THE FORECAST: Havin’ a Capt Cook

THE FORECAST: HAVIN’ A CAPTAIN COOK

You wouldn’t believe it. While meandering my way down the Queensland coast I found myself in 1770 this morning looking for a rock to throw a line off. The normally sleepy coastal hamlet was frothing with grey haired tourists, mad keen and single minded and heading for the Captain Cook monument.

To be fair, I couldn’t give a rats tossbag about a statue when there’s tuna to be had. Blighty agrees.

So does this bloke. And I’m not arguing.

Anyway, on August 22nd 1770 Captain Cook claimed the eastern coast of Australia for the British Crown, planting the flag of sorts at 1770 – the only town in Australia named with a number.

“The Shark!” exclaimed one of the history buffs. “What about a tip young fella?”

I’m 41 years old. He’s gone with “young fella” straight off the bat. You can probably guess the age bracked that this bloke and 90% of the Cook-ites gathered round the monument fall into.

He then told me he thought I was a cheeky bastard and that his son – assuming in his 50’s – thought that I was a wanker. Fork in the road moment here, do I go with the A-set or the B-set? Or just do what I’ve always done and go Dennis Denuto on the whole damn thing?

The gap between the Lawrence Stakes and Memsie Stakes hits a traditional lull with a ho-hum Moonee Valley card, but speedster BOLD BASTILLE draws my attention in the Carlyon Stakes. This is a slick filly and her jump outs look ominous. I’m playing.

In Sydney the Winx Stakes at Randwick is the obvious headline. FANGIRL is an understandable favourite, but TROPICAL SQUALL won’t be easy to run down. Big watch on VIA SISTINA who has the Cox Plate on her agenda this spring.

BEST: Moonee Valley R8 No. 9 BOLD BASTILLE

BEST EACH-WAY: Randwick R9 No. 2 OPAL RIDGE

BEST ROUGHIE: Moonee Valley R4 No. 4 DIAMOND FIRETAIL