Saturday features dominate the headlines on social media
IT was a big weekend of racing in both Sydney and Melbourne, and the feature events in both cities did not disappoint.
At Rosehill a returning runner dazzled punters, and the trainer now has one eye on the richest prize in all of racing, while at Flemington another first-up gun toppled a desperately unlucky favourite of ours at HorseBetting.com.au.
Let’s take a look at what the Twitterverse had to say on each race.
Hey Doc sprouts wings to take out Aurie’s Star
The feature race of the day was at Flemington down the straight and it did not disappoint.
The Group Three Aurie’s Star was taken out by the resuming Hey Doc, which engaged in a fantastic battle alongside the brave Cannyescent in the shadows of the post.
It is fair to say the large contingent of connections for the winner enjoyed the win.
Hey Doc's large band of connections sure know how to celebrate! pic.twitter.com/TDe9yRsasV
— FlemingtonRacecourse (@FlemingtonVRC) August 12, 2017
And the praise came for the first-up elect, but punters were quick to bemoan the lack of luck for other runners in the field.
Hey Doc – what a magnificent horse. I Am A Star held up terribly ?
— Amy Johnston (@ajbloodstock) August 12, 2017
The hard luck story for the team at HorseBetting.com.au was Cannyescent.
The five-year-old has had a brilliant preparation so far, but under Damien Oliver on Saturday we feel the champion jockey may have fallen a little too far back.
So much bad luck/rides today it's hard to cop. Cannyescent should never have been coming from last in a race with bugger all pace.
— BrisburghPhil (@BrisburghPhil) August 12, 2017
There were plenty of positives out of the race nevertheless.
One social media user believes the Hayes and Daberning-trained gelding is set for a big spring based on the numbers.
Amazing run from #Cannyescent for @SonaBloodstock yesterday, extremely unlucky with the slow tempo. 70k/ph!! #flying #bigspring pic.twitter.com/XJg2aTwb9p
— Tim Rankin (@timmyr85) August 12, 2017
While there were plenty of great stories on the track coming out of the race, one Twitter user found a disturbing discrepancy in the figures.
While numbers have been going up in terms of fees to owners and trainers, the prize money on the race has been all but frozen for the last decade.
So in 2017 Hey Doc wins $455,000 4 the Australian Guineas & $91,500 Auries Star. Had he won in 2007 he wins $455,000 & $91,000. Disgraceful pic.twitter.com/SZQwkplldw
— ralph horowitz (@rtralphy) August 13, 2017
Let’s hope shining a light on this will make Racing Victoria funnel that money back to where it belongs.
Menari aiming high after Rosebud success
Another horse making a stunning return on the weekend was Menari, which took out the feature at Rosehill.
This bloke is a serious animal #Menari ? pic.twitter.com/0UcKFZIuhI
— Adam Campton (@adamcampton) August 12, 2017
Displaying an impressive turn of foot, the horse defied recent history to take out the race.
Credit where credit is due, Menari's win was beast-like. Rosebud often won by the race fit horse. 1st up big weight, had 'em covered!
— Dean Elliott (@DeanElliott3) August 13, 2017
Never one to shy away from a big statement, trainer Gerald Ryan expressed lofty ambitions for his horse.
“I have an inkling Menari is a sprinter and I wouldn’t be frightened of taking on open class horses at weight-for-age with him,” Ryan said.
First shots (on the clock) fired for the season by Menari. Speed figure going to be ~120 from yesterday. Makings of a Group 1 animal there.
— Adam Blencowe (@NoverreMan) August 13, 2017
“He’s a big, strong colt, an exciting horse. He’s very good. I’m thinking The Everest.”
Interesting dilemma re Menari and Everest. G1 win is worth tens of millions as a stallion vs non black type $10m race. ?
— Ray Hickson (@ray_hickson) August 12, 2017
Whichever way they decide to go, we think the next star of Australian racing may have been uncovered.