Christian Nicolussi was just doing his job but his honest appraisal of Our Egyptian Raine's performance prior to her (dismal) run in the Stradbroke earlier this month was about as subtle as an axe blade.

In the Daily Telegraph article titled "Trainer defends his big-race bridesmaid", Nicolussi states:

"Our Egyptian Raine has finished second an extraordinary nine times in group company on Australian soil.

Had the mare gone one better in those races she would have doubled her career earnings to $3 million by now."

Absolutely true - so no arguments on that level. And in this Industry it all ultimately comes down to punter sentiment, and horses that go to the line as favorite over a series of races - and lose some of them by margins as wide as a hair's breadth are never going to return to scale with supporters rapt in the outcome.

...One can only imagine the gritted teeth of the trainer/owners however when they read media reports in this vein (particularly given that the 6 year old mare has earned $1,571,578 in her career and in 46 starts has won 10 times and been placed on another 19 occasions).

I guess you have to take the good with the bad.