Dean Alexander’s defence of their stable as stated in last week’s letter under the laughable heading of “putting the record straight” is fraught with smoke and mirrors and has failed dismally to deal with a few rather pertinent issues.
I went to great pains to publicly state during the pre-Met panel discussion that my gripe lay with the NHA and not the Alexander’s whom I was exceedingly polite about. Sadly, Dean decided to write to the Sporting Post criticising my comments (and absurdly the other panellists as well whom he claimed suffered from “amnesia “) notwithstanding the fact that such comments were 100% factually correct and not challenged from that perspective in his baseless letter.
Entrusting a horse to the care of a fellow trainer over a limited period of time and playing an active part in the training thereof is one thing. Transferring a horse to another stable over a lengthy period (November – February) and playing zero part whatsoever and I mean zero, is another matter entirely.
All other trainers have always put in an appearance at least a few days before the race (if not prior thereto as well) to put the “finishing touches” to such horses’ preparation which is exactly what Justin Snaith regularly did when Gimmethegreenlight was temporarily in the care of the Woodruff stable in Gauteng. I speak subject to correction, but not a solitary sole from the Alexander stable has set foot in the Ramsden yard since she arrived in the Cape many months ago. The explanation tendered by Dean in regard to their “vanishing trick” is rather ludicrous to say the very least.
I accordingly stand by my statement that it is grossly misleading to the betting public and in my opinion a disgrace to have the filly race under the name of Gary Alexander as trainer when he is not the trainer by any definition you wish to choose.
I also believe that the NHA has been derelict in its duty in remedying the situation as they were advised of the problem well in advance of Met day and declined to put “the record straight.” David McGillivray can’t get here soon enough to take up his position as Racing Control Manager as far as I am concerned.
I doubt very much if Gary played any part in the filly’s programming as alleged by Dean. These decisions would in all probability have been taken by Joey and Derek Brugman based on the filly’s well being and in any event the races she came to the Cape to contest were glaringly obvious. The fact that Joey may have kept Gary in the loop is a tribute to his professionalism as a trainer. He certainly took no kudos himself at the presentation after the G2 Sceptre Stakes unlike Dean Alexander who was more than happy to glowingly accept all the accolades in the press. Let’s see if he has the barefaced cheek to do likewise after Saturday which of course begs the question as to where Gary or Dean were when “their” star filly was winning the G1 Majorca Stakes? Not at Kenilworth I can assure you.
Rather surprising if they are the trainers don’t you think? Julie was there presenting on-course, but even she being the respectful person that she is, stayed away from the presentation as she was under no illusions as to whom the actual trainer was.
It will be interesting to see if the filly returns to the Alexander’s (don’t hold your breath!) or whether she will misleadingly continue to race under their name for the duration of her career with Ramsden!
Oh and by the way Dean, I thought Vaughan Marshall was in Gauteng for a short while 2 years ago when his charge Top Seller ran 2nd in the G1 SA Classic to English Garden and Chrysalis was winning the Autumn Sand Sprint. What was that about amnesia?
Robert Bloomberg – via email
