Racing: Jimmy Choux carries Australasian hopes

Topliner Jimmy Choux will have the burden of a transtasman banner to carry in next weekend's Hong Kong International Mile.

It's a fair while since Australia has not been represented at the four-race rich International meeting in Hong Kong.

Jimmy Choux has been resting in Australia since his Melbourne campaign and will hold the focus for Australians when he takes on world-class opposition.

The multimillionaire racehorse has been stabled on a rural property outside Melbourne where trainer John Bary says he has thrived since his Cox Plate second and gallant fourth in the Emirates Mile on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival. "Where he's been for the last three weeks he's been able to be in a paddock every afternoon, and that's vital for our horses," said Bary in Auckland yesterday.

Jimmy Choux was flown from Melbourne to Hong Kong mid-week and will do some "leg-stretching" work this morning at Shatin.

"My staff, who always look after him, tell me he's settled in really well.

"He had a good look around when he worked on the track for the first time yesterday morning and he's very happy apparently. Both my staff members believe Jimmy has grown and strengthened since arriving in Australia."

Bary and regular rider Jonathan Riddell will fly to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Bary will try to win today's $85,000 Aussie Butcher Concorde at Ellerslie with The Hombre.

Although The Hombre won over 2020m when he took the Grand Prix in Brisbane as a 3-year-old two seasons back, Bary now believes the horse is an out and out sprinter.

"I know he looks like a big, old stayer, but his record tells the story - he's had four 1200m starts for three wins and a second."

The Hawkes Bay horseman has been totally convinced of The Hombre's speed/stamina index by his first and second over 1200m in two starts this preparation.

"Jason [Waddell] told me after he was narrowly beaten on him at Te Rapa last start that he almost certainly would have won if he hadn't hit him with the whip."

Thinking you might have won a race and finding you didn't is tough.

Being almost positive you've won in a tight finish then discovering you've lost by a nose is devastating.

It happened to many punters in two races at Rotorua on Thursday.

The reason? Because the Trackside television camera is not on the exact same line as the judge's line at Rotorua.

Quite a few years ago Des Friedricks, then CEO at Hastings, came back from a fact-finding tour of Japan and, as they do in Japan, ensured any television coverage on his track aligned with the photo finish.

It's simple - on most tracks. There might be the odd one where technically it is impossible.

Racecaller George Simon was hosting Radio Trackside on Thursday and had the luxury of watching the Rotorua races from the studio.

Simon was certain Mr Trim had beaten Ascot Hill in an early race, only to find out, like most punters, that the result was the other way around.

If Simon couldn't pick it from the bad camera angle without having to call the race, what chance has the punter got.

It's only a small thing, but it's important.

It's called customer service.