Spell for Shamus

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TRAINER Danny O'Brien is intent on proving Shamus Award is a deserved Cox Plate winner - but it won't be until next autumn.

O'Brien confirmed Shamus Award will go for a spell after becoming one of the most unlikely winners of the Cox Plate in the race's history.
 
Shamus Award, a maiden going into the Cox Plate, led throughout to beat Happy Trails and Fiorente, becoming the 19th three-year-old to win the race but the first since Savabeel in 2004.

O'Brien said he won't be tempted to back up with Shamus Award in the Victoria Derby at Flemington next Saturday.

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"This was his grand final - we planned his 'prep' around the Caulfield Guineas and the Cox Plate," O'Brien said.

"I'd love him to come back and really confirm he is a deserved winner in the autumn.

"We saw All Too Hard and Pierro come out of the Cox Plate year and backed it up with strong autumns and I hope this colt can do something similar."

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All Too Hard (second) and Pierro (third) were placed behind Ocean Park in the Cox Plate then returned in the autumn to win five Group 1 races between them.

Shamus Award earned $1.8 million prizemoney for his Cox Plate win but is worth considerably more as a stallion prospect now.

Bred on sprinting lines, Shamus Award is by leading sire Snitzel out of a Success Express mare Sunset Express and some breeding experts now value the colt between $8-$10 million.

O'Brien said he always believed Shamus Award had the ability to develop into a Group 1 horse but luck had deserted the three-year-old - until Cox Plate week.

"We hoped at start of spring he would get to the Cox Plate," O'Brien said. "His program was set to have the two runs at the mile (a1600m) and he ran super in the Stutt Stakes and the Caulfield Guineas was a great run from a horse going forward to the Cox Plate.

"By not winning those races, we left ourselves open to not getting a start in the race."

O'Brien's luck started to turn on Tuesday when Shamus Award was made first emergency for the Cox Plate and his colt was allocated barrier three.

"Then there was unfortunate injury to Atlantic Jewel and we got a run in the race," O'Brien said.

"In this industry, you just have to keep turning up and persevering. "We haven't had much go our way this spring but on the day everything fell into place.

"The bad luck doesn't last forever - fortune favours the brave."

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Ono a 'ballerina with the ball'

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WESTERN Sydney Wanderers defender Adam D'Apuzzo has praised Shinji Ono, describing his teammate as a "ballerina with the ball".

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Ono's brilliant display helped the Wanderers to a 2-0 win over city rivals Sydney FC, with the Japanese star setting up the first goal and masterfully scoring the second.

"Shinji is amazing," D'Apuzzo said.

"He's like a ballerina with the ball and we saw it with his goal. How he spun, he's got such a good centre of gravity and balance. What he did, if you look at a replay, you think it could have been a fluke. But that's something that comes straight from him, it's part of his game and he showed it on the night."

D'Apuzzo says it's fantastic to give Wanderers fans the bragging rights in Sydney and he hopes their first win of the season sets the ball rolling.

After starting the season with two draws, he says Saturday night's performance finally helped the players feel like their old selves.

"We showed our fighting spirit again and the type of discipline and structure we built the side on last year," he said.

"We felt like our old selves again, where I guess in previous games we were (ourselves) but we didn't do it for the full 90 minutes. On Saturday night we did it for the full 90 minutes like we're used to doing.

"It's always good to get the win out of the way and hopefully it starts a domino effect and we go on a similar streak to last year. It's also great to give something back to the fans, who have come out in their numbers and they've stuck by us when we probably weren't ourselves and it's a good reward for that."

The Wanderers' last match at Allianz Stadium was their grand final defeat to Central Coast Mariners and D'Apuzzo says it was important for the team come away from the ground with a win this time.

"We needed to get that winning feeling back at that ground — we owed that ground a win," he said.

"It did feel like a home game because our fans cheered like their usual selves and we could actually fit a bit more of our fans in that stadium than in our own stadium. But nothing's like home in Parramatta, where the fans are a little bit closer and they stick with us through thick and thin."

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No Bart sentiment for handicapper

Craig Williams riding Precedence at Moonee Valley. Source: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

RACING Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter declared sentiment would play no part in deciding if Bart Cummings has a runner in the Melbourne Cup.

Moonee Valley Cup winner Precedence is 45th on the ­order of entry and needs at least a 1kg penalty to be a chance of pushing into the 24-horse field.

A 1.5kg penalty for Saturday's win would guarantee Precedence a fourth successive Melbourne Cup start, and Cummings his 88th runner in the race.

