Royal Randwick and Moonee Valley on Saturday reverberated under the Godolphin hooves of Anamoe and Golden Mile.
When Anamoe, under James McDonald, made his play on the turn in the Valley’s Cox Plate the earth even moved at Randwick. That followed the earlier vibrations created by Golden Mile in the inaugural Callander-Presnell.
Hugh Bowman returns to scale on Golden Mile after winning the inaugural Callander-Presnell.Credit:Getty
Following the Cox Plate, McDonald was rated by Glen Boss, an expert on saddle expertise, as “the best I’ve seen”. But the competition is strong, particularly from Hugh Bowman who delivered on Golden Mile and Sharp’N’Smart (Spring Champion Stakes) at Randwick.
Being so good, and promising more is to come, Golden Mile topped off a personally special day with the race name being shared with Ken Callander, a scratching on Saturday but represented by his daughter-in-law Anne, and three beautiful granddaughters Madison, Brooke and Jessica with son Richard acting as a chaperone.
It’s not the first time we have been bracketed – “Max and Kenny’s”, a short-order outlet specialised with sausages and steak sangers, a garnish of onions and complimentary tomato sauce.
It was fashioned at Randwick for punters on the run by Lynell Peck, whose grace and energy added much so to headquarters.
Max Presnell and South Sydney ace Jai Arrow before the running of the Callander-Presnell race at Randwick.
However, on Saturday the involvement of racing’s strong man Peter V’landys in the Director’s Room and Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran’s skill as a tour guide and hospitality were much appreciated for my first luncheon at the venue for more than60 years.
It was a tantalising experience: an entree of pork belly, mouth-watering moist but not too fatty, taken in preference over the Alaskan crab. That was followed by the kingfish, produced at the right temperature and texture.
Richard Callander nearby had a side of meat pies. Dessert was tiramisu, rich, fluffy and with the right mix of cream and cooking booze plus a biscuity crunch on the bottom which sat well with Golden Mile, who catches the eye if not the palate.
James McDonald after riding Anamoe to win the Cox Plate .Credit:Racing Photos
Golden Eye is a wonderful individual, not as fiery and sweaty as his illustrious stablemate Anamoe. Darren Beadman, a mouthpiece of Godolphin, reckons the name indicates his future. “He’s a Doncaster horse,” the former champion jockey decreed.
Beadman still has the sparkle of a horseman who contributed so much to Saintly, the great prepared by Bart Cummings, grandfather of Godolphin trainer James.
Bart Cummings never wore a hat nor does his son Anthony, father of James, but James has been spotting a trilby in recent weeks. A new brown model got an airing at Moonee Valley.
Mind you, hats also came to the fore at Randwick where South Sydney Rabbitohs workhorse Jai Arrow was spotted in a Stetson possibly picked up in his sojourn to Austin, Texas. Just another feature of the new vital Randwick spring which boasts a Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Not only an intriguing race but the chance to get up close and personal with a wedge-tailed eagle.
You’ll have to tell me what’s it’s like. Old habits are hard to break. I’ll be at Flemington on Derby Day. That’s a tradition I can’t break and the tiramisu in Melbourne is hard to beat.
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