October
NovemberCome one, come all
So now that the international invaders have taken out this year’s Caulfield Cup and, for the first time, the Cox Plate (and will probably make it a clean sweep on the first Tuesday in November), we are no doubt going to hear the same old whining from sections of the media, the racing fraternity and the racing public that we should not let so many of them get a start in our big races.
Not to mention the outcries regarding the need for an Australian-bred horse to win these races.
These are the same types of people that were up in arms when the VFL transformed into the AFL — you only have to look at how great our national game of footy has become for proof that the naysayers are wrong.
Personally, I don’t think it matters that an Australian-bred horse can’t/won’t win the “big three” most years — I don’t even care if the winners are Australian-trained as long as we get to see the best talent here.
The Melbourne Cup is already an international event and the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate are now on their way too. We’re on the right path — it’s great for true racing fans.
Long term, hopefully the big three will continue to grow in stature on the world stage and all three become prized events to win. It may still be 10-20 years away, but I hope we end up with a four-week carnival (from the Caulfield Cup to Stakes Day) to outshine the likes of Dubai, Royal Ascot, Hong Kong and others, and Melbourne in spring becomes known as the premier racing destination for the world.
We’ve already got Kiwis, Japanese, German, French, English and Irish horses targeting our riches — the dream should be to get more down from Asia and maybe even a special US horse down here (the Breeders’ Cup meeting in October probably means it won’t happen but you never know).
I for one can’t wait for our spring carnival to be a truly international event where contestants for the big races also try what the Japanese did this year and bring stable companions down and have a crack at some of the lesser feature races too.
When it happens, Australian-bred and/or -trained horses will win our feature races now and then and we’ll all be beaming with pride when a local can beat the best the world has to offer.
Melbourne in spring is the place to be — here’s hoping we can continue along the path of bringing the best the world has to offer to us.
Brunswick (Vic)