Racing’s five talking points
Winx and the Group I grove of the Baker-Forsman partnership provided the highs but there were no shortage of tragedies in the racing world over the weekend. Here’s our five main talking points.
One: Murray Baker is one of the greats
Australian media were quick to compare the Cambridge trainer to Bart Cummings for his personality rather than his training abilities but he is not that far from the Australian great in terms of success either.
Within 10 minutes, Baker and training partner Andrew Forsman won Group I races on either side of the Tasman on Saturday.
Charmont’s victory in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Rapa was quickly overshadowed by Bonneval’s victory in the Australian Oaks.
Following on from Jon Snow’s Australian Derby victory, Baker and Forsman join Clarry Conners and Tommy Smith in the elite club of trainers who have won the Australian Derby-Oaks double in the same year.
Conners achieved the double with Research in 1989 and Smith with Kingston Town and Lowan Star in 1980.
Two: Winx, the closest thing you will see to an All Black playing in the under-12’s
She’s simply too good and on Saturday she took her earnings to just a few thousand dollars short of $13 million with her 17th consecutive win.
Even her usually calm and cool Kiwi trainer Chris Waller was struggling to fight back the tears following the five and a quarter length victory.
Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner is heading for a break but will be back in the spring aiming for her third Cox Plate and you wouldn’t want to bet against her.
If she returns in the same form as a then six-year-old next season, there is no telling how many more millions she could win and where in the world she will do it. but it was 100 per cent right in terms of safety and integrity. Half the field pulled up and half kept going.
The shame some people brought upon themselves with narrowminded and inconsiderate criticism of the decision was nothing short of embarrassing.
Some, like Corey Brown, whose mount Polarisation was eventually first past the post, were talking out of pure frustration which is almost understandable.
Every jockey was able to go home to their families and surely the horrible news of the Darren Jones death, that became known shortly after the controversy, was enough to make some realise the shame they brought on themselves by moaning about the decision.
Five: Form is temporary class is permanent