Racing

The winter racing season is upon us again, and lets hope that we have as successful a winter season as last year. For surely there must have been been more good performers around last year than for many years. Shifnal Chief, Van der Hum, Cattle King, Optician, Oranmore were producing performances week after week that seemed to out do their nearest rivals performances the week before.

Already Shifnal Chief has found the winning way, even if with his apprentices allowance, he had the apparent luxurious weight of 57.5 Kg. However. I am sure that we will see Royal Cadenza back to form - if anything he may well be fitter and stronger than when he won the Auckland Cup. Given the wet springs that Melbourne has been having in recent years, he may be an ideal prospect for this year's Melbourne Cup. Noone has really shown out in the jumping scene yet, although I imagine that Koiro Scott, Owhata Chief and Evelyns Choice may win their share of the hurdle events this season.

A pity about Balmerino in the International event at Hollywood Part this week but he certainly sly was not disgraced. To give a horse just two weeks and no adequate lead up racing, to tackle some of the world's best gallopers at 2400 metres is really asking the impossible.

— by Inside Rail.