29/3/2002 edition

Scott Seamer's Golden
Golden Slipper Day

Jockey Watch - the contrasting tale of two jockeys

1. Scott Seamer had a phenomenal day at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day and rode four winners.

He managed to get the Lee Freedman trained Ugachaka, who is always at short odds, to win the Fillies and Mares Group 2 Queen of the Turf Stakes over 1500 metres after the filly looked to be in trouble in the straight. He also won when he previously rode the filly on February 2.

Seamer followed up with Prince Of War in the 3YO Group 2 Tulloch Stakes over 2000 metres, ideally drawn in barrier one and way over the odds at $11.00 in the 11 horse field.

Seamer's third win in a row at Group1 Weight for Age over 2400 metres was on 2001 Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup winner, Ethereal, who looked to have no chance in the straight, well back in the field and without a run, but Seamer found a passage for her and she flew home to grab Universal Prince and Rain Gauge on the line.

Then of course there was the Golden Slipper win on Calaway Gal.

2. By contrast media hype jockey Kerrin McEvoy had a pretty ordinary day at Moonee Valley.

$3.20 favourite Dantana was wide throughout from barrier five in the nine horse 2YO Listed Leslie Froggatt Stakes over 1200 metres. Dantana finished second, beaten by Damien Oliver on Cyberiad who started at $9.00.

McEvoy followed up in the $250,000 3YO Colts and Geldings Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes by a ride that is best forgotten on the outstanding Dash For Cash who started $2.60 favourite.

From barrier one, McEvoy was completely outridden by Steven Arnold on Royal Code who won the race. McEvoy settled Dash For Cash on the pace, but on the rails and McEvoy found himself boxed in, when he went three wide early in the home straight as he tried to get out and get a run. Forget Dash For Cash went around, but don't forget the ride.

In the $125,000 Fillies and Mares Group 2 Weight for Age Sunline Stakes over 1600 metres McEvoy had the ride on class mare of the race, It's Platonic. It's Platonic had run some huge races against the males and looked very well placed back to her own sex on Weight for Age conditions, even though it looked an open race.

Barrier 13 for It's Platonic proved too much for McEvoy to handle. McEvoy eased her back after the jump. She was settled just off the pace, but wide for the entire race. Despite the ride It's Platonic took the lead early in the home straight only to be run down near the line.

We thought $7.00 was minimum fair odds for It's Platonic in the open 14 horse field. We penalised her significantly for the jockey/barrier combination. Maybe we should have penalised her even heavier for the jockey factor - especially considering she had barrier 13.

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Money talks - plunge horses
Future winners at big odds
Betting packages

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