Black Opium's Bizarre Sandown Defeat

THE court of public opinion was in full swing following the shock defeat of Black Opium in bizarre circumstances at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

On paper it looked a fairly straightforward proposition.

Box one. Ideally graded. Stepping up to the 595m. All seemed in the three-time group 1 runner-up's corner for victory at her middle distance debut.

But things quickly went awry for punters that piled into the $1.30 on offer, the daughter of Black Magic Opal beginning well enough before veering off the track heading into the first corner, showing scant regard for the traffic around her.

What could go wrong, did.

And while it was a horror show for punters, who can be a very unforgiving bunch, any suggestions that she fought are off the mark – she was just a victim of circumstance, mostly of her own doing.

It's no secret her better form is from wide draws and her desire to get to the centre of the track on Thursday night (at her first run from the bend start) was the catalyst for her shock defeat.

I'm tipping that by the stage time is called on her glittering career she'll have bagged a couple of group wins over the middle distances … which will be of little consolation for those that took the $1.20 on Thursday of course.

You Never Knock A Champ!

IT comes as no great no surprise that punters aren't falling out of trees to take the $1.60 on offer about Tornado Tears defending his Group 3 The Fireball title at The Meadows this Saturday night.

Let's premise this by saying he's a champ. One of the best stayers of his generation.

His repeated comebacks from injury speak volumes for both the dog and trainer Rob Britton.

But not withstanding all that, it's reasonable to say that the $1.60 on offer this Saturday is based more on his lofty reputation and significant fan base than it is his current form.

A 10-length winner of this event last year in a spectacular 42.02, Rob Britton's star charge goes into Saturday night's finale off a last stride heat win over Dyna Chancer in 42.61 – significantly off his best, it's fair to say.

The last time Tornado Tears had box eight over the 725 metres at The Meadows was in February, when first up from a six month injury lay-off, he took the Group 1 Zoom Top in thrilling last-stride fashion.

Let's hope for his legion of fans he chalks up yet another feature race win this Saturday night on what's a huge night of racing at The Meadows.

But at the $1.60, no thanks.

Mackay's Hefty Praise For Maitland Winner

JASON Mackay has likened lightly raced youngster Turbo Thomas to his former Group 1 winning sprinter Mister Twister.

A sizzling 25.18 Maitland winner over the 450m on Thursday, the son of Collision and former top chaser No Diggity is one of a handful of exciting youngster's currently working through their grades for Mackay.

"I'm hoping he's a 29.40 dog at The Gardens … if he is than he's going to be alright but 29.70 won't cut it – we'll see," said Mackay.

"He reminds me a lot of Mister Twister which is a pretty big thing to say. I reckon he'll be a better two-turn dog like him. If he keeps going like he is we might look at the Black Top with him."

Mackay also told the Recorder that Zipping Garth is now officially up and running at stud, with a number of breeders already booking broods into the retired unbeaten star.

Sennachie The Next Big Thing?

THE Steve White-trained Sennachie  has a real whiff about him as a future stud proposition … it's more a matter of when – not if – he creates a big impression in stud circles.

He's ticking all the boxes in sublime fashion at the current time, with a victory in Saturday night's Group 1 Maturity Classic at The Meadows set to only further solidify his future standing.

A son of Fernando Bale that can run the hands off the clock, as indicated with his track record breaking performance in the Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Albion Park recently, he has all the ingredients to make a splash in stud circles when the time comes.

But don't expect that time to come soon, with an assault on the TAB Million Dollar Chase firmly on the agenda.

Barcia's Dominance Knows No Bounds

BARCIA Bale's dominance as a sire seemingly knows no bounds.

As of this week the generational stud dog has sired a whopping 3188 winners in 2019, almost double that of his nearest rival Fernando Bale, who sits on 1684.

Barcia Bale's progeny have already banked over $9 million in 2019, and by the end of this year it's expected that his progeny will have soared past  $50 million since his offspring began racing in  2014.

What a legacy he will leave behind.

Have Dog Will Travel

JASON Fletcher was rewarded with a cool $3,880 first prize for placing Fantastic Flossy to perfection at Angle Park on Thursday night. 

Making the trek to SA from his NSW base with the lightly raced chaser, the daughter of Fabregas confirmed she's a promising stayer in the making with Thursday's powerhouse 600-metre final success, stopping the clock in a slick 34.98.

A winner at six of her 14 starts and now her past three on end … the stretch out to 720 metres doesn't look as if it will pose any concerns and if it doesn't, a blossoming staying career is on the cards.