Richard Callander: South Australian racing is in a dark place

The appeal of South Australian racing has sadly fallen off a cliff and if it's to remain relevant, it's now or never.

GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT & A FRESH SET OF EYES NEEDED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

I haven't got much to comment on following the South Australian autumn racing carnival of 2023.

Unless the Government down there does something soon to encourage racing and invest in the sport, it will be creating less interest than racing in Tasmania or Darwin.

I would love to write South Australian racing is flying but the reality is they can't attract the big guns from interstate or the interest of punters around the country.

No one likes to put the boot in when someone is down but the SA Government needs a wake up call and if the 2023 carnival doesn't open their eyes, I'm sorry to say the future looks dark.

The Queensland Racing Carnival was at a crossroads a few years back but with cooperation between the Brisbane Racing Club, Racing Queensland and the state government the bang and buzz is back in the Sunshine State and so are the good horses that included the world's best sprinter Giga Kick.

Fingers crossed those in the corridors of power in South Australia read the writing on the wall.

IS IT THE END FOR A CHAMP?

Is it getting near the end of the road for the gallant eight-year-old Zaaki?

His seventh of 12 in the Doomben Cup on Saturday after leading on the bit was very plain, particularly for a horse sent out as a $2.15 favourite.

I know last year he was beaten in the Doomben Cup at $1.24 and came back in the spring and won the Tramway Handicap and the Mackinnon Stakes and ran great races in the Underwood Stakes, the Caulfield Stakes and the Cox Plate, but that was 2022.

We're now in 2023.

I'm certainly not knocking Zaaki.

What a star he has been and what a drawcard he has been for Aussie racing as he has notched up more than $10m in prizemoney.

What I'm saying, it is a big ask for him to keep coming back and performing at the highest level.

Horses don't go forever.

PORTELLI'S GIRL SHINES AGAIN

Talk about the smile on the cat that swallowed the canary, they say you should have seen the smile on Gary Portelli after Fireburn won The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.

The big fella lit up like a Christmas Tree as his 2022 Golden Slipper winner became one of the few Slipper winners to train on to win a group race over 2000m or further as a three-year-old.

You had to go back to Miss Finland to find the previous horse to achieve the honour as she took out the VRC Oaks after her 2006 win.

Before that you might have had to go all the way back to Bounding Away (1986), which won an Australian Oaks, and Sir Dapper (1983), who won a Spring Champion Stakes.

The way Fireburn won The Roses, she will start favourite and is the horse to beat in the Queensland Oaks.

GROUP 1 WINNING 2YOs START THE BUILD UP FOR SPRING

Golden Slipper winner Shinzo, worth a conservative $30 million, has begun the process of getting ready for his spring targets.

"He has just started pre-training and looks great, a very exciting colt," Chris Waller told Racenet this week.

"No firm plan yet but obvious targets to continue to boost his value would be the Golden Rose at Rosehill in late September and the Coolmore Sprint at Flemington.

"Depending on his first-up run which would be two to three weeks before the Golden Rose, this would determine whether we consider The Everest.

"The exciting part of Shinzo is that he is still developing, and we are not sure whether he is going to show us even more speed or suggest he is going to get even further.

"Militarize is a couple of weeks behind Shinzo and he too is a very exciting horse.

"You'd naturally think a Caulfield Guineas would be his race but likely to include the Golden Rose in his path.

"Both horses did amazing jobs as two-year-olds and I am sure they will continue to mature and develop into top line older horses."

KIDS ARE LOW FLYING IN SYDNEY

Navajo Peak failed by a nose or about two centimetres to give Reece Jones four winners for the day when nosed out by Bois D'Argent in the Lord Mayor's Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jones was first home on Devil's Throat, Let Me Reign and Miss Hellfire to chalk up a winning Saturday treble.

Jones has loads of natural talent and his confidence has gone ahead big time since transferring to the city after originally being taught the tricks of the trade when apprenticed to Rod Northam at Scone.

His light weight should ensure he continues to get opportunities when he comes out of his time in September.

It is well documented Sydney is well stocked with topline apprentices at the moment with Zac Lloyd and Dylan Gibbons vying for the apprentices title with Tyler Schiller, who is about to enter the senior ranks.

The next kids to get a big kick in Sydney are likely to be Jasper Franklin and Jett Stanley who both claim 3kg.

Franklin won on Rediener for Chris Waller on Saturday and probably should have made it a double on Al Aabir, who was a good thing beaten in the following race over 2400m metres.

DUNDEEL PRODUCING TOP LINERS

The dual Group 1 winner Militarize is the star Dundeel two-year-old of the season, but watch out for Celestial Legend in the new season.

The Arrowfield stallion Dundeel is having a big run with his stock and like dad they all relish getting over a big of ground.

