A CHALK EATER: SOMEONE WHO BACKS HEAVY FAVOURITES

It’s been another big week for the nags, especially after the Saudis sniffed what was going on and entered into Peter V’Landys’ money pissing contest, gazumping him by creating the $20m USD Saudi Cup!

Not to be outdone, Pistol Pete will soon announce a race known as “The V’Landys” , worth $50 million AUD, entirely funded by John Messara, and the trophy being a lifesize replica of himself.

On to more important news, a polar vortex has smashed the East Coast, and so have the Group Races- Members Appreciation Day at Flemington is headlined by the Group 3 Aurie’s Star, there’s the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Rosehill (Feat. Alizee and Le Romain), which for some reason is the 4th race on the card… despite being the most important race on the Sydney card tomorrow.

Fair dinkum, some of these tools couldn’t even organise a meat tray at a bowls club.

Haut Brion Her (No.5, Barrier 6) in Race 2 at Rosehill, 12:30pm AEST

1200m Fillies & Mares BM88 Handicap

Trainer: Chris Waller, Hoop: Kerrin McEvoy, 54.5kg

A few weeks ago I picked Sir Elton against Zoutstar’s progeny Haut Brion Her, which probably means “She is winner” in Dutch, and the-then filly screwed him harder than David Furnish on the way to completing a hat-trick of wins.

The big difference since then is that she’s obviously now a mare, and this race is the big step-up against some of the older horses, which has brought down many a runner in the last 200 years.

She’s now $1.70, McEvoy replaces the Honkers bound Blake Shinn, and a big positive is that she’s carrying 2 fewer kilos than when she creamed Sir Elton, who I apparently didn’t mention was absolutely flying at the time.

Short enough, but will probably win, and I’ll make some more lame jokes about her name in the future.

Jumbo Ozaki (No.12, Barrier 10) in Race 3 at Flemington, 12:45pm AEST

1200m BM70 VRC Member Thomas Dandis Handicap

Trainer: Phil Stokes, Hoop: John Allen, 59kg

THE CULT HERO IS BACK, and he’s out to reclaim his spot as Japan’s most loved golfing figure, which was lost to Hikano Shibuno at the Women’s British Open last week.

I still have very fond memories of the end to Jumbo’s autumn way back on the 16th of March, as the Irish expat John Allen settled on the fence, leading to Jumbo being locked in H-Division with Chopper Read for most of the straight, before going to the extreme outside and flashing home for 3rd, he first defeat in Jumbo’s short career.

Somehow Johnny Boy wasn’t deported back to Germania for that ride… and he’s still on tomorrow.

But that’s racing.

Jumbo powered his way to a soft trial win at Pakenham, and according to Phillip Stokes, he’s made plenty of natural improvement since March, and Barrier 10 down the Straight Six means Allen can pretty much settle anywhere.

His main rival appears to be the Snowden filly Talented (Carries 54kg), who I remember was also included in my Chalk Eaters Guide on the same day Jumbo was beaten… she also ran 3rd.

Still, there’s plenty of big unknowns- The first time down the straight, first-up against an unpredictable field, and with hell likely to freeze over weather wise and probably create a massive headwind.

Stuff that, go on Jumbo, land a hole in one first-up.

My Pendant (No.7, Barrier 6) in Race 7 at Flemington, 3:15pm AEST

1400m Mares BM84 VRC Member Peter Cosgriff Handicap

Trainer: Danny O’Brien, Hoop: Damien Oliver, 55.5kg

Now into $2 the last time I checked, which is always a good omen that my picks are going to be brutally devoured.

Dodgy Danny and Dodgy Damien team up as they’ve done many times before, this time with a mare who was only beaten by Sylvia’s Mother last start (20th July) up the Flemington straight, and of course, Sylvia’s Mother absolutely slapped that field.

The last time My Pendant started at the Flemington 1400, it was the Group 3 Vanity back in February, and she jumped at $5 against the likes of Amphitrite, Verry Elleegant and Fundamentalist- Who all ended up running the trifecta.

Now in case you were in a coma during the autumn, the first two are Group 1 winning fillies, and Fundamentalist was a 2-time Group 1 runner-up.

Of course, I should mention My Pendant was well beaten, finishing 8th and having the excuse of pulling up lame.

Anyway, dodgy or not, I reckon Olly can get the job done tomorrow, assuming he keeps her out of trouble.

The Fugazi (No.6, Barrier 10) in Race 8 at Belmont, 4:20pm AWST

1600m 64+ Mark Shreeve 50th Birthday Handicap

Trainer: Chris Gangemi, Hoop: ‘Shooter’ McGruddy, 57.5kg

I’ll be honest, I only put The Fugazi in so I could slot that Wolf of Wall Street clip in.

The third leg of the quaddie before the Bledisloe Cup over the road looks like a match race between Shaun ‘Shooter’ McGruddy on The Fugazi and Jason ‘The Fish’ Whiting on Snowchino, and I’m in the corner of the nag that doesn’t really exist, The Fugazi.

He had his only start at the mile way back in the WA Guineas last year, where he finished smack bang in the midfield (8/16) as a longshot against Arcadia Queen, who promptly disposed of that lot of rubbish, went on to win the Kingston Town, and then joined forces with Chris Waller, who apparently needed a handy mare after Winx buggered off.

The thing I like about ‘The Whazy’ is that he has a superb turn of foot, which was well demonstrated when he won a fortnight ago at the 1400, so with a bit of luck, if ‘Shooter’ can latch on to the on-pacers, then he’s every chance.

Crazy Craig’s Tip Of The Day

LAYING Dr Drill (No.1, Barrier 13) in Race 9 at Flemington, 4:35pm AEST

1720m BM84 VRC Member Angela Kennedy Handicap

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Jockey: Teo Nugent (a3), 62.5kg

G’day cobbers, it’s your old mate Crazy Craig, TBFB (The Boy From Bairnsdale), and I tell you what, if Bob Dylan decided to re-record Lay Lady Lay, he could call it Lay Crazy Lay!

“Lay Crazy Lay… Lay another in-form nag!”– How good does that sound!

Anyway, I’m shooting back down to Headquarters tomorrow, and I was planning on taking out Sesar in the Aurie’s Star, but instead, my latest victim is ab-so-lutely flying with wins and placings galore at the 1800 in Sydney, but tomorrow, this so-called Dr Drill has paid the price for success, as he carries 62.5kg, which drops down to 59.5 once you throw in Teo Nugent’s claim!

And on top of that, he’s been smacked with Barrier 13!

How crazy is that! He’d have to change his name to DeLorean and have an M.McFly on his back to lead from there!

Anyway cobbers, in my crazy opinion, if Maher & ‘Useless’ don’t scratch him now that I’ve found him, then they’re in serious crap, because ‘Dr Dill’ is my LAY. OF. THE. DAY.

I’m Crazy Craig, and that’s why they call me Craaaaaazy Craig.

CRAZY CRAIG- THE ONLY PERSON HAPPY TO KEEP DIGGING HIS OWN HOLE.