Oddie | What’s in a name?

By Oddie

Dec 14, 2023

Number one: Team Howley with Station One after winning the Traralgon Cup on December 10. Photo: Ross Holburt/Racing Photos Photo by Ross Holburt

Oddie is a big believer in the power of numerology.

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But what is the name equivalent?

A quick search online throws up ‘namerology’ as a potential answer, but whatever it is called, it was seen in action this week.

The Liam Howley-trained Station One claimed the Traralgon Cup on Sunday — much to the delight of plenty of Shepparton ownership connections.

Ain’t nothing better than ownership of a horse with a few mates surely #StationOne @HowleyRacing pic.twitter.com/YEJ4yUcfdA
— Ted Lindon (@TedLindon) December 10, 2023

The significance of a horse named after a former Shepparton nightspot winning in the week that another is hosting a 25-year celebration of its opening was not lost on Oddie.

Yahoobar is the former venue in question — which will come back to life for one night only this Saturday — and it could have been a double-dose of success for the Howley stable.

Yahoo Bar — an unraced three-year-old gelding also in the Liam Howley Racing stable — was initially nominated to have its first start in Geelong on Friday.

But with the nomination having since been withdrawn, Oddie wonders if Yahoo Bar is saving itself for an appearance at its namesake on Saturday night.

When is a question not a question?

Oddie wondered if Shadow Education Minister Jess Wilson — or her media team — were trying to make a subliminal point — as well as a direct one — about education standards across the state in a recent media release.

The release was having a crack at the Victorian Government for failing to recruit enough teachers for government primary and secondary schools around the state and implying this was impacting education standards — here’s an excerpt.

“The final school bells for 2023 will be ring over the next two weeks, yet we go into the New Year not knowing how many students in Victoria will not have a classroom teacher in 2024,” Ms Wilson was quoted as saying.

Philosophy was not Oddie’s strongest subject at school, but Ms Wilson’s release also raised the question, is a question a question, if the question does not have a question mark?

“With nine in 10 government school principals declaring teacher shortages, is it any surprise that the Government continues to bury the 2022 Teacher Supply and Demand Report,” the release said.

At least we no the future of education, should the Opposition win government, is in good hands.