Max Presnell Blogs

PLAY THE EXOTICS Parlay Randwick Race 3 – (4) Swift Legend. Randwick Race 7 – (1) Benevac. Caulfield Race 7 – (8) Miraval Rose. Randwick Race 9 – (12) Big Red Tequila. Randwick Quadrella Race 7 – (1) Benevac, (10) Zoufame. Race 8 – (4) Mickey’s Medal, (10) Narbold, (15) Sevens. Race 9 – (5) Ice Kool, (12) Big Red Tequila. Race 10 – (9) So You Pence, (12) Barbaric Lad, (16) Invader Zim. Caulfield Quadrella Race 6 – (1) Decalogue, (7) Kings Reflection. Race 7 – (7) Winnasedge, (8) Miraval Rose.

The bragging rights for Saturday go to Melbourne with Caulfield’s Bletchingly Stake, at Group Three level, with Miraval Rose ready to explode, but a lesser grade Royal Randwick sprint that could produce more substance. Winner of five out of six starts, Ice Kool was $2 in the Sand And Soil, 88 benchmark usually lacking scintillation, on Friday, and obviously is a three-year-old of considerable promise but faces a demanding task.

Being a South Sydney and Swans supporter, BAD and UGLY figured prominently, and difficult to find a GOOD last week but Margaret De Gonneville came to the rescue. “What a wonderful way to go out – with a winner,” Racing NSW reported. “That’s what Margaret De Gonneville did at Taree.

PLAY THE EXOTICS Parlay Rosehill Race 5 – (7) Golden Century. Rosehill Race 6- (3) Sword Of Legacy. Rosehill Race 8 – (12) Sir Artie. Rosehill Race 9 – (15) Seafall. Rosehill Quadrella Race 7 – (4) Roselyn’s Star, (5) Cigar Flick. Race 8 – (3) Dark Glitter, (12) Sir Artie. Race 9 – (2) General Salute, (10) McHale, (15) Seafall. Race 10 – (2) Ready To Shine, (10) Verbil, (12) Columbia Blue. Rosehill Early Quadrella Race 3 – (12) Kokoda, (13) Ready To Rush, (16) Dividends Paid.

Bred along classic lines, Tom Charlton is the latest boom colt from abroad to crash training in Sydney, once prized ground for locals. To get a toehold at Randwick was akin to a position as a tally clerk on the shipping terminals when the Waterside Workers’ Federation had more pull here than Peter V’Landys over New South Wales racing. Perhaps the floodgates haven’t opened, but the steady stream of other nationalities are making their mark, particularly in New South Wales.

The Rabbits, hanging onto the mighty tag with an excruciating final minute against Newcastle, recollections of Derryn Hinch and a sure-fire winner take precedence over a solid, if not stimulating, Royal Randwick winter meeting last week. A South Sydney warrior under siege of Motor Neurone Disease, Jai Arrow’s 31st birthday promotion last Sunday at Accor Stadium left visions splendid, being a credit to the club, and the players producing the spirit for which the red and is renowned.

PLAY THE EXOTICS Parlay Randwick Race 3 – (4) Swift Legend. Randwick Race 5 – (4) Existential Bob. Randwick Race 8 – (5) Bravissima. Caulfield Race 7 – (10) Miraval Rose. Randwick Quadrella Race 7 – (4) Tazima, (6) Rotagilla, (11) Sly Boots. Race 8 – (5) Bravissima, (11) Concordia Wind. Race 9 – (2) Lugh, (13) Narbold, (14) It’s A Knockout. Race 10 – (3) Aye Aye Captain, (10) Hurry Miss, (14) Nandina. Randwick Early Quadrella Race 3 – (3) Perfect Justice, (4) Swift Legend.

The task of highly talented Siena Grima at Royal Randwick on Saturday and Caulfield’s Group Three John Monash Stakes, with the Graham Begg influence regarding fillies and mares, hopefully takes the blight out the Swans humiliation on Thursday. How so many good players can form such a bad team—demoralised by the Dockers in Perth in the final quarter. The final tally against them was 111 –73 after keeping the home side goalless in the first half. The State of Origin was good.

Twenty-five years back last Saturday Zac Purton, a three kilo 18-year-old apprentice, won the Ipswich Cup for Neville McBurney and now promises to end up richer than Lester Piggott. Yes, Yutaki Take has earned more from riding winners due to Japan’s higher scale prizemoney but Piggott, regarded widely as the all-time greatest, was also the most frugal. Piggott was gaoled for tax fraud, sentenced to three years and did one.

PLAY THE EXOTICS Parlay Rosehill Race 8 – (12) Smashing Time. Rosehill Race 9 – (15) Glorious Moments. Sunshine Coast Race 7 – (6) Caboche. Sunshine Coast Race 8 – (8) Gerringong. Rosehill Quadrella Race 7 – (5) Moi Chroi, (12) Nasebah, (17) Le Troisir. Race 8 – (3) Celui, (7) Midnight Opal, (12) Smashing Time. Race 9 – (3) Accredited, (6) McHale, (15) Glorious Moments. Race 10 – (7) High Blue Sea, (15) Silvanito. Sunshine Coast Quadrella Race 6 – (5) Cellarmaster, (10) Within the Law.