[AusRace] Kitchin and Higgins

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Bart and Higgins were a useful combination back then.
I can remember Bill Collins would often comment on how "Higgs" was
travelling in the run, his position, wide etc. I guess that was because he
was usually on the well-fancied but it added to the calls.
Kitch would have done well at the VRC Autumn carnival sometime in the early
70s when Higgs rode quite a few on the trot/ or many winners over the three
days? Something like that. (can't be bothered googling it)

On Sun, 4 Sept 2022 at 20:49, Tony Moffat <tonymoffat at bigpond.com> wrote:

> 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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