www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 13, 2013 - Page 77
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 72
RIPPER SLIPPER ■ With the world's richest two year-old race only weeks away, the Gai Waterhouse-trained filly, Overreach, heads the markets and is definitely the one to beat. Her form reads spot on for the classic, and Gai is hoping to add yet another Golden Slipper to her several trophy rooms. Overeach spreadeagled a good field earlier on her return, and has done everything right since then and will start at short odds. The second favourite,Ville Verde, is very smart and its trainer, Victorian Shaun Dwyer, is rapt the way she has been working and is undefeated so far. She has all the necessary attributes to win the rich race with both early speed and courage among her fortes. I mentioned a few weeks ago about a two yearold, by the name of Charlie Boy, and to keep your eye on him. He recently had his second run in a race after winning first up, and I thought he was impressive in finishing a strong third coming form a long way back on a very heavy 9 track behind another of Gai Waterhouse's, Sweet Idea. That race was the Silver Slipper over 1100 metres so the extra 900 metres will suit him down to the ground. Charlie Boy is by the imported sire, Myboycharlie, an Irish-bred stallion, now standing at the Vinery Stud here in Victoria. Conor from Vinery, tipped me off when I met him on Futurity Stakes day at Caulfield, where their star All Too Hard won the big event. He said trainer Gerald Ryan, who has won many a classic, has a very big opinion of him, and expects him to be hard to beat come Slipper time next month. Don't leave him out of your multiples.
Ted Ryan
Of the others in the Golden Slipper, the Snowden pair, Safeguard and Guelph, could be right in it. Guelph, who was well backed to win the recent Blue Diamond, was beaten by her wide barrier, and will be a different filly racing on her home turf. You naturally have got to put Sweet Idea in as a chance as she was impressive.
Doncaster Handicap ■ The Doncaster over 1600 metres could see the clash of the titans again. Gai Waterhouse has set her champion Pierro for the ‘Mile’, while the Hawkes camp is still not certain that they will accept with their top galloper, All Too Hard. As we all know at their last two meetings, All Too Hard, has finished ahead of Pierro, defeating him in the Caulfield
Guineas, and then running second to Ocean Park in the Cox Plate, where Pierro ran a gallant third. The two colts appear too have a bit on the rest of the acceptors in the Doncaster, with the exception of three runners, in Pierro's stablemate, Proisir, the talented Rebel Dane, and the mighty mare More Joyous a previous winner. In behind them is the very talented Moody trainer galloper, Moment of Change. Owned by the Sale Bloodstock Group under manager Rob Slade, Moment of Change is a very good galloper, and Peter Moody has often stated that he is the second best horse in his stables after the great mare, Black Caviar. The runner-up in the Hobartville at Rosehill, Rebel Dane, is very smart, a three year-old by California Dane, he
Observer Racing
flashed home along the rails to lose by only a head to Pierro. Rebel Dane, prepared by Gary Portelli, at Warwick Farm, has strung together four in a row and went in undefeated, but was glorious in defeat. The way that he finished, the 1600 metres of the Doncaster will be right up his alley. He is beautifully bred out of a More Than Ready mare.
Bendigo Golden Mile ■ The Bendigo Jockey Club is gearing up for their big ‘Golden Mile’ day this Saturday, the main race meeting in Victoria, with no races being conducted at any of the metropolitan tracks. The day has really developed and the Club has big plans for the day. Referred to as the Yalumba Raceday Golden Mile, the Club has organised great activities through CEO Ian Hart and his hard working team.
● Pierro Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 There will be on February 17, with Fashions On The those attending ravField with fabulous ing about the condiprizes, live music, tions of the track. with the Jacqui Over the years the Walker Band, a food Club has had many and wine precinct in- problems with cluding cooking drainage due to the demonstrations. track down low and On top of all this flat. there will be a paThis has now rade of yearlings been rectified and it from First Light is all systems go. Racing, while the This Sunday the children will be well Club is really turncatered for with ac- ing on for the emertivities and Kids ald green with many Zone. Irish activities Bendigo is one of planned like fashthe most beautiful ions, Irish dancing racecourses you will and an Irish band. ever see with its old There will be style grandstands plenty of activities and other old world for the children, charm buildings. conducted by Camp Interested in Australia, as well as coming along? Ring all the popular marthe Club on 5448 quees at the back of 4209. the main grandLove to see you stand. there; come and say These will feahello. ture wineries, food and other merchandise available. Buses will run from and to the Lilydale station be■ The Yarra Valley fore and after the Racing Club is gear- last. ing up for their St. It's always a great Patrick's race day family day and only this Sunday (March an hour from the 17) at their pictur- city. esque racetrack with I will be working some of the best on the day for the views in Victoria. Club and look forAfter a lot of ward all the action work had been com- that will take place. pleted on the popuThere are plenty lar track, they re- of refreshment areas turned to the gallops and bars.
