More Sydney punters a long shot

James McDonald had the best ride of Saturday after winning on Kencella.

SYDNEY Saturday race crowds are getting close to embarrassing and they won't hit an upward spiral in the foreseeable future if we have more performances like The Alfonso and Darci Drama turned in on Saturday.

The Alfonso was to some extent the victim of media hype, of which I am one of the culprits, but for a $2.10 favourite he could not have gone much worse.

As for Darci Drama, she eased from $2.70 to $3.80 after being sensationally backed from $5.50 to $3.60 in a controversial Canterbury race at her previous run when she raced out to a five-lengths lead over 1550m and bolted in.

On Saturday, over a longer distance, but with no blinkers on this time, she was being ridden along most of the way back in fourth place while the heavily backed $2.60 favourite Reply Churlish bowled along unchallenged in the lead.

If you are wondering whether I am talking through my pocket, I am with The Alfonso because I backed him, but you have to remember that the few people who still come to the races come to have a bet. How many do you think would be there if you couldn't have a bet?

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Look for the form from Saturday's two-year-old race to be diamond studded.

The winner Fighting Sun is top grade, the runner-up Boomwaa is the horse to beat in the Inglis classic race in a fortnight and the third horse Kumaon will be running in the Group races in the Autumn.

The funniest thing was the always confident Gai Waterhouse only tipping Fighting Sun as an each way chance on her website. Those close to the stable and those who heard the whispers of Randwick trackmen backed him from $3 in first markets to his starting price of $2.40.

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Who knows the real reasons for the split between Gai Waterhouse and her long-time supporter Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds.

What I do know is Denise Martin is one of the good people of racehorse syndication who cares for her investors and worries herself sick about her horses in a business where success cannot always be guaranteed.

I'm sure with her new association with Chris Waller she will produce more topliners in the mould of Theseo and the $30m stallion Sebring.

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It will be interesting to see how the Kensington track plays on Wednesday after its heavy criticism in recent meetings from top trainers like Joe Pride and Chris Waller. Let's hope it is only a settling in problem and the track improves as it consolidates.

The course proper has proved a problem too on Boxing Day and New Year's Day with horses forced to come out to the middle of the track in the straight to have a winning chance. Although not ideal I would rather put up with such a bias than one on a track where leaders have everything in their favour and you cannot make up ground.

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If I was a member of the Australian Turf Club I would always vote for board member Wilf Mula. He is the one committeeman who can be classified as a regular racegoer and is at all meetings.

One of the worst hangovers of the split up of the STC and the AJC is that going to the races every week seems to be too much for committemen and most executives. These blokes would never have made punters or even racing writers, we love to turn up each week.

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I loved the pure speed and zip shown by Kencella in his win at Rosehill on Saturday. it was only the horse's seventh start (fourth win) and he is going places.

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Taste Of Heaven, a winner at Kembla on Saturday, is a half sister to Redoute's Choice and the last foal of her dam Shantha's Choice, who died in 2012.

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RIDE OF THE DAY

James McDonald on Kencella. Had the confidence to use the horse's speed all the way.

RUN OF THE DAY

Fighting Sun. High class and will be around when the big juvenile races are run.

FORGET IT RAN

Gangster's Choice, backed from $6 to $4, almost fell at the start and lost all chance.

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