Anger cools as meeting saved
NEW Zealand racing has again been hit for six with the abandonment of Saturday’s Manawatu meeting.
It continues a trend of disastrous abandonments which are increasingly hitting at the core of the industry.
Opportunities are being lost to the industry participants as Awapuni joins a run of recent cancellations including the Wanganui Cup meeting on November 26.
The Cambridge meeting at Te Rapa on November 20 was rescheduled when strong winds blew over a large part of the running rail.
The abandonment comes at the end of a week in which 39mm of rain had fallen up until Thursday night and the track had improved from a Dead 6 on Friday morning to Dead 4 on race morning morning.
Had the meeting not been rescheduled for Sunday, industry shareholders would have lost the chance to compete for $325,000 in stake money and two black-type races, so important to owners and the breeding industry.
Lush spring grass growth and changeable seasonal weather were blamed for the slippery Awapuni track surface.
The unsuitable conditions almost sent Lucyinrio and jockey Johnathan Parkes crashing to the ground with about 900 metres of the first of the day’s races left to run.
Parkes thought he was gone but Lucyinrio managed to scramble out of a tricky situation.
‘‘That was as bad as you see a horse slipping without falling,’’ said chairman of stipendiary stewards John Oatham.
After the close call officials, track staff and a contingent of senior jockeys went to the trouble spot for an inspection.
The club requested permission from stewards to undertake slicing of the affected area which was granted and initially the programme was put back by one race.
A further inspection followed before the call to abandon was made to the frustration of everyone involved.
Planning began immediately to reschedule the remaining seven races for Sunday, with the intention to move the rail out to the four-metre point on which the first day of the meeting was staged last Saturday.
The rail had been moved to the true position and the issue was with the new strip of ground on Race Images the inside.
‘‘As we know safety comes first,’’ Oatham said.
After the work had been done Oatham said it was difficult for anyone to be satisfied that the problem had been remedied.
‘‘We would be wanting complete confidence that all riders could go out and ride their mounts to the best of their ability to give all connections, punters et cetera a fair go.
‘‘Although it was a decision noone wanted to make, at the end of the day it was the only viable option for us.’’
The announcement of the abandonment met with anger among many at the track but participants, particularly owners and trainers, cooled down a little when news filtered through that the races would run on Sunday.
Despite the news Matamata trainer Graham Richardson was counting the cost and questioning how the situation arose as he organised an unscheduled overnight stay in Palmerston North for his two horses. WITH every drop of rain at Randwick in the week leading up to the Christmas Cup, the chances of veteran Destiny’s Kiss winding back the clock grew.
Almost 45mm of rain soaked Randwick in the week leading up to yesterday’s Listed race over 2400m and the eight-year-old relished the heavy going, winning by 11⁄ lengths.
Of Destiny’s Kiss’ 13 wins, 11 have come on rain-affected tracks.
Trainer Joe Pride said the diminutive stayer was all courage.
‘‘He’s a marvel isn’t he?’’ Pride said.
‘‘You put him on a wet track and he’s a different horse.’’
In-form jockey Josh Parr collected another stakes victory and his 54th winner on NSW tracks for the season, putting him equal top in the state’s premiership alongside Brenton Avdulla.
After showing no speed from the gates, Destiny’s Kiss, a $5 chance, settled last.
At the 600m mark Parr decided to make his move, circling the field and powering down the outside to beat fellow veteran Iggi Pop ($4.80 fav) who edged out Danjeu ($12) for second.
‘‘It doesn’t take a genius to realise how good he is on a wet track. His form is just phenomenal,’’ Parr said.
‘‘The horse felt great a long way from home. He’s just a tough little bugger.’’
A home-bred by Power Of Destiny, Destiny’s Kiss has now returned more than $850,000 for owner Nick Moratis.
Pride was also pleased with Destiny’s Kiss’ emerging stablemate My Psychiatrist who battled on for fourth after setting the pace. ● Trainer Bruce Hill has always had a huge opinion of Man Of His Word but he has not always lived up to those beliefs.
But yesterday, Man Of His Word convinced his trainer and punters he had finally learned what racing was about after coming from last to win the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
The usually subdued Hill was visibly delighted by Man Of His Word ($4.80) charging through the pack to beat Cylinder Beach ($2.80) by 1 3/4 lengths.
‘‘Man of His Word had to come from last today but I have been saying there are few horses who can sprint like him at the end of his races,’’ Hill sad.
‘‘Maybe the penny has finally dropped. As I have said several times he isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed but on potential he is a topliner.’’
‘ Although it was a decision no-one wanted to make, at the end of the day it was the only viable option for us.’ STIPENDIARY STEWARD JOHN OATHAM.