For over a decade, Patrick Cripps could not have done more to lift his Carlton mates to glory in September.
uncertain
Cripps → do → September
It turns out the Blues captain has also been integral to some of them chasing their dreams in October and November.
asserted
captain → turn → October
Unlike his feats on the football field, Cripps is an unwitting contributor in this tale of the turf, which starts before he was even born, takes a twist at a hotel bar in Bali two years ago and is set for its climax at Flemington.
asserted
he → start → Flemington
Cripps is one of several current and former Blues in the Baggers Naggers syndicate, managed by former Carlton assistant coach John Barker, that has a share in leading Cox Plate contender Birdman.
asserted
that → manage → Birdman
Cripps is also part of a smaller Baggers Five syndicate with Walsh, Judd, Murphy, and Barker which recently bought a share in English raider James J Braddock, the fourth favourite for the Melbourne Cup.
asserted
which → buy → Cup
The story behind Cripps’ involvement in this spring carnival has its origins in the early 1990s when Barker and Ozzie Kheir were two promising footballers at the defunct St Joseph’s College in North Melbourne.
asserted
Barker → have → Melbourne
Their lives headed down different paths.
asserted
lives → head → paths
Kheir was in year 11 but, Barker said, already the best footballer at the school with his aggression and silky skills.
asserted
Barker → say → aggression
Barker carved out a solid 168-game AFL career for Hawthorn, where he was a cult hero, the Brisbane Lions and Fitzroy and became a highly respected assistant coach.
asserted
he → carve → Hawthorn
Kheir never made it to the AFL.
asserted
Kheir → make → AFL
“I was a colt that needed to be gelded,” Kheir joked of his tendency to be distracted by “fast cars, parties and everything else that you shouldn’t be doing”.
asserted
you → need → that
He became highly successful in business, making his riches in property and becoming a prominent racehorse owner who has won the Australian turf’s three most famous races.
asserted
who → become → races
The pair reconnected while holidaying separately in Bali, brought together by their young sons – who, unbeknown to their fathers – had hit it off.
asserted
who → reconnecte → it
Barker had long been keen to race a horse with Kheir, having seen his success with stars like Cups winner Verry Elleegant, Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet and Everest conqueror Yes Yes Yes.
asserted
Barker → race → Elleegant
This chance meeting gave him a forum to find a way in.
asserted
meeting → give → way
“Over a few cocktails, we just had a bit of a chat, and you know, I’d always admired him from afar in terms of his ability to get his hands on really good horses,” Barker recalled.
asserted
Barker → know → horses
Several drinks later during their afternoon session at the hotel bar, Barker had still made little inroads.
asserted
Barker → make → inroads
Kheir carefully chooses who he races his horses with.
asserted
he → choose → horses
Their old school ties had not proven strong enough.
asserted
ties → prove → ?
“I just asked him whether there were any opportunities in any of his horses or any syndications with horses, and he said it was a bit of a closed book,” Barker said.
asserted
Barker → ask → book
Now was the time for Barker to pull out his trump card.
asserted
Barker → pull → card
He knew Kheir was a massive Blues fan – and Barker had strong connections at Carlton.
asserted
Barker → know → Carlton
Cripps, Judd and Murphy are among the modern-day Carlton royalty he has coached.
asserted
he → coach → royalty
“Well, mate, I tell you what,” Barker said to Kheir.
asserted
Barker → tell → Kheir
“I reckon there will be a few Carlton boys that would love to get into racehorse or two with you.
asserted
that → reckon → you
And he said, ‘OK, like who?’
asserted
he → say → ?
“‘I know Crippa would love to, and I think Juddy’s got his hands on a couple [of horses], Marc Murphy, he loves strutting around racetracks.
asserted
he → know → racetracks
He probably loves it.’
asserted
He → love → it
Barker had dropped names successfully in the past.
asserted
Barker → drop → past
Once, he asked a promoter to arrange tickets so he could watch the UFC in Sydney.
uncertain
he → ask → Sydney
To strengthen his case, Barker told his contact his former Hawks teammates Lance Franklin, Luke Hodge and Campbell Brown were also interested.
asserted
teammates → strengthen → case
It worked.
asserted
It → work → ?
As each Carlton star was mentioned, Barker sensed a softening in Kheir’s stance.
asserted
Barker → mention → stance
“He goes, ‘Well, you know, I’ve got a couple that we’ve got our eyes on that I might be able to squeeze you guys into ...’”
uncertain
I → go → guys
One of those horses was a promising young stayer from Ireland by the name of Birdman, a leading fancy in the Cox Plate.
asserted
One → lead → Plate
In keeping with the Carlton theme, the ride with Birdman has not been smooth.
asserted
ride → keep → Birdman
With wins over 2414 metres and 2615m as a three-year-old, Birdman was bought to be a Melbourne Cup horse, but early hopes were not high after uncompetitive runs under the new owners.
asserted
hopes → buy → owners
“I talked him up because I did like him, but his first performance was pretty average so I was a bit embarrassed,” Kheir said.
asserted
Kheir → talk → him
“The boys probably though I stitched them up
asserted
I → stitch → them
Despite a respectable sixth in last year’s Caulfield Cup, Birdman was switched to middle distances.
asserted
Birdman → switch → distances
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
