‘A big player’: $34 chance can run huge race in Railway Stakes

MW: Benny, there’s always talk about the Victoria vs New South Wales rivalry in racing, but the average Joe is over it. They don’t give a hoot. Do the participants care? Perhaps some, but certainly not most given prizemoney is at record levels. The Big Dance in no way takes away from the Melbourne Cup, and we saw how great The Everest and Caulfield Guineas day was when Racing NSW and the Melbourne Racing Club worked together. There are some race pattern issues still to be worked through, but until everyone gets in a room at Racing Australia headquarters, nothing will change — and that ain’t happening any time soon.

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BD: Agree, although one thing that’s a massive black eye for racing is having so many different broadcasters. If you’re a 22-year-old getting into racing, where do you look? There’s the three Sky Racing channels, Channel 7, Channel 10 (for Melbourne Cup week), racing.com — and Channel Nine looks like getting the Cup rights gig next year? It’s beyond hard to follow. And when you have rival broadcasters showing different interstate products in marquee weeks and not even referencing the other interstate product, it’s simply ridiculous. That’s why I loved the co-operation between the MRC and Racing NSW and Channel Seven on some of the big days. That was a win-win for everyone.

MW: Agree. I had a couple of people tell me the Melbourne Cup wasn’t on free-to-air TV because they just assumed it was on Channel 7. It appears some online bookmakers are demanding more and more documentation from clients, which is concerning. There was a recent example, which shocked me, where I saw a bookmaker demanded three months of wage slips or latest tax return, plus the last three months of bank statements for two credit cards. It’s pure overreach. If these demands become common practice, it will cause huge damage to the wagering industry because punters, who are already battling against higher take-outs due to rising taxes, simply won’t bother. There are rules everyone needs to abide by, but punters shouldn’t be treated like criminals.

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BD: Exactly. I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs, I don’t play the pokies, I don’t spend outrageous amounts of money on silly things — so if I want to have a bet and have the income to do it, what’s the issue? Yes, punting is a problem for some but there are already mechanisms to identify and help problem gamblers. Many gamblers are recreational punters just after a bit of fun and if they win that’s a bonus.

MW: Is it time for authorities to consider capping the number of horses a trainer can have? I know the owners pay the bills, but it’s not in the best interests of the industry for the likes of the Waller, Maher-Eustace, Godolphin and Waterhouse-Bott stables to plunder most of the prizemoney in Australia. Do some stables really need up to 1000 horses on their books? There are now 6-8 super stables dominating Australian racing, which makes it extremely difficult for the small to mid-sized stables to make ends meet. The way the industry operates, the rich are only getting richer. Not including what they’ve earnt from training fees, Waller’s 10 per cent slice of prizemoney less than four months into the season is $2.7 million while Maher-Eustace’s is $1.9 million. Joe Pride ($1.4 million) had a huge boost courtesy of The Everest, but these are numbers the small to mid-sized stables can only dream of. Capping horses is potentially a slippery slope to go down but more equality in racing will benefit everyone — punters included.

BD: You’ve conjured up some ridiculous ideas in this column, but that’s the worst. I agree more money should feed into maiden races and entry-point levels of the industry. But as a trainer, if you’re talented enough to have a super stable then good on you. Trainers have to start somewhere. There was a time when Chris Waller was just a battler doing his best.

MW: Sounds like us! Group 1 racing heads to a very hot Perth on Saturday for the Railway Stakes. It’s not the strongest rendition. If Roots turns up she’s the one to beat despite the wide gate. Her win in the Hot Danish was elite (her figures backed that up) and fourth-up over 1600m should be perfect. She’s only carrying 1kg above the minimum. The other one I’m keen on each-way at as much as $34 is The Velvet Queen. Her splits first-up in the Lee Steere (fastest last 800m, 600m and 400m) were excellent after being shuffled back along the rail, and then having to make a wide run on straightening. The step up to 1600m is ideal. She’s a big player and is crazy odds.

BD: Given the scorching temperatures in Perth, it’d pay to get some mounting yard mail because some of these Railway contenders will be in muck lathers before the start of the race. Therefore, I’m going with a local playing on their home ground and familiar with the heat. Alsephina looks the real deal, she’s trained by the masters Grant and Alana Williams and has the wizard Willie Pike on board. She’s won nine from 13 and never been unplaced so you’ll get a run for your money.

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MW: The Gong … the $1 million The Gong! I’ve always loved the name of this race. For those who say extra prizemoney doesn’t attract quality fields only need to look at The Gong. He hasn’t won for over a year, but Waterford can break the drought. He’s been racing really well, he’s down in the weights and he’s drawn low to get a suck run. If he gets the splits at the right time, he’ll be in the finish. Great each-way play around $8. The $500,000 Cranbourne Cup. Hmmmmm. Fair to say it’s lacking in depth. Foxy Cleopatra ran really well first-up behind Skew Wiff who then ran well in the Rupert Clarke. She’s trained on the track, drawn well and is on the minimum with Willo aboard. She’s the one.

BD: I’ll save my shekels on those races and instead play a futures bet in the Group 1 Winterbottom in Perth on Saturday week. The win of outstanding WA three-year-old Ripcord in the Placed Ark simply had to be seen to be believed. Watch it below! He’s currently $9 or better in the Winterbottom and all signs are that he’ll line up and give it a mighty shake.

Originally published as Matt Williams and Ben Dorries column: $34 chance a ‘big player’ in Group 1 Railway Stakes