Bickering, bollocking, bullying?

THE second week of ‘revelations’ in The Sunday Times from the ongoing BHA investigation concerning Robbie Dunne and Bryony Frost brought more unsavoury details last Sunday.

More specific details of the conversations were revealed and shed little favourable light on what was called “weighroom culture”.

Yet it’s not gossip, the details are from actual conversations with the sport’s officials – however inappropriate it is that it be made public in this manner before the full investigation has been complete.

People have taken sides by now, based on what has been revealed without waiting for an actual hearing – whenever an official BHA ‘verdict’ is given.

You would expect a “fair trial” to still be possible by the regulatory body, given they are professionals and evidence has been heard and documented but it is inevitable there will be uncensored public opinion.

General online comments like “someone is making more mischief out of this than needs to be made … someone maybe feels they should be treated different because they are a woman” or a racing journalist saying that what was reported is “something modern sensibilities can’t cope with…” are well wide of the mark.

Yes, Ferguson throwing a cup of tea at David Beckham might well not gain the same reaction nowadays, while Roy Keane still scoffs at a manager going to hug his players, it’s not acceptable now to “have a go a someone” or cause them distress and not expect repercussions.

The reported “racing incidents that triggered the disputes” were mild – they are there for all to see for themselves.

And the thing to remember when passing this off as ‘bickering’ is that Bryony is a daughter of Jimmy Frost who lived in that weighroom for many years and surely, knowing all he did then and now, he would know what was acceptable and have guided his daughter in what was a difficult decision to make a complaint against the behaviour she was expected to put up with.

I’m afraid Camaraderie has fallen at the first hurdle this season – anyone want to buy his replacement – Shuttheweighroomdoor?

Irish united in Australian success

THERE’s an old saying that anywhere in the world you’ll find a horse, you’ll find an Irishman. You could not but think of that in the early hours of Saturday morning when State Of Rest won one of Australia’s great races, the Cox Plate. No sport is linked all over the world as racing is.

Here was a horse trained in Kilkenny by Joseph O’Brien, already the winner of a big race in America.

He was bred in Tinnakill House Stud in Laois, and his sire Starspangledbanner had been a star in Australia before coming to Tipperary to be trained to win at Royal Ascot and Newmarket. He has spent time at stud in Australia and Ireland. State Of Rest was ridden by a Cork jockey who never made it here as a jumps jockey but, moving to Australia, Johnny Allen has seen his career move to another level on the flat. He had ridden for the trainer’s father Joe Crowley in the same place State Of Rest was now prepared. That’s a big united world.

Lux lively?

THIS time last year High Definition was all the rage in the conversations for the Derby.

Now Luxembourg takes up that talking horse role. But 4/1 for the Derby? Yes he’s proven himself far more than High Definition at this stage but it’s hard not to be underwhelmed by the two-year-old colt crop so far.

The Vertem Trophy finish is easy to pick holes in. One of the horses with the best form, Royal Patronage, was struck into. Bayside Boy two from five. Fourth home Hannibal Barca, beaten two lengths went through the sales ring for half a million as a classic prospect this week but I think I’ll leave that 4/1 about the winner.

Ghostly horses!

SO Luxembourg reminded Tony Mullins of Nijinsky last Saturday?

Funny because I had that deja vu feeling too on Monday evening. Watching Antarah making a winning debut it reminded me of Nashwan. Must be the time of year.