October
SeptemberDeserved winner
I found the article by Adrian Dunn on the Scobie Breasley Medal (7/9) most interesting and certainly significant. True, G. Boss is a great rider, no one could argue with that, but I personally could never give him a Scobie. Then again, when one reads Adrian’s account of Terry Bailey’s comments, it appears I may have been barking up the wrong tree.
I always thought the Scobie took into account a jockey’s ability, fairness, clean record and general behaviour both on and off the track.
I believe Michael Rodd, with his brilliant 17.4-percent strike rate, is a shining example of the type of character that ticks all these boxes.
However, according to Adrian’s report, Scobie voting is based solely on a jockey’s riding ability, and this is perhaps illustrated by young Chad Schofield finishing so high on the list despite missing 120 meetings for the year due to suspension.
Surely suspensions, particularly by a serial offender, should detract from the voting score of any rider. Surely it is easier for a jockey to ride plenty of winners if he has little regard for the rules.
Similar remarks could apply to Boss with his habitual lairism on winning a big race.
While this is condoned, and indeed classified as good for racing by one of your feature writers, I am heavily on the side of the owner who claimed on this page recently that he would never put Boss on one of his horses when he persists in being a lair on passing the post.
In the AFL’s Brownlow Medal, a suspension during the season disqualifies a player for consideration.
Similarly, I believe the Scobie should recognise the best and fairest rider.
In this category I defy anyone to suggest that any rider, including Boss, could finish anywhere near Michael for his magnificent contribution to racing both on and off the track.
Brighton (Qld)