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Saturday Post Mortem with Chris Scholtz

by By Chris Scholtz , 6 years ago

3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on May 19.

THE STARS

CHRIS WALLER: Win his third Doomben Cup, plus the quinella, to give him 11 Group One wins for the season, leaving Darren Weir two behind in their race to be the season’s leading G1 trainer. There are only six G1 races remaining – all in Brisbane – with Waller clearly holding the whip hand. Wins in Sydney and Melbourne made it a special day for the new Hall of Fame member.

ANTHONY FREEDMAN: Going it alone has been the best thing for the training career of the middle Freedman brother. Santa Ana Lane gave him his fifth Group One win for the season with a super win in the Goodwood at Morphettville.

DAMIEN LANE: Another huge day for the hot jock with four wins on the Goodwood program at Morphettville to lead a clean sweep of the program by Melbourne-based jockeys. He picked up one of his wins from a luckless Dean Yendall who lost the mount on Yogi due to a flight delay from Melbourne.

BOOM TIME: Class prevailed when the Caulfield Cup winner killed his rivals at Flemington carrying 59kg. He would have the Brisbane Cup on a platter but he’s going for a break until the spring.

WILLIAM PIKE: Another fill up for followers of Perth’s leading jockey with his four wins at Ascot extending his lead in the national riding premiership. Pike has won 155 races this season, 14 clear of Brenton Avdulla.

HIGHLIGHTS

DARREN WEIR: The machine rolls on with another five wins for the stable in Melbourne and Adelaide.

SEEING RED: Was there a bookie still standing at Newcastle after the first six favourites – including five at odds on – rolled home in the first six races at Broadmeadow. The early quaddie paid a massive $5.20!

KRIS LEES: Played his part in the Newcastle rout training four of the eight winners.

JEFF LLOYD: Took the riding spotlight on the big day at Doomben with three winners.

PETER AND PAUL SNOWDEN: They were the leading trainers at Doomben with a double and kept things ticking over in Sydney with a win at Rosehill.

LACHLAN KING: The 19-year-old apprentice son of Melbourne Cup winner Steven King rides his first city double at Flemington.

SIN BIN

SO SI BON: Three strikes and you’re out! Stewards have banned the serial biter from racing indefinitely after the 4YO stallion attempted to savage another horse for the third time in his recent career. Stewards have put his future in the hands of his connections, the suggestion being he will need to be gelded if he’s to have any chance of racing again.

NOEL CALLOW: Not surprisingly earned a severe reprimand from stewards after he hijacked a post-race TV interview at Flemington to plug one of his “sponsors”. There’s a time and a place….!

BRAD STEWART: Picked up a month ban at Doomben for the serious charge of reckless riding that put the favourite Chauffeur out of business at the start.

ROMAN SON/PRESS BOX: Flops of the day as favourites at Rosehill.

RIDE OF THE DAY

BEN MELHAM: Landed his third Goodwood at Morphettville with a gem on Santa Ana Lane. Split second decisions win big races and he made the right call on the backmarker at the right time to go for an inside opening at the 300m that gave the winner clear running and made all the difference at the finish.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s all about dreams and I’m lucky enough to be living one. I would encourage all young aspiring trainers and jockeys to keep following your dream.” – Chris Waller reflects on his success after his Doomben Cup quinella.

THEY SAID IT!

• “Credit to his owner Sir Owen Glenn because he didn't hesitate when I suggested gelding the horse. My head was on the block to make sure he came out of it better.” – Chris Waller on finding the key to Comin’ Through.

• “He’s a weird horse. If he put his mind to the job, he’s a Group 1 horse day in day out but he just doesn’t try. Every time I win on him it’s by a half head, a head or a nose. That’s his go.” – Comin Through’s jockey Michael Walker.

• "It's been a super season. Anthony's done a terrific job with the horses between the two stables at Mt Eliza and Flemington. He places them right and when he sets them for a race they are primed for the day." – Anthony Freedman’s racing manager Brad Taylor.

• “I'm really enjoying the day which has been aided by some quality mounts. When you're on quality athletes they can do the job for you." – Damien Lane enjoys his big day at Morphettville.

• “I probably got him wrong. It took me too long to work out he is an 1100m horse. With due respect it was the easiest race he’d been in for a long time. - three-year-olds against the older horses doesn’t really matter at this time of year.” – Albumin’s trainer Gerald Ryan.

• “He has got a big action. In the straight he is good, around the corners he gets a bit spider-like.” – Ronstar’s jockey Winona Costin wining on the big swayback.

• “We put human-like qualities in them sometimes and take it for granted they will turn up on the day and know where the winning post is.” – Gary Portelli’s take on equine psychology.

• “Since he’s come back he’s really switched on. He’s gone to the next level - a win like that lifts your confidence going into the spring.” – Ben Hayes after Boom Time’s big win at Flemington.

• “I was nervous as he’s owned by one of the biggest trainers in the land David Hayes, and I thought he was a moral. I didn’t want to get beaten - I was so focussed on getting the win I didn't want to look back in case they were right there.” – Boom Time’s rider Lachlan King.

• “He’s one of the most honest horses I’ve ever trained. He never lets me down. - last preparation he was a fringe summer horse and here we are six months later winning a winter carnival Group 3.” – I’m A Ripper’s trainer Tony Gollan.

• “Having Jeff Lloyd on board really helps. He just lifts them that last little bit.” – Tony Gollan praises the veteran jockey.

• “I watched him closely on the corner and he wanted to lay out, got on the wrong leg, then he wanted to lay in again in the straight. Something is annoying him but I don’t know what - nothing has presented itself yet.’’ – Roman Son’s trainer Richard Freedman.

• "The ball is now in their court.” Melbourne’s chief steward Robert Cram’s advice to the owners of So Si Bon.

BLACKBOOK

ARAAJA: Should have won. Good staying type.

BELFLYER: Forgive run. Worth another chance in town.

CHARLAYNE: Just needs more ground.

DAGNY: Good effort. Track pattern played against her.

SAVANNA AMOUR: Certain to improve off strong return.

MAGSTOCK: Interesting import worth following.


Racing and Sports

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ARAAJA BELFLYER CHARLAYNE DAGNY SAVANNA AMOUR MAGSTOCK

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