Randwick around the track with Clinton Payne on Saturday

Clinton Payne - Saturday September 30

International riding superstar Joao Moreira was in town on Saturday but he again left Randwick winless while an old fox stole the show with a great ride to claim another Group I.

When's my plane leave? Photo: Steve Hart

MOREIRA’S NICKNAME A MIRAGE IN SYDNEY

Throughout the racing world champion jockey Joao Moreira is known as the ‘Magic Man’ but when he comes to Sydney the title is an illusion.

Moreira’s nine winless rides at Randwick on Saturday took his career record in the harbour city to 10 winners from 108 rides at a winning strike rate of 9.25 percent.

One punter at the back of the Randwick grandstand was calling out "Joao, Joao” prior to the Epsom Handicap and the always smiling Moreira looked in his direction before the punter gave him a message.

"We’d love you if you rode better,” he said

Moreira’s Sydney record is well below his numbers this season – 28 winners from 125 rides at 22.4 percent – and last season – 200 winners from 853 rides at 23.46 percent.

Maybe he just doesn’t like Australia?

In Victoria, his record stands at nine winners from 55 rides at 16.36 percent.

One thing I’ve learnt in sport is when a champion is under pressure, that’s usually when they perform best. So you could do worse things than follow Moreira when he returns during the spring.

TAKE THAT KNOCKERS

Experienced jockey Glyn Schofield probably cops more flak from punters than any other Australian jockey but if you need a job done in a Group I race – dial Glyn.

Schofield regularly comes in for plenty of criticism in punting circles on social media and in racing forums but the veteran horseman has shown time and time again, he’s got what it takes when the stakes are high.

Two seasons ago only Hugh Bowman won more Group I races that Schofield and last season he won a Victoria Derby and a Canterbury Stakes.

Trainer James Cummings has been one of Schofield’s biggest supporters over the past couple of seasons so it was only fitting that a Schofield gem,\ delivered Alizee to the line first in the Flight Stakes to give the trainer his first Group I for Godolphin.

WHERE TO NEXT FOR EGG TART?

Champion trainer Chris Waller remains uncommitted to an upcoming race for his dual Group I-winner Egg Tart as the mare continues to be treated for an eye infection.

Egg Tart was scratched from the Epsom Handicap on Friday after failing to pass a vet inspection.

Waller said Egg Tart has been put back on a treatment program of "anti-inflammatory medication and stronger medicines” to help the mare overcome the infection.

"We are hopeful the treatment will quickly bring the eye under control, enabling her to trial next week and return to racing in two weeks’ time,” Waller said.

"There has not been a race programmed until she is 100%.”

In Melbourne, the Group I Toorak Handicap (1600m) is the most suitable option for Egg Tart in the Australian racing calendar on October 14.

WOULD YOU SEE A BETTER 10TH?

I challenge anyone to find a better performance by a horse that finished 10th than the effort produced by Bold Arial in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly missed the start before being held up for clear running over the last 300m before finishing 3-3/4 lengths from the winner Satin Slipper.

"She went great,” jockey Adam Hyeronimus said. "She gave them a few lengths start and then the horses around me in the straight went nowhere.

"I think if she got out she would have sprinted like she did in the trial and I reckon she’d have been in the finish.”

If you backed Bold Arial, look away now, but if you haven’t seen the race, she carries the navy, gold and white silks with a white cap.

AND THEN THERE WAS 11

Slot owner Damion Flower will announce his The Everest representative on the Thoroughbred Weekly program on Sky Thoroughbred Central at 9am on Sunday morning.

Flower and Coolmore hold the two remaining places in the 12-horse field for the $10 million weight-for-age contest over 1200m at Randwick on October 14.

Prior to Saturday’s Group II Premiere Stakes (1200m) the talk at Randwick was Flower’s slot was likely to come down to Clearly Innocent or Moir Stakes runner-up Viddora, but the win of In Her Time shot her into prominence while Clearly Innocent was far from disgraced finishing third.

All will be revealed after 9am on Sunday.

COULD IT BE A WET TRACK FOR THE EVEREST?

It’s been untraditionally dry at Randwick since the middle of August but could that be set to change in two weeks time for the inaugural running of the $10 million The Everest?

The 14-day forecast of theweathernetwork.com.au shows there’s a chance of rainfall on three of the four days leading up to the October 14 meeting.

The forecast indicates an 80 percent chance of 5mm on Tuesday, October 10, a 40 percent possibility of 15 to 20mm on Wednesday with a 90 percent likelihood of 5-10mm on the Thursday, 48 hours out from the raceday.

WHAT TEAM WINS THE RUGBY LEAGUE GRAND FINAL?

We went around the grounds on Saturday to find out who’s tipping what in Sunday’s NRL rugby league grand final.

Here are the jockeys, trainers and other racing participants tips for the NRL rugby league grand final;

Tipster

Winner

Winning margin

Chris Waller

Melbourne Storm

10 points

Gai Waterhouse

Melbourne Storm

10 points

Darren Weir

Melbourne Storm

20 points

John O’Shea

North Queensland Cowboys

2 points

Gary Portelli

Melbourne Storm

20 points

Hugh Bowman

Melbourne Storm

16 points

Kerrin McEvoy

Melbourne Storm

24 points

Tommy Berry

Melbourne Storm

16 points

Joao Moreira

North Queensland Cowboys

6 points

Glen Boss

North Queensland Cowboys

1 point

Darren Beadman

Melbourne Storm

9 points

Marc Van Gestel (chief steward)

North Queensland Cowboys

8 points

Darren Pearce (ATC CEO)

Melbourne Storm

16 points

Max Presnell

Melbourne Storm

12 points

Lindsay Murphy (ATC track manager)

Melbourne Storm

30 points

 

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