Another of my old favourites was on show today, the American Cannonball. He first appeared in this blog back in January 2010 ridden by Pat Valenzuela, who had form himself with 11 suspensions for substance abuse. The horse simply exploded that day. Since then he’s had a sojourn with Gai in Sydney, but never settled, and is now with Pat Carey at Mornington. His racing style was to take off like a scalded cat and then explode on the turn to finish tailed off at the rear. I had a good look at the horse in his stall and you would have to say that he is a physically very impressive specimen. And very fit. His behaviour seems much improved too and he appears much less bullish, with just a few minor niggles in the mounting yard. They jump and he sits outside the leader, half a length back. This is not my mate, the old Cannonball! Pat has trained him to settle. And he fights on well to hold second at 80/1 with the books. I didn’t back him, but it just goes to show that there is hope for all miscreants.

I had a nice place bet on Twilighting, but was too busy backing it to lay the favourite, Le Societe, who was showing some terrific white eye. My standout for the day was Bolton, who looked totally stunning. No photograph because I was in too much awe. And too short at $1.30 for a place bet. But would you believe I had a small token bet on the horse for a win. Just to prove to myself that I was right. And a nice finish with Parthian. Not too bad a day. Two and a bit out of two.

Bit lifters seem to be mainly used on horses that get their tongue over the bit. They are simply a Y-shaped leather strap that attaches to the headpiece or brow band and runs down the horse’s face to the bit rings. They are probably a fairly benign piece of gear, although they may force the horse to lower its head a bit. I’ll keep trying to get a decent photo. The only other attention grabber was the fine braided tail on Meadows Mollie who ran seventh at 50/1. Whilst I admire the artistry my general view is that strappers should pay more attention to the other end and make sure the horse has its head in order.

Four bets for two losers, Eternal Sunshine and Godliness, and two even money winners, Giresun and That’s Not It. Didn’t go backwards, didn’t go forwards. Just marking time.

I’m also trying to get together a decent photographic record of different bit types. I managed a shot of a Norton bit on By The Way, but as my school report used to say, I could do better. The Norton is quite a serious bit used on pullers and I’ll try to do it more justice in the future. There was also an interesting bandage on the pastern of Chartreux and Star of Jeune sported the rarely seen martingale – a single strap diving down between the front legs that is meant to stop the horse throwing its head up.  And the farrier inspected a loose off hind plate on Warringal Warrior but left it at the trainer’s request as the horse was a bit edgy in the mounting yard. The plate was lost in the running! Dennis the farrier later told me that you can sometimes see a flying plate on the race replay. I had a good lookout for a flying sliver of silver but couldn’t spot it.

And punting was busy with four bets, for two placed horses, Deductible and Ravenous Lass, and two hopeless losers, not worthy of a mention. But the worst of it was my best bet of the day, Platamone Castle. I went to line up for my bet with two minutes to go and there suddenly seemed to be people everywhere. This was a rent-a-crowd. Where did they all come from? There were seven tote operators and a queue of four hopefuls at each of them. With one minute to go I jumped queues, which is always a no-no. I was still third in line when they jumped. Twenty punters let out an audible cry of anguish. Mine was the loudest. Platamone Castle got third at $2.80. When I finally left the track I was still spitting chips.

I backed Eleve in the second and the apprentice jockey J Duffy went for a run that wasn’t there and copped an eight week suspension. The horse should have won by a street. And I had another loser in the last with Token Of Honour, but my honour had been previously saved with the win of Wealthy Lad. The lad left the course happy, but not overly wealthy.

And so it proves. Not pretty. The horses are held back in the birdcage until the last minute and then rushed up to the mounting yard where the jock hops on and straight out onto the track. I only have half a second to look at each horse and some I miss altogether. No time for photography. And I even missed a mares race altogether. I was spitting chips as I was quite keen on Louisville Dancer after backing it last start at Sandown in a mid-weeker. But no see, no bet. It won in a breeze.

In the end three bets for two placed horses, Kasane and Chasse, and a loser, Crafty Cruiser. Not too bad a start.

Happy New Year.

I had a major psychological breakthrough today. I went to Flemington early for the two-year-olds with the expectation of backing Catalonia. I had an image in my mind of the wonderfully relaxed horse that I saw at Caulfield two weeks ago and the healthy $2.70 place divvy. But the horse was unhappy in its stall, nibbling on the tie-up, pawing, and shaking its head. In the yard the horse was still unhappy with the strapper leaning into it with her shoulder and the horse twisting its neck and showing me some teeth. I much prefer my favourites to be more settled and so I decided to oppose the horse for the place on Betfair. Catalonia duly laboured into fifth place. I didn’t win much money but felt immensely pleased that I could change my brain from a back to a lay on the same horse so easily.

Not much else to report. A third with What A Beauty at even money for the place and a loser with Khas Kura. At least my money had a run around.

If you look carefully at the second photograph (click on it and then click again to enlarge it!) you will be able to see the half rings. There’s a reasonable picture of one in the Register of Nationally Approved Gear.  The key to quickly distinguishing a Kineton band from a regular noseband seems to be the buckles on each side for adjusting the length of the band.

 There are probably a couple of comments to make. First, we seem to have Ozzified the name in honour of our local Victorian town of Kyneton. The second is that it is mainly used on horses that pull, so that you would have to think that the chances of Applaud The Dame at 300/1 were rather remote.

 All this fussing around meant that I missed a betting opportunity on my favourite class of race, the mares. This was doubly disappointing since I was cashed up for the last with collects on Lonhreign, Token of Honour and At The Heads.

Still, three out of three. Not too bad a day.

Starchine

In the second Her Diamond Rock is a standout and wins like a good thing. I had a rare bet with the books at $3.50 for the place when the tote was showing $2.80, although the final dividend eased out to $3.30. Two out of two and on fire! In the fourth I had Mayneda Strategy on top but squibbed the bet as I was still smarting from when I backed her last start at Sandown in a mid-weeker and she came fifth of five runners. I did wince when she returned $2.80 for third. In the mares I liked Inablitz who charged home from last to miss by a nostril and then bled from both of them. $1.80 for the place.

And the get out stakes had some of my favourites in it. Gandalf’s horse, Shadowfax, the American Cannonball, and my pet miscreant, Jungle Ruler. The Ruler is a no show, and Cannonball has changed trainers after a holiday in Sydney and is now with Pat Carey. Maybe that will settle him down a bit.  Shadowfax looks magnificent, but is too short at $1.50 the place, so I just watch. Why are the horses with good names overbet? Cannonball takes off like a shot out of a gun but explodes on the turn and finishes tailed off 12 lengths last. Gandalf’s horse, all class, works home stylishly, but just fails to peg back the winner Alpha Proxima.

Still, three out of three. Not a bad day.

I didn’t back the horse, but there was a lot to like about his mounting yard behaviour. He was prancing around, head in towards the strapper, with a slightly arched neck. These are all good signs. The only thing you need to forgive him for are the red winkers!