Platinum Racing

I know it was only a Friday afternoon maiden at Canterbury - but for a group of owners put together by Frank Galluzzo's Supreme Syndications - the win of My Cherie last Friday afternoon was a hoot that most of them will not forget.

For Glen Alpine landscaper, Robert Connors, My Cherie is a great introduction to racing. The filly, prepared at Rosehill by Chris Waller, has been a work in progress for some time and the syndicate of owners have had to be very patient with her - and patience is not a virtue that many owners are renowned for.

The Choisir filly has always shown ability - but she has been a bit fragile and even had a good break between her first and second race starts. I met Rob last year when he replaced a retaining wall on my property, and of course, racing was the topic of most of our conversations for the week he was undertaking the task.

Rob explained that the filly had suffered some ups and downs in the attempts they had to get her to the races.

After finishing third at Canterbury on debut, she improved considerably last week to beat a pretty fair maiden field quite convincingly, and doing it against the pattern of the day after a gem ride from Corey Brown.

The filly's win last week showed that she has better wins in store than a maiden and she should easily make the transition to Saturday grade.

The syndicate deserves that for their patience with this flashy chestnut filly.

INTERNATIONALLY DISAPPOINTING:

Sunday's Hong Kong International meeting showed the dearth of truly international level gallopers that Australia currently has - when only the Kiwi Jimmy Choux represented Australasia.

Sure, the timing of the HK meeting is bad - coming on the heels of our spring carnival and just after the major Gr 1 races in WA. However, for many years we have had horses that have been very competitive in HK, and won several international races with the likes of Falvelon, Monopolize, Catalan Opening, that horse of Mark Riley's whose name escapes me etc.

Of course, Black Caviar is right up there with the best in the world and is probably the best sprinter in the world - and by a decent margin.

But one horse does not make a racing season - and after the likes of Sepoy and Helmet depart for Godolphin's UK team - the the void in our top class horses will be even bigger.

IRONIC:

It seems somewhat ironic that all the hype which circulated last year in Australia about the clash between Sepoy and Black Caviar, now seems certain to become a reality - but on the other side of the world at Royal Ascot.

Throw Hay List in for good measure - and the Aussie sprint race of the decade is going to be held down the undulating straight course in the UK.

There would be racing officials all over Australia just sitting there like stunned mullets at this scenario - which will have every racing person in Australia up to the wee small hours next June.

JOHN MESSARA'S APPOINTMENT WILL UPSET KENNY AND KEEP "THE PARROT" HAPPY:

I would love to be looking over Daily Telegraph journalist Kenny Callendar's shoulder as he tries to temper his anger at Arrowfield head honcho John Messara's appointment to the chairmanship of Racing NSW.

The new board announced this week by the Racing Minister, George Souris, is sure to have Callendar on fire, and his arch-enemy 2GB radio shock jock Alan Jones (aka The Parrot) gloating and squawking of a new dawn for racing.

Of course, the sycophants and conga line of a#@* lickers that inhabit politics due to it being the only place on the planet that usually entertains these sort of people, will suggest I should wash my mouth out with soap - but Messara's appointment is going to be bloody divisive.

But it may help calm Jones down and get him off the tail of under performing NSW Government Ministers likes Chris Hartcher - who Jones has driven mad and tied in knots over the coal seam gas mining issue.

And any Lib worth his salt will tell you - that you must have The Parrot on side - with people like John Howard even running messages for him when he occupied the Prime Ministership.

There will also be a lot of big end of town breeders that are delighted and beside themselves at messara's appoinmtent.

Time will only tell how this will work out - but I am tipping not a lot will change - especially at the bottom end of the scale.