Here De Angels
In a bizarre series of interviews Wendy Roche appears to not be able to decide just how she feels about the decision to shift her horse out one barrier in tomorrow’s 2011 Schweppes Stakes against Black Caviar.
The call was made yesterday that Here De Angels would be moved from gate five to gate six so as to prevent any injury to Black Caviar in gate four should he go off in the stalls.
It’s a decision made based on at least four times in his career where bad gate manners have forced him to be scratched.
On Roche’s behalf it’s fair to acknowledge none of those have been when under her care although last start he did stand there and miss the jump by some six lengths.
The interesting aspect of this though is the perspective of Roche who was seemingly ok with the decision yesterday and earlier this morning but later let rip with a barrage of abuse.
This is what she had to Sky Racing earlier today.
“Since I’ve had the horse he’s never threatened another horse in the race,” she said.
“I said ill ring my owners and we’ll have a discussion.
“We came up with the decision that for the benefit of racing we’re more than happy to move out to barrier 6.
“He has a reputation, I guess in Melbourne the Melbournites are quite unforgivable of his reputation.
“If I was in Moody’s position I suppose I would have voiced the same concerns.
“I can understand that she’s (Black Caviar) the people horse and she’s the champion, I just thought I could sneak into Melbourne and run on Cox Plate day against Black Caviar without any dramas.”
It was a very different story by the time she got to Radio TAB only a matter of minutes later.
“I heard this morning that they would load all the (other) horses and put Black Caviar in once he’s (Luke Nolen) happy,” Roche said.
“Now Mr Moody has stated that he wants Black Caviar to go in last and jump when she’s ready.
“I just find that disgusting and disgraceful.”
Roche is referring there to a quote from Moody in a newspaper today claiming he also requested that Black Caviar be loaded last and the gates only opened when Nolen was ready.
It’s a statement he irrefutably denies ever saying and Roche was informed of this during the Sky Interview.
Just when the issue looked to be dying down then it’s now been blown right up again and it could well be talked about right up to race time.
It’s easy to forget we still actually have to run the 2011 Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley tomorrow and if anything this drama has only made it all the more intriguing.
If you want to take the third shortest odds in the history of Australian Group Racing get on now at Luxbet where you’ll at least get the best of the TAB’s.
We could well be faced with a scenario where one or two TAB’s pay nothing on her to win so guarantee your return by betting with Luxbet.
If you want to fix her price you can even get on Black Caviar right now, $1.05 the best you’ll find in early markets for Black Caviar in the 2011 Schweppes Stakes and you’ll find it on Luxbet now.
Black Caviar, she’s better than bank interest!
