. I admit that as I applauded him as he returned to the mounting yard that I felt a shiver or two for him.

Earlier in the day I spoke to him briefly, offered my condolences, and wished him good luck for the day. I doubt seriously if I could be as strong as he has been this week and it would be well within the realms of possibility that he will fall apart when he lets himself. And he is allowed.

I'm pleased to have been there to witness such a fine moment. Good on you, Craig.

The Flemington experience

A large part of my trip to Melbourne was to go to the races down there (as you would expect from me) and it was simply awesome.

Even though I have worked in the industry for closing on nine years I felt like a bit of a kid going to the big smoke for the first time. (Ironic since I was travelling from the biggest city in the country to the second biggest).

When I arrived at Flemington (the racecourse where the Melbourne Cup is held for those who don't know) the first person I encountered was someone I knew from Sydney (a racing official) and he and a few others were heading onto the course to check it out. I tagged along and got to walk up and down the home straight for as long as I liked.

In contrast to the day before the conditions were much more comfortable and there was even a breeze - ideal conditions for a race meeting.

I wandered on the track for about half an hour before heading off to meet a number of people, which was my aim for the day.

I watched the last race from the grandstand as opposed to the mounting area and it was great to take in the whole track.

I also played racing fan a bit by hanging out and having a look at Weekend Hussler, one of the best racehorses in the country when he arrived at the horse stalls. The trainer gave me a cap and I had a bit of a chat to him. There was quite a crowd around to check him out.

I didn't take any pictures of his race, he ran fourth and was quite unlucky.

The second photo i of an earlier race, the winner is the horse to the far left and is just about to get a clear run. It was taken about 300m from the winning post and you can also see a bit of the Melbourne skyline in the background.

The day seemed to fly by. I met a couple of great young racing reporters there. One of them surprised me a bit by telling me he remembered reading some of my stuff when he was a teenager. It made me feel a bit old but he said he was 25.

Still it was weird to meet someone like that who had read my stories from a different state.
After the races I headed straight to the airport for the trip back. Airports are fairly boring and once you've checked in I found there was little in the way of decent food.

Anyway it was a great experience all up and I will definitely do it again, but perhaps in a less whirlwind way.

Late resolution

I'm not one for making new year's resolutions and this isn't one of them but a resolution is a good word to describe this decision. A vow, promise to myself are other good ways.
A hobby of mine from a long way back has been to have a bet on the horses, only natural when you look at my job.
Several years back a friend challenged me to go a month without betting and I did and got through it fine, so much so that I kept up that one month off each year for a few years.
I've decided I'm going to not bet for the month of February. Not only is it good to stop I think that I need to as I've been pushing my limits a bit from time to time and while that's okay if you keep winning the reality is that you also go through periods of losing.
That's where people can get stuck and drawn into addiction. Also, February is an expensive month for me with car registration due. So it makes sense to me to kill two birds with one stone. Funnel the bulk of my funds, where necessary, into the car and save the rest. Another good thing about February is that while there are a few major races it is not until March and April when the best comes along again so I won't feel like I am missing anything.
I don't have any concern about not being able to keep it up but I would like to ask for others to check up on me, ask me about it during next month.

Anti-climax

Well the Cup has been run and won and even though Bart Cummings now has his 12th win in the race you can't help but feel it was an anti-climax.
Viewed raced on Saturday and was easily beaten, though a shade unsuited. Still I didn't expect him to perform that well today. I'm happy for the guy who rode the horse as he is a good guy who deserves a win like that.
But, while I didn't back the winner, it still all felt a bit flat.
There's always next year.

Here we go again

Yep, it's that time of the year.
Tomorrow is Melbourne Cup Day. A quick word for the uninitiated, the Melbourne Cup is a horse race, also known as `the race that stops a nation', held at Flemington.
It's virtually a public holiday, it's actually a public holiday in Victoria, for everyone who is interested. It's almost like a religious holiday for me and people at work.
For the record I am tipping an English victory in the Cup (I suppose they should win something because they ain't going to win the Rugby League World Cup with a headstart).
1. Mad Rush
2. Profound Beauty
3. Septimus
Best outsider: Gallopin.

The usual disclaimer applies to these selections. Good luck and happy Cup Day.

A Canterbury tale

I have to admit I really like going to Canterbury for the races. The track is fairly small but that means from the stands you can get a good view of the entire course - the horses aren't as far away from you as they are at, say, Randwick.

After several days of very wintry and rainy weather it was a cracker of a day today, when the sun was out, and a great day to head to the races. It'd been several weeks since I had made it to the track and I managed to meet a few people I didn't know, get some legwork done on a couple of projects for work and catch up with a mate who I have a lot of time for. What can I say about Brent? He's quite a bit of fun and we had a great day hanging out, punting and catching up. A lot of his family, and his girlfriend, were there as well as they had a horse racing and they were all very good to talk to.
The week has been a busy one in one respect, a shade frustrating as usual, and saw many plans change. I was going to go for a swim but with the rain and stuff I didn't want to brave the outdoor (heated) pool.
Some more catching up with people tomorrow for a while in the afternoon, and by tomorrow evening I'm going to wonder where the weekend got to.
The photos on this page are obviously ones I took at the races at Canterbury today and gives an indication of the size of the track.

Golden Slipper Day

One of the biggest day's racing in Sydney is Golden Slipper day and that happened to be today.

The race itself is wotth $3.5 million overall and there tends to be around 30,000 people or so at Rosehill racecourse in Sydney's west.
Today wasn't exactly a great one weather wise but it didn't rain (at least anything other than the odd spot or two) and it didn't seem to bother anyone.

I won't talk about the punting side as I wasn't overly successful today but you get that sometimes.
The pictures I have posted here are as follows:
1. Racing To Win leads out the Ryder Stakes field

2. The crowd early in the day

3. Me holding the Golden Slipper trophy

4. The horses close to the post in one of the early races.
Next Saturday is Derby Day over at Randwick, another highlight usually of the racing calendar.

A day at the races

Easter Saturday in Sydney, for me, means Derby Day at Randwick but after the horse flu last year things were put back.
So yesterday wasn't Derby Day, that's not for another month, but it was still a fine way to celebrate turning 33. Admittedly I didn't have much of a celebration - I hung out with people I know largely from and through work - but it was still a very good day out.
I took these pictures with my new camera and while I am far from a photographic expert I reckon they are all right. The top one is a mounting yard scene, where the horses parade prior to heading out to race.
The second is obviously an action shot, 100m to go in the first race at Randwick yesterday.
The winner, Rio Osa, is the horse in the cerise about to hit the lead. Sadly, the horse I backed, Acey Ducey, is the horse running third at this stage and he was only beaten a half head at the finish.

An interesting thing happened, I was wandering around the betting ring and I ran into a racehorse trainer who I have had a lot to do with over the last five or six years and a guy I get on well with.

He told me because he didn't have any horses racing he thought he'd come out and celebrate his birthday. Now I've known the guy for a while and didn't know we share a birthday. I reckon it's cool because he's one of the best people I know in the racing industry.

I didn't do any major partying last night but enjoyed watching the Knights beat Manly 13-12.