Spinning Hill

[harry_hawka]

Spinning HIll is my favourite horse, I'll set that straight from the start.

I reckon it is the best sprinter of the last couple of years, and is somewhat under-rated. Often it has beaten very good fields in only Group 2 or 3 races, and therefore its record doesn't look as good as the horse is. Falvelon, Mistegic, Yell, Bel Esprit, Rubitano, Choisir have all been beaten by Spinning Hill, most of these horses on a number of occasions.

It started out as a Sydney specialist but in 2001 cracked through in the Melbourne spring and won 3 big races. Since then it's barely been at fault, consistently pulling in wins and places in mostly quality fields. Horses like Rubitano have been rated very highly despite only winning in Melbourne, and not as often as Spinning Hill. I thought its run on the weekend, when it left Yell, Bel Esprit and Defier in its wake, really proved that it is one of the best sprinters of the last decade. A few Group wins down the track, Spinning Hill is up with the likes of Mahogany in my opinion.

No sprinting horse will ever match the great Manikato though.

 

[sethlad]

She's a ripper that mare.
If only she handled the wet I reckon she'd be right up there.

Old Kato was the bravest horse I've ever had the pleasure of seeing race,honestly he was held together with cotton wool at the end.
Saw him win his 5th William Reid at MV,never heard a reception like it.

Seth.

 

[harry_hawka]

Unfortunately I'm not old enough to have experienced horses like that Seth, but my old man has told me about that story too.

Just on that though, what's the greatest racing moment you've seen? Whether it be at the track or on tv.

Watching live on tv mine would probably be Might and Power/ Doreimus Melbourne Cup in 1997 (or was it 1996?). Otherwise on replay from older times, it'd have to be the "Kingston Town can't win" Cox Plate, or the epic straight-long battle between Bonecrusher and Our Waverly Star. (Freemason and Northerly's clash a few weeks back certainly does remind one of the Bonecrusher/ Our Waverly Star duel)

 

[paulie]

Spinning Hill did the right thing by me quaddie wise on Saturday.

 

[sethlad]

Originally posted by harry_hawka
Unfortunately I'm not old enough to have experienced horses like that Seth, but my old man has told me about that story too.

Just on that though, what's the greatest racing moment you've seen? Whether it be at the track or on tv.


Wow,tough question Harry, been following them since the mid 70's,the first great one I remember was Leilani.Killed them in the Caulfield Cup,just run down by Think Big in the big one.Outstanding mare.

Then came The Man,do you know he won his 1st race at Cranbourne? Hard to believe,he was a machine,huge chestnut,huge stride.Just kept giving.

In 79 as a 3yo he ran favourite in the Australian Cup,2000m,1st try at the trip.I'll never forget it,went with my folks.He kicked 4 lengths clear at the 300,looked home with the great WFA horse Family Of Man chasing hard.
Then,from nowhere came a skinny bay horse,darting back to the rail.Must have given the great horse 8 lengths at the distance,finished too well.
66/1 a champion,the BEST horse I've ever seen.
DULCIFY.

A couple of months earlier had almost died of dehydration in Perth,within 7 months he was unbeatable, AJC Derby, WFA star,destroying Austalasia's best in the Cox Plate (8 lengths from memory.)
Had the Cup at his mercy that year,you know what happened.
I've never cried at the races but I was very close that day.

Unbeaten at Flemington in any race he finished.Say no more.

So many over the years,Bonecrusher,Kingston Town (would have loved to see him V Dulcify, Red Anchor,Might & Power,Vo Rogue,Better Loosen Up.

Although I can't remember a shiver like watching Damien stand high in the irons & look to the sky on the first Tuesday in November last year.If it was a book you wouldn't believe it.

Seth.

 

[harry_hawka]

Ahhh my old man has told me all about Dulcify too.. and Richard Freedman has spoken about Dulcify on Sky Racing a number of times. I've got the book called "They're Racing" and it has the history of every big race in the country since 1800's. Dulcify sure does have a fantastic record, it's such a shame its career got cut short.

I agree last years Melbourne Cup was one of the great memories, such a fairytale finish on the day. I must admit it took me a while to appreciate because of the initial disappointment of doing my dough. But when it sunk in it was truly one of racing's great memories, despite being a tragedy in the same breath.

 

[sethlad]

Fair call,I reckon as you get older it's a lot easier to appreciate performance & not make every opinion you have be ruled by the punt.

I backed Beekeeper in The Cup last year but it took about 10 minutes before I even realised it had run 3rd.
Don't get me wrong,still love a decent punt.
But that was pure theatre.I found myself cheering Media Puzzle home,a very rare occurence.
Watched it with some people who had never seen the Great Race,(from o/s),they thought fairytales like that happened all the time.

Seth.

 

[JLC]

Thismanshood coming 4th cost me the trirecta!!!!!!!!!!! I had Spinning Hill and Yell and had this man at $15 the place as one of my value runners.

jlc

 

[harry_hawka]

Originally posted by sethlad
Fair call,I reckon as you get older it's a lot easier to appreciate performance & not make every opinion you have be ruled by the punt.

I backed Beekeeper in The Cup last year but it took about 10 minutes before I even realised it had run 3rd.
Don't get me wrong,still love a decent punt.
But that was pure theatre.I found myself cheering Media Puzzle home,a very rare occurence.
Watched it with some people who had never seen the Great Race,(from o/s),they thought fairytales like that happened all the time.

Seth.

Yeah I understand that completely, I can appreciate a fantastic performance despite what I punt on. I don't bet much anyway, and go for long shots, so the punt doesn't worry me too much. It's just that Media Puzzle and Damien Oliver was such a fairytale that it took me a while before it actually sunk in. It was incredible, and takes a lot of thought to fully comprehend.

I also backed Beekeeper, and didn't realise it had run into third. Ditto with Mr Prudent who I had in my trifectas.. It sure was a memorable day's racing.