3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on August 5.

THE STARS

JIM BYRNE: He will hate being described as a veteran but his dashing form in the saddle at present belies his age. Landed four winners at Doomben to get his season off to a flier, then grounded by a careless riding suspension!

KRIS LEES: Anybody want to argue that he’s not among the best five trainers in Australia? Comes off a personal record season of 158 wins to land a double at Randwick including the quinella in the G2 Missile Stakes. His stable goes from strength to strength.

Invincible Gem finishes over the top of stablemate Le Romain for an explosive win in the G2 Missile Stakes at #Randwick! pic.twitter.com/dh2XjHZDO3

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2017

COREY BROWN/STEPHEN BASTER : – They finished a four-day trek along the Kokoda Track and 24 hours later are back home riding winners on National Jockey Day. How fit and dedicated is that!

JORDAN TURNER: – Perth apprentice lands his first Melbourne winner at Flemington aboard Red Alto, a reward for going to Bendigo to ride work for trainer Brent Stanley.

TAYLOR MARSHALL: Former Sydney apprentice landed the upset of the year on 150/1 chance Nozomi on his first day of riding at Flemington to get his reborn career off the mark in Melbourne.

UNBELIEVABLE! Nozomi causes a huge upset courtesy of a gun ride by Taylor Marshall, his first @FlemingtonVRC winner! pic.twitter.com/xwYCcNx8jH

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 5, 2017

RAY VIGAR/GARY LEFOE: If you believe the ‘media bookies’ the Darwin jockey/trainer team pulled off a $31 to $5.50 coup in the Palmerston Sprint at Fannie Bay.

KELLY SCHWEIDA: A rare achievement for popular Brisbane trainer by winning three races at Randwick, Doomben and the Gold Coast.

The @schweidaracing-trained Shogun Sun comes down from north of the border and causes a boilover in the opener at #Randwick! pic.twitter.com/cAwBOHyNfa

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2017

RUBY RIDE: A rare and deserved Brisbane win for the girl with the best name in racing. Her mount Rosie Posie just had to win with that name!

THEY SAID IT!

• "How is it everyone remembers that date but me!" – Matt Dunn’s response when reminded that Saturday was his wedding anniversary while celebrating wins at Doomben and Randwick.

Care To Think lets rip with a big run from the back of the field to score easily in the TAB Highway at #Randwick! pic.twitter.com/sbq6KAuhjY

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2017

• "I needed some painkillers after the walk, but my knees are not that sore now.” – Missile Stakes win eases the pain for Corey Brown 24 hours after his Kokoda Trail trek.

• "I just kept raising the bar and she handled every step.” – Kris Lees on the rise and rise of Missile Stakes winner Invincible Gem.

.@Leesracing was full of praise for both his runners after claiming the quinella in the G2 Missile Stakes at #Randwick. pic.twitter.com/eZ7Gd9WL53

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2017

• “I could have ridden at least two other winners but I am not complaining. Any day you ride four winners can't be bad.” – a ‘modest’ Jim Byrne on his big day at Doomben.

• “I've got a long time to think about it.” Jason Collett reflects on a second suspension in a week that will keep him sidelined for a total of five weeks.

• "It's been a good day. You don't get three winners in a day let alone three in different centres." – Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida on his three wins at Randwick, Doomben and the Gold Coast.

• "He's ridden a thousand times here at Flemington so it was great to get his advice on my first day here.” – Taylor Marshall on the advice he received from his father, Melbourne Cup winning jokey John Marshall, before riding at Flemington for the first time.

“Great to get a Saturday city winner."

Taylor Marshall signals his arrival in Victoria, booting home a $151 chance! pic.twitter.com/zwWGRme96e

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 5, 2017

• “It's a long way from August to Melbourne Cup day.” - Nick Williams after Aloft’s winning start to his spring campaign.

TALKING POINT

WALLER STABLEMATES: Chris Waller landed a three State treble on Saturday with his new Gold Coast stable contributing with a win at Doomben by Devil Hawk to go with his other wins in Sydney and Melbourne. No surprise that Devil Hawk was the least fancied of the two Waller runners in the staying race at Doomben, a result Sydney punters have come to accept as the norm. Just get used to it, Brisbane!

SIN BIN

MOSS ‘N’ DALE: Beaten again at short odds – that’s four failures in a row!

BRAVE SONG: Found to have suffered a puncture wound, just like his backers.

RIDES OF THE DAY

JOHN ALLEN: No boo boo when he landed the money on the heavily supported Yogi at Flemington. Showed great horsemanship for the last 500m, mastering the awkward galloper with his strength and determination to get him home.

STEPHEN BASTER: Finely judged combination of patience and timing to get home on Jazindah at Flemington. Copy book stuff.

DAMIEN THORNTON: Threaded the needle on Brown Ben to split the pack and upset the hot favourite Moss N Dale at Morphettville

BLACKBOOK

HARPER'S CHOICE: Strong wfa return. Could win a good race in the spring.

TANGO RAIN: Wide barrier made the difference. Big effort after 11 months off.

MURAQABA: Encouraging signs that he’s regaining form.

DENARIUS: Hard to beat when he returns to Brisbane.

SIN TO WIN: Top stable would be happy with this lightly raced ex-Kiwi.