Despite racing languishing in so many areas, Royal Randwick today promises a vintage Epsom – Metropolitan program with the untapped talent of Just Fine and Think About It emphasising the turf here is the sport of the people rather than kings.
Racecourse attendances are dwindling in major centres but Just Fine and Think About It highlight that more owners now have a share in thoroughbreds in Australia than ever before.
Just Fine has attracted plenty of attention heading into the Metropolitan.Credit: Getty
The Irish-bred Just Fine, a discard from the stable of King Charles, is a short-priced favourite for the Metropolitan at only his third start since arriving, obviously thriving under the conditioning of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Considering the syndicate groups with a share, Just Fine has more owners than Tommy Smith, father of Waterhouse, had in the entire time he notched 33 straight Sydney Trainer’s Premierships.
Likewise for Think About It that races under the banner of Proven Thoroughbreds. The racebook is running out of space listing those involved. Developed by Joe Pride, Think About It adds intrigue to the group 2 Premiere Stakes, giving the sprint more sparkle than the group 1 Epsom.
Just Fine and Think About It have the potential to be great but, alas, the odds to go with the expectation. Has an import, trained by locals, come so far, so fast as Just Fine?
Sam Clipperton lobs his goggles to the Eagle Farm crowd after Think About It’s Stradbroke romp.Credit: Racing Queensland
Apart from his eight-out-of-nine success rate, Think About It’s figures aren’t exceptional. Some ratings outfits have his price today much longer than bookmakers are offering. But it’s the way he wins, the three-wide, no-cover arrogance.
Another positive for Think About It is the absence of the synthetic hoof filler that had been applied at the end of his last preparation due to wear and tear.
So, he’s going to be more comfortable inthe weight-for-age test today against the seasoned top-liners on a program that also has the benefit of saddle trumps absent at Rosehill last Saturday: the champ Damien Oliver, tactician Craig Williams, wonder girl Jamie Kah, James McDonald, and Tom Berry, returning to the big time, ready to mix it with others particularly the magic man Jose Moreira whose sleight of hand is immaculate at present.
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This comes at a period when Singapore racing, supported by royalty, is scrapped for housing. A bustling racing centre since 1842, it hosted Queen Elizabeth II in 2006. Betting turnover and attendance declined to an average of 2600 last year. It dwindled to the tag of an “old man’s game”, a narrative creeping in here.
Down south, the magnificent-but-dated Sandown is facing the peril of redevelopment. Alas, cries of “never” by industry participants will quail to the builder’s clang.
Apart from the boom days in Sydney, and even the more sports going on in Melbourne, racegoers are sliding. Sydney’s midweeks would be comfortable with a 2600 average. At Rosehill last Saturday officials estimated “close to 7000”. That’s piddling compared to boom years.
Hopefully, Randwick today will get the support it deserves. Sure, the Epsom is riddled with Wallerism, the possibility of the good thing falling foul to the stable outsider. Chris Waller has eight acceptors for high-rolling owners. I’m going for his Democracy Manifest, with a plus being Tyler Schiller who added to his bold rails run repertoire by winning on the gelding at Broadmeadow last start.
Under normal circumstances, with only two races Just Fine has had a restricted preparation for a 2400-metre staying test but will benefit from the tender touch of Rachel King as well as the Tulloch Lodge bone and muscle.
Decades ago, Tulloch Lodge hosted Tommy Smith’s owners every Sunday, a lucrative and champagne-thirsty crew, in his stable office.
Now Waterhouse-Bott, to encompass clients, would have to rent the nearby Kensington Public School, my old alma mater, where I would view gelding operations over the fence at play lunch.
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