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Letter of the Week

Strike one

Richie Callander (30/5) may wish to praise his “mate” Chris Waller, but to even vaguely suggest other leading trainers deliberately withhold their horses from starting to protect the “myth” of their strike rates is offensive. And anyway, how could they protect a myth, as he calls it?
Some time ago Richie wrote on this same subject, but that time both Waller and Gai Waterhouse were lauded for having so many starters.
Chris Waller is an astute and successful trainer, but I’m sure he would be the first to agree there are countless reasons why some large stables may have few starters on a raceday.
For example, some stables like to prepare horses for particular times of the year, taking into consideration the quality of the racing surfaces, prizemoney and suitability of races.
Some trainers do not wish to burden owners with extra costs for acceptance fees, floating et cetera unless a horse has a sound chance of winning. In other words they are not in the business of having their horses simply making up the numbers or using them as pacemakers for a more favoured runner
There are many more reasons — as Richie himself states, poor programming by racing clubs and too many unsuitable races may also contribute to this situation
I am sure trainers of the calibre of Bart Cummings, Peter Snowden, Bjorn Baker, Wayne Hawkes and John O’Shea always have the best interests of their owners and the welfare of their valuable animals foremost in their minds, well above any strike-rate considerations.
Richie, why not ask each of these trainers why they had few starters at Rosehill last Saturday? I am sure each would provide you with a logical and genuine reason and you can write about this in your next column — which, by the way, I always enjoy reading.

Chalky
Swan Hill (Vic)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March