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Why Always This 'hue & Cry

By Smart-still-poor-punter | 25-Jun-2019

Hi Friends,

When 'Anjeze' lost (badly lost) in the opening Bengaluru Classic, not many punters were ready to believe the run. There was another strong section that, instead of hailing the victory of 'Well Connected', calling it a farce. There were a few others who wanted Anjeze to lose but only 'Hunt for Gold' (or at the maximum 'Missing You') to win?

Come on, we are not writing the script of racing sitting at our home. Let's firmly remember this before every race starts in the future. Winning and losing can never be predicted by anyone, leave alone we handful of HTians doing the dissections here before and after the races on a daily basis.

If Anjeze lost, it's for the concerned connections to explain. But how can that bring down the stunning performance of Well Connected? I don't understand this logic. Of all the punters who visit the race-course, about 90% go after favourites. This is universal logic. Only 10% look for upsets and even among them a majority only want second or third favourites to win. We want so but it can't be so. It's as simple as that.

When 'Sahara' lost in the hands of R Marshall, I was hurt by the bricks thrown at the jockey but when the horse lost again in better hands, there was no big hue and cry, why? Horses are made favourites for many reasons and the four-legged animal is no machine to hit the wire first every time it carrys the favourite tag. Let's understand that.

Who knows Anjeze may bounce back soon and even turn the tables against Well Connected later this season. Then what's going to be the comment? A majority of race-goers do their homework before entering the course, some fail and some pass. This is like writing a test but the merit of the candidate can't solely be measured on the quantity of study he has done. If that's the case then old people coming to the race-course for years together with all the colourful sketches drawn on the racebook should walk home with jackpots and trebles daily? Here homework is only to instil confidence in you, that's all. If you think, "I know so much about racing like the handicap system, the rating, equipment used etc so I am the king', you are actually a fool. You can see someone who just buys a book before coming to the races going home with loads of money. 

We must acknowledge these facts and, therefore, be matured enough to appreciate when an outsider wins, at least in Classics. 

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9 Replies

Godzilla said ...

27-Jun-2019

Sspp

I am talking about Bangalore Derby. GP was 90np favourite. I played 10k and lost. Little Over with Shroff astride won at 2 1/2 odds. Robin Corner was then shown the door by MAM.

Smart-still-poor-punter said ...

26-Jun-2019

@ Godzilla

     Please have the facts right. It was not Generous Patron vs Bugs Bunny, it was GP vs Maximillion, the former ridden as favourite (1-1/2) by Sinclair Marshall and latter by Pesi Shroff (2/1). That was South Indian Derby in 1990 or 1991. I was a racing journalist then and I was among leading trainers, jockeys and owners when Dr MAM threw a Derby eve party at Taj Coramandel. In fact, when I asked Rashid Byramji about GP being made the favourite, he said "just watch my animal in the last 400 m". I reached this information to as many punters as possible in the Chennai ring and that was one reason 'Maximillion' was backed down from 3-1/2 to 2/1 and GP drifted from on-money to 1-1/2. Eventually Shroff rode his mount to perfection turning the final bend at the famous Guindy race course.

Godzilla said ...

26-Jun-2019

Some of the Classic Races results:

Fav. Generous Patron      ..  Won by Bugs Bunny

Fav  Astounding               ..  Won by Mac Bruce 

Fav. Ministrella                ..   Won by Desert Warrior

Fav. Sir Cecil                   ..  Won by Star Superior

Fav. Star Superior           ..  Won by Adjudicate

Fav Isshent Lovely          ..   Won by THE INVADER 

 

So on so forth. As such dont bet on classics.

Shrini said ...

26-Jun-2019

Very Well said Bro...

Raghavan said ...

26-Jun-2019

SSPP,

I agree that one should not use foul language when the favorite lost.  But, I do not think Sahara is the right example.

If public screan against a jockey, I will not take sides.  But here stewards have enquired the case and has held Marshall guilty of over confident ride and suspended him for 3 months.  Its subsequent loss in no way validates its earlier loss.  Over confident ride should not be confused with deliberate tanking of the race.

 

S C Sharma said ...

25-Jun-2019

I am still in USA but finding time to read race card because of time difference at India and US and many times forwarding my post at acceptance stage or immediately after jockeys declarations as soon as known to me but actual race day track condition, info regarding going soft or heavy or high penetrometer  reading ( like last Sunday going was soft and PMR was 4.8 cms. )  not available to me. 

I myself advised many heavy betting horseplayers to observe extra cautiousness on such days and avoid heavy bettings. Some horses may not like such going or underfoot conditions though I am not taking any credit from the fillies trial stake winner Well Connected and congratulate the entire team trainer, owner and jockey and ofcourse the filly which make all them proud.

    While analysing the win and defeat these factors are also to be kept in mind and many times this will stand good in everyone’s favour.

Srinivas said ...

25-Jun-2019

@SSPP

In race no.11, Anjeze beat Thailand by 5-3/4 lengths, giving him 3kgs.   In the fillies race no.82, on equal weight Thailand beat Anjeze quite easily (that Anjeze cannot stay, IMHO is simply unbelievable).

I also feel Anjeze can easily beat not only Thailand but also Well connected, provided it carries a few KGS more than the 2.   Remember the Mathaiyas and Capt Morgan story in 2017, when the latter beat the former not once but twice, carrying 3 KGS more, yet lost twice to the same horse , carrying equal weights.   Such are the strange ways in racing, and it happens some times everywhere.

Kingsfork said ...

25-Jun-2019

Yes, it's true, everyone's studies are based on the past performance of the bird, no one can study 100% future performance of the bird from past performance.

Rajaraman said ...

25-Jun-2019

Well said smart still poor punter