Jockeys cheering like footy supporters, a retirement home and The Championships are topics that have made it into my wrap column from Randwick on Saturday.
MARK THIS DATE – APRIL 7
Jockey Corey Brown believes impressive Highway Handicap winner Suncraze will be back at Randwick on April 7 next year with a live chance in the $400,000 Country Championships final.
Brown said he'd learned plenty from riding the son of Henrythenavigator for the first time two weeks ago at Warwick Farm where he finished second for the sixth consecutive start.
The addition of blinkers and "some tricks of the trade" Brown had adopted after riding the horse and reviewing his replays returned Suncraze to the winner's stall, defeating his Randwick opposition by three lengths on Saturday.
"Even today there was three different horses from start to finish. He's a quirky bugger and if he ever learns to put it all together, look out," Brown said.
"The blinkers made him more tractable but I just think he's immature. He wouldn't have been the dux of his school.
"He'll keep learning and next preparation I've got no doubt he'd be up to a race like the Country Championships next year."
Suncraze will "have a freshen-up" before he runs next in the newly created $200,000 Anniversary Highway (1400m) at Randwick on October 14 – the day of the inaugural running of $10m The Everest.
THE JOCKEYS' ROOM CHEERS
Hugh Bowman and Brenton Avdulla may be the two riders locked in battle for the Sydney jockeys' premiership but I can assure you it's captured the attention of the other jocks in the Randwick jockeys room.
When Bowman and Avdulla went head and head over the final 100m of the Schweppes Handicap, a loud roar by those not riding in the race came out of the jockeys' room, resonating through the scales area where I watched the race with some trainers.
Avdulla's mount Argent D'or was declared the winner over Bowman's ride Spending To Win by a nose.
But Bowman responded later in the day with a narrow win aboard Kings Of Leon to regain his half-win advantage over Avdulla with two meetings left this season.
APPRENTICE A STEWARDS' ROOM CASUALTY
Two-kilo claiming apprentice Nick Heywood will do five meetings on the sidelines after being suspended at Randwick on Saturday.
Heywood pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge in the Highway Handicap for causing interference to Magic Arli approaching the 300m mark.
Heywood's suspension starts after next Saturday. He returns to the saddle on Thursday, August 10.
THUMBS UP FOR RANDWICK
I've been quick to give the Randwick course proper a spray over the past 12 months or so but Saturday's track played as fairly as any track I've seen.
With the rail out in the 10m position, horses won from everywhere - lead, on-speed or back, inside or out in the straight.
The bottom line – if they were good enough and they had even luck, they won.
When reviewing the form, don't bother looking at the track as an excuse.
GODOLPHIN BOSS IN TOWN
Godolphin's newly-appointed chief executive Joe Osbourne will arrive in Australia on Sunday to meet the operation's new Australian trainer James Cummings and discuss the future.
A long-time Godolphin employee, Osbourne replaced John Ferguson last month when he resigned after being publicly criticised by Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
After being announced as Ferguson's replacement, Osbourne told The National last month that his role "is about looking forward now, not looking back".
"I will be responsible for coordinating the global team," Osbourne said. "We are going to sit down and work out how it is going to work and from there I will put a structure in place."
RACING NSW FIND NEW HOME FOR RETIREES
Racing NSW announced they have purchased a 2600-acre property at Capertee between Lithgow and Mudgee that will become a retirement home for retired racehorses without a home after their career ends.
The state's regulator plans to turn the Bandonora property into a centre where retired horses will go to be retrained and rehomed.
The project is expected to cost around $5 million and will also be home to former top line gallopers in a similar way to Victoria's Living Legends property at Greenvale.
The public will be able to visit and meet their former racetrack heroes with Godolphin horses Hartnell and Hauraki already mentioned as likely tenants once their careers are finished.
