Superb ride by McEvoy, but should punters have known about his tactics

Were punters disadvantaged being kept in the dark about a tactically superb ride by Kerrin McEvoy on Almandin in Saturday’s Tancred Stakes at Rosehill Gardens? And did a fair result come from a Mark Zahra's whip breach aboard Levendi?

Again track bias reared on a major program where the official reading was a good four after a seemingly perfect week for grass and played a role with Almandin.

Brilliant ride: Kerrin McEvoy cracks the whip on Almandin, centre, as the pair win the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill.
Photo: AAP

Obviously Racing NSW stewards were disturbed about the change in strategy by McEvoy taking up a more prominent position which most turf students would agree is the best way to navigate weight-for-age races, especially when there is only one major rival, in this instance Gailo Chop.

Alas Liam Howley, the new head trainer for the staying mastermind Lloyd Williams, didn’t inform stewards so they could pass it on to the public.

Being a newcomer Howley later received a good, old dressing by the prosecutor Mark Van Gestel.

With McEvoy, Australia’s best saddle navigator in distance races, nothing less, particularly as the pattern developed, should have been anticipated.

Earlier on the program there was a strong propensity towards horses racing in front or near the lead.

Peter Ellis who walks the tracks searching for the best ground in races for top Victorian trainers, including Darren Weir, deduced there was a fast lane four or five horses off the fence at Rosehill on Saturday and the going in the straight faster than the previous ground thus early comers to the hot spot were advantaged.

The exceptions were Spright (Star Kingdom Stakes) and Osborne Bulls (West App H'cp) but with explanations.

I’d have been surprised had McEvoy ridden Almandin differently without the side-line prompting.

Stewards were disturbed that Almandin dropped back to last from a wide gate at his previous start in the Australian Cup at Flemington but in that event Damian Oliver had to scout the fence because it was slower out wide. Saturday confirmed Almandin was beaten by the bias at Flemington, rated a good three.

The rule regarding the public being informed before a switch in riding tactics has never impressed me. The best jockeys ride on initiative and adapting to circumstances that don’t come onto the radar for new age map makers, mainly armchair generals deducing how a race will be run. Sure, it’s a guide but not an official chopping block.

Perhaps being informed about runner-up Miss Que ($11 to $9) going forward in the final event, adjusting to conditions, was a worthwhile leg up. Well, it put more pace in the race that enabled Osborne Bulls to storm home and win.

Also, a breach of the whip regarding a result raised eyebrows with Levendi in the Tulloch Stakes for which Zahra incurred a suspension and $1000 fine.

Zahra hit his mount eight times, three over the limit prior to the 100 metres. Levendi scored in the last couple of hops. Does three clouts keeping in touch with a rival equal a short head? In laying down the law for suspensions the stipes take into account the “totality” – 17 for Zahra but could not be satisfied Levendi gained an advantage so they didn’t proceed with a protest.