Dittman's Ride Still One For History Books

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday April 6, 1998

MAX PRESNELL

IN A quiet moment in the jockeys' room at Rosehill on Saturday - before all hell broke loose in the stewards' room - Jack Denham sat on a bench alongside Mick Dittman.

"Don't let anyone tell you you've lost it," Denham said, his voice soft but his words strong. "That was the best ride in my time as a trainer."

Denham was referring to Dittman's effort on Shovhog in the $2 million Golden Slipper. Part-owner Geoff White gave him a rave review too - 10.5 out of 10.

In years to come, when racing men are recalling the top Golden Slipper rides, Dittman's navigation of Shovhog from the 16 gate to the rail in such a short space will be ranked with the all-time greats.

Normally, the run to the first turn in this equine helter-skelter is traffic-jam territory, but Dittman created few hiccups. Over the latter stages, though, it wasn't pretty . . .

Dittman pleaded guilty to permitting Shovhog to shift out near the 200m, resulting in Rubicall striking the heels of Shovhog, blundering and almost falling.

"It was a selfish act," declared Ray Murrihy, chairman of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board stewards, indicating there was no compassion for Dittman from this quarter.

Transcripts for an appeal will be ready today and Murrihy doesn't want any procedural hold-ups.

The stewards' chairman gives the impression he is dissatisfied with suspended jockeys manipulating the rules so they can ride in major events.

"Appeal dates are set by the chairman, Mr Peter Hely, QC, but I'm making sure there are no hold-ups from our end," said Murrihy yesterday. "Those who stick to the rules should be given more consideration for big races rather than those who don't."

Dittman holds the record for suspensions in Australian racing, long ago eclipsing Malcolm Johnston's record. However he has also ridden for a greater period than most.

Apart from his superb horsemanship, the key part of the Dittman weaponry is his competitive spirit - the "eye of the tiger".

Many figure it is his knock-out power in a finish, but the control he holds in his hands - the ability to enforce his will on a mount - has always been paramount. Those hands told him that, even though beaten in the Illawarra Mercury Classic at Kembla Grange, Shovhog "felt like a million dollars". Most were sceptical. Shovhog is not an easy horse. Just ask Jim Cassidy, who sacked him for Iglesia before he ran foul of Murrihy justice. Yet the Enforcer was able to let him slide from the outside over the fence and, even when the pace slowed, keep him under control.

When Dittman came out at the 200m, Shovhog moved further than anticipated and created havoc for Rubicall, the fairytale horse trained by John Wenman and bred by Brian Stockwell and his daughter Lisa Bell.

Stockwell and Bell were watching the Golden Slipper on Sky Channel at a pub in Junee.

Their dream ended in a nightmare due to the Dittman manoeuvre.

Jockey John Powell figured Rubicall would have been in the finish - a point Murrihy refutes - but the trouble certainly cost her prize money. Dittman apologised to Powell.

Creating nightmares under Murrihy law is expensive - for Dittman, six weeks and a $20,000 fine.

Previously, I've heard Dittman argue to stewards that he can do so many things right in a race that it is unfair to birch him unmercifully for a later blemish.

"The ground is just as hard over the last 200m as the first," countered Murrihy.

Still, Dittman is a saddle athlete whose high standing is, at his vintage, not unique but quite remarkable.

And when Dittman produces, as Saturday showed, it is a sight to behold.