There has been a fair amount of backlash after Linda Meech was replaced by Mark Zahra on Thought Of That in the Victoria Derby this weekend.
Racing Twitter has had a dead set meltdown over it.
"I hope that it gets beat."
Linda Meech talks about the disappointment of being taken off Thought Of That in the Derby on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/cRDkzO7aQh
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 30, 2019
In my opinion, this is a big hoo-ha about nothing
Jockeys get replaced by other hoops every day of the week.
This is the horse racing business after all.
Loyalty means nothing if a trainer or owner thinks they can get an edge elsewhere.
Linda Meech rode Thought Of That an absolute peach at Caulfield and I certainly wouldn’t be replacing her on the horse, however, I don’t pay the training fees every month.
The owners have every right to pick whoever they like to put on their horse.
Mark Zahra is arguably riding in career-best form so on paper it is far from the worst decision.
The other story to come of this is the comment made from Michelle Payne calling one of the owners of the horse a ‘pig’.
This is not a language that should be used when referring to anyone regardless of what you think of them. This is exactly the type of language and rhetoric that was used against Payne in her rags to riches story that was the catalyst for the movie that was made about her.
The more awkward and unnoticed thing is that Michelle Payne is actually dating David Eustace (who trains Thought Of That).
She certainly hasn’t made it easy for him the next time he talks with the owner she called a ‘pig’.
Luckily Meech has handled herself with a fair amount of class and she will be fine going forward.
Onwards and upwards to Derby day and a massive day of quality racing!
The thoughts of Josh Bell are not necessarily those of Neds and its parent company, GVC Australia.
Our resident Dishlicker Delicatessen has a smorgasbord of Greyhound tips at both Albion Park and Dapto for your Thursday.
At Dapto, he’s looking to go each-way in Race 8 on Run Juju Run
“Run Juju Run hasn’t shown his best form recently, but he is a dog with plenty of talent and looks to have conditions to suit at Dapto tonight. The son of Dyna Double One has been completely luckless at his last two efforts but has still stuck on well to finish fourth, and he should be given every opportunity tonight from Box 1 ($8 at publish).”
It’s had more leaks than a tap, but the AFL Fixture is finally out today.
11 am Melbourne time to be exact.
AFL fans finally have purpose and meaning in life again.
Round 1 of the 2020 season was released on Tuesday and we’ve already got our head to head markets ready to go!
Set your alarm… 👀⏰ pic.twitter.com/halilzY2dv
— AFL (@AFL) October 30, 2019