IT SHOULD have been a magic moment but was more the theatre of the absurd. Chris Munce, the comeback jockey who spent almost two years as a jailbird courtesy of Hong Kong justice, scored in one of the closest photo finishes in the Villiers Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The official photo flashed on to the big screen in the centre of the course, and it seemed impossible to separate Munce on Something Anything from Hey Elvis. Most figured it was a dead-heat, so when the numbers went into the frame even the course announcer had to wait to verify the result. Confusion reigned and the opportunity lost for a cheer after the judge defined which nose was a millimetre in front. Once, the Villiers meeting was of considerable importance to the Australian Jockey Club, but not so for the latest management. Members complained bitterly on Saturday about race books being sold out early in the program, and one leading trainer had to resort to a print-out sheet. But the flashing victory smile of Munce saved the day. Incidentally, Hong Kong is still bleating about him being allowed to ride in NSW and the mail is it won't be buying yearlings in Sydney at Easter. So be it. Australian expertise, including trainers, jockeys and officials, has put Hong Kong on its pedestal. The Hong Kong Jockey Club didn't shine, in my eyes, with the Takeover Target and Joe Janiak affair either.
TOUCH OF CLASS: Angel's Breath, which took her winning streak to three in the Royalrandwick.com Handicap on Saturday, is another fine example of a Ron Quinton-tailored horse. Many figure Quinton, a former champion jockey, spends most of his time knocking the rough edges off apprentices for Racing NSW, but he is still very much a group 1 trainer. These days he doesn't have a big team, which is all the better for owners who get the personal touch, rather than what a conveyor belt produces. With Angel's Breath, Quinton provided Munce with his first Saturday winner since his return. The pair had previously combined to win the 2002 VRC Oaks with Bulla Borghese.
CUP HERO: Ray Neville, successful on Rimfire in the 1948 Melbourne Cup, has died in Victoria, aged 76. Only 15 at the time of his Cup win, he wasn't told of the engagement until the morning of the race, which became one of the most controversial. It was the first time the judge had used the photo-finish camera and Jack Thompson, who handled runner-up Dark Marne, always maintained he had scored. A few days later the camera was "re-aligned".
CHILDS PLAY: The affable jockey Greg Childs, who retired on Saturday, leaves some wonderful memories. Yes, he rode a couple of great horses in Sunline and Northerly but he also added to their firepower. Who will ever forget his triumphs on Sunline over Shogun Lodge in the 2002 Doncaster and again on the mighty mare in Hong Kong when she nosed out Fairy King Prawn. Now 46, Childs, a New Zealander, bowed out with dignity and style, a feature of his career.
TRUE SUPPORTER: Racing has lost another enthusiast, Valerie Price, who died recently. With her sister Helen, Valerie raced horses with Gerald Ryan and a number of syndicates, more recently with those organised by Shelley Hancox. "She would always support our horses whether they were racing at Randwick or Nowra," Hancox commented. Incidentally, Hancox still has 500 owners in syndicates despite testing economic times. Her secret? "They can always ring up and talk to us about their horses," Hancox replied.
SLIM PICKINGS: Small field sizes have limited opportunities for jockeys in Sydney, with Glen Boss now stationed in the south. But Michael Rodd, fourth in the Melbourne jockeys' premiership despite a late start to the season, had only one ride at Flemington on Saturday for a winner. Itstheone got up for him in the Skipton Handicap. Rodd has had only 128 engagements for his 22 winners, while leading jockey Craig Williams has had 232 for 27. Boss had another success at Flemington on Saturday, handling Quick Blush, owned by Sydney businessman Nick Curtis, in the Beachside Stakes.
HORSE TO FOLLOW: The interference-prone Causeyacan again struck a series of mishaps in the Villiers at Randwick on Saturday but went down by less than a half-length when fourth.
DISAPPOINTING: Beowolf , backed into $2.90 favourite, gave a long start in a fast-run UD Trucks Handicap at Randwick on Saturday but could finish only eighth.