Carpenter said the legend of Cummings, chasing a 13th Melbourne Cup in the first year of his training partnership with grandson James, would have no bearing on his treatment of the eight-year-old.

"Bart having a runner in the Cup has certainly been a ­topic," Carpenter said yesterday.

"He's been involved for 60 years in training, produced 12 Cup winners and he is coming to the end of a wonderful career.

"But at the end of the day you need to divorce yourself from the owners and the trainers and assess the penalty on its merits. That's the way it works with me."

If Carpenter gives Precedence 1kg, the galloper's weight will rise to 53kg, the weight he had last year. In 2010 and 2011 he carried 53.5kg.

Melbourne Cup. Winning trainer of viewed, Bart Cummings Source: News Limited

With a 1kg penalty, he would still need others to drop out to make the field.

"Things can change dramatically at this late time," Carpenter said.

"It was a very good win on Saturday. The horse has run in the past three Melbourne Cups and last year he ran ninth.

"He didn't win the Moonee Valley Cup last year (fourth) so he is going as well or a little better this year. I have to weigh all this up."

James Cummings on Saturday made a passionate plea to Carpenter to be "generous" and give Precedence a 1.5kg penalty.

He suggested his grandfather would be at Flemington tomorrow week for the Cup only if Precedence got a run.

Precedence, $51 for the Cup, will be nominated for both the Mackinnon Stakes and the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Both races give automatic entry to the Cup to the winner.

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Courtney's wheel issues

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JAMES Courtney knew he was gone before the computers did.

Only 19 laps from his maiden Gold Coast 600 win - in front and "doing it easy" - the Holden Racing star suddenly found himself turning the steering wheel far too easily for too little result.

"I could feel something was wrong," Courtney told The Daily Telegraph last night. "There was massive play with the wheel, you could move it a lot without anything really happening.

"So I got on the radio and told the boys but they came back and said, as far as they could see, everything was okay. Then three laps later ... you know, it just stopped wanting to turn altogether."

And to confirm, just like that, Courtney had given up certain victory, ask the bloke who was behind him.

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Quizzed about his reaction to seeing said Holden car go into the wall, eventual winner Dave Reynolds replied: "Yeeeeees.

"Jamie was pushing hard and full credit to him. He was a lot quicker than me. If he hadn't made that mistake I don't think I would've caught him.

"He was taking big risks with the chicane where I was trying to conserve the car, trying not to break it. It's unfortunate for James though ... I don't think I would've caught him."

The unfortunate malfunction caps off a horror few weeks for Courtney, whose co-driver Greg Murphy crashed out, first, in the Bathurst 1000 and then again on Saturday in the first race of the Gold Coast 600 weekend.

Asked if he could believe his recent luck, Courtney said: "Ah, not really, no.

"But I'd rather we go out like this, at the front fighting with the right guys, than wobbling around at the back of the field.

"We were leading and there's nothing more Murph or I could've done. But it's disappointing to end like this because we were doing it so easy, cruising out in front ... it's incredibly frustrating."

Murphy agreed.

"Things like this, they happen,v the veteran shrugged. "But is it bad luck? I suppose today it was because you can't blame it on anything.

"After crashing yesterday our guys worked all night to get this car right today. They deserved better. Deserved something.

"Then you look at the way James has driven all weekend, put the car up the front all the time. Tomorrow we'll wake up and move on but today ... today is miserable."

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Lowndes leads series

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IN A race that started with a Gold Coast preacher blessing the entire field, it was Craig Lowndes who walked away feeling most blessed.

Despite entering the Gold Coast 600 - an event he calls "my Achilles heel" - trailing in the V8 Supercar Championship by 120 points, Lowndes today wakes leading Red Bull Racing stablemate Jamie Whincup by six.

And he's there after dominating a chaotic weekend where the damage bill was around $1.5 million. Where even a V8 official was hospitalised with severe burns after the garaged Jack Daniels car he was observing spat dry ice on his ankle.

Having won the Saturday race with co-driver Warren Luff, the Red Bull team then finished eighth yesterday to also claim the Pirtek Endurance Cup.

The results takes Lowndes to 2549 championship points with two rounds still to race - ahead of Whincup (2543), Mark Winterbottom (2461) and Will Davison (2428).

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"If you told me coming into the Gold Coast 600 we'd walk away leading the championship I wouldn't have believed you," Lowndes said last night.

"I said this weekend, this event, was my Achilles heel and I've managed to make up 120 points on Jamie. So for me it's been a fantastic weekend."

Narrowly avoiding a crash with Scott Pye midway through the race, Lowndes conceded he had enjoyed some luck inside a racetrack dubbed 'The Bullring'.

