Steve Moran

European rivals no match for brilliant Merchant Navy

Thus, I was switching the phone on and hoping for internet connection before the wheels had touched the tarmac at Bandaranaike International Airport. Of course he’d won as predicted, at the risk of being a smarty pants, in my latest travel instalment (column).

Thus, (although I’m not sure my year ten English teacher or John Updike would have condoned beginning successive paragraphs with thus) the world is a beautiful place. The monsoons have abated. I’ve backed two winners and Matt Stewart is forgiven for his woeful travel advice.

This is the same Matt Stewart who memorably told me, some 15 years ago, that I would ‘kill them on the punt over there’ when I was talking of a planned trip to England. “The poms have got no idea when it comes to the punt,” he said. And I did. Kill them, turf fiscally, that is.

And, at the risk of offending my cherished and delightful English friends who are actually paying me to write this column, I think he was generally right.

Good heavens, 9-2 Merchant Navy? He is probably the best sprinter in Australia with only Redzel and Redkirk Warrior as legitimate rivals. And I am afraid that the likes of Battaash and Harry Angel have simply no chance against Merchant Navy or Redkirk Warrior, who excels fresh, at six furlongs (1200 metres).

The only possible explanation for such extraordinary odds would be that “Harry Potter” felt he’d need the run.

And it seems that was the case with trainer Harry, sorry Aidan O’Brien, saying post-race: “I thought there would be a lot of improvement in him. I was just hoping for a nice run today, so it’s all a plus.” An ominous warning for Royal Ascot rivals, if ever I’ve heard one.

Thus, there I go again, just back Merchant Navy to win the Diamond Jubilee Stakes – he’s still overs at 4-1 – and hope like hell that David Hayes comes to his senses and runs Redkirk Warrior in the King’s Stand Stakes in which he’d be unbeatable. It’s listed as 1000 metres but is effectively a 1200-metre race.

So, here I am in Colombo; staying at a wonderful and affordable boutique hotel called Artisan Villa. It’s owned and run by Anjalee who lived in Melbourne once and says she’d didn’t like it. But I like her hotel. So does Matt.  

We venture off around the city. Take a tuk-tuk to no specific destination although the well known Lotus Tower is roughly the target. “Pull over here,” says Matt for no apparent reason, “we’ll walk”.

We alight. Virtually outside two betting shops. What a sixth sense he has, I think to myself. Please see attached photos as I’m not sure my prose can do them justice.

So, we enter “Betting A/C Dirusha” – whatever that might mean. Dingy would not adequately describe it. Maybe 1.5 metres by 5 metres. Our turf accountant is wizened but has all the amiability of a man with a full belly. He appears to be bemused but delighted to have a couple of gweilo customers.

They’re betting on all the races from Europe and the UK with form guides which looked suspiciously like the Racing Post.

Naturally we have a bet, a contract scribbled in pencil on a small piece of white paper. As a wise man once said, “if they go to all the trouble of putting on a race meeting, the least you can do is have a bet”.

Matt opts for his own judgement as poor as it’s been historically, aside from ‘nailing’ English punters. Race five at Longchamp – Equilady. “(Christophe) Soumillon, that’s good enough for me,” he says.

Now, you will just have to trust me that I wrote this before the races were decIded. We then have $20 on it on my TAB account at $17 and $50 with Betfair just in case it does win – given that we’re sceptical about getting paid by our new found bookmaking friends. Not to mention that Matt’s already lost the ticket. She runs second – of course.

We take one step out of Betting A/C Dirusha and we’re immediately ushered in to the next, similarly dilapidated, betting shop two doors down – “D.M. Turf Accountants”. DM’s spruiker assures me he’s done the form and has any number of good things for the day but insists he doesn’t bet himself for religious reasons.

“We start with Cliffs Of Moher,” he says. Now, in between flights, I’ve done enough homework to know that it might be odds-on or thereabouts. “Too short,” I say. “Ok,” he says and proceeds to find me another four good things.

I’ve got the ticket. They are – first up – My Lord And Master, who gets rolled at Longchamp, so my four horse parlay is over as quickly as is started; followed by William Of Orange at Kelso and Great Tango and Soliloquy at the Curragh (they finish first, third and fourth respectively so his judgement isn’t too bad).

My DM’s adviser, skinnier than his counterpart up the road, is a jockey’s man. “William Buick is the best in England, Wayne Lordan and Brian Hughes very underrated,” he explains in justifying his selections.

We soon discover there’s no shortage of betting shops in downtown Colombo. Virtually one on very corner. Some much more akin to the sort of TAB you’d be accustomed to in Australia. Other than for the smoking.

Here they are betting chiefly on Australian racing, harness racing and greyhounds with TABcorp supplying the Sky vision. They also offer Trackside, the cartoon racing you see at home.

Alas, we are here a month or so too late for live racing in Sri Lanka but I’m interested to see the season’s big race – April’s  the Royal Turf Club Magic Million is sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines and covered in their in-flght magazine.

Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times had reported that this was of some significance. “The RTC Magic Million is the highpoint not just because the racecourse is located at a height of over 6000 feet, but because Sri Lankan Airlines has put its wings behind promoting the cause of horse racing. The National Carrier has stepped in to sponsor the main race of the day, the RTC-Sri Lankan Magic Million, the piece de resistance of the season.”

Alcazaba, described as the “pin-up girl” of the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse and the “Queen of Little England”, wins the feature race. I think she’s French bred but I found it difficult to find accurate information about the horses.

Meanwhile, we get back to the hotel in time to watch Pakistan Star win in Hong Kong. Matt and I agree that the most exciting thing which could happen in world racing this year would be to see Pakistan Star travel. Especially to Moonee Valley. Apparently it’s unlikely. Shame. I’d still be attempting to move heaven and earth and quarantine obstacles if I were at Moonee Valley.

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