Les Bridge, Celestial Legend's trainer, points out it will be no different with his colt as he matures and there sure was plenty to like about his last 300 metres as the colt cleaned up a useful two-year-old line-up over 1100m at Rosehill on Saturday.

Another two-year-old standout on Saturday was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott filly Zia, who overcame barrier 12 in a field of 13, to beat a hot field at Doomben.

Zia, by Zoustar, had obviously gone ahead since her first-up Canterbury maiden win 17 days earlier.

RUNNING ONE DAY, SOLD THE NEXT

Sir Lamorak which won $27,250 when a half-head second to Outlandos in the 2400m race at Rosehill on Saturday will be sold on Wednesday in the Late May Inglis Digital on-line auction.

He's a five-year-old Irish bred by Camelot, who has had just 13 starts.

It's likely to take a six figure bid to take him home as bidding's currently at $85,000.

YOUNG STAR SHINING BRIGHT OVER THE JUMPS

My Melbourne highlight of the weekend was the winning jumps double by Campbell Rawiller at Sandown on Sunday.

He won Restricted Hurdle on Teofilo Star for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and then took out a major by winning the Australian Hurdle on Circle The Sun for Eric Musgrove.

Campbell is a terrific young fellow and it is great he has found a new niche in the racing game after he was battling to get mounts in flat races with his weight creeping up day by day.

The name Rawiller is a proud one in the riding ranks and Campbell is going to keep it rolling in his new found jumps career.

ONE UP AND ONE DOWN FOR THE BLUE ARMY

The Godolphin four-year-old Brigantine looked sensationally placed in a Class 3 Plate at Doomben on Saturday after mixing it with some pretty smart sprinters in Sydney late last year.

He won as was hoped to justify a $2.30 quote, but it was thanks to a terrific Jimmy Orman ride.

Godolphin should have also won later in the day with Spacewalk, who was nosed out by Golden Boom in the Darby McCarthy Sprint.

Pay attention to the last 300m of the replay and you will see what I mean.

ONE WRONG STEP FOR CHAMPION

I have known Geoff Grimish for 30 years and I have never met a more generous person in my life.

From manufacturing clean water and delivering it in third world countries to donating millions upon millions of dollars to charity, he is a true modern day saint.

Geoff is a former soldier and his horses are named in honour of his service.

Grimish embarked on the Coast To Coast between the west and east coasts of Northern England in aid of charity.

Unfortunately a misplaced step saw the ‘legend' take a heavy tumble down a cliff.

Grimish didn't complete the walk but if he is able another crack next year is on the cards.

ANOTHER SMART ONE FOR THE BIG QUEENSLANDER

Big Peter Moody keeps finding handy gallopers.

Sigh, a mare by No Nay Never, made it four wins from seven starts when she strolled in first-up over 1100m at Flemington on Saturday.

As usual the stable downplayed the success a touch, but by gee she looked good to me.

She showed that touch of acceleration only the good ones possess.

DIFFERING OF PENALTY IS SCARY

I bet a few jockeys who have been sidelined in the thoroughbred industry for having a bet wish the Western Australian harness stewards were in charge.

Madeliene Young was driving Rodger James, a $14 chance at Wagin on 12 May but had a bet on another runner in the race.

How much was the bet?

Did Young back the winner?

We don't know those answers.

The stewards report read, "Driver M Young was fined $200 under R173(1) for placing an investment on her TAB account on another runner in a race that she was participating in. When considering penalty Stewards took into account Ms Young had not breached this rule previously and the small wager she invested on the race".

The stewards fined her $200.

UUUUUUMMMMMMMMM

* Which former Melbourne Cup winning jockey has been copping plenty jibes from the current crop of riders about his up market fashion as he struts around the mounting yard?

BLACKBOOKER – A WIN IS COMING

JUST ONE LOOK – I have no doubt if luck falls his way at the right time he would have won at Taree on Monday. This four-year-old has turned the corner and under the care of the the Paul Perry stable, more wins are on the horizon.

DIAMOND STAR – This lightly raced mare has plenty of upside and more wins in store. She settled last on Friday at Canberra and considering the leader was able to dictate and win her effort to fill second placing was full of merit.

SORGENTE – He is no star this son of Headwater but he should finished a lot closer on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast. He led for the first 100m before handing up but when the new leader handed up the front he found himself in an awkward position. He never really got time to wind up finishing fifth. His turn will come soon.

FOURTH SPARGO – Don't give up on this girl after her third placing at Hawkesbury on Thursday. She was replated behind the barriers which seemed to upset her and she never travelled at all looking uncomfortable in the run. Then just when she looked like she would hit the line she ran into traffic. She is a handy filly with wins in store.