All jockeys will dismount from their horses in front of Randwick's $150 million grandstand from as early as January in a major shift to post-race procedures – but the polarising theatre of the horse is here to stay. Sections of the lawn in the public and members area will be scaled back to cater for the increased horse traffic, which will see riders hop off their mounts in front of patrons rather than all bar the winner returning to the back of the grandstand and theatre of the horse. It is designed to stop the crossover between humans and horses that has been a problem at Randwick. "We've listened to feedback, consulted with a range of industry participants and we think this is a great outcome for all concerned," said James Heddo, Australian Turf Club's executive general manager, racing. The ATC has adopted the policy to also cater for ongoing construction to the southern end of the track and raceday stalls. It means temporary day stalls will be built closer to the home straight than their current location, requiring strappers to walk their horses along a route near the course proper's outside fence before and after a race. All runners will still parade in the theatre of the horse prior to an event, but will have a shorter journey back to their stalls when being unsaddled in front of the grandstand. But don't think it will mean an end to the theatre of the horse, which Carnival Clues understands is still very much a part of the club's plans.
Punters pick Extreme Choice
They went toe-to-toe throughout the two-year-old season – and Mick Price still can't separate Extreme Choice and Flying Artie before a mouth-watering Coolmore Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. "It's the first time I've worked them together and it was a good piece of work and they both finished off strongly," Price said of a Tuesday morning workout in Melbourne. "There has never been much between them and it will come down to who is the strongest in the last 100 or 50 metres." But the punters have made their thoughts known, piling into Extreme Choice as he firmed to an outright $3.20 favourite with Ladbrokes for the stallion-making race ahead of Astern ($3.60). Hugh Bowman will take the ride on Flying Artie after Damien Oliver lost an appeal for a reduction in his 20-meeting ban at the Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Tuesday. Oliver was the first jockey in more than a decade to be suspended over a reckless riding charge which stemmed from his ride on Flying Artie in the Blue Sapphire Stakes.
Winx's exclusive R&R
When you're the country's No.1 thoroughbred you don't spell like any normal horse. Two-time Cox Plate heroine Winx will spend her time off before her autumn preparation in a paddock reserved solely for the pin-up girl of the Australian turf. It is the same paddock Winx has spelled in by herself since she was a three-year-old. "Last time she didn't really get to enjoy it getting over the surgery [to remove bone chips], but she can go there and have a good break and we will decide where we will go in the coming weeks," Waller said. She will be given a couple more days at Flemington to monitor a small cut to a hind leg from the Cox Plate before heading north.
Promising hoop sidelined
A NSW jockey is expected to be out of the saddle for more than a year after breaking his back in a bull riding accident. Top country hoop John Kissick fractured his T-12 vertebrae and was transported to Canberra Hospital for treatment after crashing to the turf and landing on his head. Kissick has movement in all four limbs, but faces a long rehabilitation after the accident cut short his bright start to the 2016-17 season.
Farewell to Mannerism
Mannerism, the 1992 Caulfield Cup winner overshadowed by Shane Dye's ride on runner-up Veandercross, died on Tuesday. She was 28. Milburn Creek announced the four-time group 1 winner's death. She will always be remembered for the controversial Caulfield Cup, where Shane Dye scouted wide in the straight on Veandercross and was gunned down late by Mannerism.
with Chris Roots
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