Racing can be a cruel and unsympathetic game. For all the dizzying highs, more often than not , you simply need to navigate the lows.
That is certainly the case this week as we dissect the performances of the three Lang Brothers runners over the past few days.
The week started at Rosehill last Saturday when GIRL SUNDAY was well supported to win a BM85 over 1200m.
Leading into the race, the concerns focused on the wide barrier and the fact she was staying at the shorter distance. Both of these factors would ultimately prove her downfall, again run over late by WILD N FAMOUS and eventual winner FIRSTHAND.
The mare looked right up to the mark and the owners certainly felt she was ready to win. Alas, they would have to settle for a fifth placing and will need to wait for another day.
Then to Sunday, and the enigmatic DREAM MASTER was again looking to break his duck at Murwhillimbah. The Toby Edmonds trained gelding looked a million dollars in the parade ring, an avalanche of money sending him to the post a dominant $2.50 favourite.
But that’s where the fairytale ended for punters and owners alike.
No sooner had jockey Ryan Plumb pushed him out of the gates, the horse put on a rodeo exhibition that would of made the late Lane Frost proud, Plumb eventually pulling him out of the race after only 100m.
The official post mortem confirmed the saddle had either slipped or pinched the skin, causing the adverse reaction. He will be required to trial before stewards before being allowed to race again. Disappointing given it looked a winnable race.
Finalizing the trifecta, three year old gelding EXPERIENCED was again inconclusive when stepping up in distance at Bathurst yesterday afternoon.
With a better draw and the addition of blinkers, a lot was expected despite the bookies posting odds of $101.
All seemed to be going well at the 600m when the horse started to loop the field. However no sooner had he made this move, he was stuck out wide in the quick sand and couldn’t make any impression on the horses on the inside.
Jockey Blake McDougall was left with no other option than to let him coast to the line, an unconvincing tenth when the team were hoping to see a bit more.
But that is racing as they say and all three will push on to another day.
