You're Just Wrong Bart!
Is Bart Cummings kidding or what? There is no doubt that the stellar horse trainer is as legendary for his one-liners and dry sense of humour as he is for his outstanding feats as a racehorse trainer, but his sense of humour hamster well and truly fell of its wheel last Monday when he claimed that Racing NSW Chief Steward Ray Murrihy was more interested in getting his name in the media than he was in doing his job.
He further added that "good umpires should be seen and not heard" - say what? Are you losing it or what Bart?
The outburst stemmed from Murrihy's fining of jockey Michael Rodd for his excessive use of the whip on the Cummings-trained Faint Perfume in winning the Gr 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday.
It was left to Racing NSW CEO Peter V'Landys to come out and publicly defend Murrihy today - which was right - but the manner in which he did that was wrong.
V'Landys opened his defence by saying "there is no greater supporter of Bart Cummings than me...." which is simply rot.
Bart Cummings doesn't get supported by V'Landys - he is admired by all and sundry in the racing industry as his feats are just "off the planet" and renowed world-wide.
Bart's comments did not deserve prefacing platitudes but at least V'Landys went on to get it right and say the maestro was "out of line."
Forget the whip issue and the media beat-up and the NSW Jockeys Association grandstanding - and let's deal with Cummings' alleged comments in general.
Firstly the assumption that Murrihy is more interested in getting his name in the media is just a nonsense and no one would know that better than Cummings. Racing in NSW is as clean as is possible and conducted as professionally as possible as a result of Murrihy's diligence and stewardship.
His job is to apply the rules even handedly and stringently and if the whip rule is there - it is Murrihy's job to enforce it - not interpret it but enforce it.
Furthermore there are plenty in the industry that would like the Chief Steward to be seen and not heard - but that is not going to happen - nor should it.
I can't help but think that Bart attempted a humourous crack about the issue and it backfired as Cummings has been in the game too long to know that meek and mild chief stewards lead to major problems in racing - no matter where it is.
In my view Murrihy is the best chief steward Sydney has had for decades - and that includes John "Sheriff" Schrek. Consistency, diligence and even application of the rules are what make top class stewards and very few people in this State could accuse Murrihy of being haphazard in his approach to his job.
It is also salient to point out that Michael Rodd was fined heavily for his sixth breach of this rule - not his first or second!
Get on with training those Gr 1 winners over the carnival Bart and if you are not as quick witted as you once were - rehearse your lines before you use them.
ANOTHER HONG KONG CAST OFF SCORES:
Former good galloper Hello Pretty scored his first win since returning to Australia when the eight-year-old won at Canterbury yesterday giving apprentice Ben Vassallo his first city winner.
Raced in the same interests as smart Hong Kong gallopers, Beauty Flash, Beauty Forever etc, Hello Pretty is now trained at Rosehill by Tim Martin.
Handicapped on 61.5kgs before Vassallo's three kilo claim was implemented, Hello Pretty sat behind the leader Twin Wing to the home turn and gained a great rails run when Twin Wing shifted out under pressure to run away and score well.
His win follows hot on the heels of the win of another Hong Kong cast-off Galbraith, who won at Moonee Valley last week for trainer Peter Healy at his first run in Australia.
FIRST DAY OF EASTER SALE HIT AND MISS:
It was a very weird opening day to the Inglis Easter Sale at Newmarket salesyards today. With a passed in rate 28% - many breeders were obviously over-estimating the strength of the market and there were some exceptionally under-priced horses.
Sure, there were the "over the top" prices paid for some - but overall I would think that there may be a few breeders having a rethink on reserves tonight.