Happy Richie Benaud Day Everyone

22/2, 2/22 – Either way, marvellous date that.

Anyway, it’s nearing the end of February, as moving day arrives for the juveniles – The Blue Diamond Stakes at The Heath, and up in the swamp called Rosehill, it’s the Silver Slipper, where we’ll find out if Cellscabeel is a worthy Golden Slipper favourite, or just another piss fart of a 2-year-old.

But, let’s not give two craps about the Melbourne-Sydney pissing contest, because Saturday is also time for the great spectacle that is….

THE KANGAROO ISLAND CUP.

Apparently the club are setting up for a record crowd of 4000 tomorrow, and I bloody well hope so, because that whole area could do with anything positive.

As for the race, can Justin ‘Harry’ Potter defend his win from last year?

I dunno, that’s why I asked you – At a glance, I’d pick Greycliffe.

On one final note, Uncle Bob Peters decided to send Railway Stakes winner Regal Power and The Wizard over to Caulfield for the Peter Young, so if you want to know what you probably won’t see, here’s a recap of last year’s WA Derby win.

Spotted them a big start and still ran them down.

White Moss (No.1, Barrier 2) in Race 4 at Rosehill, 2:40pm AEDT

1300m Group 2 F&M Millie Fox Stakes

Trainer: Jason Coyle, Hoop: Kathy O’Hara, 57kg

On the traditional Sydney Autumn bog, the Millie Fox looks like a two horse race between Godolphin blue blood Savatiano, and White Moss from Warwick Farm, and in a move that will shock you all, I’ve gone against a $2.25 favourite.

I remember White Moss led all the way to win the race last year at 50-1, specifically because The Gabster (A massive fan of Kathy) backed it, watched the race like his life was about to end, and then screamed out “You f***ing beauty!” at the top of his lungs as she held on to win.

It was just another classic Gabster moment… that everyone in the suburbs surrounding Karrawarra managed to hear.

More recently, White Moss put in a big run at WFA in the Expressway, finishing 3rd to Standout, and she was only a half-length behind Alizee, who of course, won the Apollo last weekend, showing that the form is definitely there if the mare is good enough, and considering she makes her own luck on speed, we’ll get a very clear answer.

Other than that…. something something greys in the wet?

Bivouac (No.3, Barrier 7) in Race 8 at Caulfield, 4:50pm AEDT

1100m Handicap Group 1 Oakleigh Plate

Trainer: James Cummings, Hoop: Craig Williams, 55kg

Tradition states that the Oakleigh Plate is one of the toughest races to pick, mainly because it’s the breeding ground for roughies to pop up 1st Up and douse talcum powder into the eyes of punters.

So that said, it’s time for me to pick the favourite like a hero.

Bivouac’s Spring was very well documented – He won multiple black tpe races, then pulled off a huge win against Everest winner Yes Yes Yes in the Golden Rose (Stud life secured), then had a wet fart of a run in the Manikato, and ran a brave 2nd in the Coolmore, as the rain played perfectly into the hooves of Exceedance.

There’s been plenty of really good 3YOs already this season, and he’s right up the sharp end with them.

In the aforementioned Spring, Bivouac coincidentally began his prep over the 1100m of The Heath, winning the G3 Vain by a lazy 4 lengths.

That time he drew an inside gate (Versus 7 as of tonight), and according to James Cummings they want the Male Model to use the barrier and sit just behind the speed junkies, but the big knock is that he’s carrying 55kg as a 3YO.

The filly Anaheed by comparison, has 51.

The 3YOs have scalped plenty of older horses this season , and they could very well claim a few more Group 1s tomorrow.

Not the Blue Diamond though… they’re a bit too old for that.

Emerald Kingdom (No.5, Barrier 5) in Race 9 at Eagle Farm, 5:40pm AEST

1200m Class 6 Set Weights

Trainer: Robert Heathcote, Hoop: Robbie Fradd, 57.5kg

To get historically technical, Ireland hasn’t been a kingdom since 1800, which was right around the time the Soap Dodgers decided to ramp up the searing hatred of the old Micks, which now manifests itself in some minor football rivalry in Glasgow.

On the similar topic of searing hatred, Robbie Fradd seems to cop plenty of it at the Waterford TAB from my colleague Jay, apparently stemming back to The Fraddster’s stint in Hong Kong, where he rode the great Fairy King Prawn against Sunline in the 2000 Hong Kong Mile, and dragged him back far enough to give the Kiwi mare a heroic win by a bee’s pecker.

In a way, the Fraddster is the South African Jim Cassidy, except he’s not as funny about the crap he’s pulled.

As for his ride, Emerald Kingdom has been plonking his way through the grades in style, winning all 3 starts this prep, with another win last year at Ipswich making it 4 in a row.

The last start at Doomben was fantastic, sitting 3rd on the fence, and putting away a good field by a solid 3 lengths.

It goes to show Rob Heathcote isn’t cooking with gas, he’s cooking with propane and propane accessories.

He goes up 1.5kg tomorrow, but gets a similar inside draw, which is perfect, because I can imagine Fradd will be somehow ending up 7 wide, before cleaving half the field to get there.

It’ll be interesting to watch, to say the least.

Tommy Blue (No.2, Barrier 10) in Race 8 at Ascot, 5:20pm AWST

1200m 3YO 60+ Rating Handicap

Trainer(s): Simon Miller, Hoop: Smokin’ Joe, 55kg

Just to prove that I’m very quickly joining Crazy Craig on the descent into craziness, I’ve picked a maiden in a Saturday metro race against a short-priced Peters favourite.

Re-open Bedlam friends, I’m going in.

Tommy Blue has finished as a runner-up in all 3 career starts, making him a candidate to be WA’s Oohood, but the reason he’s apparently in with a huge chance tomorrow is that massive late performance to just miss Cryptic Wonder in the Magic Millions Trophy.

That run behind a fairly handy sprinter did apparently prove that the ability is there for Tommy, he’s just got to string it together.

I’m pretty sure I said the same thing about Laverrod, and by the end of 2019, he proved that broken clocks are right twice a day by winning his maiden.

Celebrity Queen is the obvious standout, although she will be coming from last, and she has 58.5 kilos – Which gives me the perfect excuse to fire a blind shot at the stumps.

Crazy Craig’s Tip Of The Day

LAYING Cradle Mountain (No.2, Barrier 6) in Race 8 at Rosehill, 5:10pm AEDT

1400m BM100 Handicap

Trainer: Clare Cunningham, Jockey: Jason Collett, 59kg

Bonjour froggies, it’s Crazy Craig, the Boy From Bairnsdale, and guess what gang, I’m starting out my little segment this week WITH A RIDDLE!

Here we go:

What do you find in a bottle shop, that you don’t find in a Bowls club?

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

Crazy Colin!

Top notch humour if I say so myself!

On to more pressing matters, and I’m going to Rosehill tomorrow, to take on a last start Listed winner, who may look to be well placed on paper, but I think is a bit of a FRAUD!

A FRAUD I SAID!

Cradle Mountain did win the Carrington very nicely on the Australia Day weekend, but he jumps 5 KILOS on that win, on what could absolutely be a Soft 7 or maybe even a heavy!

That’s prime Crazy Craig lay territory, especially with some solid types like Ken’s Dream, Nobu and Wolfe hanging around – The facts and logic are that if the Cradle can’t lead, then he gets ROCKED!

I think he’s got a bit too much weight for me, that’s why I’ve labelled him my LAY. OF. THE. DAY.

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

Excellent work Craig – A riddle that 0.1% of our readership will understand.