Spring racing anticipation - Bruce McAvaney | Broadcasting Legend (23.09.26)
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How is the Australian spring racing season shaping up after the early Formative Races?
How's the spring shaping up through these formative races?
It's been a brilliant start, surrounded by two horses, really, and Chris Waller's incredible domination. But she's her alibi in Autumn Glow. I mean, that early clash, which didn't decide anything in a way. It actually just made it better, didn't it? Because you felt like both of them got a 9.75 out of 10 Autumn Glow beating. She's alibi. Moody's intriguing programming of she's an alibi to go to a, It might empower Caulfield State and then come back to a Golden Eagle. So those two mayors, it's surrounding a lot of them.
What worries does Bruce have about the depth of the Cox Plate field and the overall race programming?
Pride of Jenny steps out this week. She's a cameo player now, we know that, but she's still got the emotional attachment with all of us. So there's a lot going on. But I do worry a bit about the depth of the Cox play and obviously the programming in Sydney with the King Charles and the Golden Eagles. The Melbourne Cup, the weights are all askew with the Caulfield Cup. It all feels out of whack in a way. So that's all to play out. But we've had a really outstanding start. And what Waller's doing is, you know, it's a big day cost to end some. I mean, it's just crazy.
Why is the Melbourne Cup’s growing popularity causing concerns for the Cox Plate’s championship status?
You know, you and I, you know, with Bart and Tommy and all of those things, we thought that was, you know, again, we thought never to be repeated. And here's somebody who's going to, you know, absolutely go past them in a way that, And again, a bit like Dacos, I mean, he just is so consistently brilliant. So it's been a great start to the spring. I do worry a little bit about the back end of it. I'm just hoping that, you know, these horses stay sound, we get some clashes, and we don't get too much dilution when it comes to these great racers that have stood the test of time and are the benchmarks and the barometers. So optimistic, but with a little bit of... I guess, worry on the brow.
We're allowed to wish, aren't we, that Shiza Alibi was in a Cox Plate like would have been the case in the past?
We are.
What are Bruce and Gerard’s predictions for the upcoming AFL Grand Final between Fremantle and Brisbane?
And that's where it's... Yeah, the programming is so difficult. And the Golden Eagle's there to stay on Derby Day and the Cox Plate's the week before. So it does feel like this race... for the greatest horses is being challenged in a way that has never been challenged before. You know, Animo was the one that went to the Cox Plate, but the race was at Rose Hill and he'd been to the Cox Plate as a three-year-old. And I guess James was always desperate to tick that one off with him. It felt like the same race, but he could have gone to that Golden Eagle. So it is a real clash at the moment. The King Charles obviously gets involved as well. So yeah, look, I think, I think it's time to have a big deep breath, Gerard, and again, have a good look of,
How might upcoming changes in New South Wales affect coordination between the two racing states?
how the spring has been programmed. There's going to be some changes in New South Wales. You know, Peter's going to go, things will be different. Will that change the, you know, collaboration and the coordination between the two states? Not sure. But at the moment, I think funnily enough, I mean, you know, I've worried about the Melbourne Cup and not the fact that it won't be the most important race in Australia, but just it's, you know, it's transcending of the population over the last few years. But now starting to worry about where the Cox Plate might just sit in terms of its championship status and the fact that it is the grand final in terms of the greatest horses. So it's early. We're only just seeing this happen now, so let's see how it plays out.
What is the significance of the first‑time airing of Dennis Cometti’s ‘Centimetre Perfect’ documentary?
But we're seeing a real example of it this year.
And if you've got a great sprinter, you can have your Everest. I'm aiming up at the McIverney Goodwood. What a terrific honour, Bruce. Congratulations.
Gerard, it is an incredible honour. It's one that I'm uneasy about and, you know, I just need to probably, you know, go back and have a chat to a few people about that because it came from nowhere. It's the most incredible, you know, honour for myself. But, yeah, it's something I just need to get my head around a bit, but... Yeah, I was blown away, to be truthful. And, you know, thank you to Judith Jones and Rob Lawson and Southwest Running Racing, but I'll have to think about
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
How is the Australian spring racing season shaping up after the early Formative Races?
0:00–0:36
2
What worries does Bruce have about the depth of the Cox Plate field and the overall race programming?
0:36–1:09
3
Why is the Melbourne Cup’s growing popularity causing concerns for the Cox Plate’s championship status?
1:09–1:59
4
What are Bruce and Gerard’s predictions for the upcoming AFL Grand Final between Fremantle and Brisbane?
1:59–2:45
5
How might upcoming changes in New South Wales affect coordination between the two racing states?
2:45–3:27
6
What is the significance of the first‑time airing of Dennis Cometti’s ‘Centimetre Perfect’ documentary?
3:27–4:21
Speakers
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