THE Murrays of Kembla Grange and points south, should continue their winning streak with Coniston Bluebird, despite his defeat at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Racing NSW stewards were concerned about his "preparation" for the http://www.theraces . com.au Handicap over 1500m. Coniston Bluebird had been gelded two days after his Warwick Farm success on November 26 and in most instances horses are given more time to recuperate. However, trainer Bede Murray, the patriarch of the family, said the three-year-old had remained in light work at Conjola followed by two weeks at Kembla Grange in full training, which had been pleasing. Coniston Bluebird ended up third on Saturday, not beaten by the interruption to his schedule but a dawdling pace and big weight, 59.5kg. Certainly he did enough to suggest he will be a force in the $1.83 million New Zealand Derby on February 28. Bede's son Graham produced the impressive Kenny's World to score at Randwick on Friday, making his form line six out of 10, while brother Paul has a promising pair, unbeaten two-year-old filly Phenomenal Lass and three-year-old Predatory Pricer, winner of three out of six plus a last-start second in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Being a half-brother to Takeover Target, there is little chance of him ending up like Coniston Bluebird.
AFTER CARE: Ever get the impression in racing the successful are over-glorified but others, very much a part of the industry, are shunned? Well, not by our Jenny Evans, a photographer with a good eye and a big heart. She chases the tragedies, engulfed by the swirl of hooves and then discarded. Take, for instance, Kylie Keeble, 21, felled and pinned under a horse in the Kembla Grange enclosure a couple of years back. Keeble is now in tremendous pain with every chance of losing a leg. "She struggles to make ends meet," Evans emailed."Could you imagine in this day and age living on $200 a week? Racing NSW constantly says they are looking after injured jockeys but how can this be when everybody I talk to has been treated like s*** by the insurance company, (which is an industry insurance company) . . . if you are starting out and are incapacitated you aren't even given a free pass to attend the races. Because you are injured or incapacitated doesn't mean you don't have a passion and love for horse racing." See the the slideshow on Kylie Keeble at smh.com.au/multimedia for the full story by Evans.
LISTEN UP: Former High Court judge Michael McHugh, Dom Beirne and Robbie Waterhouse, three wise men who can get Sydney Saturdays out of the doldrums, will meet with Racing NSW this week for a summit including trainers Anthony Cummings and Chris Waller. It's not the first time they have been called but with the recent leadership change, hopefully, their advice this time will not fall upon deaf ears.
NO POSITIVES: The drug EPO works wonders for cyclists but has still to be proven as a go-fast for horses. Recent raids should be put in the deterrent category. Racing NSW chief stipe Ray Murrihy maintains there hasn't been an EPO positive but it's tricky to detect. To do so with accuracy is expensive. Veterinary advice indicates it is not a quick-hit job but more of a treatment. If it's been tried on man, horse is a natural transgression. Horses are even tested for Viagra. The only reason you don't scoff at it completely is when milkshakes became the flavour of the month they were only seen as being helpful for pacers going over a staying distance.
CLASS ACT: John Stocker, 61, a gun jockey of his era, died on Christmas Day after a short battle with cancer. Included in his triumphs was the 1964 Caulfield Cup on Yangtze when a teenager, some reports indicate 17, others 19. Before the victory he said to his father:"Dad, I think I'll go one better than you." Jack Stocker had been runner-up on Segati behind Rogilla in 1932. Racing has lost another stalwart, Jim O'Conner, who trained at Canterbury. O'Conner was 89.
HORSE TO FOLLOW: Talented three-year-old Rock Kingdom took his winning tally to four out of five in the Cross Swords Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Friday and looks set to impact on bigger events.
DISAPPOINTING: Party Crasher, backed from $4.80 to $4, was beaten 12.2 lengths when sixth of eight in Saturday's welter at Rosehill.
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