You're right, Richie
Richard Callander was so right in what he said (Winning Post last week) about Magic Millions and their ambivalence towards staying races.
The focus is on speed in Queensland over their summer carnival, with no feature staying races at all.
It is time for Queensland racing, and not just Magic Millions, to rectify this imbalance.
At the Karaka meeting in New Zealand, a stayers’ cup of 2200 metres has been programmed. That is a staying race — not one at 1800 metres as is programmed this weekend on the Gold Coast.
I believe Magic Millions should program a feature 2200 metre mares race with serious prizemoney, and the Brisbane authorities should follow up with another at 2400 metres.
In Victoria, Shane Anderson (of Radio Sport National) has been advocating the need for a staying mares’ feature. There are many feature staying races for young horses but none for mares in Australia. The breeding industry should be asking for this change. Gerry Harvey talks about the need to improve the quality of the local stayers. Such moves would be a practical help.
Caulfield