Tony ‘Chips In’ Edser – The Interview

Racing Zone form analyst Tony Edser may be based in Newcastle, but every November he heads down to Melbourne for the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington and I was fortunate enough to catch up with him during his stay to pick his brains about all things racing.

Tony has been around horse racing for as long as he can remember. Along with his twin brother Michael, who owns a little bit of Tac De Boistron with Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, they watched their father own and follow horses since they were very young.

Spending time with their father growing up usually involved watching the Newcastle Knights or the sport of kings.

“Dad would always ‘Study’ the form in front of Friday night football,” Tony said.

“And we would try to help or be involved. Eventually we started going to the ‘Office’ with him (local tab) and our time with our dad was always enjoyable watching the horses with him. It made us feel older and important.”

The penny really dropped for Tony when he went to his first Melbourne Cup with a group of mates.

[blockquote author=”Tony Edser”]Watching Makybe Diva’s third Melbourne Cup gave me the most enjoyment out of the 10 Melbourne Cups I have seen. It was like we had won a war![/blockquote]

From there he started going to Magic Millions, Stradbrokes, Epsoms, Doncasters and the like, before his love of racing culminated in 2012, when he flew halfway around the world to watch Black Caviar at Royal Ascot.

The horse racing bug has obviously got him, because Tony will be attending the Kentucky Derby next year in Louisville, Kentucky, billed as the greatest two minutes in sport.

But for Tony the horses, the racing, and the gambling, are all secondary.

“The relationship my brother and I built with our father because of horse racing, the people and friendships I have built over the last 10 years is the main reason I love horse racing.”

“People who have a passion for horse racing have a bond. As a punter some days you can feel broke but when you are at the races with people you love you can feel like the richest man in the world.”

Tony is lucky enough to have a great full-time job as a health club manager through the week and then of a weekend he travels the country watching, following and writing about his passion.

Racing is also apart of his young son’s life as he has been to an Arc De Trimomphe, a Melbourne Cup and a Kangaroo Island Cup at the age of just 18 months. Another budding punter in the family no doubt!

From Health Club Manager to Racing Zone Form Analyst

Tony has been the Racing Zone form analyst since May this year where his impressive ‘Chips In’ previews have become must reads every week, and the gig came about by accident according to the Newcastle born racing enthusiast.

“A friend sent me a link to the Racing Zone facebook page.”

“Racing Zone were looking for people to preview races and I submitted emails called “Chips In” that I had been sending mates at work who enjoy a punt and I guess the rest is history.”

“I was lucky enough my first Chips In tips lobbed 3 winners from 3, with Shiny Buttons at $5, Epaulette at $7 and Precedence at $23.”

“Week 2 was much the same with Gondokorro at $4, Sizzling at $8 and Fire Up Fifi $5.”

“The first 16 weeks of Chips In we recorded 14 decent wins. My First 6 “Chips In” best bets all saluted.”

Tony spends a lot of time each week doing the form for Racing Zone so I thought I would ask him what form aspects were most important to him.

“Data & history is the most important aspect for me when studying the form, especially track record, distance record, and stage of preparation.”

“Likely conditions of the race, what jockey will be aboard, the barrier, the track conditions are also influential in my form analysis.”

“Also, how the stable is travelling at the moment.”

From Form Analyst to Melbourne Cup week punter

Tony did an article on Racing Zone around the time of the AFL Grand Final weekend predicting that interstate, and in particular Sydney horses, were going to have a strong spring racing carnival.

“I filled the pockets cup week with mostly Sydney runners. I backed all 3 Waller runners on Oaks Day. My two biggest bets of the carnival landed with Zoustar on Derby Day and Backstedt on Oaks Day.”

While we were on the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Tony is a long-time veteran of the four days of Flemington in November and it would have been remiss of me not to ask him who impressed him most this year.

“Fiorente is honest as the day is long. Didn’t put a foot wrong all spring and thrived on the big Flemington track.  Will pay to follow him in the Autumn.”

“Dandino was impressive at Flemington in the Melbourne Cup nearly winning from an impossible spot on the home turn. Ran the second fastest last 600m and I think he could complete the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup Double next year (if ridden closer!).”

“Red Tracer was brave winning the Myer Classic and will dominate mare races in the Sydney Autumn.’

“Speediness was brave in the Emirates Stakes and will take out a Group 1 in the Autumn maybe over 1400m not 1600m.”

“Trainer Wez Hunter impressed me….what a week!”

When asked what Melbourne Cup win had given Tony his most enjoyment over the years, it was three-time winner Makybe Diva.

“Watching Makybe Diva’s third Melbourne Cup easily gave me the most enjoyment out of the 10 Melbourne Cups I have seen. It was like we had won a war!”

“I will never forget when she hit the front. The the roar of the crowd. I will never forget people throwing their hats in the air when she won. I will never forget crying when she came back to scale. That was the moment I knew I belonged to horse racing.”

And Tony’s biggest win on the Melbourne Cup?

“Dunaden has given me the biggest win on the Melbourne Cup itself. I had a good crack at Americain who ran 4th but I had a fairly good saver on Dunaden at $12 which I thought was ridiculous odds and paid for my cup week that year.”

Tony’s ‘Chips In’ racing previews, reviews and racing articles can be found each week at the excellent Racing Zone website, where you will also find Australia’s best Form Guides.

What’s more, Racing Zone also have a free daily Tipping Comp offering big monthly prizes, plus a Forum to discuss racing and sport.

Better still, it’s all FREE at Racing Zone!