THE Zagreb case, concerning his scratching from Saturday's Caulfield Cup, emphasises the thread that holds horses together, particularly stayers at this time of the season. It is being put under the microscope by the new Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey. Trainer David Hayes fell foul of the rule about informing the stipes of a condition that may "ultimately" lead to a scratching. Bailey fronted Hayes when he arrived at the course regarding suggestions Zagreb had a problem. Hayes came clean about the situation that arose during the shoeing of Zagreb in racing plates. Soon after reaching Caulfield, Zagreb was examined by the club vet, found to be "mildly lame" in the off-foreleg and scratched. At first the trainer bucked at the decision but as the leg deteriorated Hayes conceded justice had been done. Stewards also questioned Murray Baker, co-trainer of Nom Du Jeu, regarding his possible failure to report "a condition" with the entire. However, they were satisfied that Nom Du Jeu had an adverse reaction to an equine influenza injection in New Zealand but on landing in Australia had recovered, confirmed by his excellent Caulfield Cup second. Still, Hayes was fined $1000 over Zagreb. We on the punting side, however, reckon if there is any doubt, a horse should come out, although the fitness regime that stayers require often makes them fray at the edges.
RESERVE JUDGMENT: Had Zagreb been withdrawn before the cut-off time on Saturday morning, Newport, the second reserve, would have made the field where he should have been anyway. After all, by most criteria, apart from the Caulfield Cup conditions, Newport, a six-year-old, was entitled to get preference over Barbaricus, the first reserve, which made the line-up due to the scratching of Kibbutz, a stablemate of Zagreb's. Newport last start had won the group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick, a race that has produced two recent Caulfield Cup winners, while Barbaricus had been beaten in the Cranbourne Cup, of inferior listed class, at his most recent outing on October 12. The Racing Victoria ratings had him on only 96 compared to Newport's 104. A four-year-old with potential, Barbaricus did well to take the minor placing after a tough run on Saturday. Maybe Newport will have better luck in the Melbourne Cup but there are no reserves, because the tote doesn't cater to more than 24 runners, a point of conjecture. "Be very clear on this, the VRC don't want it [reserves], Racing Victoria doesn't want it, no other tote in Australia wants it, and no other tote in the world wants it," Robert Nason, the managing director of Tabcorp wagering, said.
TOTE FOLLY: Freedom for bookmakers to advertise, particularly the Northern Territory corporates, has put spirit into the Melbourne spring. Yes, I'm the critic that reckons they have been having a free ride on racing and should be kicking something back into the industry. Perhaps the latest spending is sending a return through the back door but strong figures from Caulfield and Randwick can be put down to added exposure. Tabcorp, too, has cut the purse strings. Alas, again the folly of bookmakers being allowed to bet tote odds without the money going into the pool came to light on Saturday. In the Caulfield betting ring a racegoer claimed $1000 win Victorian tote from a fielder on $41 chance All The Good. The dividend was $47.70.
FRIEND INDEED: Melbourne in the spring is the Mecca for most racing enthusiasts. Walking on to Caulfield on Saturday, colleague Craig Young bumped into Des Friend, a self-funded retiree of Maitland. He'd left home bright and early to catch the 6.20am flight south from Newcastle and planned to return later in the day. Friend has been coming south at this time of the year since "the Southern Cross was regarded as the place to stay". Obviously he is a survivor and his advice to punters: "Horses are a better bet than the stock exchange." Once upon a time Sydney at Easter had a following, now diminished because of the bastardising of race dates. Melbourne has stuck to the tradition.
BLACK DAY: The all black colours of the mighty Archer surfaced again at Caulfield on Saturday carried successfully by Corey Brown on Mine Game in the first race. Early last spring Mine Game's senior part-owner Rick Jamieson applied for the colours and was granted them. Apart from Archer in 1861-62, other winners of the Big One, Tim Whiffler (1867) and Calamia (1878), also trained by Etienne De Mestre, did so under the black.
HORSE TO FOLLOW: Bernicia , from the Guy Walter stable, ended up seventh launching from a wide barrier beaten only three lengths in Saturday's Tristarc Stakes.
DISAPPOINTING: Musket , the $4.80 favourite, could finish only eighth, beaten 4.5 lengths, in the David Jones Cup at Caulfield with the only excuse being he lost his off-fore plate during the running.