Buoyed by The Shorts, highlighting the world’s greatest sprinter Nature Strip, Royal Randwick today is at least the equal of football codes setting the vicinity ablaze with sporting activity like never before.
Yes, the Swans take on Collingwood and the Rabbitohs clash with the Sharks at the SCG and Allianz Stadium, where their brilliance and durability promise record congestion if not numbers.
The group 2 The Shorts is the best renewal since its inception in 1867, when the AFL (founded in 1896) and rugby league (1895) weren’t on the sporting calendar. Its part of an excellent program at headquarters, and the majors will be run in time for enthusiasts to make the 4.45pm bounce at the SCG.
Old marvel Eduardo (white and yellow cap) beats Nature Strip in The Shorts last year. Credit:Getty
Despite his greatness, Nature Strip is no good thing in The Shorts. The freak veteran Eduardo downed him in the corresponding event last year, and today is a superior chapter. Eduardo has retained his dash. Has there ever been a nine-year-old sprinter as good?
In recent times, wins by speedball types like Redzel (2017) and Classique Legend (2020) have given kudos to The Shorts.
Previously, it’s hard to find a world-beater. Hot Danish, which was tuned by Les Bridge, whose expertise has shone with Classique Legend, comes to mind, but even more so Purple Patch. The gelding notched a Shorts (1975) carrying 60.5kg and the following year the George Main Stakes, but the opposition was dubious.
Eduardo (under a Nash Rawiller whirlwind) beat Nature Strip last year, with Rothfire amongst others chasing them. With Rawiller serving time, Brenton Avdulla (more diminutive but strong) takes over today in a renewal that looks to have more depth with improvers Mazu, Lost And Running, and Andermatt, who despite strong backing last start looked big, burly and dull in the coat.
Adding to the intrigue, Classique Legend, which resumes after injury, is good enough but is he fit enough? “Battled-hardened” were words uttered by Bridge regarding the Rabbitohs, and it is the query with Classique Legend.
Bridge is a Redfern Oval Rabbitoh. He was at the hallowed ground to see Clive Churchill, who also shone at the SCG and the sports ground, now Allianz. Stacked into the hill sections, comfort was secondary to experiencing the action live and superior to attempting bar codes and getting on internet queues to secure a place at the football venues for today.
Randwick, though, is more accessible. The 10,000 expected crowd falls well short of the 93,746 for the record Doncaster day in 1948, when enthusiasts were enticed by the equine action and punting, not grog consumption.
Still, the racing was not superior, considering the quality of the George Main Stakes as well as The Shorts and prelims supporting them.
Anamoe, which is potentially Australia’s best over a journey, is the $2.10 favourite on Friday for the George Main but faces a demanding task despite the scratching of the higher benchmarked Zaaki.
Anamoe is “battle-hardened” but others should be considered, particularly the Chris Waller mares Fangirl and Hinged. Waller has won the race eight times and they looked good with scope to improve behind Anamoe recently.
Perhaps the group 3 Bill Ritchie Stakes doesn’t catch the eye like the main events, but the family recently came onto my radar regarding the Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care and Research at the Mata Hospital, where my mate Ken Callander is partaking in the wonderful services provided there. Patricia Ritchie was Bill’s wife and the parents of Julia Ritchie, the former vice-chair of the ATC.
The Ritchie family is responsible and maintains the mansion in the hospital grounds. Callander and myself will be ear-bashing at Randwick on Thursday night, officially tagged the “ATC TAB Epsom Punters Preview and Masterclass”.
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