Mike Dillon: Controversial whip rule deserves six of the best

Australian racing officials are this afternoon to review the massively controversial new whip rules they themselves brought in a month ago.

The strong word is there will be no change.

You're kidding.

The howls of protest that accompanied the idea that jockeys couldn't use the whip more than five times inside the final 200m of a race have been vindicated.

The rule is totally unworkable.

That someone, let alone a complete panel, thought it could work is the greatest mystery of all.

Australia is a punting country. Jockeys are always going to take a chance and use the whip more than five times in the last 200m of a race, particularly a race worth a lot of money or if the punt has gone on the horse.

If it makes the difference between winning and losing, there's no mystery - they'll flaunt the rule and take their chance in the inquiry room.

In Sydney, high-profile rider Corey Brown copped a 13-raceday suspension for breaking the new five-time whip rule.

In winning the A$400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes on Vigor at Flemington on Saturday, Damien Oliver broke the same rule and received a reprimand.

There is a hell of a difference - and a lot of money - between a 13-day suspension and a reprimand.

Damien Oliver had to break the rule to win, that much was obvious.

If you accept - and clearly stewards did - that a reprimand is appropriate for breaking that rule in only some selected cases, you also have to accept the rule is incorrect.

The inside tip that nothing will be done about changing the rule back comes from officials believing it is bad governance to change a rule back after only 30 days.

No, bad governance is caused by bad governance. The unworkable whip rule is bad governance.

In New Zealand, we used to think Australian racing was the world's best-run industry. Victorian officials got a few improvements tampering with the rules of the under-siege jumping industry, but overall didn't change the major issues that were required.

Now, they come up with this.

Many here may think this is an Australian-only issue. Don't forget our horses campaigning in Australia will be performing under the same rules. That might not always suit our horses, or our jockeys.

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Mark Walker's apprentice Julia Anderson kicked off her riding career in the best possible way with an all-the-way victory on Bankside Belle at Taupo yesterday.

Anderson kicked Bankside Belle out to a clear lead from an outside gate and the mare managed late to maintain her course stats and impressive fresh record intact.

Stablemate Amaryllis flashed home late for a stylish third and another who impressed was stayer Tunofun, who took a lot of ground off the leaders late to dash into sixth in a race that was much too short.

Walker said Te Akau Rose was in good shape after her tough run for a close second to One Swanstonstreet in Saturday's $45,000 Carters-Gib Fillies Stakes at Wanganui.

Te Akau Rose had a tough race parked three wide throughout, but at no stage shirked the job and was beaten a bare nose.

The filly was sent south to Walker's Canterbury stable to prepare for Saturday week's Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton. "She can have an easy time until then."

A trainer preparing a promising horse for another trainer is a scenario that can be loaded with problems, but Walker says he's had nothing but good vibes preparing stylish juvenile Big River for Singapore-based Laurie Laxon.

Big River created a big impression in overcoming difficulties to win on debut at Wanganui.

"He botched the start, which was a surprise for him," said Walker.

"It was an intelligent ride by James [McDonald] afterwards, not to rush him up and to overdo it."

In what was a tough finish for inexperienced babies, Big River knuckled down and beat Aladdin Prince with Kylemore Abbey third.