Even in defeat, Glen Boss on Smart Missile in the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens yesterday was spectacular, overshadowing barrier malfunctions.
Most favourite backers were critical of the jockey, renowned for his finish flourishes, when Smart Missile went down by a long neck to Manawanui, with Glyn Schofield giving a gleeful wave that compared with some of the best from Boss.
''They shouldn't let these f---ing kids, apprentices, ride in group 1s,'' an angry Boss said after the race, referring to interference created by Foxwedge, handled by New Zealander James McDonald.
Of course, it was anticipated that Smart Missile and Helmet, renowned nutcases, would be problems. But Boss pointed out that Foxwedge charged out at the start, at least five horses, and near the 600 metres created interference to him via Helmet, with Kerrin McEvoy up.
Subsequently McEvoy lodged a protest against Foxwedge, which finished third and a neck in front of him. Stewards upheld the objection, figuring the interference cost Helmet about a length and a quarter.
''I was smashed against the fence,'' Boss said. Official tape showed him wobbling in the saddle.
Smart Missile, scratched at the barrier from the Golden Slipper at Rosehill earlier this year, also suffered but not much in the early skirmish, described by Boss as a ruckus. Starter Bill Dale, though, reported the gate occupied by Helmet opened a trifle slowly.
''Helmet went up in the air but I don't think the barrier was a major concern,'' Dale said.
It was rectified for the next race. Alas in the final race Somepin Anypin, with Jim Cassidy up, was put out of play when the gate opened slowly. Dead-set, that's a disgrace.
The Foxwedge incident started a sequence of events that prompted chief steward Ray Murrihy to quip: ''It was nice and willing for a six-horse race.''
Running out badly, Foxwedge checked Flight Of Pegasus and took Manawanui out on to Smart Missile.
Only last Friday the Financial Review featured: ''Few fights are as ugly as those on the racetrack.''
It centred on mining magnate Nathan Tinkler and ''horses that go too slow, too often'' after being sold for too much.
Tinkler is involved in legal action against Anthony Cummings, trainer of Smart Missile. The good news is the colt pulled up well, according to Racing NSW vet Dr Craig Suann. Keen judges felt he walked away sore which perhaps contributed to his erratic behaviour in the straight.
The program started when Startreusse, the $1.70 favourite, could finish only fifth to stablemate Ingham Magic. Once upon a time there would have been a heckling demonstration but the only voices in anger heard yesterday were against Boss after Smart Missile.
Later Master Of Design staged a form reversal to take Sebring Sprint. At his previous start, Master Of Design finished ninth of 11 starters.
But Boss and Helmet were the bad guys. In defending his third place, Dr D.G. Bateman, owner of Foxwedge, pointed out Helmet was ''notorious''.
Bookies tomwaterhouse.com had installed McEvoy at $1.35 to not use the whip, $3.50 to first use the whip with his right hand and $4.40 to first use the whip with his left hand due to the horse's previous erratic behaviour. Those who laid the long odds-on won.
''Did you see Boss come down the straight?'' a racegoer chanted after the Golden Rose.
Smart Missile raced wide and, according to stewards, ''from the 150 metres shifted ground until the winning post''. To rub salt into the Smart Missile wounds, Boss and Cummings had an early double with Red Eye Special and Gybe.
Boss was overshadowed by Schofield in one aspect of the Golden Rose. Schofield was fined only $500 for his ''celebratory gesture''.
Email a friend