KEY POINTS:
Racing is no game for those who sulk.
Good on Mark Walker for emerging from the ashes of his bitter disappointment at the Melbourne Cup carnival with Insouciant's victory in the $325,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday.
Make no mistake, this was a Mark
Walker victory.
He planned, schemed and prodded the group one victory at Riccarton and came up with a brilliant win with a classy filly that was no good thing if things had gone differently.
It's history now how Walker told rider Michael Walker to lead, slow the tempo down mid-race then put the foot to the floor a fair way from home to take the sprint out of the opposition.
Mark Walker leaves nothing to chance, which doesn't guarantee victory, but it increases the percentage chance.
This one put Insouciant at the high end of the percentages, when the sit-sprint tactics put two of the main chances, Lovetrista and Double Or Nothin, out of play for the important win.
Lovetrista, possibly looking to stay a bit further than the 1600m distance, was left flat-footed in the final stages, although clearly not assisted by the hind leg that was injured when Oxford Aunt fell and Emily Jane lost her rider in a spectacular incident 220m after the start.
Double Or Nothin from the back was forced to go wide on the home bend to try to get handier and was no chance, finishing seventh.
The first change Mark Walker made to Insouciant after her second to Anna Beck at Trentham at her previous start was the inclusion of a Norton bit to keep the filly straight.
"It was an important piece of gear change," said Walker.
There was an interesting moment at the victory ceremony when Mark Walker said: "Michael [Walker] thanks for doing as you were asked."
Michael Walker frowned twice, clearly thinking it could have been a reference to something he might have done wrong, but the trainer was referring to the lacklustre, against-instructions ride by Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy aboard Princess Coup in the previous week's Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington in which the mare finished second.
In terms of stakemoney the 1000 Guineas doesn't rate up there with the A$750,000 Mackinnon Stakes that Walker should have won with Princess Coup, but then training Insouciant for his two loyal supporters, Peter and Philip Vela, is at least as satisfying and probably more.
Insouciant won't run in Saturday's $325,000 2000 First Sovereign Trust Guineas and Lovetrista's injury eliminated any thought of her doing so.
There is no serious injury to Lovetrista, even though she was very sore an hour or so after the race.
"She'll have 10 days off then aim at the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa," said trainer John Sargent.
There was a consolation for part-owner Sir Patrick Hogan - his Cambridge Stud's up-and-coming stallion Keeper produced a quinella result in Insouciant and Keepa Cruisin.
The fillies have been competitive when backed up in the 2000 Guineas against the males, but the males dominate betting for Saturday's race.
Rios and The Pooka share favouritism at $3.50 followed by $4.50 Alamosa, $7 Pierra Joseph, $9 Yao, $10 El Cuento, $12 Hold It Harvey, $26 Special Mission, $51 Eel Win, $81 Lady Sakura, Letsleeponit.
John Wheeler falls into the same category with Mark Walker for his handling of The Pooka, winner of Saturday's 3-year-old lead-up at Riccarton. The Taranaki trainer has had his problems with The Pooka, gelding him in autumn in an attempt to turn his loss of form around.
To bring him through the brutal Hastings spring treble, including the $2 million Kelt Capital and have him scoring what was a soft win at Riccarton is a spectacular achievement.
If Wheeler can win the 2000 Guineas with The Pooka he deserves every accolade in the book.
