Sure Thing. Shaheen Shaw rants and raves, but does it help?
Tellytrack presenter Shaheen Shaw justly berated his production team during the embattled channel’s broadcast on Friday 6 January. Shaw took the back-room to task for innacurate results and while the circus continues unabated, one hopes that he is given spurs to kick rear ends very soon, and before it is too late.
The Rivonia Retort goes something on the lines of, ‘we apologise…’. But how much longer must a highly professional presenter do the job required of management? Which simply is do something concrete and constructive about the tardiness and incompetency levels of the personnel who disseminate the data. If they cannot be trained, then find somebody who can do the job.
Shaw briefly lost his cool when the final incorrect result of a Kranji race was posted. The data-room had reflected the fourth place incorrectly. Being a down-to-earth empathetic and understanding man who obviously has a grip on his viewership, Shaw told his staff that punters in the totes cannot always hear the sound and threw their tickets away based on what they read on the television screen. Besides the other spin-offs, that is 100% accurate. But nobody else seems to give a hoot in Rivonia.
The Master Neighs. Jimmy Lithgow is diplomacy personified.
Poor Jimmy Lithgow was another running for cover on New Year’s Eve as he hosted the final few hours of a forgettable year. That day Tellytrack was showing a split screen with one venue being a non punting facility here, while the commentary was transmitted from a third. It doesn’t get much sillier than that and one punter suggested that the whole lot, bar the erudite Mr Lithgow, were obviously inebriated and had started their party early. But they do it most days, so that theory holds little water, excuse the pun. Jimmy diplomatically promised to ‘put in a complaint.’
Shaw sounds justly frustrated. It seems unlikely that he is going public with his long stick with the blessing of his management either. Mind you, do the suits even watch Tellytrack? Shaheen may not have played international cricket; he may not hold a piece of glossy paper from some obscure institution; and he also doesn’t kiss butt. So his chances of getting the big job at Tellytrack are more of a longshot than anything else. But if the powers took the time to step into a tote and talk to their customers, their poll would point only at one man. That’s for Shaw.
In between all of the goings on, we managed to take in the enjoyable fare from Port Elizabeth on a uniquely windless afternoon. Trainer Corne Spies has achieved wonders with the former battling maiden Harry Hall and the stable registered a welcome double after winning the opening event with the speedy Var colt, Lord Jonathan. The Varsfontein Stud-bred son of Pivotal, Harry Hall, did not come cheaply at the National Yearling Sale, costing all of R450 000. After beating the blind school in his Maiden win on 23 December, he came out firing over the same course and distance in the MR69 Handicap to win going away. In a Place Accumulator knock-out he scored from two 25-1 shots in Macarthur Park and Donatien. The fancied Rain Man disappointed again by plodding into a non-threatening fourth place.
Double Agent. Corne Spies trained two winners in a welcome return to form.
Trainers Joey Ramsden and Glen Kotzen were in town with their raiding parties on the eve of their big Queen’s Plate day at Kenilworth on Saturday. Their main target no doubt being the Listed Lady’s Bracelet feature. The R120 000 mile event attracted a field of sixteen fillies and mares with three genuine visitors in the line-up. In a thrilling heads up-down finish the prize stayed in the Eastern Cape courtesy of the outstandingly talented Dynasty four year old Sammy Jo, who rallied well to deny Glen Kotzen’s vastly recently improved Platinum Cat. The Milkwood Stud owned and bred East Cape Oaks winner Sammy Jo lost her form after a busy competitive spell in 2011, but appears to have freshened up smartly after a break. Her late dash style is eminently suited to Fairview and being out of an Al Mufti mare, she looks set for a promising career as a broodmare. Aldo Domeyer rode the winner for Gavin Smith.
Big City Boy. Albarakah won in Fairview, seen winning his maiden at Kenilworth.
Kotzen relied on a three year old gelding to put the success seal on the trip from Paarl to PE. His recent maiden winner Albarakah beat a good field of local speedheads in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m. Owned and bred by his Mom-In –Law Judy Wintle, he is well connected being a half-brother to ill-fated Vodacom Durban July winner Big City Life- by Almushtarak of all stallions! Sean Cormack rode a well-judged race and this victory now makes some of that Cape maiden form look quite strong. Joey Ramsden unfortunately returned to the Cape empty handed, but he has bigger fish to fry this weekend and won’t be losing sleep.
