Some Observations From Blue Diamond Stakes Day

Firstly a quick update on our selection service. So far we have had 78 selections, for 38 winners at an average winning price of $2.71. A profit of over 30% on turnover at level stakes. PASS has now been in operation for enarly 4 months, so it is fairly obvious good profits can be made from supporting our selections and horses to follow.

We have had a good week here at PASS. Three of our last four selections have saluted, with Crosswise doing the job impressively for our members yesterday. We also encouraged them to have something each way on Bon Hoffa who ran a mighty second to Apache Cat in the Carylyon Cup at $15. A great effort after a wide run, and he is a horse to follow.

Caulfield race course yesterday hosted a vast array of thoroughbred horse talent with the running of Group 1 Blue Diamod Stakes & Oakleigh Plate. There were also several other group races on the 9 event program.

Congratulations must go again to David Hayes, who quinellered the Group 1 2yo race with Sleek Chasis and Zizou. Hayes had 5 starters in all, and looked to have a mortgage on the race and that is how it turned out. Hayes certainly has many more horses in work than any other trainer in Australia, especially two year olds, and one has to wonder how many fell by the wayside in preparation for this years 2yo Classics. With plans afoot now for both winner and runner up to head to Sydney for the Golden Slipper it will be interesting to see if they can stand up to racing and maintain their form. It is almost impossible these days to win a Blue Diamond and a Golden Slipper in the same year with the same horse, as tough a challenge as it is. The Golden Slipper is still 5 weeks away, and to keep a young still growing 2yo sound and and peaking for that period of time is an almighty task. But if anyone can do it, then David Hayes would have to be your man.

Big prizemoney dominates 2yo racing in 2007, and you can't blame owners and trainers for chasing the money on offer. However one has to wonder how detrimental racing 2yos so much so young is to their health. It is most unusual to see good 2yos continue racing through to 4,5 or even 6 you nowadays. But I suppose with the money on offer for 2yo races, do owners and trainers really care? And the detriment to Australian staying races, due to so many 2yos being over raced, is becoming increasingly obvious. You don't just have to look at the 2006 Melbourne Cup, look at todays $166,000 Gosford Cup. Only 9 final runners, and although most have plenty of ability, the majority have had plenty of chances as well. Must be very disappointing for the GRC to see their number one event with such a small field. And what about Queensland, Northern Territory & country areas of NSW? Race clubs don't even schedule events of distances further than 1600m. What chance does that give to staying types?

Unfortunately yearling sales, and 2yo racing are dominating the Australian turf in 2007, which does not augur well for racing future in this country.

The other issue we would like to raise from yesterday is simply about the state of the Caulfield track itself. It became eveident early in the nine race program, that jockeys were beginning to steer well clear of the inside running rail. Now very little rain had fallen on the track, or so we were told yesterday morning. However the inside section became very cut up and was a no go zone from race 4 onward. This is totally unacceptable for a major Group 1 race day. Even winners like Seachange & Apache Cat who sat on or near the speed, won travelling well off the fence in the straight. Melbourne race clubs are forced by Racing Victoria officials to have tracks on race days dead, so there is no jar in the ground. So plenty of irrigation is placed on the track in the lead up to meetings. Any minute amount of rain on the course then worsens the going, and the first place to be affected will be the inside as that is where most of the traffic evolves. We don't know whether over irrigation or unpredicted rain was the issue yesterday, whatever the reason, procedures must be put into place so this doesn't happen on a major race day again.

Think about the poor punters who spent hours on the form analysing every aspect and came up with horses drawn barrier 1 or 2. Those horses had no hope yesterday at Caulfield because they were stuck on the glue pot on the fence. And punters who rightfully discounted runners drawn wide with awkward gates, were dismayed when these horses were storming home out wide after tough runs. Punters in this day and age are treated like mushrooms. As long as they are placing bets and increasing turnover for the TAB's, nothing will ever be done to assist or support them. TAB's and race clubs are now only interested in getting punters to place bets. Gettum drunk & gettum betting, because if they don't do it here, they will do it elsewhere at pubs, clubs or casinos.

Punters should always be aware of any track bias on the day. Watch the first few races, see where the winners come from, assess in your own eyes if the inside or outside is being cut more than the other. Re assess you selections as the day unfolds, and if you are not sure where the best to be really is, then don't have a bet. They run around again tomorrow, somehwere.

Anyway, Victorian race clubs please take note. Punters want good race tracks to bet on, with no track bias. Not a lot to ask, we would have thought, especially on a Group 1 race day.

So if you are having trouble finding that elusive winner, send us an email to profselections@austarnet.com.au and we will point you in the direction on how to not only enjoy what our current memebrs are enjoying, plenty of winners. But you will also learn how to find more winners, find less losers, and thoroughly enjoy your punting.

Good luck and profitable punting to all.