Louis Goosen – speaks his mind
Trainer Louis Goosen has declared his smart Trippi gelding Trip Tease fit and well in his quest for victory in the R150 000 Listed Hampton Handicap at the Vaal on Saturday. He is not happy with the handicappers though and suggests that the men from the NHA ministry are driving trainers to the verge of being dishonest in order to manage the merit rating system in its current format.
Goosen, an opinionated thinker, is a very vocal critic of the current system and there is little love lost when he vents the obvious frustrations that he has to endure as a trainer, who is merely ‘trying to make a living’.
No Games
“Come on man, they are basically penalising the consistent horses at the expense of the rest. You can quote me – the handicappers will force people to become dishonest. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I want to maximise results for my owners. I don’t play games, I don’t dope my horses. But then don’t give us a raw deal,” he said.
“I have a board in my office on which I programme my horses and plan their routes. No fancy computers-just a simple chart plotting their progress. But then the handicappers throw a spanner in the works,” he said.
He has had the Hampton in mind for Trip Tease for some time, but says that a good example of what happens occurred at his last run.
Greatest Hits
“Stevie Wonder could have handicapped that race correctly and my horse ran second and was obviously the line horse. His form tells the story – consistent and always there. But no, in their wisdom they decided on the third placed Salute The Sun as the line horse. So everything in front of him had to be penalised. Sean’s Blazing Al got 12 points and we got 3.”
Trip Tease was fancied to win that race and on the same afternoon Goosen had said that the disappointment of not banking the first cheque would be compensated for by virtue of the fact that he would not get a penalty – how wrong you were Louis!
Reformed
Trip Tease is a ig runner on Saturday
Goosen has done wonders with the Trippi gelding.
“A few people had lots to say when I bought him – things like he would never see a racecourse and the like. I paid R70 000 for him and that sort of money for a Trippi would ordinarily mean that the horse would have to have a serious deformity. But his record of 8 wins and 2 places from 10 starts speaks for itself, I reckon.”
Trip Tease had serious temperament issues at the start in the early stages of his career, but that appears to be ironed out.
Louis paid tribute to the skills of behaviouralist Malan Du Toit.
“Malan is a true professional and what I like about the way he does things is that he involves the team and the process is thus an holistic one. My team deserve every credit for their part in the rehabilitation process,” he said proudly.
Banker
So can we banker Trip Tease?
“He worked very well on Tuesday and he is ready for this. Blazing Al has the edge on paper, but I am not too concerned. “
Trip Tease and Blazing Al certainly look like the form duo and the right two in the race.
Topweighted Jade Bay is 2kgs better off with Trip Tease for a course and distance defeat three runs back, but had the tables turned last time and can’t finish ahead of the Goosen galloper.
Mike De Kock’s Tiger Territory (also a Trippi 4yo) is off form and also well held by Trip Tease.
Salute The Sun (the infamous line horse!) is 2kgs worse off with Trip Tease.
Let’s go with Trip Tease – if you are unsure, then include Blazing Al for comfort.
Open Cards From Louis
The typically transparent Louis Goosen said that punters could also include two value horses from his runners on Emerald Cup day.
“Doing It For Dan runs in the fifth race. He won on debut but last time came back heaving. He is fitter and ready for this run. I know it is a strong field, but he warrants inclusion at the price.Then Societi lines up in the ninth, the Banyana Handicap. She is spot on and this has been her target for some months. Dominic’s horse will go very fast but we will be chasing her. Societi must be included in all bets,” he said.
