Avilius ready to thrive over the mile but Chelmsford a test of jockeys' skill
"Those in the media, many of whom have never been on a horse, should stop crucifying jockeys over being caught deep and split-second decisions we have to make," Sally Wynne declared.
Every occasion the whip is raised in this aspect a letter to Winning Post by Wynne, a professional hoop for 25 years at that time, is recalled.
From the media seat, guilty as charged. I got travel sick on a rocking horse. Still, should a level of expertise in the saddle be taken for granted? Yes, they are highly paid professionals and worth every zac. Stewards, with the benefit of technology, question tactics like never before.
Alas the modern-day jockey is also harnessed by maps, chartered by grandstand experts more able with figures than reins. Sure, if riders have never had experience with mounts the trainer can obviously enlighten them but to tie down the likes of Hugh Bowman and Kerrin McEvoy over where they should be in a race is impertinence.
To me "no luck", for pilot error, is the most annoying term from defeated saddle navigators. Outstanding and even capable jockeys make their own luck. We sing the praises of an outstanding performance but even champions are human and can put in a sub-standard effort.
Adam Reynolds is probably South Sydney’s greatest goalkicker but when he misses in front, and hits the ball like he’s got gout in the big toe, is it bad luck or a bad kick?
Yet the blame weighs heavy when tragedy strikes, with jockeys Mikaela Claridge and Melanie Tyndall the most recent to have fatal falls. And the Wynne letter which I’ve kept for over four years comes to mind.
"My mother Dianne Wynne was the first female to set foot in the Caulfield mounting yard, strapping her favourite horse as a 12-year-old, to the gasps from the male-dominated crowd. She was removed from the premises and the trainer of the horse fined," she explained.
"When I first started riding there were still few girls. But the numbers grew steadily and the archaic minds of the stubborn few were changed by the sheer determination of these skilled riders.
"I felt the age-old argument about women in the saddle had been put to rest before the recent deaths of Simone Montgomery, Desiree Gill, Ashley Mundy, Caitlin Forrest, and Carly Mae Pye, all talented and accomplished riders.
"I believe vests need to be looked at. I have had falls with or without them. It is much easier to get myself into a protective ball without them.
"I currently break in horses as a side hobby and always wear a helmet. But I prefer not to wear a vest for my first ride because my flexibility is compromised.
"Riding is our job, and as professional jockeys we make a living by utilising our skills. We have no say in how our mounts are trained up for race day. We often meet horses we ride for the very first time on race day."
Certainly weight-for-age events like today’s Chelmsford (1600m) at Royal Randwick are testing for jockey skill, judgment of pace being a necessity despite the best horses usually having a handicap advantage.
In taking the WFA Winx Stakes (1400m) last start Tim Clark was praised for his touch on the front-running outsider Samadoubt while favourite Avilius, a contender for best horse in Australia prior, was disappointing. And McEvoy gave him every chance.
Former champion Darren Beadman, now a tongue for Godolphin, reckoned the real Avilius would be seen when he could "get his toe into the ground over a mile".
Beadman won two Chelmsfords on the exceptional Lonhro but was beaten on him when long odds-on favourite in the WFA Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, for which he was the fall guy in the public eye. A lapse perhaps but then hundreds of good rides made Beadman an all-time great.