26/10/2001 edition

Caulfield Cup Fiasco

1. Criticism over Jim Cassidy's ride

There's a well known saying in racing:
"Never criticise an owner's spouse and never criticise their horse."
That helps to explain why tips from owners are notoriously bad value - most have totally unrealistic expectations of their horse's ability and see the horse through rose coloured glasses. Just ask racehorse syndicators, trainers and jockeys.

Last year Jim Cassidy couldn't do anything wrong when he won the Caulfield Cup on Diatribe. Yet a couple of weeks later those crocodile thanks turned vicious and an inquiry was launched into his ride of the horse in the Melbourne Cup following complaints by Diatribe's owner after Cassidy was an unfortunate victim of circumstances.

At the time I pointed out that there was absolutely nothing wrong with Cassidy's ride. Too many people talk through their pockets and the jockey is an easy target. Cassidy of course was cleared of any wrong doing.

Apparently owner Danny Rose demanded from stewards an official explanation for Cassidy's ride on $8.00 equal favourite Inaflury in the Caulfield Cup. She finished sixth, beaten by over four lengths.

Inaflury did not settle, took off and led the field by four lengths. She ran the 800 metres between the 1600m and 800m in only 47.49 seconds, not bad time for a 1000 metres sprint!

Jim Cassidy said he changed his grip several times but could not hold Inaflury. Even after the winning post he said needed the clerk of course to help or she'd have continued galloping.

Of course, it is very easy to say that could only be an acceptable excuse from an inexperienced apprentice, not a rider of 80 Group 1 winners. But Inaflury doesn't exactly have a reputation for being the most tractable mare. The stewards found Cassidy had no case to answer.

Danny Rose, who races 30 horses, has been reported as saying that he needs to reexamine his priorities and will get out of racing. That is Danny Rose's decision.

Jim Cassidy is one of the country's leading jockeys and has one of the best winning strike rates around for a jockey in this country. He has a huge winning strike rate on favourites and is a big race jockey. I don't think anything more needs to be said.

2. Damien Oliver's protest

Damien Oliver, rider of runner-up Sky Heights who started at $9.00 protested against the ride of Scott Seamer on the winner, equal $8.00 favourite Ethereal. Oliver alleged Ethereal moved out, taking Sky Heights' running.

There was no contact between the horses, both horses were able to be ridden out in the straight and at one stage it even appeared that Sky Heights was taking Ethereal's running! As Scott Seamer correctly said, Oliver was "grasping at straws." Of course the protest was dismissed.

3. Pre-post betting on Kaapstad Way

Thousands of dollars were thrown away by punters who took short pre-post odds on Kaapstad Way, a known wet track duffer. There was a rain affected track on Saturday - the track was rated Heavy for the first race and Slow for the rest of the meeting.

Kaapstad Way was always well back in the 18 horse field and finished fifteenth, beaten by nine lengths. His starting price of $12.00 was absolutely ridiculous. He was at best a 100/1 chance in the Caulfield Cup.

If you must back horses before the day of the race, we suggest only backing horses you know can handle all track conditions.

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