The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – August 28th Edition

The Melbourne Spring Carnival was turned on its head via an “Air BnB Party”, a big boy got another big win and the racing industry lost a gem. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Melbourne Spring In Disarray

The Melbourne Jockeys Room for the Spring will be nowhere near as strong after several riders were banned for three months for breaking Victorian Covid protocols and having a party inside an Air BnB at Mornington. Jamie Kah, who recently created history when winning the Melbourne Jockey Premiership, was present, along with Ben Melham and Caulfield Cup winning rider Mark Zahra, as well as a number of other people. All riders banned will be able to return on Zipping Classic Day.

Back-To-Back For Behemoth In Memsie

The loss of Jamie Kah turned out to be gold for Brett Prebble, who got the call up to ride Behemoth in the Memsie (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday and after a real battle to establish himself post Hong Kong, he produced peach on the big boy from SA to get up and win the Memsie for the second year running, fending off another SA raider, Beau Rossa.

Vale Nini Vascotto

One of the more popular people in racing, Nini Vascatto, sadly lost her decade battle with cancer on Friday at just 44 years of age. Nini took to social media last week to let her many followers know that her condition was rapidly on the decline, showing enormous courage in letting everyone know that her time was coming. She was the social media manager for the ATC but was best known for her love for champion mare Winx, her wins on the track giving Nini that extra push to keep going til the end. Riders at Kembla on Saturday in the third race wore black armbands to honour her memory. RIP Nini.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Could go a number of ways here, but have to give credit to Gavin Bedggood and his stable. No Effort has been racing and racing very well right throughout Winter. Now the Spring is here, she was taking on some good horse flesh in the Heatherlie at Caulfield on Saturday and she led throughout for a rather strong win on dry ground, something she hates compared to wet ground. Great performance from all concerned.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

It’s been a tough week for Clayton Douglas for obvious reasons, but he looks to have a potential Derby prospect in Inverell, a sharp debut winner at Sale last Sunday. Market loved him, he sat on speed under Jamie Kah and he was far too good for them, running solid time in the process. Keen to see where he heads.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Ripping steer from John Allen aboard Ayrton in the last at Caulfield. It looked a tricky map for him, but he was able to quickly slot in one off the fence, track up beautifully and the vigour late to get the better of a hard fit/in form King Magnus was another key factor. He’s a star rider and with the suspensions to key riders, he could be a force in the Spring.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Baptism of fire for Callan Murray at Morphettville Parks on Saturday. Very good rider from South Africa that had a decent stint a couple of seasons back at Hong Kong. It was an SA debut he’d like to forget. Couple of ordinary steers without much initiative, three wide on a couple, luckless on a couple more…ugly viewing.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Mankayan – Good run from an impossible position. He’ll be winning races
Artorius – He’s spot on for the Guineas

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Pensato – Ridden far too warm and it back fired. Hopefully that hasn’t busted her and she deserves another chance
Stay Inside – Only beaten 2.2L in a race where they zipped home in 33.5. Total forgive
Mazu – 1100m isn’t his trip. He wants a rise in trip now

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Danzadel – 100% milk drinker. Peach run, there to win, but didn’t finish off
Young Rascal – Retire him please