[AusRace] Kitchin and Higgins

[Tony Moffat]

Carey Kitchin loved Roy Higgins.

Some days he would wait all day until the last two races then back Higgins
in those, reasoning somewhat obtusely that if Higgs hadn't whipped one home
to win by then he would in the last couple, surely, and any price a winner.

'Kitch' was a member of a big Higgins fan club, some of them backed his
rides to the exclusion of everything, every ride and nothing else, and some
weren't as dedicated although almost, backing everything and something else,
just in case.

Another large group seemed to feed off Higgins, ignoring him and backing
other runners secure in the knowledge that the prices they were getting were
better, good, boosted, affected by the simple connection of not being a
Higgins choice.

In effect, perhaps, the market sensed and sorted itself. Given that Higgins
was on a favourite, either earnt because of past endeavours or future
expectation or because of Higgins no matter what, then the others in the
race had their prices extended to a point where they may be logically
expected to be and for them also earnt off past endeavours or future
expectation.

Much more is written about 'Roy the boy' and his winning while short in the
market than occurred in actuality. He rode right through the price spectrum
although wins past 6/1 were not often seen, and places on longer priced
horses were scarce they did happen. All jockeys, I guess, become world
beaters on short priced conveyances, there is just not enough of them.

On the Melbourne Cup he told a reporter 'it's as if it is a mid week country
meeting, isn't it. Okay, there is the Cup which is a good test of a horse
and trainer but then there is a Hurdle, a Steeple, two highweights, two
races for 3yo and older and a fillies and mares scamper and they seem to
make it important by not letting the apprentices use their allowances.' This
was way back then remember. 

One of his biographers wrote about 5 Cups he rode in  

In 1971 he was 4th on Skint Dip 6/1
In 1972 he was third on Gunsynd 4/1 after winning the Cox Plate 6/4
In 1973 he was unplaced on Dayana 12th 9/1(?) and 5/1 tote
In 1974 Higgins did not ride in the Cup, he hadn't ridden since Caulfield
Cup
In 1975 he was unplaced last on Leica Lover 10/1
In 1976 he was unplaced on Participator 33/1

There is much more detail in Cavanough book Melbourne Cup ....2000. See also
Brian Bloor writings in State Library Victoria

But 'Kitch' had opinions, facts, news and ideas about Higgins and they were
all positive, without exception. 

Higgins placed 3rd on Alrello in a big field after a clever ride (they said)
at 8/1 then next race did the same, 2nd at 7/1 The Sharper and Kitch was on
them. Last two races, Higgins, good horses -that is what he did.

Higgins won two, 2/1 and 11/4 and was made to lose the Liston Stakes
(somehow, but 'Kitch' knows) and next day won 11/4 (Gay Poss, no snickering
about naming conventions back then) and 8/1 in the 1st Division and unplaced
in the 2nd Division of some 3yo race. Next day on Big Philou he won at 6/1
out from 5/2 overnight then 3rd on Alrello at 7's then won on Alrello next
day at 2/1 and placed on Top Flat although this was earlier in the day. Then
it was Higgins and Gay Poss, Higgins and Vain, Higgins and Tobermory,
Higgins, Higgins, Higgins, bloody Higgins. 'Kitch' would remind you, for
sure, every win place, or otherwise and the otherwise was excused because of
the barrier, the barrier, the race length, that 'thing' of Armanasco, or
some other trainer who did not employ Higgins recently. I guess he rode for
quite a few over the years so that last argument can be negated somewhat.

'Kitch' barracked for Collingwood and if the horse colours were white and
black, either or both, and piloted by Higgins it was a shoe-in. He got a
roll more from us (7/2 became 4/1, 6/4 became 7/4) and he had to move and
stop talking after placing his bet but he would usually swamp back in and
tell you why 3 or 4 'won't get a sniff in this', stopping when a punter came
up and resuming as if he hadn't ever stopped when it was okay. Everything
was prefaced with 'anyways, another thing is this' and sometimes they did
'get a sniff' and sometimes he was right.

Carey was related to a jumps jockey. He did meet Roy Higgins several times,
and probably told him how good is he.

Cheers

Tony


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