Dazzler's The Master In School Of Hard Knocks

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday September 24, 2007

Max Presnell

"SHOW no mercy" is plastered on my Craig Williams cap, bought at a charity auction. It typifies the way Darren Beadman treated him in the Underwood States at Caulfield on Saturday.

Williams, on the mighty mare Miss Finland, was out-generalled by Beadman, but it didn't really pay a dividend as his mount, Marasco, was found wanting despite his pilot's enthusiastic endeavours.

To quote the stewards' report: "Marasco (D. Beadman) then shifted out in an endeavour to follow King Of Ashford [near the 1300m] and in doing so made contact with Miss Finland on three occasions, taking Miss Finland out."

Stewards severely reprimanded Beadman for the tactic on the grounds "he is not entitled to take the horses off their course" in those circumstances.

Trainer David Hayes took the birch to Williams on one occasion over his impatient handling of the mare, but was kind to him on Saturday.

"I thought it was strange that Darren Beadman used two positions," Hayes said. "There was enough room for maybe three horses but he stayed where he was."

Marasco supporters were delighted with the ploy.

Beadman wasn't there to make it easier for Miss Finland, magnificent in defeat. She has now had to endure three backaches: two from Williams, and one from Lisa Cropp in the Cox Plate last year.

Williams, on Saturday, was the lesser of the three evils.

"It was either knock Marasco down or get stuck out there," he said.

Miss Finland supporters reckon he chose the wrong option.

EI VETERAN: Major owner and Sydney Turf Club director Nick Moraitis, stricken with shingles, was feeling more pain on Saturday due to the equine influenza epidemic.

"When are they going to listen to Tim Roberts?" Moraitis wailed. Dr Roberts, a vet, played a major role in the greatness of Might And Power, but he also has had extensive experience with EI in South Africa and Great Britain.

"Tim knows more about it than these people heard in the media. And he's got the best way of getting this under control quickly."

Incidentally, wise guys noting the withdrawal of the Moraitis-part-owned Pins On Parade from the Caulfield Guineas Prelude took it as a pointer to back stablemate Purrealist, trained by Dan O'Brien, and profited greatly.

ECHO OF LEILANI: Former champion jockey Roy Higgins sees a similarity between the talented Eskimo Queen and the former outstanding stayer Leilani, one of the greats of the 1970s. Like Leilani, Eskimo Queen is hardly robust but has a powerful engine. Eskimo Queen confirmed her potential with an interference-riddled fourth in the Underwood.

Before her 1974 Caulfield Cup triumph, Leilani took a different route to Eskimo Queen using the Turnbull Stakes and the Toorak Handicap. After the Caulfield Cup, Leilani was runner-up in the Melbourne Cup for Higgins but had 55.5kilograms and conceded the winner, Think Big, 2.5kg.

BONNY DEAL: Bon Hoffa, the latest reject-to-riches turf saga, was named for Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian, who, with Oscar Schindler, helped Jews escape Nazi Germany during World War II. Ken King bought Bon Hoffa after it was passed in for $60,000 at the 2004 Sydney Easter yearling sale.

King couldn't syndicate the horse fully and was left with 25 per cent - handy, considering Bon Hoffa took his earnings to more than $500,000 with victory in the group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

The Belong To Me five-year-old showed there is still a place for the hand-tailored horse, in this instance prepared by Wendy Kelly, and unfashionable jockey Vlad Duric, who was suspended for careless riding over the latter stages of the Rupert Clarke.

HORSE TO FOLLOW: Far from the hype of the Melbourne spring carnival Double Or Nothin made a successful debut at Ruakaka in New Zealand two weekends ago. Coming off an ordinary barrier trial and wide barrier Double Or Nothin firmed on the tote into $6.10 and won by 3 1/2 lengths. She is owned by Peter Mitchell and trained by Frank Ritchie. "She will certainly be better in the autumn," Ritchie said.

DISAPPOINTING: Sirmione, a $6 chance, was beaten 16.5 lengths in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 'I don't see any point in vaccinating horses in NSW where the virus is not under control.' STEPHEN ALLANSON, Racing Victoria chief executive

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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