1/2/2002 edition

Betting "Hot" Jockeys

Following that "hot" jockey

After the first at Eagle Farm was won by Motivate, ridden by top apprentice Michael Rodd, Sky Racing's Brisbane race caller Alan Thomas said:

" If you want to win money and go to the races just back everything he rides each week. You can't lose. Each Saturday he rides one, two, three, about two places. He is a dead set money making machine, Michael Rodd."

We wish it was that easy.

Michael Rodd averages a winner every six rides. That means it is not quite correct for Alan Thomas to claim that each Saturday he rides "one, two, three" winners. Does he get more than eight rides each Saturday? Now we know he doen't ride two horses in one race! Work it out for yourself - one Saturday he rides two winners from six rides, the next Saturday he rides no winners from six rides. There's his average - one winner from six rides.

So we leave it to you to work out why Alan Thomas siad what he did. But in our opinion most race callers are precisely that - race callers. They are not form experts.

Jockey who's not "hot"

What was apprentice Rhys McLeod doing vigorously riding Mystic Outlaw after only 600 metres in the last at the Moonee Valley night meeting on January 24?

McLeod then rounded the home turn 10 lengths clear of the field with Mystic Outlaw under the whip. When he passed the winning post McLeod commenced to pull up Mystic Outlaw. No doubt McLeod was feeling quite pleased. He had just won the 1200 metres race.

Shock! Horror!

Imagine what went through McLeod's mind when he saw the other runners passing him and continuing the race. It was not a 1200 metres race, but a 3000 metres race!

McLeod, who must have felt like digging a big a big hole and jumping in, then continued the race with poor Mystic Outlaw, who proceeded to run last, beaten by over 70 lengths.

For his troubles, the stewards suspended McLeod for two months. That seems a bit harsh, as McLeod, one of the better apprentices, had made a genuine error at 10.30 at night. Possibly a reflection of the long hours he had been putting in. He was also on one of the outsiders of the field who had finished last only eight days earlier.

Rhys McLeod apologised to everyone concerned. He took the penalty on the chin and decided not to appeal. As he said "Life goes on." He handled himself with a lot of maturity and dignity when talking to the media about his blunder.

To show his class he came out and rode a double at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday before commencing his suspension.

Next pages
Winning long term
Form analysis - false favourites
Money talks
Future winners at big odds
Membership information

Warning
Short Priced Tote Favourites
These are losing bets.
Look at the table below and see the percentages lost backing short priced tote favourites compared with the top official bookmaker betting ring prices.

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