SPORT
HARPO ’ s MARKS
Tony Brassel , the turf doyen who provides our readers with his Barrier Rise trial tips , is an old friend and the son of another old mate , the legendary Tommy Brassel . Each Saturday morning , I ring Tony and we go through that afternoon ’ s racing card , striving to find a winner or 10 .
We both bemoan the way racing has headed in recent years , especially the lack of any colour at the racetracks .
A handful of bookmakers and not a “ colourful ” character or “ racing identity ” to bemuse and amuse .
Anyways , on the Saturday morning prior to my submitting this column , Tony and I were in agreement on one race – we ’ ll call the horse Hot Dook – and it looked a laydown misere against a lot of ordinary gallopers over a suitable distance on a suitable track .
Well , the horse , ridden by a socalled “ rising star ”, was stiffer than a honeymooner ’ s … er … tie ? in finishing fourth . I was immediately on the blower to Tony and said , “ can you believe what that imbecile just did ? Or more precisely didn ’ t do ?”
I ’ ll forego all the swear words Tony said – just say that he was in total agreement .
In the small field , the jockey had Hot Duke back in last place , just five lengths off the leaders as they approached the home turn .
As they turned for home , the two runners in front switched wide and all this wombat had to do was follow them until they straightened for home and then switch another horse wide to make his run .
However , Mr Brainless elected to stay on the fence , and all the way up the long straight he and his neddy were held up behind tiring horses with the pair winding up fourth , beaten just two lengths .
“ And you know mate , those stewards won ’ t have the cowboy in to query him about the ride ,” Tony told me .
“ In fact , mate , it is rarer than hen ’ s teeth to have the stewards investigating so-called poor rides from these experienced jockeys .”
Are these stewards incapable of noticing a dead ’ un or a totally incompetent ride ?
I checked the stewards ’ report on the race and noticed that the jockey was queried about his run .
He told them that he was instructed that his horse only possessed a “ short sprint ” and not to make a sustained run .
The hoop said he could have eased out wide at the home-turn but that was contrary to instructions , so he stuck to the fence where he was , as sure as eggs is eggs , going to be held up in traffic , fair
Barrier with RiseTONY BRASSEL
GALLANT STAR is spot on for his tilt at the Country Championship Final with an impressive 1000m barrier trial win on his home track at Dubbo on February 16 . Put the trip behind him in very smart 56.93 secs .
PLENITUDE was narrowly beaten into second place by Gallant Star after racing three wide near the lead in the above trial . Watch out for him in an upcoming Highway .
SMART AND DAPPER look just that in showing speed and finishing powerfully to win 1000m trial at Orange on Feb 15 . n Honest galloper so watch out for him if he comes to town or resumes in the bush .
ALLHALLOWTIDE is now under the care of Matthew Dunn at Murwillumbah . Finished full of steam to easily win 1000m trial at Ballina on Feb
14 . Has handy city form to his credit .
CELESTIAL LEGEND disappointed last time in against top company but this Doncaster Handicap winner showed he was set for a successful campaign when 8th in 850m trial at Randwick on Feb 13 . Was never allowed any rein but was really warming up over final stages .
SWIFT FALCON is primed to continue his good form against quality opposition going on his strong closing 4th in fast run 1050m trial at R ’ wick on Feb 13 .
STRADA VARENNA is out of the in-form Bjorn Baker stables and this unraced 2YO filly was most impressive in winning 1050m trial at R ’ wick on Feb 13 . Showed good pace and was very strong on the line . dinkum , the horse was absolutely bolting and would have won beyond a shadow of doubt .
The stewards accepted his explanation , but I reckon they ’ d have believed it if he told them that the Tooth Fairy left him a message on how to ride the race !
I can ’ t remember the last time a jockey was given a holiday or fine for a “ below par ” ride . And yes , I ’ m talking through my kick .
As all of you readers are aware , I love nostalgia , so I spent a few delightful hours perusing my sport books and the internet to find out which sporting greats came into this place 100 years ago . And here they are : Champion athletes born 1925 Veikko Hakulinen ( Finnish skier ) died 2003 . Won Olympics cross country ski 1952 , 1956 , 1960 .
Abdul Hafeez Kardar ( Pakistani cricketer )) died 1992 . Captained Pakistan in the country ’ s first Test .
Raimondo d ’ Inzeo ( Italian equestrian ) died 2013 . First athlete to compete in eight Olympics between 1948-76 . Won one gold , two silver and three bronze medals .
Louison Bobet ( French cyclist ) died 1983 . Won 1953-54-55 Tour de France and 12 other major titles .
Hugo Koblet ( Swiss cyclist ) died 1964 . Won 1952 Tour de France and 1950 Giro d ’ Italia .
Puig Aubert ( French rugby leaguer footballer ) died 1994 , Mercurial goalkicking fullback who played 46 matches for his country . The 167cm , 60kg player believed those team-mates in front of him should do all the tackling .
Ernie Stautner ( German-American grid-iron footballer and coach ) died 2005 . Won two Super Bowl titles , member All-Pro teams four times , member 1950s All- Decade Team .
Bernard Monitessier ( French sailor ) died 1994 . Was a clear leader in the first round the world single-handed yacht race , the Sunday times Holden Globe Race in 1968 . However , as a protest against the race officials , he sailed to Tahiti rather than finishing the race , telling them , “ because I am happy at sea and perhaps to save my soul ”.
Everton Weekes ( West Indian cricketer ) died 2020 . Holds record for most consecutive Test centuries – five in a row in 1948 . A member of the famous “ three Ws ” of West Indies cricket along with Frank
Worrell and Clyde Walcott .
Yogi Berra ( American baseballer ) died 2025 . Appeared in 21 World Series ( winning 13 ) as player , coach or manager . Three times American League MVP winner .
Richard White ( New Zealander Rugby Union footballer ) died 2012 . Super lineout jumper who played at lock in 23 Tests for the All Blacks between 1946-57 .
Doris Hart ( American tennis player ) died 2015 . World number one singles player in 1951 and won all four grand slams - Australian 1949 , French 1950-52 , Wimbledon 1951 and US 1954-55 .
Shirley Strickland ( Australian track and field star ) died 2004 . Inherited her track speed form her father who won the 1900 Stawell Gift . Won gold medals in the 80m hurdles at Helsinki ( 1952 ) and Melbourne ( 1956 ) where she also was a member of the winning 4x100m relay . Also won one silver and three bronze Olympic medals . Also won three gold and two silver medals at the 1950 Auckland British Empire Games .
Ken Grieves ( Australian cricketer and soccer player ) died 1992 . Spent his career in England ( 1947-64 ) where he played 490 first class cricket games for Lancashire in which he scored 22,454 runs ( at 33.66 ) and captured 242 wickets average 29.78 ) with his leg spin bowling . He also snared a county record 555 catches . He played soccer during the winter months , making 147 FA appearances as a goalkeeper for Bury , Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County .
Ken Mackay ( Australian cricketer ) died 1982 . “ Slasher ” made 37 Test appearances . The medium-pace bowler appeared in 37 Tests and 201 first class matches . He is regarded as one of the great characters of world cricket .
Jozsef Bozik ( Hungarian soccer player ) died 1978 . Remained Hungary ’ s most capped player ( 101 ) until 2026 when it was broken by goalkeeper , Gabor Kiraly . He won Olympic gold at the 1952 Helsinki games and silver at the 1954 World Cup . He made 477 appearances for his club Budapest Honveid between 1947-62 ).
LOW MARKS : Horse racing stewards . ‘ Nuff said !
30 ISSUE 178 // MARCH 2025 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT