I love winter racing - being able to study the form for hours on end, trying to work out what horses are going to run well in the heavy conditions and what horses are not, what horses prefer the longer distances and trying to work out why jockeys are hopping
on and off horses from week to week.
There are always good dividends at this time of year and, if you can get a piece of that action, those cold days and nights seem just that little bit warmer.
In the past few weeks there have been two 100-to-1 shots get up - you never see this in the summer on the hard, firm tracks.
Hot dogs, wet betting slips, mud larks and big jackets with your Red Bands on are what winter racing is all about. On those cold Friday nights and Saturday afternoons, there is no better way to spend time than down at the nearest race track or at the local TAB.
There also has been some fantastic racing over at the Brisbane winter carnival.
Some New Zealand horses have put in strong performances - Prized Lady in the Queensland Oaks where she ran a creditable second, Darci Brahma had an encouraging fourth leading into the T J Smith tomorrow and the 1600m should really suit the million-dollar colt.
The Wellington Cup winner Zabeat and New Zealand Cup winner Waltermitty run in the Brisbane Cup tomorrow, over the distance of 3200m, which will really suit Zabeat as he is a true grinding stayer.
His trainer, Donna Logan, has labelled this horse a future Melbourne Cup contender.
The odds of $13 on offer at the TAB are very attractive, for him to take out the feature tomorrow. I wish the connections of the New Zealand horses all the best and hope they bring the silverware home.
During the past week I heard some disturbing news on the radio and I feel as though my childhood has been robbed. The famous talking horse Mr Ed from the TV hit series in the '60s, who would make me roll around on the floor in fits of laughter, was in fact a zebra. I nearly drove off the road when I heard this. The reason for this is that it's apparently easier to train a zebra than a horse.
I just don't believe it. As far as I'm concerned if Mr Ed is a zebra then my horse Hit The Bit is the donkey that carried Mary to the manger.
* New Zealand cricketer Kyle Mills produces the occasional column on racing.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
<EM>Kyle Mills:</EM> When longshots come in, winter cold's forgotten
I love winter racing - being able to study the form for hours on end, trying to work out what horses are going to run well in the heavy conditions and what horses are not, what horses prefer the longer distances and trying to work out why jockeys are hopping
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