Caulfield Stakes should have punters feeling deflated
THE Caulfield Stakes was billed as one of the highlight races of the Melbourne spring carnival, but punters were left flat when the final field was released.
Only three runners accepted to run in the Group 1 worth $600,000 which raised some serious questions about horse racing in Australia.
Winx is the star attraction of Australian racing and the champion mare brings in the big crowds, but how many patrons will be on course at Caulfield this Saturday to watch Winx race against only two rivals?
We questioned whether the Caulfield Stakes should have gone ahead with only three starters, but there is a rule in place which protects black type races.
“For a regular race to go ahead in Victoria they require five acceptors. Any group or listed race in Victoria will go ahead with whatever number of horses have accepted, even if it is below five,” Racing Victoria said.
The other two runners are Black Heart Bart and He Or She. Black Heart Bart deserves the right to be taken seriously having won the Group 1 Memsie and Group 1 Underwood this preparation, but it still won’t make for exciting racing.
Winx is $1.15 to win at Sportsbet which is money for jam, but it doesn’t add much excitement to an occasion which could have been celebrated by the Melbourne public.
The last time Winx visited Melbourne was for the 2015 Cox Plate when it dominated a world-class field, and punters will likely have to wait till this year’s Cox Plate to see Winx in a competitive atmosphere.
Questions were asked this week about entering pacemakers into the field to boost numbers, much like they do in Europe, but all pacemakers do is mislead punters and master trainer Chris Waller agrees.
“In Europe they have certain traditions but out here, our racing is very driven by gambling, and as well I have seen far too often my second, third and even fourth favourite in a race beat my short-priced runner. No, it’s not for me,” Waller told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Victorian chief steward Terry Bailey has mixed feelings about pacemakers, but ultimately feels that team riding is not something Australian racing wants.
“Pacemakers are helpful for races to be run truly and in that way directly reduces interference in racing,” Bailey said.
“What my concern is however is integrity issues with a perception of team riding and something that major stables would be able to utilise to the detriment of smaller stables.”
For the meantime, punters will have to accept the nature of the 2016 Caulfield Stakes and we’re just hoping Black Heart Bart can at least push the mighty mare.