Tag Archives: admire-rakti

Friday musing – Golf, Cricket, Spring Carnival…….

Chris Barwin HillsThe thing that really piqued my interest in the sporting arena this week was the story about Phil Mickelson calling 16 year old US born Australian Ryan Rufflels (the son of former tennis player Ray Ruffels) to try and get him to Arizona State University on a golfing scholarship. Apparently Ryan plays off plus 6 and in a recent monthly medal at the Victoria Club shot rounds of 10, 9, 7 & 9 under. Wow! Golf seems to be producing some real prodigies at the moment and hopefully Ryan can go on and create a name for himself. Which country would have the bragging rights? I think that while he was born in the US, he grew up in Australia and took up golf in Australia, I consider that to be enough to claim him as an Aussie.

It was interesting to see that less than 25,000 people for the International T20 match against South Africa last Friday at the MCG. That is a disappointing crowd and casts a bit of doubt about the overall interest in the cricket coming into a summer where Australia will be hosting the One Day World Cup. Apart from the Ashes that is always well patronised, the cricket does seem to be losing its mojo. I have mentioned this in the past and in my opinion, it has a lot to do with the year round coverage of cricket throughout the world. The football is played over a period of six-seven months and then there is the build up and anticipation for the following season which is all very well staged managed by the AFL. The international cricket season has started with very little sense of anticipation and not helped by the recent test flogging at the hands of the Pakistanis. Time will tell if they can build some momentum into the World Cup.

The major races of the spring have now been completed and there was a number of notable performances, however, I do not think that any horse stamped its authority on the spring. There was not a dominant sprinter, there was not a dominant weight for age performer and there was not a dominant stayer. Having said that the “one off” performances of Terravista, Adelaide and Protectionist (you could also add in Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup) where truly great performances.

Have a great weekend!

Geldings hot selections for Caulfield Cup day

MarkThe Gelding is off grazing in sunny Hong Kong at the moment and all we are left with at the Sportzfan Radio desk are his scribblings on the back of a used tote ticket with respect to his selections for the Caulfield Cup.

Punters may well query how the Gelding could possibly be out of the country at such an interesting time in horse racing!

Take as each way bets, a quinella and trifecta!

Caulfield

Race 9

Horse 14 – Lidari – Gelding says Simon O’Donnell wouldn’t be in it if he didn’t think it could win this one! (for the ladies at the Tennis club)

Horse 15 – Lucia Valentina – The current race favourite and has run over this distance before but beaten home third after getting too far back in the field. Drawn nicely in barrier 12.

Horse 1 – Admire Rakti – The top weight and one of the Japanese raiders will be in it at the finish!

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding