Hold All Tickets

As punters, we’d all like tomorrow’s paper today. To have race results twenty-four hours early, just once.

Of course, with my luck, there’d be a mis-print. But enough negativity.

The next best thing is the Hold All Tickets crystal ball. Priceless predictions that will be the headlines of 2013.

You, the select few, have the chance to get in early. Sharpen your pencils, and prepare for the ultimate early mail.

First stop, the Gold Coast. The Magic of January. Yep, next weekend.

I see two young horses. Clevadude and Missy Longstocking. Is that Rick Hore-Lacy doing a jig in front of the cameras? I believe it is. There’s your winner.

Fast forward to Rosehill, and the Golden Slipper. The world’s richest race for two-year olds.

I’m polishing the trusty ol’ ball, with my best clean cloth. And I can see a V. Now two Vs.

Villa Verde. Shaun Dwyer’s flying filly from Bendigo. And the Slipper couldn’t go to a nicer bloke.

I’m hearing his speech. He’s thanking a young journo for the story he did on him in Queensland all those years ago, when Regimental Gal took all before her.

Now he’s saying something about sharing the prizemoney with that same bloke. He just needs to find him. But the reception is cutting out. The ball is going hazy. Dammit!

Ok. Now we’re in Brisbane. It’s Stradbroke Day. Our vision has cleared. Eagle Farm looks a picture. Queensland’s premier trainer Rob Heathcote has the trophy in his hand. Jockey Ryan Wiggins has a smile from ear to ear.

What a win. A hometown hero. But which horse?

He’s saying something about the most amazing improvement he’s seen in a galloper. The son of Pins, who won his first race in mid-January this year, now a Group One winner.

I can see some of the owners. They seem drunk already. And they’re singing. What a day that will be.

The crystal ball is fogging up. I’m looking carefully. I think we’re back in Brisbane. Doomben. With a crowd I’ve only seen once before.

There’s Black Caviar. The champion mare is having her final run. It’s a special million dollar race, put on by Queensland Racing.

I can see Peter Moody. He’s having a dart and a XXXX Gold. And telling someone he had to come back, to have a beer at the Breakfast Creek Hotel.

Old faithful is showing me more drinks. This time Flemington in November. The first Tuesday.

There’s a horse winning the Melbourne Cup, by a margin we rarely see. It’s a thrashing. And yes, he’s an international.

It’s Mount Athos. But we didn’t need the crystal ball for that. You all saw the run in last year’s Cup. The best of good things.

So that’s the year ahead. No need to thank me. My pockets will be loaded too. Especially after that Stradbroke win.