SPORT: Ted Ryan’s racing column
Some bookies have listed betting on the All- Star-Mile to be run at Flemington on March 8, prior to first nominations.
They have put the ultra-consistent horse Mr Brightside on top and rightly so, despite some smart horses around him, if they all go around.
Mr Brightside is ideally suited over the mile, and is one of the consistent performers on the circuits.
A winner of well into the millions for the Hayes team of Ben, W.D. and Will, the boys have done a great job
Now seven, the son of Bullbars, the late Colin Hayes breeding he has won nearly $18 million, from his 40 starts.
This includes 18 wins form his 40 starts with 12 minors.
Leading jockey Craig Williams has been aboard most times. He’s the horse to beat on raceday.
On the next line is the brilliant Queenslander, Antino, who has won plenty and against the best, he has diminated the scene in Queenland for his top trainer Tony Gollan, and aquitted himself against the best in Victoria,
What can you say about our next horse, Via Sistina, under Australia’s leading trainer, Chris Waller, who took his winning record in the Cox Plate to five wins, taking out last year’s Cox Plate in great fashion?
He had previous won four in sucession with his brilliant mare Winx.
You had to see to believe it the run of the mare winning the Cox Plate as they say with a leg in the air.
Let go prior to the turn by champion jockey James Mc Donald, she absolutely thrashed her opposition.
Then we have the good three-year-old, Broadsiding, who ran a great third behind Via Sistina in the big event.
Prepared by leading young trainer James Cummings for the Godolphin team, he is among the best to race in Australia.
He is already opened up as an early favourite for the Cox Plate this year and rightly so.
Another top notcher in I Wish I Win, prepared by Peter Moody, with class written all over him, could be right in this.
He has got talent to burn and is in the right camp.
Another with a lot of talent is the former international horse, Buckaroo, a good second in the Caulfield Cup to Duke De Sessa.
A top type in the care of Chris Waller is all class, but I thought the 1600 metres here may be too short for himhere.
Among the best
Likeable top jockey Jamie Mott has taken over in the racing field.
Over recent weeks and for some time now he has been most consistent specially for a heavy rider.
James is quite tall and rides around 56-59 kilos on most of his rides, as it is not easy to get rides at the lower weights.
He is well noted for his riding with soft hands meaning that horses coming back to him for his soft touch. He is renowned for his balance and placement of his mounts in the run no matter where they have been drawn.
At the recent stand-alone Geelong meeting, he booted home three winners in style with three thirds. For a tall rider he sits well in the saddle.
When younger he was approached to try football, because of his height, but he put up with the wasting to choose the Sport of Kings.
A likeable person, he rides for a number of top stables and his style of reading a race and the comfortable seat in the saddle impresses some of our best trainers.
Well done James, you deserve the pat of the back and hope you ride many more winners.
Maher filly
One of Australia’s leading trainer in Ciaron Maher has got the ball rolling looking for a winner in the Blue Diamond Stakes to be run next month at Caulfield.
He produced a smart two-year-old filly in Cherish Me to win the Geelong Diamond at the recent stand-alone meeting. Winning the Geelong Diamond gave Maher the option of bypassing the Blue Diamond Previews and Preludes to go straight into Victoria’s richest two-year-old race at Caulfield on February 22.
The stable bought the Brazen Beau for $280,000, a Magic Millions purchase.
The stable said they bought her for she stood out, with plenty of substance, stands over a lot of ground and she’s a really good mover.
Maher is also an owner in the very smart two-year-old Icarian Dream, with top Queensland trainer Tony Gollan.
Now he joins Gollan with another other top filly, La Bella Boom, who is flying.
Champion back
One of Australia’s best gallopers is making a comeback after retiring with suspected injuries.
One of the best to grace the turf, Alligator Blood, is being set for a comeback, but with a new team.
Going back a bit he was with Van Dyke in Brisbane, for some time, but later due to financial problems ended up going to Gai Waterhouse and Andrew Bott in Sydney.
It was feared the seven-time Group One winning horse may have run his last race when he suffered a serious pastern injury almost a year ago.
But it is understood, recent scans have showing the injury has recovered, and there is no scarring or lingering issues.
Waterhouse and Bott were told that the champion was being transferred to leading trainer in Chris Waller, for further racing hopefully.
Now that he is an older horse and coming back from significant injuries, the owners were keen to have a change of scenery and try Waller’s style of training.
Ted Ryan