Absolutely. The 82/83 season is few years before I really started following the sport. Knew most of best horses but when looked in depth at this season, realised how good horses like Magari, Dalmacia, Trissaro and Galleon were.

Yep, agree with those 2 champions. As you indicated, their records would've been even better if didn't get injured. I've uploaded clips on Tulloch and Manikato so if haven't watched just type in their names and enjoy.

Plus one week before Caulfield Cup, he rode a shocker on Confectioner in Caulfield Stakes and got sacked from that as well but he bounced back and rode many big races winners since then.

@australianhorseracing4019 my brother was an apprentice jockey He told me he asked craig for advice one day and he was rude and never told him anything He said hes a really rude bloke in real life but then once he gets out of the jockeys rooms he puts on a good guy act for the cameras

@australianhorseracing4019 he lost the ride on dunaden to win the cup I felt sorry for him at the time could have rode the grand slam

@@leftfield5914 Wow, that's surprising to hear as I only see what's presented on TV.

@@leftfield5914 Oh yeah, forgot about that. Yes, could've had the grand slam in 2011 after winning Caulfield Cup & Cox Plate that year plus 2006 Golden Slipper but he eventually got it in 2019.

Lol. It's a different way to pick winners but if it works, perfect.

Was a champion sprinter at his best and agree, could've matched it with Black Caviar, let's say until the last 30-40m of a 1200m race then she would pull away. Maybe Vain, Manikato (1979/1980 version) and Placid Ark (1987 version) would also match it with BC.

@@australianhorseracing4019 all magnificent racehorses, it's a joy to watch these old videos.

@@markwatkins6618 Yep, they sure are. Thanks for comments and glad you like the clips.

As a general rule, agree with that, usually when the pace is above average during the race. Can also say similar about Caulfield Cup the week before with 2 imports running quinella and many lengths back to 3rd. We breed for speed and is why trainers have been sourcing more & more middle distance & staying horses from overseas over last 10-15 years and doesn't appear to be slowing down.

Gutsy call to say Naturalism wins by couple lengths against this great field, if he didn't fall. Deserved to be favourite after thrashing rivals in lead up races so maybe 0.5 to 1 length win if got the luck. Few other unlucky horses in this race.

1979 blue diamond win I was he's strapper

No worries. Is interesting to see what happened the year before - some horses in same races and some in other races around this time of the year.

Haha, thanks. I think this is the 2nd best season of all time. Will be uploading my "Best Races" for this season in coming weeks.

Thanks for that, my mistake. This was before my time and only know the VRC Queen Eliz. Stakes to be run in Spring.

Yep agree. I think the best of Might And Power was best in the world. Not sure if Winx would run him down over 2000m and confident he would have her covered at 2400m but she was never tried at it in open company - just as a 3yr old. In Winx's defence, two of her Cox Plate wins beat Might And Power's time in his Cox Plate win - his was a record time then she beat it twice.

@@australianhorseracing4019 oh for sure. Both absolute freaks in my book. I was 15 when he won that Caulfield/Melbourne double so it’s the earliest champion I can really remember seeing. 2 completely different horses but both in the freak category that’s for damn sure

Appreciate your comment. Spend lot of time editing to help showcase this great sport.

@@australianhorseracing4019 ive been binging it legend

Your welcome.

For sure. When you work with & look after the horse each day, you know their traits which includes getting over niggles on most occasions.

Certainly is. My 2nd fav. horse of all-time. Couple months ago I uploaded a clip on Dulcify featuring 8 of his 10 wins. Can see on following link, kzbin.info/www/bejne/paiyqJR5ZpeqgqM

Interesting question. Would say Kingston Town goes down as better horse but Makybe would win over longer distance on wet track. The King was more explosive and also had injuries missing 2 preparations so his record would have been even better.

@@travels129 How about Winx vs Tulloch. That would be interesting.

Yep. That was another great call by the GOAT in Australia for sports broadcasting in my opinion. The tone of his voice was similar to Bill Collins and Greg Miles. The best two calls I can remember of the top of my head from McAvaney are 1988 McKinnon Stks/Empire Rose and 1986 Cox Plate/Bonecrusher.

There's no way to be confident that Cole Diesel wins so, agree, was amazing call. Glenview was sticking her head out and trying so hard and easy to think she won by Miles got it right again.

Well it was a dead heat and they are hard to predict :) Like Miles called, it looked like Philotimo had just won.

As you indicated, bad call by Tappy as Justice Prevails was not in front at any stage. It looked like he was going to win but never hit the front.

@@australianhorseracing4019 Glad you agree cos I thought I was on some other planet.

