Garth Puller
Former Champion jockey and current KZN trainer Garth Puller has labelled the decision to open the local Derby and Oaks to all ages at weight-for-age as the wrong call to have been made.
“Just look at the fields. There isn’t a 3yo in the Derby and the 3yo’s in the Oaks are up against the winners of the Oaks in the last two years. That doesn’t make any sense,” he said after saddling the equine ATM Midnight Run to a smooth win in the fifth race today.
“Historically the Derby and Oaks would be traditional tests of strength for the 3yo’s over 2400m,” he said.
Puller said that besides the volumes spoken by the content of the fields today, he felt that KZN’s coastal location was justified in holding the ‘real’ Derby and Oaks.
“We cannot go from sea level and compete at altitude in Gauteng. But the Cape and the Gauteng guys can raid here on level playing fields. That means fairer racing and with truer results for the form and the stud book. I have no runners this year or vested interests and am talking purely from a sense of logic and good reason,” he said. Gold Circle Chief Operating Officer Graeme Hawkins went on record earlier this year when announcing the decision:
Finish of Derby last year and runner-up Hot Ticket back for another bite this year
With the main focus of the three year olds during Champions Season being the KRA Guineas’, The Daily News 2000, the Woolavington Stakes and obviously the Vodacom Durban July, the Derby and Oaks have been downgraded over the years and have struggled to find a consistent place in the programme,” said Racing and Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins.
“There is International precedent, such as the Irish St Leger and the Yorkshire Oaks, to vary the terms and conditions of some of the “traditional” Classics and we are of the firm view that the quality and depth of both races will be enhanced by throwing them open to all ages,” said Hawkins.
“In addition, there are no weight-for-age races in South Africa over the distance and the overall programme for stayers will benefit from the change. The Graded Races sub-committee had no reservations about endorsing the move,” he added.
A former champion jockey and one of the country’s most respected horsemen calls the decision nonsensical and the Graded Races sub-committee and the racing operator has ‘no reservations’ that it was the right thing to do. Weird.
But that’s racing for you.
