Based on a series of plausible events in a regional Victorian town

The last Saturday of a long, regularly painful, yet sometimes profitable, Spring Carnival, and we finish the month with the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes meeting at Ascot, and I would note the greatest edition of the Winterbottom ever run was itself run on this day 17 years ago…

Takeover Target against Apache Cat, the greatest thoroughbred match race Perth has ever seen… although the older generations argue the greatest match race ever seen in Perth was Pure Steel vs Satinover at Gloucester Park in 1980.

I once interviewed Darren McAullay for a university assignment some 9 years ago, and he said that Winterbottom was the best he ever called, because he got the call right in giving the photo to Takeover Target.

Other races on the day include the Zipping Classic at Caulfield, the former Sandown Stakes that Zipping dominated so regularly that the race was renamed after the ageless wonder, and it appears we’re getting closer to the Magic Millions because there’s actually a Listed race at Doomben, and the Festival Stakes at Rosehill, which apparently hasn’t been sold yet.

So it’s on to Crazy Craig, and it appears he’s gearing up for a well-earned spell… some would argue it’s very well earned with his performances of late, and others would argue it’s 6 years too late.

The Boomtown Rats Pick: Boomtown Boss (No.9, Barrier 3) in Race 8 at Doomben (BR8), 3:57pm AEST

1350m Listed Recognition Stakes

Trainer: Tony Gollan, Jockey: Emily Lang (a), 53.5kg

Hello hello folks it’s Craaaazy Craig TBFB, Scratchie King of Bairnsdale, and would you look at that, it’s the end of bloody Spring, and you know what my favourite memory of this Spring will be?

WHEN IT BLOODY WELL ENDS ON SUNDAY EVENING.

Anyway, we’ve got a few more attempts at finding a winner in 2025 before myself and Crazy Colin head off for the tropical heaven that is the Riverina, or as Jack Dyer once called it the “French Riverina”…

I think old Captain Blood got a few too many hits off the ball in the 1930s, because there was also once a World of Sport woodchopping segment in 1985 in which Channel 7 used the voice of Jack O’Toole, to which Dyer responded “It’s great to hear Jack O’Toole’s voice, I haven’t seen him around of late”, only to be told that O’Toole had died 2 years earlier and it was a recording.

However, one particular creature that won’t be going to the Riverina is the current favourite for the Recognition Stakes at Doomben, one Boomtown Boss, out of Spirit of Boom by Boomalicious, having won a BM85 1st Up lumping around 60kg, in which he beat a subsequent winner Epic Proportions, and now with a run in the legs he drops 6.5kg, also gets a decent Gate 3, and you have to remember as well that The Boomtown Rats didn’t like Mondays, but will Boomtown Boss like Saturdays?

Crazy Craig Picks Picks Craig, Because Why Would Craig Not Pick Craig?

Craig (No.11, Barrier 6) E/W in Race 10 at Caulfield, 5:40pm AEDT

1400m Listed Testa Rossa Stakes

Trainers: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Jockey: Craig Williams, 57kg

Come on people what made you think I’d miss this chance, especially when you find out WHO DID THEY GET TO RIDE A HORSE CALLED CRAIG?

…

CRAIG WILLIAMS!

The Winterbottom Stakes Pick: OVERPASS FOR THE THREEPEAT

At just past 8pm Eastern tomorrow, we could see some history in Perth.. No horse has ever won the Winterbottom Stakes 3 times, let alone 3 consecutive times, and that list of dual winners includes deadset heroes like Buffering, Ortensia, Hardrada, Belinda’s Star and La Trice…

In fact, the Railway Stakes, Northerly Stakes/Kingston Town Classic & Winterbottom Stakes has never been won by the same horse 3 times, but then again, that feat is hard enough to find in Australian Group 1 racing, but I think Overpass still has the gas in the tank to achieve some almighty history in the annals of WA racing, especially with the way he ran a huge 4th in The Everest to only finish 1.5L off Ka Ying Rising…

Overpass vs Jokers Grin – It’ll be Takeover Target vs Apache Cat 17 years on!

Enjoy your Saturday folks, STAY DRY, stay safe, stay negative, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD, and remember, I’m Crazy Craig, and that’s why they call me Craaaaaazy Craig!