"It was one days of those where we all had some near misses," he said. "We had some battles going on throughout the day but we finished strongly which was great.

"But as far as the championship goes, it isn't over yet. Anything is still possible. There's no doubt Jamie will fight as well as Ford Performance Racing.

"But we've now got Philip Island and then Sydney which are two tracks I really like."

Despite Whincup describing the new Endurance Cup trophy as meaningless on Saturday evening, both Lowndes and Luff insisted they not only supported the concept, but were happy to walk away with the giant, silver trophy made up of car parts.

"Importantly, it also means Craig is now leading the championship," Luff added. "It's been a great weekend for the team and for him."

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Puissance could miss Cup

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IT'S A Dundeel is out of the Melbourne Cup and a lame Puissance De Lune could be the next stayer to fall by the wayside as the attrition rate starts to gather momentum with just over a week to the great race.

The two outstanding stayers have been at the top of Melbourne Cup betting for months but both could miss the big race after disastrous Cox Plate runs last Saturday.

It's A Dundeel, who had been under an injury cloud going into the Cox Plate, endured a torrid run when trapped three-wide throughout and finished a well-beaten eighth.

"He just got caught three wide from the start and there's nothing you can do about it," Baker said. "He's not going to win with a run like that."

Baker said he didn't believe It's A Dundeel's hoof issues earlier this month made any difference to the Cox Plate result but confirmed the five-time Group 1 winner was out of the Melbourne Cup. It's A Dundeel is due to return to New Zealand on Thursday.

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Puissance De Lune pulled up lame in the near foreleg when a distant 10th in the Cox Plate.

Trainer Darren Weir said last night Puissance De Lune will undergo a complete veterinary examination today before a decision is made on the grey's racing future but a Melbourne Cup start is now increasingly unlikely.

In other Melbourne Cup news, trainer David Hayes has confirmed Glen Boss is the new rider for Jet Away in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday and then the Melbourne Cup.

Jet Away, ridden by Damien Oliver, ran an outstanding Melbourne Cup trial when fourth to Fawkner in the Caulfield Cup.

Oliver goes back onto Fiorente in the Melbourne Cup with the Gai Waterhouse-trained stayer the new favourite $5 after his courageous third in the Cox Plate.

England's champion jockey Ryan Moore has been confirmed as the new rider of Dandino in the Melbourne Cup.

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Tigers savage 36ers

Melbourne's Chris Goulding swoops on a loose ball during his dominant peformance against the 36ers. Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

ADELAIDE 36ers coach Joey Wright first discovered Melbourne Tigers star Chris Goulding as a 16-year-old playing in a Monday night competition in Brisbane.

Yesterday he would have been rueing the day when his former protégé burned his 36ers side with a mesmerising shooting display to inspire the Tigers to its first NBL win of the season.

Goulding – who is fast becoming one of the NBL's most lethal players – scored 29 points that included five three-pointers as Melbourne scored a crucial 93-79 victory.

"We were a lot more aggressive today – we certainly didn't want to drop another game three weeks in a row," Goulding said.

"At half-time we spoke about putting the foot on the pedal in the second half and it worked out well with 34 points in the final quarter."

The shooting guard said he had to work hard for his points.

"I just tried to stay aggressive and keep Gibbo (36ers guard Adam Gibson) moving," he said.

"He's a really good defender so you just can't stand there and let him guard you.

"I tried to come off as many screens as I could."

There was a scare for Goulding in the third term when he fell hard and had to rush off the court to the change rooms clutching his stomach.

But he soon returned much to the relief of Tigers supporters.

"I got hit in the jejunum and like in the movie Semi-Pro, it makes you vomit right away," Goulding laughed.

"I got an elbow flush straight in there so for the next minute or two I was sure I was going to bring up my breakfast.

"But after a couple of minutes I was fine."

Tigers big men Scott Morrison (15 points and nine boards) and Lucas Walker (14 points and 10 rebounds) were equally important in front of 3236 at The Cage.

Forward Mark Worthington also played a big role – particularly when the game was on the line – to finish 17 points and seven boards.

Tigers coach Chis Anstey said there was a lot of work to do despite the win.

"It was better but we still got a long wrong," he said.

"We rebounded poorly but I thought we defended well.

"It was pleasing the way the boys responded down the stretch in the fourth quarter."

It was a very even start with neither side able to establish an early buffer.

The 36ers – coming off a strong road win over the Taipans in Cairns on Friday night – quickly established they would be no push over.

