Manager Works Wonders For Carmody

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday April 29, 1994

CRAIG YOUNG

PERSONAL managers in the world of sport are not really a new trend.

Rugby league players seem unable to negotiate without them. Soccer stars hire them, while most other sports have them in abundance.

It now seems the racing world will soon be full of them.

The best known to date in Sydney racing are the brothers Cassidy, Larry and Jim, who have former jockey Ron Dufficy as their manager.

In-form jockey Craig Carmody believes they are necessary and will become commonplace as we gallop into the 21st century.

To that end Carmody has retained Ben Sorbello as his racing manager.

Sorbello, a close friend of Carmody's, has a knowledgeable racing background.

"It seems to be the way things are overseas and it is starting to filter into Australia," Carmody said.

And Carmody knows plenty about the overseas experience having represented Australia in a jockeys invitational in Japan early last year.

Carmody took time off at the end of last year, travelling to America, where he closely monitored the racing scene and liked what he saw.

It was these trips that reinforced Carmody's belief that he needed a manager.

"A manager makes it so much easier for me as a jockey," Carmody said. "Ben has plenty of experience in the racing game so we got together last January."

The advantages have proved invaluable for Carmody, which was evident at the recent Randwick autumn carnival.

Gavin Eades stole the show with three Group 1 winners, but Carmody snatched some of the glory, winning five races.

Carmody also scored his third career Group 1 when leading throughout on outsider Prince Of Praise in the All Aged Stakes.

His good trot didn't stop there. He won three races last Saturday at Rosehill, a treble on Monday at Randwick and a lone winner at Canterbury on Wednesday.

"Taking on a manager has certainly enabled me to take a more professional approach to racing," Carmody said.

"I'm getting on top of things a lot quicker and letting owners and trainers know much earlier exactly what I'll be riding."

It also allows Carmody to work on his fitness, enabling him to keep his weight at a comfortable 51kg.

Instead of answering the phone and replying to messages, Carmody can have a game of tennis or play a bit of squash, while also riding four days a week, knowing everything is being looked after.

"I can also study the form in more detail," he said.

"That allows you to look at the racing characteristics of each individual mount. I do this with Ben and it appears to be working."

Carmody has rekindled a winning relationship with Randwick conditioner Brian Mayfield-Smith.

The pair combined to win the Chairman's Handicap with Paris Fire over the Randwick carnival, and the jockey will ride Big Dreams in today's $100,000 Robins Kitchen Cup, 1,200m, at Doomben.

Sorbello snapped up further mounts at Doomben, including Licencioso (first race), April Sprite (third), No Passing (fourth), Gold Cup (seventh) and Ace Marauder (eighth).

A new manager has meant Carmody has set his sights a little higher in the racing game.

"I intend following the carnivals, if possible, from now on," Carmody said. "I haven't done that in the past but I will be following the money from now on."

Carmody will be back at Randwick on Monday where he already has a full book of rides.

Proof that his association with Sorbello is a winning one.