In case you are not familiar with Skull here he is.

A joke to warm up the crowd

Our good friends at sportingbet.com.au have supplied me with an interesting interview with ABC Cricket commentator and former Australian test leg spinner the ‘Skull’ Kerry O’Keefe. If you have ever enjoyed listening to Skull on the radio with that infectious laugh then you may also enjoy the following interview.

A life of punting taught Kerry O’Keefe a hard lesson: never back England to win anything.

What was your greatest win?
In the late 70’s I part-owned a dour stayer called Vivatus. The dear fellow won a distance race in Randwick at 70/1. The winnings bought me a home unit.

Any near misses?
I backed Australia strongly to beat England 4-1 in the Ashes of 2006/7. ‘Freddy’ Flintoff fell in love with Australian wine and the Poms got hammered 5-0. Note to self: never back England to win anything.

What is your golden rule?
Never bet on golf, nor back Melbourne Cup runners who have had more than 30 starts.

Do you have any punting theories or systems?
I have a racehorse punting system developed by a stonemason in the Sutherland shire. Put it simply, the last two starts of a horse have to add up to 8 or less and it has to have raced in the last ten days. If there is only one qualifier in the race – and there are no odds-on pop in the field – bet each way if the horse is paying between $3 and $8. The system works best at Sandown, Flemington and Warwick Farm.

Have you got a favourite that has always looked after you?
Doriemus in the 1995 Melbourne Cup. Our home needed new carpet and I plonked all that we’d saved up on this brilliant stayer without telling my wife. Doriemus saluted, and a new carpet was laid the following week.

Any superstitions?
Don’t back P Harvey in Perth after 5pm Sydney time to get out of trouble. Everbody else does that and you are taking unders!

Do you prefer a bold front-running horse or a back-marker that flashes home?
I love front-runners. Ethiopian and Kenyan distance runners, Vo Rogue, the Australian cricket team.

Do you still own horses?
Currently I am involved in the ownership of Skullas Sister and Sippa Bubbly, both with a lot of talent and both trained by the gifted horseman Tracey Bartley at Mudgee.

What is your most memorable moment on a racetrack?
Kissing Vivatus in the winners circle when he won at Randwick in 1981. He had shocking breath and his sweat ruined my suit but I didn’t care.

Which horse could have a big summer?
Sippa Bubbly, if she gets on the race track.

Cheers to Bill Richmond from SportingMail Magazine.