"Intent" is the fine line between careless and the more severe improper riding, the charge made against Hugh Bowman at Caulfield on Saturday. It comes following the recent deaths of two female jockeys, Caitlin Forrest and Carly-Mae Pye, and the cry that Australians ride too tight and more aggressively than in other jurisdictions. Racing Victoria stewards suspended Bowman for 20 meetings after finding him guilty of causing "unnecessary pressure to Magicool and making heavy contract with him" in the Caulfield Classic. The stewards' report says "the improper riding being that from the 1500m he turned his mount's head in" creating the problem. Chief steward Terry Bailey produced the "intent" accusation when asked on the ABC's Hoof On The Till on Sunday as the difference between competitive, careless and improper. Australian jockeys are renowned for giving little quarter during races. I recall John Schreck, when chief steward for the Australian Jockey Club, being concerned about Larry Olsen and Wayne Harris, great jockeys, who refused in many cases to give an inch but rode within the rules. Bailey served time with Schreck. And he has the assistance of video technology that can give a better insight into tactics. Still, Olsen and Harris, Bowman and Chad Schofield, recently found guilty of the same charge, wouldn't knowingly put rivals at risk.
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Purton's whip hand
Did Zac Purton get an unfair advantage with the whip on Admire Rakti in Saturday's Caulfield Cup? Admire Rakti beat Rising Romance by a long neck but Purton was later fined $1500 for thirteen strikes before the 100-metre mark in a forehand manner – eight more than permissible. He also received another $1500 for using his whip three consecutive strides once and two consecutive strides on two occasions before the 100m. However, an unofficial "protest" by Rising Romance supporters was dismissed. "Admire Rakti would have won anyway," Bailey said, adding that Hong Kong, where Purton is based, has different whip rules.
Waller watch
Stronger opposition promises to diminish the domination of Chris Waller in the Sydney trainers' premiership. Waller will retain the title but expect more competition from the Snowdens, the Hawkes, Gai Waterhouse and Joe Pride. Now with 75 horses in work at Randwick, the Snowdens are producing great results considering they are going through a settling-in period since breaking away from Darley, now Godolphin, operation. However, Waller is establishing another trend rarely, if ever, equalled. Has any trainer dominated staying tempo to the same degree? He had had considerable assistance from Blake Shinn, responsible for yet another all-the-way win on Waller's Mulaqen in the City Tatts Club Cup at Randwick.
Ritchie gets my vote
Surely the credentials of Julia Ritchie can't be queried in her quest of a director position of the Australian Turf Club board, basically an old-boys' club. When the lack of female presence on the board arose, the whisper was that those who applied were not good enough. Under male domination, the ATC is hardly flying and Ritchie has AJC form, far superior to what has been produced since the merger with the Sydney Turf Club. Importantly, Ritchie is a turf enthusiast and racegoer. As Jim Bell, a chairman of the AJC, once decreed: "If you don't want to go the races don't be on the committee."
Victim of bad luck
Michelle Payne had her critics when beaten on Azkadellia in the first at Caulfield. Azkadellia should have beaten Sea Spray but went down by a head after making a long run. When a good thing gets beaten the jockey cops it but Payne bobbed and weaved in the straight until she found an opening, albeit too late.
Remembering Bill
Veteran media personality Keith Hillier was responsible for a nice touch at Caulfield when he put a rose in the lapel on the statue of his old mate Bill Collins. Hillier has been doing it since the statue was erected in 1999. He plucked the rose from a Caulfield garden.
Horse to follow
Leebaz, at $5.50 in the fifth at Caulfield, finished eighth but stewards said he failed to get clear running in the straight after a poor start.
Disappointing
Kumaon, at $3.80, was beaten 17.2 lengths in the Classic but "scratchy in both forelegs" afterwards.
