Flemington Christmas Raceday
December 17th, 2011Now that I’ve got my eye in I’m seeing Kineton nosebands everywhere. Two more today at Flemington on Wind Shear in the fourth and Creed in the fifth. They are not listed in the race book gear information as the list only notes changes to approved gear. Wind Shear finished seventh and Creed a reasonable fourth. I’ll have to start my own list.
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.