Y. Valley green light
Footy injury rate drops
● PDL Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
■ The injury rate for AFL footballers dropped last year, with the games missed per club during the 2012 season at its lowest level since 2008. The League’s annual injury survey reveals that quad and groin strains were at lower levels than 2011, but players were suffering more calf strains and concussions. The AFL Medical Officers’ Association would not comment on whether a proposed cap on interchanges – set to be introduced next season – would have any definable impact on injuries.
- Harry Beitzel
Happy Birthday Alfie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (PG) (1988). 110 minutes. ***½. Available on DVD. Crowd-pleasing comedy with Mr Caine and Steve Martin as duelling con-artists. The Muppet Christmas Carol (G) (1992). 85 minutes. ****. Available on DVD. Beautifully rendered version of the Dickens classic, with that added muppet magic. Shiner (R) (2000). 99 minutes. ***. Available on DVD. Mr Caine in Get Carter mode, with grim and brutal results. Last Orders (M) (2001). 109 minutes. ****. Available on DVD. Fine comedy/drama features a top-shelf cast and is well-handled by director Fred Schepisi. Children Of Men (MA) (2006). 108 minutes. ****. Available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Distinctive sci-fi/thriller contains numerous, eye-popping set-pieces. Is Anybody There? (PG) (2008). 92 minutes. ***½. Available on DVD. Mr Caine shines as a magician who befriends a death-obsessed young boy. Harry Brown (MA) (2009). 102 minutes. ****. Available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Bleak, involving thriller is a dark companion piece with Eastwood's Gran Torino. - Aaron Rourke DVDs and Blu-Rays kindly supplied by Video Vision, 177-179 Carlisle Street, Balaclava. For information or bookings on these titles please call 9531 2544. Nearly all titles are available for hire, at great weekly prices. ■ From Page 72
Top 10 Lists NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: FIERCE CREATURES [1997/Comedy/John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin]. NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: ARCHER: Season 3. ARCHER: Season 1-3. THE HIGH CHAPARRAL: Series One. ROBIN WILLIAMS: OFF THE WALL. AUSTRALIA: You're Standing In It - The Series. CORLEONE: Capo Dei Capi. CSI: NY - Season Seven. IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: Season Six. TOP BLU-RAY RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. ARGO [Thriller/Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, John Goodman]. 2. THE INTOUCHABLES [Comedy/Drama/Omar Sy, Franois Cluzet]. 3. TAKEN 2 [Action/Thriller/Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen]. 4. TOP GUN 3D [Action/Tom Cruise, Meg Ryan]. 5. END OF WATCH [Action/Drama/Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pea]. 6. GAME OF THRONES: Season 2. 7. LAWLESS [Drama/Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce]. 8. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD [Drama/ Dwight Henry, Quvenzhane Wallis]. 9. FRANKENWEENIE 3D + Blu-ray [Comedy/ Animated/Martin Short, Winona Ryder]. 10. TO ROME WITH LOVE [Comedy/Romance/ Woody Allen, Judy Davis, Alec Baldwin]. Also: On The Road, Killing Them Softly, The Expendables 2, Looper, Ted, The Words, The Dark Knight Rises, Brave, Hotel Transylvania, Moonrise Kingdom. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: THE MASTER [Drama/Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix]. SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS [Comedy/Drama/Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken]. BACHELOTETTE [Comedy/Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher]. ARCHER: Season 3. THE MAGIC OF BELLE ISLE [Comedy/Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen]. BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO [Horror/Toby Jones]. HAMILTON: IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE NATION [Thriller/Jason Flemyng]. - James Sherlock