Thin line between hero and villain

There isn’t half a thin line in this racing game between emerging as a hero, or being torn asunder by the public and press alike.

That was certainly one of the first things to strike me after watching Adelaide land the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia last Saturday morning.

Normally we only bother with Australian racing for the Melbourne Cup and that means having to ease from the cosy cot at the God-forsaken hour of around 4am in the early hours.