@@headmasterritual957 Lol.

In order of when they raced. BLU is my no. 1 fav of all time.

@@australianhorseracing4019 Ahh ok that makes more sense :)

He won 2 Group 1's as a 3yr old plus 2 open age Group 1 WFA races so I would say top class. Came back from injury and won 2012 George Ryder so was very tough as well.

@@australianhorseracing4019it’s easy to say in hindsight, but it feels we never saw the full potential. Was shattered at his injury

@@owen7185 Fair enough. I was a big fan of his happy with career even though, as you indicated, likely to win more Group 1's if didn't get injured.

Hard to know if Gai or not. Guess only a few people would know and would be interesting to find out.

I guess what went through trainer & owners minds, can't do everything so either go overseas and miss a Cox Plate or stay local and win another Cox Plate. I think they made right choice and created records that will likely never be beaten therefore be considered as probably GOAT in Aust. Thousands of people around the world still watched Winx race but, as you said, more ordinary racegoers probably didn't see her.

Your welcome. Reenact had the capability and racing style to go on and win a Group 1 Hcp like the Metrop. or even Cups but can't remember what happened to him, ie: if injury cut career short, as I don't think he raced on as a 4yr old.

One of the many signs of Winx's greatness is the weight VRC handicapper (Greg Carpenter) would have given her for 2017 Melb. Cup. if she entered. He said 64.5kg. Makybe Diva had 58.5kg for her 3rd Melb. Cup win and Kingston Town I think carried 60kg when 2nd in 1982 Melb. Cup. After this comment by Carpenter, just to prove her greatness Winx went on to win 2 more Cox Plates & 2 more ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

@@australianhorseracing4019 Wow I never knew that

That was certainly spectacular win with great turn of foot and start of 33 wins in a row. Yeah, I remember the last to first Insecured QLD Guineas win where the rain was so bad couldn't see the horses on TV until last 300m of race and agree similar to Mr Tiz's 91 Galaxy win. Another would be 2001 BRC Sire's Produce (1400m) where Reenact came from last and one of my all time fav. races 2003 Lightning Hcp (1000m) at Eagle Farm where the usual front runner Pembleton came from last and went past all 15 runners as if they were nailed to the rail. Lol re Simon Marshall comment.

@@australianhorseracing4019 You're spot on re Insecure as expected! As for Marshall, he is hopeless (almost as bad as Brassel was). He's on a program called Get On Extra kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5OlamipiK9ppck and he's never yet tipped ONE winner. EVER. To give you an example of how bad he is, his 'best' for last Saturday was 'Deferred' at Belmont. It was the odds on fave and Chris Parnham was in the saddle. Now, ordinarily Chris Parnham on an odds on favourite would simply be lay down misere 'over the line'. But Marshall tipped it and guess what? It didn't even run a place! I stayed off it purely because Marshall tipped it. I just knew it couldn't possibly hence, thus and therefore win. Would love to see his bank balance. The show should be called Get OFF Extra! I usually list their Tips and whether they won or not in the comments just to highlight how bad they are. Yep, I recall seeing Reenact winning in one of your videos and, from memory, it was quite a run cos I remember Alan Thomas was taken aback so will see if I can find it again. Love your posts man. The Suzy Grey one was a beaut. Had forgotten how good she was!

@@headmasterritual957 Lol re Marshall. I used to watch Get On every week but haven't seen it for few years as life too busy. Marshall was a smooth jockey and is good entertainer but doesn't seem like good tipster and maybe gets the gig for the laughs. Like your story from last Sat with odds on fav. Thanks for comments about my clips. I did a clip on Reenact (his 2 big wins at Eagle Farm) so only have to type in his name. Yeah, Suzy Grey was fantastic and in my Top 10 of all-time favourites.

@@australianhorseracing4019 Just an update on Marshall's tips for yesterday (Nadal Wonder Boy, Sans Doute, Via Sistina, The Black Cloud, Switzerland, Kraken Time). They ALL lost! In fact, not one of them even ran a PLACE!. He even got Via Sistina beaten 'six lengths into 5th'. Worst tipster ever. Vale Graham McNeice.

@@headmasterritual957 Haha, he missed everything again and, as you mentioned, not even a place. Only thing in his defense and others who put out tips day/days before races is track conditions can change and on Thurs Flemington was Good 4/Slow 5 then yesterday was Slow 7/Heavy 8 then 9. RE Nadal - jockey went bit early was good run given first up from a spell while Wonder Boy, Sans Doute and Via Sistina seemed not to really handle Heavy track - I liked Sans Doute until really wet track then had no betting interest. The other 2 were just bad tips I guess :) And yes, Vale Graham McNeice. Seemed liked a great guy. I have uploaded many clips with him involved when he hosted Racing Retro from 1998-2013/14.

