I didn't even bet in the race so I'm speaking from a totally neutral corner when I shake my head at the decision to uphold the last race protest at Rosehill and I'm also putting a line through a few of The Everest aspirants as having little or no hope in this week's edition of The Armchair Punter.
I'M FEELING THE PAIN OF INTERLOCUTER PLUNGE PUNTERS
Punters who backed Interlocuter off the map from $4.80 into $3 in the last at Rosehill would have been sick when the protest of runner-up Wayanka was upheld, and I reckon they should be.
I've watched the replay on numerous occasions and I'm still to be convinced there was enough in the interference for the result to be overturned.
Stewards reported Interlocuter shifted out at the 300m which resulted in Wayanka missing the run between the favourite and outsider Cosmopol.
Sure Interlocuter shifted out but to my eye Cosmopol also appeared to make some contribution to the run closing and it was hardly knock 'em down, drag 'em out stuff.
On the line Interlocuter was holding Wayanka and for mine should have retained the race. Whatever happened to possession being nine-tenths of the law?
The interference was deemed so serious Tye Angland only copped a reprimand and for the record I never had a bet on the race so I'm not talking through my kick.
That's a huge win! Interlocuter overcomes plenty of adversity to reign supreme in the last of the day at #Rosehill. pic.twitter.com/VxBYlIIuUo
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 9, 2017
JOSH PARR 10-OUT-0F-10 FOR HIS 3-OUT-OF-3
Josh Parr is riding like a man possessed and without question is the jockey of the moment after a stellar performance at Rosehill on Saturday.
He rode three winners from just three rides but it's the manner in which he goes about business which is making him a standout and catapulting him deservedly into the spotlight.
Taking out the Stan Fox, Theo Marks and Run To The Rose aboard Gold Standard, Deploy and Menari the 'smiling assassin' turned in a 10-out-of-10 ride on each occasion.
His enthusiasm is contagious and provides a breath of fresh-air when interviewed at any time pre, or post-race.
3⃣ from 3⃣ ... What a day for @JoshuaParr8! Now onto the #GoldenRose with Menari. pic.twitter.com/Q9ra2iN9B9
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 9, 2017
HIGHS AND LOWS FOR BAKER AND FORSMAN IN DATO
Prior to heading to Australia for the spring the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained gallopers Bonneval and Lizzie L'Amour trialled in the same heat with the latter leaving Bonneval well in her wake.
It was an outstanding trial so expectations were high for the Dato Tan Chin Nam last Saturday however the relative performances were certainly chalk-and-cheese to what the trial watchers expected.
Surprisingly Bonneval was the one who was well backed out of the two stablemates but the money was right with the dual Oaks winner winning impressively.
Languishing out the back was Lizzie L'Amour, eased out of the race by Damien Oliver who believed all wasn't right with the mare.
The initial post-race veterinary examination revealed nothing but further examination revealed atrial fibrillation and for now Lizzie L'Amour will need to overcome a few medical examinations before we see the Group I winning five-year-old again this spring.
If we do see her again this spring and she's over last Saturday's issues she's pretty smart miss Lizzie.
SATURDAY ANSWERED SOME EVEREST QUERIES FOR ME
The Everest is now looming large, just over a month away so the pieces are certainly falling into place on a weekly basis.
What did we find out last weekend? Well I reckon we found out that Brave Smash won't measure up considering, even though he had a wide run he only just got home beating the likes of El Divino and Revolving Door who wouldn't be allowed near Randwick on Everest day.
Houtzen was extremely brave when fighting on for third behind Russian Revolution in the McEwen Stakes but I reckon the mountain may be a bit too high for her.
The winner though, he's getting better all the time and his tough win made me think back to The Galaxy in the autumn when he narrowly defeated Redzel.
On that occasion he turned in a sensational performance and since then has taken his game to an even higher level but so too has Redzel who is unbeaten in three starts since. The two of them are deservedly in contention.
However, if there was one standout for mine from an Everest point-of-view it was three-year-old Menari who I'd love to see there on the big day.
He's big and strong and getting better every time he goes around and the bookies certainly took note elevating him to third favourite for the Everest after winning Saturday's Run To The Rose.
Sportsbet now have Menari at $5.50 behind Chautauqua ($4.80) and Vega Magic ($5) while Redzel, Russian Revolution and Brave Smash are all $11 with Houtzen sliding down the markets and is now a $17 chance.
Brave Smash clings on to claim the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Stakes. Santa Ana Lane, wowee! 😲 pic.twitter.com/pGHVAfYw1q
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 9, 2017
KEN RUSSELL HONOURED WITH HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
Saturday night I was lucky enough to be at the annual Queensland Racing Awards night and was honoured to represent Racenet in announcing Ken Russell's induction into the Hall of Fame.
Ken was a great mate of mine and I couldn't believe it was 24 years since he died so tragically in a race fall at Rosehill.
He was also a great friend of Glenn Robbins, one of the Racenet co-founders and talking to Ken's wife Carol she certainly felt it apt the Half Of Fame honour was sponsored by Racenet and announced by one of his friends.
Personally, it was very humbling to be the one who made the announcement. You'd go a long way to meet a better bloke than the man known as "farmer" and his Hall of Fame honour was certainly much deserved.
ONE TO FOLLOW
It might be stating the obvious but Bonneval will do me after Saturday's performance.
I questioned whether she'd be ready for the Dato but she was ready alright.
After watching her New Zealand performances last autumn I fell for her big time and she backed it up with a brilliant win in the ATC Oaks.
Saturday's win made it five straight and she's going to be hard to beat in anything she contests from here on in and may well follow in the footsteps of Ethereal in 2001 taking out the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.
ONE TO FORGET
I'm no horse trainer but I must say I was surprised to see Champagne Stakes winner The Mission kicking off his spring campaign over 1500m last Saturday in what appeared to be a mission impossible.
Last time in training he won the 1600m Champagne Stakes at Randwick at his seventh start of the preparation but he had kicked off in a 900m event at Newcastle that time around.
Previously his debut performance was in the 1000m Breeders Plate at Randwick when highly fancied but he finished down the track.
The Mission is a keen going colt who races in blinkers so it was no surprise to see him charge forward on Saturday, as was expected but it was also no surprise to see him weaken when he ran out of gas at the 200m first up at the 1500m.
Understanding the weight conditions may have suited in Saturday's race but I'm more worried about what the run did for the remainder of this preparation. Even this early out in his soring campaign I'm saying leave me out of him.
.@JoshuaParr8 pilots Gold Standard to victory in the G2 Stan Fox Stakes at #Rosehill for @GaiWaterhouse1. pic.twitter.com/vSXATf6FXE
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 9, 2017
