Sunline $1.30 beaten favourite

At Randwick last Saturday Sunline was sent around as the best of good things in the $402,000 Group 1 Weight for Age All-Aged Stakes, a six horse field and finished third. I was amazed to hear that she was value at the price. She's not a machine. She's been travelling all around the world. The travelling took its toll.

If you like the idea of needing a 70% winning strike rate just to break even on the punt then you take the $1.30 on Sunline. It doesn't make sense to us. You either had to back against Sunline or leave the race alone.

As for those people who said how disappointing it was that Sunline didn't win, she still earned $32,000 in prizemoney for connections. How disappointing is that? Let's get back into the real world. That is still more money than a lot of people in this country earn from working for a full year.

After the event it was no surprise to see the horse who won the race, El Mirada, starting at $31.00 was trained by John Size. There was even a little specking as El Mirada firmed in from $51.00.

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Plunge astray

In the first at Randwick on the very Heavy track there was solid money for Citi Fella who was backed in from $3.25 to $2.50. This two year old had never raced on a Heavy track. Sure, he had won a three horse barrier trial at Muswellbrook (where's that?) of all places by six lengths. That is quite irrelevant compared to a pressure race at Randwick. Citi Fella had bad luck in the straight and was beaten by three lengths.

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Another Rory's Jester wet track duffer

Jai's Jump, entered the 2YO Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick over 1400 metres with an impressive second at his last start. He had also won a Randwick barrier trial on a Slow track. However in barrier trials horses are not put under pressure.

There are some very simple rules with Rory's Jester progeny:
1. If the horse has never raced on Dead going don't take short odds.
2. Never back one in Slow going until proven in a race on the going.
3. Never back one in Heavy going until proven in a race on the going.

We broke our own rules and had a small bet on Jai's Jump. Never again. He was beaten by over 20 lengths. A typical Rory's Jester in the wet.

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Twice bitten in two weeks

On April 14, in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes over 2000 metres at Randwick, Calm Smytzer was backed in on track from $3.25 to $2.80 favourite and finished a strong second to Lady Mulan, who was able to lead and control the race.

Punters who were told by the media that Calm Smytzer was much better suited to the Heavy track and the 2400 metres of the A.J.C. Australian Oaks the following week, duly backed the three year old filly in on track from $4.00 to $3.50 favourite last Saturday.

Calm Smytzer was beaten by over 14 lengths. She was injured during the race. Just another hazard when you take short odds.

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Didn't handle the going

In the last at Randwick Aka Bilk was backed in from $4.60 to $3.50 and was beaten by nine lengths. He had raced six times on Slow and Heavy tracks for two wins and three placings. However, his only win on a Heavy track was back in 1998 as a two year old. That's a warning signal.

A vet's check up after the race revealed nothing wrong, however leading jockey Damien Oliver said when Aka Bilk was asked for an effort he did not appear to handle the going. Top weight of 57.5kg., three kilos more than the next horse would have been no help either.

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