They said come fourth and receive eternal life…. well I came fourth and lost my money

Very sad to hear about the passing of trainer Rick Worthington from cancer last Saturday – I’d like to think what really showed just how much Rick meant to the Sydney training ranks was that Chris Waller was in tears just talking about him to Sky after he’d won the Chelmsford.

60 years old… too young… too young.

So as we try and move on, it’s another top line day coming up, with the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington (Apparently it’s going to piss down tomorrow, oh boy), and when you think about the immortal Makybe Diva...

You think of the Flemington mile at Weight For Age.

Fair dinkum, a 1600m race for The Diva is like honouring Phar Lap with a 1500m Group 2 at Rosehill in March…. disproportionate to the achievements of the horse.

On another note, it’s also the Run To The Rose at Rosehill, as the 3-year-olds punch each other up on the quest for the Golden Rose in a fortnight, supported by the Group 2 Theo Marks and Sheraco Stakes, Alligator Blood trickles around Doomben, and the Listed Farnley Stakes caps off the day in Belmont.

I’m surprised anyone will even be awake to watch the end of the Perth meeting.

Schabau (No.4, Barrier 7) in Race 1 at Flemington, 12:05pm AEST

2500m Quality Very Special Kids Pin And Win Plate

Trainer: Rob Hickmott, Hoop: W.Pike, 57kg

THAT’S RIGHT, WE’RE BACK ON THE WIZARD WAGON

I absolutely cannot wait to see how badly this goes wrong.

Farnan (No.1, Barrier 6) in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill, 3:15pm AEST

1200m Group 2 3YOs Set Weights + Penalties

Trainer: Gai & Adrian, Hoop: Hugh Bowman, 58.5kg

OH FOR GOD’S SAKE, WHO LET JOHN FARNHAM BACK FOR ANOTHER COMEBA-

Oh it’s Farnan, carry on.

Not only is the Golden Slipper winner back at the races, so to is Hugh Bowman after his 6 week suspension for careless riding on the last Saturday of July ran out.

Riding is a luxury Andrew Adkins won’t have this Spring…. that’s all I’ll say about that.

Random Makybe Diva Tip

The Each-Way on Fierce Impact (No.4) for mine… Group 1 winner at the Flemington mile and can run a big one.

Piss Poor Perth Punting

Sadly, we’ve had another tragic loss in WA racing – Former jockey Keith Watson, who rode anywhere and everywhere that had a racecourse, particularly WA and Mauritius, died in a boating accident off the coast of Broome on Monday.

He may technically not have been a Sandgroper by birth, but Watto forever has a place in WA racing for riding Heron Bridge to win the 1984 Newmarket Handicap up the Flemington Straight 6, historic in that he was the first WA horse to win the race – Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and Hay List followed in his footsteps.

Nerodio (No.5, Barrier 6) in Race 6 at Belmont, 3:20pm AEST

1200m 72+ Rating Handicap

Trainer: Stephanie Barkranich, Hoop: Clint Johnston-Porter, 58.5kg

According to my Bing search, a Nerodio is the common Northern Watersnake, located in South Dakota, which has a scientific name of Nerodia sipedon, which I swore was an O when I looked at it.

You think that’s tough?

Back in my day, we had to clean up Mount Henry Peninsula when there were dugite sightings.

Apparently Nerodio is the Belmont specialist, demonstrated when pissed in his last 2 starts to move to 6 wins from 8 starts at the track, which are coincidentally the only 6 wins of his life, so when the Belmont season ends in about a fortnight, it’s probably best you don’t put your money on Nerodio.

More specific to the Belmont 1200, he’s 4 wins and a 2nd placing from 6 starts, so I would hazard a guess that the 6 furlongs is his best distance.

Clint Johnston-Porter retains the ride after booting him home to both of his recent wins, and with the way The Hyphenator is going of late, Nerodio has got every chance of making it a hat-trick.

Crazy Colin’s Hucklebuck Tip Of The Day

Fituese (No.1, Barrier 9) in Race 4 at Rosehill, 2pm AEST

1100m BM88 Vale Rick Worthington

Trainer: John Thompson, Jockey: Rachel King, 58kg

How are yaaaaaaa friends, it’s Crazy Colin here in BAIRNSDALE, getting a late call-up after my good mate Crazy Craig had a few personal matters to attend to in the last week!

I tell ya what knackers, I’ve noticed that Craig has developed an obsession with Lucky Lips…

Now at first I thought I thought he was talking about his own human anatomy, which confused me, because I can tell you Craig sure as shit doesn’t have lucky lips, but it turns out he was also talking about Cliff Richard!

So I figured, if Crazy Craig has Lucky Lips for a good luck charm, then surely ya old mate Colin has one….

THE HUCKLEBUCK!

And ya know who I think might be doing the Hucklebuck tomorrow?

Johnny Thompson and Rachel King, because I reckon Fituese has a BIG CHANCE of upsetting Masked Crusader!

2 from 2 1st Up as a filly, her trials have been alright, and she’s going to be a bit further forward than Masked Crusader, who has to contend with the wide gate!

WHAT HAVE I GOT TO LOSE, I’M GETTING SACKED NEXT WEEK ANYWAY!

This has been Crazy Colin, signing off from Crazy Craig’s fridge.