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JMac’s class shines through
We were quick to point out James McDonald’s costly run of group 1 outs during the early part of the spring, but there has never been any doubts about his class – on and off the track.
“JMac” was approached for more interviews than Taylor Swift on a worldwide tour last week in the lead-up to riding favourite Via Sistina in the Cox Plate, and he always obliged.
But it was his efforts on Saturday night that reinforced the notion that there’s more to life than the track.
McDonald and wife Katelyn Mallyon took the star hoop’s winning trophy – his fourth Cox Plate victory in four years – to visit injured jockey Tom Prebble in hospital.
Prebble, 23, has been in a wheelchair after suffering spinal injuries during a race fall at Warrnambool last month, but he had a beaming smile on his face as he posed for a picture with JMac and his plate.
James McDonald reunited with Autumn Glow this weekend.Credit: Getty Images
The standards you walk past
Racing in Victoria is nearing the point of no return, and the biggest losers are the fans.
Not the big breeders, not the big owners, not the trainers nor the jockeys.
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Why? Well, we were able to witness a thrilling finish to the $6 million group 1 Cox Plate, which was befitting of the occasion, but we might not have seen the best horse in the country – Autumn Glow.
She will run in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle at Randwick, meaning McDonald will be riding her in Sydney this weekend rather than duking it out with other top-line jockeys at Flemington on Derby Day.
Other gun gallopers that dodged the Cox Plate in preference of chasing big bucks in NSW were Mr Brightside, Ceowulf, Fangirl and Pericles, who ran for $5 million last week in the King Charles Stakes.
Throw them into Saturday’s race, alongside another Sydneysider in Lindermann, who romped home in the Craven Plate, and we would have had an intriguing mix, possibly even an epic. Instead, we held a grand final without all the best players.
Surely, it’s time for some level of government intervention before the ongoing racing wars between NSW and Victoria pound the standard, and worldwide relevance, of our so-called elite racing into submission?
Horror day for Shinn
Speaking of bad days at the office, Blake Shinn had an afternoon he would rather forget.
The four-time Scobie Breasley medal winner was expected to be a major player in the Cox Plate on Queenslander Antino, but the pair never fired a shot, finishing seven lengths last.
A post-race vet check did not reveal any issues, so Racing Victoria stewards asked Shinn and trainer Tony Gollan to explain Antino’s substandard performance. Neither had an answer.
Shinn said the gelding never travelled comfortably during the race, while Golan said Antino had worked well during the week in what had been a faultless preparation.
Blake Shinn and Antino on their way to the starting barriers of the Cox Plate.Credit: Racing Photos via Getty Images
He told stewards the horse would now undergo a thorough veterinary examination. Let’s hope he can bounce back and take part in Flemington’s Champions Day.
It was a similar story for Shinn in the group 2 McEwen Stakes. He finished second last on $1.80 favourite Charm Stone, and once again had no explanation for the disappointing performance. Nor could the post-race vet.
The mare looked to be cruising outside leader and eventual winner Jigsaw but punctured once they hit the straight. Co-trainer Mick Kent Jr said Charm Stone would now undergo a more thorough vet check.
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There was no such misfortune for Mark Zahra who won the group 2 Vase on Observer before finishing second in the Cox Plate on Buckaroo, but he did cop a $1500 fine for his troubles.
Stewards whacked Zahra with the penalty for failing to push Observer all the way to the finish line.
It is not often you get fined for winning, but, admittedly, it was a heart-in-mouth moment for punters and trainer Ciaron Maher as Zahra almost squandered a four-length lead in the final 100m. He won by half a length.
Kanga bounces back
Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Jye McNeil keeps bobbing up in the major meetings, landing three winners across the past four Saturdays, including victory in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley.
One of the first people to congratulate him for his win aboard the Chris Waller-trained Star Of India was former Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga, who has been a mentor and close friend.
John Kanga resigned from the Melbourne Racing Club board earlier this month.Credit: Eddie Jim
In fact, McNeil was one of two jockey’s signatures seen by The Age on Kanga’s motion for a special general meeting to spill the MRC board in August last year.
It was the first time Kanga had been back to the races since stepping down from his honorary board role on the eve of the Caulfield Cup carnival after questions from The Age.
But he forecast his return to the spotlight last week in a sit-down interview with a rival publication.
Jye McNeil riding Star Of India to a win in the JRA Cup.Credit: Getty Images
As part of that lengthy interview, it was revealed by an unnamed source that sacked MRC chief Tom Reilly’s alleged concerns over governance and integrity at the club had been investigated by the MRC without Kanga’s knowledge but no evidence of any wrongdoing was found.
So, we asked the MRC last Thursday for the finer details: what were the concerns raised, who conducted the investigation, and what were the conclusions?
We are still waiting for the answers. Although the club did make it known they had nothing to do with Kanga’s “tell-all” interview.
No-show for AGM video
While on the MRC, the club made the decision this year not to post a recording of its annual general meeting on its website.
The practice of broadcasting the meetings started during the COVID-19 lockdown years when members were unable to attend in person and has continued ever since. Until now.
This year’s AGM was one of Kanga’s last official roles as chairman of the club, coming just two weeks before he resigned.
It was also a meeting that was closed to The Age. We were blocked from attending “for repeated attacks on the club and its chair”.
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The move followed The Age story which revealed 24 memberships linked to Kanga and his family were purchased by a single credit card in the lead-up to the MRC’s bitter boardroom battle last year, when he seized control of the $1 billion sporting club. The MRC denied the block of memberships affected the outcome of the club’s September elections and said they did not breach any rules.
For those MRC members who missed this year’s AGM, there is now no avenue to watch it on repeat, although they can still watch the AGM from 2024.
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