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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - Page 69
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 62
CLASH OF THE DECADE ■ It will be the clash of at least the last decade, if connections of the brilliant galloper, Rocket Man come up against our star, Black Caviar. Rocket Man recently scored possibly the greatest win of his career when he blitzed them in the time honored Group One Kris Flyer sprint in Singapore. Rocket Man, an Australian-bred and sold sprinter, by another top Australian Viscount, was sent out a red hot favourite after a similar demolition of his rivals in the recent half a million Singapore dollars at Kranji. Despite being caught three deep during the early and middle stages, the Champion of Singapore was able to race away to score by just under five lengths. His trainer, Patrick Shaw, didn't mince words after his class act scored so easily, claiming that he deserved the title of the world's best sprinter, not Australia's great mare, Black Caviar. Now that is fighting words especially if you want to tell the ‘big fella’, Peter Moody that. Shaw said after his sensational win: “He is obviously getting stronger with age and we will see how he goes over the next few weeks, as we have many options overseas especially a clash with our champion. “The July Cup at Newmarket, England is one, Japan and Australia down the road, and I'm going to England to have a look, staying at Mike De Kock's yard at Newmarket. “I've also been invited to go and inspect the quarantine facilities in Melbourne and Adelaide over the next couple of weeks". Getting very cocky he added "They can bring her (Black Caviar) wherever they want. We're happy to take her on. Tell them that.” I can picture Peter Moody already putting on the gloves in Caulfield right now; they are fighting words. A good comment from one of Australia's leading jockeys, Steven Arnold, saying Rock
Ted Ryan
day November 1 will close on September 1, a month later than previously. Weights for the 3200 metre classic will be released on Tuesday September 13, two weeks later than has been the case. The BMW Caulfield Cup and the Tatts Cox Plate nominations will close at the beginning of August. Caulfield Cup weights will be re-
ies hosting October's Emirates Melbourne Cup tour will be announced in August In its eight years the tour has travelled more than 227,000 kilometres and visited more than 180 towns and cities. Reflecting the rise in gold prices, the value of the 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup has been set at $175,000 up from $ 150,000. ■ The towns and cit- Ted Ryan
leased by the end of August. No worries with the Cox Plate; as it is a weight for age event. The Victoria Racing Club said the later deadline would bring fewer but more relevant entries, and a later release of weights would enable a better assessment of spring form.
Cup tour
Observer Racing
Kingdom, was just sensational. Rocket Man was selected and purchased as a yearling for $60,000 from the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. The star five-year old has won 16 of his 20 starts and has amassed earnings of $A4,577,726. Rocket Man's regular rider, top hoop, Felix Coetzee, was looking for superlatives after his win at Kranji. “He was sensational, it's a privilege to ride him, I'm just the guy who sits on top and steer him, he does the rest.” Now let's have a good look at our champion Black Caviar. What else does she have to do? Thirteen starts undefeated, beating the best that Australia can throw up again her. She has beaten our second best sprinter Hay List every time they have met, and he has won 15 of his 19 starts. Black Caviar's times are sensational and her cruising speed incredible. When she won the Newmarket, she created a weight carrying record for a mare in the big sprint and she averages just under 11 seconds in all her races over each 200 metres. Seeing the normal even time for 200 metres is 15 seconds, and she does it with so much ease. Without a doubt she is one of the most
relaxed gallopers I have ever witnessed, nothing phases her. The other big plus is, if the connections of Rocket Man take up the challenge here in Australia, they will be sorely tested on her own dung hill. Peter Moody pulled the right rein after defeating Hay List in Brisbane she pulled up a shade worse for wear, not greatly, but thoroughly deserved a spell. If they do meet it will most likely be in the Patinack Classic at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Emirates Stakes Day over the straight 1200 metres, which once again is right up her alley. If it does eventuate, all us keen racegoers will be delighted, especially the Victoria Racing Club who would expect a crowd of over 100,000 with the two best sprinters in the world having a crack at each other. On top of all this anyhow, they are both Australian bred. Australian bookies are confident that Black Caviar can beat Rocket Man if they meet, possibly in the Patinack Classic. They have made Black Caviar favorite at $1.30 and Rocket Man at $3.50.
