What exactly was jockey James McDonald thinking?
AN act, which can only be described as stupidity, has seen Sydney jockey James McDonald land in hot water this week.
The champion rider has stood himself down from riding after he was charged for having an interest in a bet. The horse in question was Golden Rose-winner Astern, which won on debut at Randwick.
The flashy colt won easily by 2.5 lengths and was well-backed late in the market – most probably because “J-Mac” had a little something riding on the result.
It’s a disappointing turn for McDonald, who has won enough money to fatten his wallet nicely, so why get involved?
Have the bright lights of Sydney caused this once-humble jockey from New Zealand to lose the plot?
This is not something a world-class organisation like Godolphin will want on its resume. Expect McDonald to be shipped off to Dubai to have a chat with Sheikh Mohammed who, with AK-47-wielding security guards at his side, will no doubt set McDonald on the straight and narrow.
We’re predicting, regardless of the outcome of the investigation, that McDonald will have to peg back on the exuberance and he’ll be hoping punters can forgive him, like we forgave Damien Oliver for his serious blunder in 2012.
Beware the pessimistic trainer
Sticking with the New Zealand theme – Kiwi trainer Allan Sharrock believes Kawi is weighted out of contention in the Group 1 Railway Stakes this Saturday.
Our advice is to always becautious of the pessimistic trainer.
Kawi has been allotted 58.5kg for the Perth feature this Saturday and the bookmakers have subsequently eased its odds to $18, but despite the handicap, Kawi is a legitimate winning chance, despite what you may have heard.
Sharrock seemingly takes enjoyment out of offering excuses for his runners prior to the race. He did it throughout Kawi’s 2015 campaign and he’s doing it again this year.
Trainers have to be careful when stating that their horse can’t win. The owners hate it, the jockey hates it and the punters which are already invested in the horse start counting their losses.
“I honestly can’t see him winning at the weights,” Sharrock said earlier in the week.
Well, thanks Allan! So what happens if Kawi does win? A well-known New Zealand trainer once made the mistake of saying a horse couldn’t win, only to be found gambling on the horse prior to that race.
That was prominent South Island trainer Kevin Myers, who now refuses to talk to media after he told local broadcaster Trackside that his jumper, Stacey Jones, could not win the race.
That’s a risk to take as a trainer, but even more so when you’re pulling the wool over punters’ eyes.
We’re not accusing Sharrock of foul play here, far from it in fact, but it won’t be a good look if Kawi comes out and wins the Railway on Saturday.
Punters have been warned.
Social media meltdown
How often do we see coaches of sports teams putting a ban on social media for its players?
It happens a lot, mostly because social media education wasn’t at the forefront of their university studies. Now that same rule applies for those involved in horse racing.
Australian Bloodstock co-director Luke Murrell landed in hot water after posting on Facebook, questioning Chris Waller and team-riding.
Murrell pondered whether team-riding tactics had been used by Chris Waller in a race at Canterbury on October 26 where the Waller-trained Zourhkan had settled closer to the pace than it usually does.
The solid tempo allowed stablemates Montauk and Estikhraaj to quinella the race and Murrell was salty post-race.
“…today he (Zourkhan) is ridden to ensure speed in the race for the stablemates who fight the finish out and Zourkhan the pest runs tailed out,” Murrell’s Facebook post said in part.
Even if you think a team-riding tactic was used, taking your curiosities public is hardly an advisable decision.
There is some doubt whether Waller uses one of his six horses in every Sydney race as a pacemaker, but there’s no way of proving that and Murrell has since apologised for his comments.