John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Shane looks back on his association with a very good horse called Prince Salieri, who gave him 2 Gr 1 wins. He said Prince Salieri raced in a tough era, but held his own against some outstanding horses.
He talks of his fleeting association with champion Rough Habit. He had one ride for one unforgettable win on the legendary galloper. He can remember every step of the 1995 P.J.O’Shea Stakes- Rough Habit’s last run in Australia.
Shane looks back on his association with the last top liner he got to ride- West Aussie Scenic Shot. They combined to win two Doomben Cups and a McKinnon Stakes.
He pays tribute to favourites like Oppressor, Buck’s Pride, Burdekin Blues and Consular.
Shane was happy to talk about his most disappointing day as a jockey. He talks of the amazing circumstances under which he got a last minute ride on Octagonal in the 1995 Victoria Derby. He says he’d love another crack at that one.
The former outstanding jockey reflects on his “brain fade” at Ipswich, when he lost his whip and politely “borrowed” one from another jockey. The incident put him on the sidelines for several months. He’s happy to talk about a regrettable chapter in his career.
Shane talks of his Brisbane Jockeys Premiership win in the 2008/2009 season, when he had far less opportunities than the lighter jockeys. He was pretty “chuffed”.
He closes with special mention of his 16 year old daughter Halle.
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
In Part 1 the former champion jockey talks about life out of the saddle. He has spent almost 8 years with Racing Queensland, counselling and mentoring jockeys in need of a helping hand.
Shane looks back on the days when he had to take short breaks from riding in order to retain his enthusiasm.
He looks back on his childhood involvement with horses. His sister loved the more elegant riding disciplines. Shane loved the speed events at pony club.
Shane recalls the first trainer he approached about an indentureship knocked him back. He eventually got a start with an astute Eagle Farm trainer called Tom Dawson.
The former star jockey recalls his first winner. He rode a double in fact, and one of the races was restricted to quarter horses.
Scriven had to come to Sydney to win his first Group 1, on a filly called Tingo Tango trained by Doug Bougoure of Strawberry Road fame. He talks of the trainer destined to be his father in law.
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Sydney’s lone race caller reflects on a happy association with the Moss Vale Greyhound Club. They raced 40 Saturdays a year with morning and afternoon sessions.
Darren looks back on his first job with 2KY( now Sky Sports Radio). He and the late Steve Cairns co hosted the Saturday night trotting and greyhound service. It wasn’t long before he was calling Nowra dogs, and the trots at Bathurst and Lithgow.
He reminisces about a two year stint with the famous publication Greyhound Recorder.
Darren has fond memories of his early involvement with Skychannel. He hosted or co hosted programmes like Late Mail, Setting The Pace( now In The Gig) and The Catching Pen.
The commentator first learned of a job opportunity in Hong Kong from former top Brisbane caller, the late Wayne Wilson.He got the job and landed in Hong Kong with $300 to his name.
He covers many aspects of the racing fabric of Hong Kong. He elaborates on his media role and pays tribute to the best horses and horsemen he saw.
Darren talks of his perennial love of a bet, and his ability to mix punting with race calling.
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Sky’s chief Sydney caller talks of the circumstances behind his return to Australia in 2014, after 16 years in Hong Kong.
He talks of his first race call back in Sydney, and the budding top liner who happened to win it.
Darren looks back on the unfavourable comment he received at the hands of tweeters in the first few months of his new career in Sydney.
The race caller’s return to Sydney coincided with the beginning of the Winx era. He got to call the wonder mare in 24 of her 33 straight wins. He pinpoints his favourite Winx races.
Darren says Chautauqua’s win in the 2017 T.J.Smith Stakes is the most exciting race he’s ever seen.
He talks of the surreal experience of calling to empty houses on Sydney racecourses.
Darren talks of his childhood at Clemton Park, just a stone’s throw from Canterbury racecourse. He got to the Canterbury races with school mates as often as possible. He quickly developed the love of a punt.
He acknowledges the deeds of his two favourite horses of the 1980’s.
The fifty one year old recalls a $200 bet he placed on Bounding Away to win the 1986 Golden Slipper- a pretty good bet for a 17 year old.
