May be there is conflict between jockeys
look at the latest on Munce and Gibbons.
I think Oliver might just want to proof
if Seamer can't get Belspirt home he certainly can himself because there is times
when Seamer beats him in the big races and
Ollie protest and lost eg. last year caulfield cup, and also the big Melbourne cup
which Seamer and Ethereal leaves Sky heights
and Ollie unseen after a nose between them
in the Caulfield cup.
cheers!

Bell will struggle today, more than likely NOT run a drum.

Well it was indeed a gutsy performance by Bel Esprit, but it really was beyond it's best distance.

Beware Richard Freedman, firstly he say Bel Esprit won't get the distance, then today he tips the horse to win, and after the race says the distance was beyond him. So which is it Richard? What's the deal here?

Luckily I had a nice win on Pernod.

Hammers
No pinup horses here, but if he didn't run the 1400 then nor did 17 others. I still reckon he'll get a mile, but probably won't be much value.

Bel Esprit.
4 starts in Group Ones for one win and started favourite everytime.
If he's another Manikato I'm another Tiger Woods.
Bookies love these hype horses.
Don't listen to the crap on Sky about this being a great Group One either. Only five GI winners in the field and most of them from a while ago - Chong Tong second top weight!!! -enough said.

Heard another interesting comment from Richard Freeman on Saturday.

re: Northerly

pre-race: he's not going as well as he was last year

post-race: on that effort he's me pick in the cox plate

That's a pretty quick change of mind.

I don't know about others but I don't like to form an opinion immediately after a race until you have a chance to assess the merits of the run minus the emotion of the moment.

See for an example every race caller when a horse decelerates less quickly than the others, to give the illusion that it is in fact accelerating over the lst 50 or 100m the caller invariably lables it a super run when in reality it was enititled to have more energy left because it used less at the start of the race.

One possible exception is when a horse is held up for a run then quickens through a gap, these a good but rare horses. see (Defier in the Theo Marks)

On another subject commpare this to Calaway Gal's effort on Sat. She had a huge gap to run through and wouldn't, forcing Beadman to switch around heels. Unless given an easy lead I can't see her winning again if she is timid in a field.

Bruce Macavaney is even worse!

Whilst he is probably one of the best reeling statistics for any sport off the top of his head, as a judge he stinks!

His comments on the run of Republic Lass were obviously made by someone who knows nothing about racing.

And then he says re Sportsman's run "He had every chance and disappointed."

He must have been watching the footy scores when Sportsman got checked and blocked for a run at the 200m mark!
Sportsman is one of those horses that doesn't like crowding and winds up for a run. It is rare if that run is interferred with that he can regain momentum with 200m to go.