But it was a fired-up Walker who was determined to swing the game in Melbourne's favour.

The big man was everywhere in the first half – scoring 10 points and grabbing six boards.

It helped the home side to a handy seven-point lead at half-time despite the fact Adelaide was dominating the boards.

The lead blew out to 11 points during the third term with Goulding beginning to have a real impact.

They have lost from this position before this season, but there would be no denying the Tigers this time.

WALKER VOWS TO PLAY THROUGH OSTEITIS PUBIS

Recovering Melbourne Tigers forward Lucas Walker has vowed to continue to playing through the pain after starring in yesterday's stirring win over Adelaide.

Walker only started training again earlier this month after being struck down by the dreaded osteitis pubis during the pre-season.

It is still affecting him but it won't stop the big man from contributing to the Tigers' cause.

That much was evident when he scored 14 points and grabbed 10 boards in a lively display yesterday.

"It (the injury) is still giving me a little of trouble," Walker said.

"At half-time I get a little bit stiff but when I get back out there and warmed up it is fine.

"It is just something I have to manage during the week at training.

"During game time I am running on adrenaline so I'm not thinking about it, so I'm trying to not let it hinder me at all."

It was a much slicker performance by the Tigers yesterday and Walker said it wasn't an accident.

"It was something we tried to work on during the week," he said.

"We wanted to play fast but not hurry.

"We want to control the tempo and play the way we want to play."

Nick Smart

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Bring on the foreigners

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EVER since Vintage Crop slogged his way through the Flemington bog 20 years ago, we've taken a well balanced view. With a parochial chip on either shoulder, we have ridiculed the "foreign raiders".

We bemoaned how the Sheiks and aristocrats had made the Melbourne Cup as romantic as baked beans night in a boarding school dining hall. How there was no longer a place for the bush battlers. How it was better - yes, really! - being beaten by the Kiwis.

We taunted the foreign riders who went so wide they could have ordered a pie going down the straight the first time and picked it up on the way to the winning post.

Bart Cummings claimed the raiders were pitchforked in with weights that wouldn't slow a crippled tabby, and the track was doctored for them with the shameful cynicism the English prepare their cricket pitches.

And now, in the midst of a spring carnival that has been flatter than an X-Factor contestant's Bohemian Rhapsody? Bring on the raiders!

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From the moment Atlantic Jewel wobbled beneath Michael Rodd at trackwork, the Cox Plate would lack lustre. But when the maiden Shamus Award not only replaced the brilliant mare in the field, but also the winner's stall, the "weight for age championship of Australasia" plumbed ridiculous depths.

No disrespect to the winners. The 19-year-old rider Chad Schofield performed a marvellous feat of skill and nerve. Danny O'Brien trained his horse to the split-second. Bravo.

But, let's face it, the Shamus Award should be for the best and fairest in a Gaelic football team. Not, on exposed form, the Cox Plate winner.

Even before the race, without a Kingston Town, a Dulcify, a Might and Power or a Saintly to create anticipation, it was an unusually low key day. That a contender such as It's A Dundeel or Puissance de Lune could not step up made it anticlimactic.

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It did not help that the Cox Plate meeting had been split between a Friday night and the traditional Saturday. Or that the main race is now the last in order to service the great God of television news.

Although, at proletarian Moonee Valley, you expected racegoers' throats to be even more lubricated by the time the field jumped. Yet instead of the traditional roar there was merely a hearty cheer.

And so a nation turns its gambling eyes to ... Werribee. Once renowned as the place where Melbourne sent its, ahem, solid waste. Now it is where richly bred stayers serve their time in quarantine. From merely flushed to flushed with success.

There remains significant local interest in this Melbourne Cup. Gai Waterhouse has been heavily spruiking a syndication business called "Gai Living the Dream". Which is not some haven for same sex marriage, but the opportunity to race a Melbourne Cup horse with the great trainer.

But after Fiorente's bold third placing in the Cox Plate, Waterhouse could well achieve her Melbourne Cup ambition without the help of the mum and pop investors.

After winning last year's Melbourne Cup with Green Moon, and this year's Caulfield Cup with Fawkner, Lloyd Williams could produce almost as many runners as the raiders. Call him the United Stables of Lloyd.

Bart Cummings, at 85, could have an 88th Melbourne Cup runner with Precedence - this one trained with grandson James. But only if Precedence gets more weight. After he won the Moonee Valley Cup, James was screaming for a penalty like an Italian striker.

Still, this spring, the raiders are desperately needed provide some spark. To make it, in Waterhouses's words, a bit "sexy". And to think we once tried to kick them out of bed.

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