He talks of his time at the Max Rowley Radio School, famous for developing the talents of several high profile media personalities.
Darren looks back on his first paid job behind a microphone. It was a thankless task but it got him on the way.
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Josh recalls those frightening moments when he lost the strength in his left arm after passing the post on a winner at Warwick Farm in May.
He talks of the extensive tests the following day which revealed a rare condition called Brachial Neuritis.
The jockey explains that he’s not a good patient when injury keeps him out of the saddle for any length of time.
Josh talks of the added problem created by increasing weight during long layoffs.
He’s well known for his unabashed reaction when he wins a big race. He explains why he was more animated than usual when he won the Randwick Guineas on Shadow Hero earlier this year.
Josh talks of his disappointment when Shadow Hero was sold to Hong Kong recently. He says he was equally disappointed when Nakeeta Jane broke down last year.
The popular jockey looks back on early days at the races with his jockey father Steve Parr. He admits he missed a few days at school.
Josh reflects on his teenage hero worship of champion jockey Damien Oliver.
He looks back on the three phases of his apprenticeship with Kylie Gavenlock, Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden.
Josh recounts the thrill of winning his first Group 1 on the Snowden trained Skilled in the 2010 Champagne Stakes.
He looks back on Group 1 wins on Hampton Court for the Waterhouse stable in the Spring Champion Stakes, and Shoals in the Surround Stakes for Anthony Freedman.
Josh enjoyed his brief association with Castelvecchio. He still talks about the colt’s amazing first start win at a Canterbury night meeting at odds of $61.00. He says Castelvecchio had the Champagne Stakes won from the moment he left the barrier.
The jockey reflects on the disappointment of Menari’s breakdown. He believes the stallion had a bright future.
He looks back on a milestone 5 win haul at a Wyong meeting earlier this year.
He makes special mention of the stunning chestnut Every Rose, winner of last year’s Gimcrack Stakes. He’s expecting the filly to regain her early form.
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
David talks of his association with owner/breeder John Camilleri and his cousin John Cordina who still has horses in the stable. Their association began with a bonny mare called Gallant Tess.
The trainer remembers the ill conformed Centennial Park who belied his problems to win 8 races with 12 placings and $1 million in prize money.
David recalls a Gr 1 win with a horse nobody wanted. Australian Bloodstock took the gamble and purchased the horse from WA. David won the T.J.Smith with Master Of Design.
He looks back on some exciting times with Ace High who carried the John Cordina colours. The colt won a Gloaming Stks, Spring Champion Stks, Victoria derby and was beaten a whisker in the Australian Derby. He amassed almost $2.3 million.
David is full of praise for the wonderful Criterion. He trained the stallion for the first half of his career to win a Black Opal, a Todman Stakes, Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby. David recalls his unlucky 7th in a Cox Plate.
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
In segment 1 David talks about his many moments of doubt when he arrived in Sydney in 2002. He didn’t have a single horse on his books, and stabling was almost impossible to find.
He talks of the tough early years as he struggled to re establish with average horses.
David takes us back to childhood days in South Africa and recalls the moment he fell in love with thoroughbreds.
The respected horseman shares memories of his apprenticeship to Herman Brown and the highlights of his riding career. He looks back with great affection on his win in the famous Durban July Hcp, the dream of most trainers and jockeys in South Africa.
David talks of his heartbreak when increasing weight brought his riding career to a premature end.
He pays tribute to Norman Ferguson, a wealthy owner who gave him a flying start as a trainer.
David speaks with great reverence of In Full Flight, the horse he regards as the best he’s ever put a bridle on.
The trainer discusses the strength of the South African riding ranks, and pays tribute to an old time jockey he regards to this day, as the best he’s seen anywhere in the world.
David remembers his first Sydney winner , and his first Australian Gr 1 winner.
He talks of a horse most people have forgotten. The unsound Dante’s Paradiso won 5 from 10 before breaking down. He was tried later by another stable, but never won another race. David says he was Gr 1 material.
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
It’s a pleasure to catch up with a quiet achiever in South Australian racing. Todd Pannell talks about his best ever season in 2019/2020. He’s got the SA premiership all tied up, and with ordinary luck will win the metro title as well.
