Speaker 1One, two, three, four. Time for the Friday Files. For all the latest information you need before a bet. All right. Big day in Sydney and Mitch Cullens will say hello to you. So Athel Wolf, the news editor yesterday was Matt Smith doesn't want to go down the highway. He stays for a Metropolitan.
Speaker 2Yeah, certainly waited to see that weather report though, didn't he, Dave? I know there's a lot of rain down in Melbourne, but I guess the horse had to be on the float by Thursday evening. But he was happy to wait until pretty late in the day to make that decision to keep him here. Obviously, that golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup of the Bart Cummings is very, very appetizing. But he'll stay in Sydney. So Melbourne's lost his Sydney's gain. And look, Dave, he's such an exciting horse, isn't he? I've spoken to Zach Lloyd about him. He's really thinking he's a horse heading in the right direction. He's won four. He's straight now. That Newcastle Cup winning looked to have a bit in hand. But it's certainly his toughest challenge today. And I was speaking to Adrian Bott at the races on Wednesday. And this horse, you're afraid he's. They had to wait two years to get him to the races, Dave. Just little setbacks along the way to the races in Australia. Of course, started his career over in England. But he's really hit the ground running in that first preparation. I guess that first Australian preparation. Blues can be bypassed a bit by an import that is acclimatized over time. Two years before he's got to the races. So he's just going to be there rolling along in front. I know it's a group two for the first time in a while on Saturday, Dave. But it's a good little race. Very fascinating. I think we're going to see a really good duel. But I think Arthur Wolfe confirms himself as the most exciting young stayer in the country.
Speaker 1And we'll be excited to see what he can do and where he can go. Hello to you, Ben Dorries. Tony Sears, a sprinter. Steady ready. He races on Saturday in Brisbane tomorrow.
Speaker 3Yeah. I reckon he's a bet, too. You last saw him. Well, you saw him down in Sydney in the Concord Stakes, if you don't mind. Look, in the fair dinkum department, was probably out of his depth in that race. But, look, finished less than four lengths off the likes of, you know, Tempted and Headwall, you know, some of the nation's best sprinters. Now, fronts up in an open handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Admittedly, 60 kilos, big weight. Emily Posman, who's on loan, a Victorian. Apprentice on loan up here in Queensland. Takes three kilos off. Look, the horse generally flies second up. I reckon he's a nine or ten second up. Starts one, approximately half of them. So, look, you're getting $6. It's horses for courses. It really is. Like, this horse just loves 1,000 metres. Just absolutely thrives at that distance. Probably doesn't want, you know, 1,100, 1,200, et cetera. Just a pure sprinter. $6 and $2.20 the place. Seems very, very attractive. To me, clearly the best performed horse in the race. I guess it's just whether that trip to Sydney is taken, you know, whether he's improved off that or whatever. But I don't think there's many horses in this race, the open handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday, that would get within four lengths of the likes of Tempted. But I will say, too, Dave, it's very, very nice of the TAB to launch one pool, you know, the coordinated TAB pool, in conjunction with my 50th birthday tomorrow. That's just extraordinary. That's extraordinary news. I can't wait. I'll be sitting at a TAB with my lovely wife. How good does this sound for a 50th birthday? Just punning my arse off, basically. It'd just be terrific. I can't wait.
Speaker 1Well, we just, we wanted to, we got together and thought, that's the perfect day to do it, mate. Happy birthday for tomorrow. Is there a particular local you're going to go to?
Speaker 3Nah, well, we've actually flown the mother-in-law, who's actually sitting outside at the moment while I'm talking to you, flown the mother-in-law up from Victoria to look after the kids for the. for the weekend, so we're getting away in an undisclosed punning location on Saturday afternoon. But in all seriousness, really looking forward to seeing how that one pool plays out, particularly, I've got to say, you know, while the parimutuel, the regeneration, that'll be great, particularly with things like quaddies and trifectas and quinellas and, you know, all those exotic bets. I love taking quaddies, and it'd just be great to see, you know, a blockbuster pool rather than, you know, three separate pools with these sort of things. Well, I can't wait.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's, it is outstanding. What else have you got for us? Mitch Carlton? Ah, plenty.
Speaker 2Dave, I'm just shocked, actually. I thought Ben and I had been pegged older than 50, but. We've got a great episode of Handicap on Saturday, Dave, and I think the big talking point, as it will be throughout this season, realistically, coming into this weekend, I know it's only a small sample size, but coming into the weekend, James McDonald and Zach Lloyd sit locked on 21 winners for the season. I think throughout this season, it's just going to be a fascinating duel. Dave, I think. Dave, I spoke to Zach Lloyd last, or in recent days, anyway, and he said, look, it's probably unachievable that he beats James in the premiership, but he's certainly going to try. And if you look at Saturday, I mean, look at this Epsom handicap. One's riding the favourite, one's riding the second favourite. We're going to see a lot of this throughout the carnival. Zach's riding, of course, his Kiwi-Philly well-written. We had Stephen Marsh in the office in Sydney yesterday. He reported the mare has travelled over perfectly, so she's handled the float trip well. He obviously put Zach on board. That kite ride's done a brilliant job over there, but they just wanted a little bit of local knowledge and someone that knows every blade of glass there at Royal Randwick. So Zach Lloyd is the man for the job, and he's riding in terrific form. He, of course, rides Athelwolf throughout the carnival, Dave. So fantastic Epsom handicap. James, of course, on Autumn Boy. The main challenger is Chris Waller goes for a record-equalling Epsom handicap win on Saturday. But just a great race, Dave. And just to make mention, just something to look out for. Later on this morning, of course, those trial fields will be up for Tuesday, where, of course, K-Ying Rising will be going around. So we'll get a better guide on what sort of horses are lining up against K-Ying Rising in that trial, which, of course, brought so much media and hype last year, didn't it?
Speaker 1It certainly did. Anything from you, Ben, to wrap it up?
Speaker 3Yeah, look, just a different tangent for me to finish up. Look, arguably the best-performed horse running around in Australia tomorrow will not be a thoroughbred horse. It'll be a trotter. A pace, a leap to fame is going around at Albion Park tomorrow night. Goes around in $1.04, if you don't mind. But, look, the interesting thing, just keep an eye on this. Grant Dixon is the trainer-driver. But for the first time in more than five years, he won't be driving. He's given the reins just for tomorrow night to his co-trainer and lovely wife, Trista. Trista's been wanting to be on this horse's back for a long time at $1.03. It's a perfect opportunity for her. So, Trista Dixon rather than Grant. Grant Dixon driving tomorrow night. I think this horse is on the way to the New Zealand Cup. So, I can't wait to see that. Just a pop quiz to finish up where Mitch was talking premierships and stats and all sorts of things. I'll give you both a guess. Who's the leading metropolitan trainer in Australia so far this season?
Speaker 1Leading metropolitan trainer?
Speaker 3More metro wins than anyone else so far this season. I'll take Tony Gollum. Yeah, look, I've given it away with my Queensland bias. In the fair dinkum department. Both lying, Tony. 43 metropolitan winners to start the season. Striking at 24%. Chris Waller, 42. 11%. Kieran Ma, 39, 14%. So, he loves this time of year, Tony. And this off-season racing in Brisbane, he really dominates. So, anything T. Gollum trains at this time of year in Brisbane, keep your eyes peeled for.
Speaker 1Thank you, Mitch. Thank you, Ben. Friday Files, all the articles from both gents and others on the News Limited pages over the course of the weekend. Back plenty. Happy birthday, Ben.
Speaker 2Again, cheers. Thanks, Dave. Cheers.
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