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

Well friends, the day has come for a rare edition of the national day of commemoration on a Saturday, as it was in 2015 and 2020 before that, and that also means it’s time for another Saturday of racing, this being the last Saturday of April, and the first major weekend of the Morphetville Carnival, highlighted by the Group 1 double of the Australasian Oaks and the Robert Sangster Stakes for the fillies and mares, and the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes, named after the Hall of Famer who started training at Strathalbyn way back in 1971 before going on to some fairly lofty heights, among them being the stable trainer for Bob and Jack Ingham, running 4 stables in 4 different states simultaneously (SA, NSW, QLD and Victoria), once holding the record for the most winners in a season, having the first three-person training partnership in Australian racing alongside his sons, and winning every major Group 1 race bar the Melbourne Cup…. 54 years after training Toltrice to win the VRC Oaks, he’s still going.

Other than Adelaide, there’s the ANZAC Day meeting at Randwick, the timing of which has forced the Hawkesbury Gold Cup meeting back to next weekend, Eagle Farm has a heap of listed races, Ascot has something on, Flemington hosts the annual VRC St Leger on ANZAC Day, a race that was once so famous that the likes of Phar Lap, Hall Mark (In a dead heat), Tulloch and Gurner’s Lane are all winners of the race, alas it was reduced to Listed status in 2006 and hasn’t recovered…

In fact, Gurner’s Lane is still the last Melbourne Cup winner to win a VRC St Leger, winning the race in 1982 before winning the Cups Double some 6 months later.

There was also a stat I saw that James McDonald has never ridden a winner in South Australia – On top of that, he’s only ever ridden 1 winner in WA, which was Street Parade in the Furphy Plate on December 3rd, 2022, the day Amelia’s Jewel won the renamed Northerly Stakes… when you think about it, he’s ridden more winners at Royal Ascot than two of the most neglected states in Australia – COMBINED.

So it’s on to Crazy Craig, and with it being ANZAC Day, the man himself has asked for a proper tribute to the folk in the service… Redgum with I Was Only 19.

The ANZAC Day Omen Bet: The Western Front (No.4, Barrier 5) in Race 1 at Flemington (MR1)

2500m BM84 Handicap

Trainers: Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Jockey: Luke Currie, 57kg

Hello hello everybody, it’s Crazy Craig, TBFB, and I thought I’d simply say LEST WE FORGET on this day of commemoration, but lest we forget that there’s a very appropriately named horse in Race 1 at Flemington on a day recognising a First World War battle…

THE WESTERN FRONT.

Thankfully they won’t be having a cavalry charge into a line of machine guns.

The Etta James Pick: Getta Good Feeling (No.2, Barrier 5) in the Australasian Oaks at Morphetville (AR7), 4:12pm ACST

2000m Group 1 3YO Fillies Sportsbet Australasian Oaks

Trainer: Danny O’Brien, Jockey: Billy Egan, 56kg

Well knackers, the first of the Group 1s on ANZAC Day at Morphetville is the Australasian Oaks, and if you ever wonder where Flo Rida got that intro for Good Feeling, it was none other than Etta James in 1962, reminding us that sometimes she too got a good feeling… like she’d never never never never had before.

Well sometimes I also Getta Good Feeling, and when he starts favourite in a Group 1 race I feel urged to back him, even if it will probably go to shit!

The Robert Sangster Stakes Pick (AR8): Charm Stone (No.2, Barrier 15) E/W… defending winner of the race and going in 2nd Up, snag a bloody place or else join Clan O’Sullivan in the heart as big as a pea category of horse.

Enjoy your weekend folks, stay safe, stay negative, LEST WE FORGET, and remember, I’m Crazy Craig, and that’s why they call me Craaaaaazy Craig!