The Corner with Garry Chittick

As I have not the advantage of being a prophet Isaiah, I can’t offer you the result of Saturday’s Everest. This Corner is penned on Wednesday as we are airborne tomorrow. We are off to enjoy the excitement of a wonderful Randwick event.

I don’t care who you are, you will be moved by the chorus of 40,000 singing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. I have pondered the relevance of this particular number, but it fits the mood. Just as an aside, I have recently received a video of Neil, who now suffers from advanced dementia, singing remarkably well Sweet Caroline to a very large audience, very moving, such is the power of music. If a Diamond fan, I suggest you find it. It is now sung at many different sporting events, but Randwick seems special.

Much has been said about the V’landys effect on not just racing but NSW sport he took control of the Rugby League code prior to COVID, successfully maintaining exposure through the most difficult of times. His tenacity has finally been rewarded with the elevation of the Everest to Group 1 status.

Is this the right decision? There is no doubt the race attracts the best available sprinters, having said, that entry is restricted. No doubt there will be other Restricted Entry races who will believe they now should be anointed with so-called black print. Some already have the mantle of Restricted Listed. Frankly, I don’t believe sales companies races should be accorded this privilege, for Group status to command respect and serve the purpose they were designed for needs careful nurturing.

Our boy has a long trip from Melbourne, with Peter Moody undertaking the task after his regular float driver did well to survive a traumatic truck crash, it was great to see Gio visiting Wishy, all be it in a wheelchair, but I gather he is slowly on the mend. Once again it illustrates the inclusiveness of the horse, many people share the joy.

If, by the time you read this, the race is resulted, you will be pondering what we are up to. I will put your mind at rest, we made a booking days ago, we will not be cancelling regardless of the result.

This is as we know a game of small margins, congratulations to the connections of Private Life, we however were within a head of Super Seth’s Group 1. The run of Feroce and, as a first-crop two-year-old, Linebacker confirms Super Seth is a sire deserving respect.

We at Waikato have big boots to fill, Savabeel is firmly established as NZ ‘s second most successful sire ever, may even sneak pass his sire to be crowned King, who knows? At 23, he has been part of Waikato for 17 years. To follow the career of any aspiring Waikato sire will more than occupy my mind until no longer working. Lucky to have the interest.

Cheers,
G