Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Leading into the 2026 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, we asked some of the industry's leading figures a new question each day. Here's how they answered.
What is the most overused excuse given for a horse that doesn't perform up to expectations at the races?
Byron Rogers - Stable Analytics: The ride. On the odd occasion you will see a jockey give it a sore back and put in a shocker, but most of the time it's the horse just not being good enough.
Matthew Ennis - G1 Goldmine and Stallion Match: "Just didn't handle the track." That one gets a workout every Saturday - Especially with the rain around at the moment.
Adam White - Vinery Stud: Needs more time and experience.
Paul Moroney - Paul Moroney Bloodstock: The jockey slaughtered it.
Sheamus Mills - Sheamus Mills Bloodstock: Jockeys' fault.
Jockeys in the mounting yard pre-race | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Dave Mee - Pinhook Bloodstock International: Poor ride.
Albert Bosma - Go Racing: They just went a little too fast for him.
Craig 'Boomer' Rounsefell - Boomer Bloodstock: He will benefit from the run and be better next time.
Alison Hush - Davali Thoroughbreds: No luck.
Sean Driver - Kurrinda Bloodstock: Didn't get conditions to suit.
Suman Hedge - Suman Hedge Bloodstock: "He might be looking further'.
No, he might be looking for a new owner/trainer combination in Rockhampton.
Jimmy Unwala - Avesta Bloodstock: Most blame the track or the jockey, but the famous words "it will be better next prep", that means more money out of my pocket and the same result after six months.
Will Larkin - Malua Racing: Trapped wide from a terrible gate. Terrible excuse as it will happen more often than not if you run from a poor draw.
Horses waiting to jump | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Scott Darby - Darby Racing: Didn't handle the track.
Jason Micallef - Monarch Racing Syndications: There is none. A slow horse is a slow horse.
Peter O’Brien - Segenhoe Stud: Needs more ground.
Will Johnson - William Johnson Bloodstock: 'Needed the run'.
Manny Gelagotis - Gelagotis Racing: Most common are bad rides, bad barriers or track bias - these days the three go hand in hand sometimes and most times.