Big race noms near ■ Nominations for the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tues-
DVD Selections Rating: PG. Running Time: 108 Minutes. Format: DVD. Stars: ***1/2 Verdict: Delightfully madcap Woody Allen comedy of a once revered but neurotic film director at a low career point and gets a chance at a comeback when he is forced to work with his ex-wife, who left him for the boss of the studio bankrolling his new film, however, the night before the first day of shooting he develops a case of psychosomatic blindness, great cast and brimming with many wonderful and often hilarious Woody Allen comic vignettes, as well as a wildly satirical parody of the crazy world of the Hollywood studios and filmmaking. FILM: Joanna Lumley CATWOMAN: Cast: Joanna Lumley. Genre: Documentary/TV. Year: 2009. Rating: PG. Running Time: 92 Minutes. Format: DVD. Stars: ***1/2 Verdict: Cats, cats, cats and more cats, of all shapes and sizes, a fascinating and intriguing journey with animal lover and cat enthusiast Joanna Lumley who travels the world to discover the roots of our fascination with the humble moggy, as well as a few of its distant cousins, from sinister beginnings to being worshipped as Gods, across Britain, Egypt, Belgium the U.S. and beyond, no stone, or cat, is left unturned, and the next time you open the can of Whiskas or shake the biscuit box, you'll never look at your favourite cuddly little puss the same way again after this engrossing, enlightening and entertaining look at these most beguiling of creatures. - James Sherlock ■ From Page 62
● Black Caviar Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
● Rocket Man
Photo bY Greg Irvine
HARNESS RACING EXTRA
■ Astute Lara trainer Dean Braun in New Zealand on a buying spree at the time, landed the SEWEurodrive Pacers Handicap for C3 or better class over 2150 metres at Kilmore on Tuesday with Kiwi bred 5-Y-0 Julius Caesar/Table Tower gelding Sunnivue Caesar in a rate of 2-06.5. Coming from a daunting 20 metre backmark over the short course, Sunnivue Caesar began speedily for Chris Alford to possie five back in the moving line, before being sent forward mid-race to park outside the poleline pacemaker Myrniong Panorama. In a great battle all the way up the running, Sunnivue Caesar prevailed by a head margin without really being pushed out, with Our Icarus (one/three - four wide home turn) a further 11.2 metres back in third place.
■ Kilmore's Wayne Potter made a welcome return to the winners list at Charlton on Wednesday, when quality 4-Y-0 mare Morgan Abby greeted the judge in the Wally Churchill Memorial Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2100 metres in a rate of 2-00.4. Driven by Chris Alford, Morgan Abby from gate five possied outside the leader The Artison, before striding past when It And A Bit moved forward in the first lap to race in the open. Despite copping pressure from the bell, Morgan Abby's class prevailed and she kicked clear on the final bend to score well in advance Absoootmagic along the sprint lane from three back the markers, with The Artison holding down third. - Len Baker
Top 10 Lists MIDNIGHT IN ST. PETERSBURG [1996/Harry Palmer Thriller/Michael Caine, Jason Connery]. CADDIE [1976/Drama/Romance/Helen Morse, Jack Thompson, Jackie Weaver]. DOC [1971/Western/Stacey Keach, Faye Dunaway]. DRACULA [1979/Horror/Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier]. MAN OF THE EAST [1972/Western/Comedy/ Terence Hill, Gregory Walcott]. BLUE COLLAR [1978/Crime/Drama/Richard Pryor, Yaphet Kotto, Harvey Keitel]. NEW RELEASE TV/DOCUMENTARY/MUSIC ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: MR. WARMTH: The Don Rickles Project. ROCK HUDSON'S HOME MOVIES [Documentary]. WHITECHAPEL: Series Two. GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART: The Complete Series 4. TOP GEAR: Great Adventures - The Middle East, The US and Albania Road Trips]. THE TWO RONNIES: Series 8. THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES: The Complete 2nd Series. THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES: The Complete 3rd Series. HAMLET [Drama/BBC/David Tennant]. THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE COLLECTION: Volume One. THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE COLLECTION: Volume Two. LEONARD COHEN: Bird on a Wire. WILLIAM & KATE: A Royal Love Story [Documentary]. WAR OF THE WORLDS: The Complete Series [1988]. TOP BLU-RAY SELLERS: 1. THE FIGHTER [Drama/Sport/Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo]. 2. THE KING'S SPEECH [Drama/Historical/ Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush]. 3. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS: Pt 1 [Fantasy/Adventure/Daniel Radcliffe]. - James Sherlock