Regan Bayliss will be out to confirm his reputation as a money rider on back-up specialist Brutality in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange – the pop-up feature that steals the turf scene on Saturday.
Mind you, the group 1 $1.5 million Railway Stakes at Ascot in Perth, which dates back to 1946, is strong from the local viewpoint, and the $500,000 Ballarat Cup, which was first run in 1886, is an appealing betting medium but not as good as the NSW provincial highlight.
Job well done . . . Regan Bayliss gives Brutality a pat after winning the Villiers.Credit:Getty
With the absence of the saddle big guns – James McDonald, Hugh Bowman, Nash Rawiller and Willie Pike – on the eastern seaboard, the focus is on the lesser lights, including Bayliss, to confirm their worth in the hot seat.
J-Mac and Bowman are in Hong Kong, Rawiller is suspended and Pike is back home for the Perth majors, including the Railway Stakes.
With trainer Joe Pride, Bayliss has been tuning Brutality, which was ninth of 16 in The Hunter last Saturday, to rebound for The Gong, but other jockeys will be out to do at least as well in the 1600-metre feature as the top four did at their previous starts.
For instance, Rawiller, who is renowned for his therapeutic prowess, encouraged Rustic Steel to score in The Big Dance; he is replaced by Brenton Avdulla, who doesn’t have the splaying arms and gyrating pump of Rawiller but will be out to prove as effective with a more refined application.
Another top contender, Old Flame, usually does best for J-Mac, as was confirmed last start at Flemington. Tom Berry will be out to emulate him today but will gain added bragging rights if he can do so from gate 19 (with four emergencies for the 16-horse field). Berry is a contributor to the Sydney riding ranks at present rating with the best ever.
Perhaps Oscar Zulu, a somewhat reluctant winner, was revived by Pike at Goulburn last start, but he gets the services of Chad Schofield – son of the much-undervalued Glyn, who is a veteran but still a money rider. Chad’s following in his example.
Having won the last four Railways, Pike will be out to justify the Wizard Of The West title on Treasured Star from the 20 barrier draw (also with four emergencies). No winners have come from 14, 15, or 16 since 1994. Treasured Star is a promising type with only seven starts under her girth. Due to her launching pad, the odds make her an attractive punt.
Money jockeys get results from difficult situations, as emphasised by J-Mac on Atishu at Flemington last start. Sometimes tardy to begin and wayward, Atishu was scratched from The Gong to run in the Ballarat Cup.
She was one of the best-backed winners of the Flemington spring and fortunately has Damien Oliver today to replace J-Mac. Ollie is a delight to the eye but still has a stern controlling touch.
Like Atishu, her main danger Banker’s Choice can be a magnet for problems, even under the control of former hurdle hoop John Allen. Atishu gets my support. I like a money rider, and they don’t come any better than Ollie.
Bayliss qualified as such last December when Brutality, which was backed from $7 to $5, notched the Villiers to score his fourth success after racing seven days earlier. Again, this campaign for The Gong looks perfect.
Yet even on 54.5kg the six-year-old gelding will be tested in what appears a very even field. Brutality gets back in the field, whereas Riodini, which is weighted to win, will be up front under Tim Clark and probably out of harm’s way. So the gamble is Bayliss getting smooth passage – one I’m prepared to take.
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