Tales from the Track - Caulfield Cup Day

Published: 18 Oct 2014

"Number One" - Admire Rakti comes back to scale after winning the Caulfield Cup

The Race Guide team were on track for a massive day of racing at Caulfield. The crowd stretched right from the top of the straight to the first turn and the atmosphere peaked for the big event - The Caulfield Cup.

A couple of tales help bring the day to life..

Adma Raddy

A few minutes before the Cup, one of our team members was positioned past the winning post taking notes on the race. Just beside were a group of young kids, rum and cokes in one hand, and betting tickets in the other. 

"What have we got mate!?" One of the boys asked.

"Lucia Van.. Wam.." his mate said, clearly struggling with a few previous drinks holding him back. "Lucia Valentina..and ah.. Adma Raddy!" Came the response, "$50 bucks on each."

The race began and the 'name calling' became even more confused with the exciting possibility of a big win. For the first six furlongs the name of the winner changed from "Adma Raddy" to "Admy Rak", and a possible new Aussie nickname for the Japanese galloper, "Ad Rak".

By the time the horses reached the home straight, they finally sung in unison.

"C'mon Number One!!!" Came the cry from the ten of them all together. "Get there!!"

"Num.. ber.. One, Num.. ber.. One" was the chant as they rocked back to the bar.

There is Always One

After a long and exciting day at the track, the 8pm Jetstar flight back to Sydney was real anticlimax. Surprisingly, there were only a few racegoers boarding the plane in a quiet Melbourne airport. Many others taking the free bus to the Crown Casino to carry on with the night.

We have all heard the saying, "there is always one", and on this occasion a tall and well-dressed racegoer with a drunken smile on his face was that guy.

He had clearly had a big, and successful, day at the track, so decided to keep the alcohol coming. The gloating and yelling got progressively worse as the drinks mounted up.

"Weeeeeeee!!" came the cry across the plane. "Kevin, Kevin...  Oi!!" he yelled at his mate. A full twenty rows ahead of him.

What he didn't realise is that a hard-nosed Londoner was just across the aisle.

"RIGHT!" the tough Englishman yelled after an hour of frustration. "One more word out of you boys and you are all going to 'av it!" came the threat, in an accent similar to the Ladbrokes adds, but far less annoying.

A supportive cheer came from across the plane and the boys knew the game was up.

The full runner-by-runner analysis is available here.