For sure a real champion and probably the GOAT in Aust. As you said, could break 32 when required. Dry track, bog track, missed the start by 3-4 lengths in 1400m Group 2 race and copping checks at important stages in few races, it didn't matter. Yeah, always like to see the comments from the experts with different horses as they progress so thanks for comments.

Maybe more horses that run in the Cups these days have international background and are genuine stayers therefore making them stronger races but as a result come back in later in Autumn and start prep at longer distances but that's just a guess. Cox Plate runners still run in Orr, this year/2024 had Mr Brightside win it after being 2nd in Cox Plate. Did have the Winx years of Cox Plates where there were more Sydney horses in those Cox Plates so they have Autumn prep in Syd.

Absolutely. The Hong Kong Sprint was another "come from last in the run" barnstorming win after being pushed along just to keep in touch at start of race. Enjoy Hong Kong.

Was certainly underrated until 09 C'field Cup win after winning 08 Melb. Cup as was 30-40/1 in Melb. Cup win. Great stride and agree could've been champion stayer if was able to race on for another year or two. I ignored McKinnon Stakes run before he won Melb Cup :( Alf's tip for Septimus didn't work out well but the stable got bit arrogant and thought could blast all horses into the ground - also, maybe the ground was too hard for them but not for Viewed and Bauer. .

Yep, agree about the 3rd TJ, was ridiculous win and you mentioned big reason why. Don't think Winx broke him in 2017 George Ryder as he should've won first running of The Everest later that year if got clear running. Chautauqua was awesome.

I like how his career ended. It was on his terms.

@@chadverek1264 Haha, he certainly did finish racing career on his term. It was like he was teasing everyone by getting out of gates fine in trials then said, "no thanks" in real races. Had mind of his own, maybe very stubborn and could be one of reasons he was so good.

No problem. Atlantic Jewel was a champion in the making in my opinion until injury stopped career so goes down as a top class horse but not champion. The filly/Mosheen, that Atlantic Jewel smashed by 3 lengths in the Thousand Guineas won the VRC Oaks by 9 lengths so fair to say Atlantic Jewel wins that in a canter if she ran instead of going for a spell. You missed one great season, 2011/2012 with Black Caviar, Hay List, More Joyous, 3yr old fillies Atlantic Jewel & Mosheen, 3yr old colt Helmet who went to UAE to race after Spring 3yr old then 2yr olds Pierro and All Too Hard but open WFA horses were lacking.

Yep, massive shame had to retire early due to injury. Goes down as one of those "could've been" champions. She was dominate, won by big margins and as you said, one of the most talented. Other "could've been" champions I can remember that retired early due to injury were, Vain (late 60's), Sobar (early 70's), Dulcify (late 70's), maybe Sir Dapper (mid 80's), Almaarad (late 80's) plus i'm sure there are others. Then there's champions that could've been even greater champions if injury didn't cut their career's short, Better Loosen Up, Saintly, Might And Power, Northerly and in most recent time top class Without A Fight (2023).

Sure was. One of the better Cox Plate wins, a real 2040m test with best horse winning. Better Loosen Up is my favourite horse of all time and recently put together a clip of nearly all his wins. If haven't seen it and wish to, can see on following link, kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqPbpJSrrtZ0bKM

​@@australianhorseracing4019 Will check it out thanks. Loved the one you put up of Northerly!

@@headmasterritual957 No worries. Thanks for comment re Northerly clip.

Good to hear and agree was good punting option providing the right track conditions. Still have not seen All Silent's first race start/win but picked him out after his 2nd race start/win and never looked back. IMO he was a miler & maybe 2000m who could sprint. Was a shame not to see him be given chance to run more 1600m races and stretch out to 2000m in 2010 & 2011 but his amazing sprint wins in Spring 2009 put end to that.

Glad to hear that. He went to my 3rd favourite of all time - one above Might & Power - due to the punt as well. Nearly all wins All Silent was good price due to racing style. Unbelievable sprint but did need track conditions & the right track/long straight to perform at his best.

Yeah agree Starcraft was underrated but guess is due to not winning the big races in Aust. as a 4 & 5 year old. Can add Elvstroem to that list plus, as you said, others. From that list of top-class performers, think Shaftesbury Avenue is best together with Starcraft and they are similar style of horses - big in size & stride and sadly for them the tight circuit of Moonee Valley didn't suit so their respective Cox Plate races didn't go so well.

Well said and agree.