Todd talks about the giant horse Behemoth who’s rarely far away in top grade races. The jockey says the gelding was desperately unlucky in the recent Goodwood Hcp.
Pannell profiles Bella Vella winner of the Gr 1 TAB Classic over the recent Adelaide carnival. He pays a high compliment to Bella Vella’s trainer Will Clarken who’s emerging as a very astute horseman.
Todd speaks of the strong riding ranks in Adelaide currently.
The popular jockey remembers his apprenticeship to his father David who was the Adelaide stable foreman for John Hawkes in the Crown Lodge days.
Todd talks of his transfer to the Melbourne stable and the enormous number of trials he contested before his first race ride came along.
He looks back on the thrilling occasion of his first winning ride.
The jockey looks back on his constant movement between Crown Lodge’s four state operation.
Todd makes special mention of three former Crown Lodge jockeys who left a lasting impression on him.
He talks of a two year stint in Queensland, and the female manager who continues to handle his rides even though they’re in different states.
Todd pays tribute to his partner Crystal and seven year old son Jack.
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
This is a comprehensive look at the life of one of the brightest young men in the Australian riding ranks. Sam Clipperton talks firstly about the three riding zones created by RNSW to help combat the spread of Covid 19.
He looks back on a last stride defeat in the recent Doncaster Hcp. He agrees a Gr 1 win would have had a positive impact on his career.
He looks back on almost three years under contract in Hong Kong. He was only 22 when the offer came from the Jockey club- an offer too good to refuse.
Sam reflects on his successful opening season in HK and his fall from grace with owners and trainers. He’s still not sure how or why it happened.
He pays tribute to the handful of good horses he got to ride, and the expat Aussie trainer who continued to support him.
Sam talks of an exciting trip to Japan where he rode a horse for John Size in a Gr 1 event. He didn’t win but says the experience was unique.
He talks of a quick trip back to Australia for his marriage to Morgan, a former member of the ATC Marketing staff.
Sam talks of his ‘burn out” in October of 2019. He decided to take a complete break from racing and was out of the saddle for more than three months.
The twenty six year old takes us back to childhood days at Mona Vale and his introduction to riding horses, steers, bucking bulls , show jumpers and eventers.
Sam talks of his early decision to quit school.
He reflects on his visit to Racing NSW and his dealings with former jockeys Maurice Logue, Ron Quinton and Malcolm Johnston.
Sam looks back on work experience stints with two well known trainers, and the chance phone call from Ron Quinton which would change his life.
The young jockey reflects with gratitude on his four years as the house guest of Ron Quinton and his late wife Margaret.
Sam looks back on his very first winner, his first city winner and an amazing association with his all time favourite horse, the wonderful filly Peeping.
He speaks admiringly of his second Gr 1 winner English in the historic All Aged Stakes.
Sam reviews his association with a group of top class horses he got to ride. He nominates one of them as the best horse he’s ridden. You might be surprised.
Sam closes with an insight into his interest in history with special emphasis on Australian history.
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Tuesday May 26, 2020
In this segment Craig talks about his sudden emergence as a TV star. He was one of a group of apprentice jockeys who auditioned for the principal role in a new Telecom TV commercial. He got the part.
Craig remembers the very first time he sat on a horse at Tamworth. He was instantly hooked.
He looks back on his apprenticeship to Rod Craig and the friendship which is stronger than ever today.
Craig reflects on his association with trainer Les Bridge - an association destined to lead him to his first Melbourne Cup ride.
He looks back on his three rides on the gallant little horse Stylish Century. One of those rides brought him a Group 1.
The former jockey pays tribute to a strapping grey filly who gave him one hell of a ride. He recalls the simple surgery that was to claim the life of the talented Angst.
Craig looks back on his time under retainer to the powerful Nebo Lodge training conglomerate.
We allow plenty of time for the popular horseman to acknowledge the deeds of his once in a lifetime horse Intergaze.
Craig looks back on the day Intergaze upset the apple cart by beating Octagonal at the champion’s final start.
He analyses seven Group 1 wins on Intergaze and talks about the one he believes was the stallion’s best performance.
Craig pays tribute to the efforts of Intergaze’s trainer Rod Craig.