Carnival ends... and I can't wait for 2009
November 09, 2008
Not only is Bart Cummings a genius with stayers but he's just as good with sprinters which was evident as Swick swept to Group One win number 251.
Swick is an excellent straight track horse and when he was given the run of the race he was able to produce the sprint he has done regularly in the past at Flemington.
The disappointment of the day was, however, Apache Cat.
He was chasing six consecutive Group One victories - never before achieved in Australian racing - but unfortunately couldn't complete the feat. Both trainer and jockey were at a loss to explain his poor run.
All Silent broke a nine-year Group One duck for Grahame Begg as he ran to victory in the Emirates Stakes.
The horse had run well on Derby Day, drew a great barrier yesterday and given a terrific ride by Dwayne Dunn.
He just ran away from the rest at the end and showed potential to be really outstanding in the future.
Bart's achievement was the clear standout of the week and probably the year of racing after what he accomplished with Viewed.
The man is a living legend and we should never take him for granted.
We are lucky to be around to see this era because I can't see the likes of this happening again. No one will be able to win 12 Melbourne Cups – Bart, however, may make it 13.
Claire Lindop’s Derby ride on Rebel Raider was the other great highlight for me.
Female jockeys have been much maligned in the past and she did a lot in the way of blazing a trail – a fantastic achievement for her.
Chris Lees' ride on Samantha Miss was also a standout. She is clearly the best three-year-old in Australia and she proved it during the Oaks.
The Carnival overall was spectacular and it was great to see turn outs if up to 81,000 a day, and 400,000 for the week, during these gloomy economic times.
The VRC did a great job and were further blessed with excellent weather for the duration - the rain finally falling 15 minutes after the last race.
The performance of the international horses during the Melbourne Cup will be a talking point for some time yet.
Although it was a disappointment I see it as a turning point for future campaigns.
It was a let down the way Septimus, Honolulu and Alessandro Volta ran in the Cup but Aidan O'Brien will re-examine what he's going to do and what kind of horse he’s going to bring out in future.
The silver lining is that, in years to come in may turn into a positive for the race that O'Brien rates as a real spectacle of racing
Swick is an excellent straight track horse and when he was given the run of the race he was able to produce the sprint he has done regularly in the past at Flemington.
The disappointment of the day was, however, Apache Cat.
He was chasing six consecutive Group One victories - never before achieved in Australian racing - but unfortunately couldn't complete the feat. Both trainer and jockey were at a loss to explain his poor run.
All Silent broke a nine-year Group One duck for Grahame Begg as he ran to victory in the Emirates Stakes.
The horse had run well on Derby Day, drew a great barrier yesterday and given a terrific ride by Dwayne Dunn.
He just ran away from the rest at the end and showed potential to be really outstanding in the future.
Bart's achievement was the clear standout of the week and probably the year of racing after what he accomplished with Viewed.
The man is a living legend and we should never take him for granted.
We are lucky to be around to see this era because I can't see the likes of this happening again. No one will be able to win 12 Melbourne Cups – Bart, however, may make it 13.
Claire Lindop’s Derby ride on Rebel Raider was the other great highlight for me.
Female jockeys have been much maligned in the past and she did a lot in the way of blazing a trail – a fantastic achievement for her.
Chris Lees' ride on Samantha Miss was also a standout. She is clearly the best three-year-old in Australia and she proved it during the Oaks.
The Carnival overall was spectacular and it was great to see turn outs if up to 81,000 a day, and 400,000 for the week, during these gloomy economic times.
The VRC did a great job and were further blessed with excellent weather for the duration - the rain finally falling 15 minutes after the last race.
The performance of the international horses during the Melbourne Cup will be a talking point for some time yet.
Although it was a disappointment I see it as a turning point for future campaigns.
It was a let down the way Septimus, Honolulu and Alessandro Volta ran in the Cup but Aidan O'Brien will re-examine what he's going to do and what kind of horse he’s going to bring out in future.
The silver lining is that, in years to come in may turn into a positive for the race that O'Brien rates as a real spectacle of racing
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