Time called on Smolda
ONE: Courage in his blood
Great champions find a way to overcome adversity and there is no doubt that Smolda will retire a great champion. Trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen along with Smolda’s owners Phil and Glenys Kennard, Marcus Kirkwood and Neil Pilcher have made the decision to retire the champion pacer, by Courage Under Fire, on veterinary advice after the recurrence of an old leg injury. The reigning Inter Dominion champion finishes his career with more than $2.5 million in stake earnings and 32 race wins from 68 starts. A solid return on his A$55,000 purchase price as a yearling. It seems a lifetime ago now, but there was some thought to retiring Smolda in the 2014-15 season when he was struggling for form due to a virus and niggles but he fought back to produce the biggest wins of his career. Smolda was known for his speed but he was one tough horse. Happy retirement champ. TWO: Six of the best Sure Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs may have had a few things in their favour at Ruakaka on Saturday but that does not always translate to winning races. The Logan and Gibbs training partnership won six of the nine races on their home track. They had to share one when Toorak Tower and Creative Genius dead-heated for first in race seven but ask any trainer in the world and they will tell you winning six out of nine races is something to be celebrated long into the night. Of the Kiwi trainers who have had more than 100 starters, the Logan-Gibbs team have the second best strike rate behind premiership leaders Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. Logan and Gibbs now now sit fifth on the trainers’ premiership,
THREE: Record Breaking driver almost pulls off upset in Queensland
Dexter Dunn was not content to hang around and celebrate his new season record of 221 wins and 2000th career victory on Friday night. Just hours after Dunn broke his own season record and drove his 2000th New Zealand winner in the same race, he was on a flight to Brisbane. His quest for a perfect weekend came up just short when he and the Tim Butt-trained Field Marshal finished second, half a length behind Hectorjayjay, in the Group II Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park on Saturday night. Dunn, who is already assured of winning his 10th consecutive drivers’ premiership, is the fifth driver to drive 2000 winners in New Zealand.
FOUR: Finishing second has never looked so good
Alysha Collett’s premiership pursuit of Chris Johnson is likely to come up just short but her breakout year should not go unnoticed. Her four winners at Ruakaka on Saturday took her season tally to 94. Not bad for a jockey who rode just 88 winners combined in the four previous seasons. Her previous best was 58 back in the 2011-12 season. This season she has won more than $1.8 million in stakes with a strong strike rate of a win every 8.4 rides. She currently sits second equal on the premiership table with Danielle Johnson but stands a strong chance of finishing second. Nobody likes finishing second, or possibly third, but take a bow Alysha Collett, it has been a season to remember.
FIVE: Seriously, how good is Ric McIntosh?
The Victorian country race caller is famous around the racing world for his calls, especially jumps racing at Warrnambool aka the ‘Bool, and he did not disappoint in Sunday’s Thackeray Steeplechase. McIntosh puts in maximum effort, to the extent he sounds like he is going to rip his vocal cords to shreds. His legendary status grew even further back in May when he took a deep breath mid-way through the Grand Annual Steeplechase and let out the line ‘‘seriously, how bloody good is the ‘Bool?’’ The ‘Bool might be good but seriously, how good is Ric McIntosh? The Thackeray was won by the Kiwi owned Zed Em. He was formally trained by Kevin Myers.