In times of tragedy we tend to gain a more realistic grasp of reality.

The horrific flooding in Queensland puts into perspective the disappointment of a race meeting cancellation or lamenting a beaten favourite.

Whether or not the Magic Millions meeting will go ahead at the rain-soaked Gold Coast this weekend, or another date in the future, becomes insignificant.

Mind you, we often become enraptured with our own particular personal interests to fully appreciate the gravity of certain situations.

As an illustration, back in the dark days of World War II, when the main Brisbane racetracks of Eagle Farm and Doomben served as camping grounds for the troops destined for jungle warfare in New Guinea, Brisbane racing was rationed to one meeting a month at Albion Park.

During one meeting of people involved in racing, one pedantic participant passionately complained that it was a crying shame Brisbane racing had been reduced to one meeting a month "because of a minor disturbance in the Pacific!"

Our thoughts and prayers are with those unfortunate people over such a wide area of Queensland that have been affected drastically and, in some cases, tragically, by a climatic phenomenon that obviously is more than "a minor disturbance".

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At the risk of appearing to be habitually haranguing stewards, I think Nash Rawiller made a pertinent point at Randwick last Saturday.

Admittedly, in the heat of the moment he may have been incorrect, both politically and professionally, in expressing a bit of anger and exasperation with the relentless grilling the stewards gave him over his tearaway tactics on Daintree Road.

After having led by a huge margin, Daintree Road ultimately wilted to finished third.

Legitimately, the stewards were entitled to ask the question. But, similarly, Rawiller had the reasonable foil for the extension of the enquiry. When Rawiller claimed he had nothing further to add and asked to be excused from the room, he was told by chief steward, Ray Murrihy: "You can either stay now or come back after the last."

"I've got two other rides and I would rather concentrate on them, I can't add any more," Rawiller responded before departing.

Rawiller's previous ride can't be re-run but he had a substantial responsibility to the remainder of his mounts and the punters that backed them. It begs the question that, maybe, this type of probing enquiry should be deferred until after the last race or to another day completely.

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Probably one of the starkest examples of an ill-timed enquiry was at Flemington in November 1987, when jockey Larry Olsen was hotly interrogated over his riding of a horse in an earlier event.

Olsen ultimately dashed from the stewards room to vault into the saddle of his mount in the next race, which happened to be the Melbourne Cup.

His upcoming mount was a horse called Kensei and despite the distraction of the hearing from the previous race, Olsen handled the pressure of riding in the Cup superbly seeking intrepid inside runs to win Australasia's greatest race in the final few strides.

The point is, though, should he have been subjected to this excessive pressure before, of all races, the Melbourne Cup?

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In the event of the Magic Millions meeting taking place this weekend, I am prepared to break entirely new ground.

As one of those incurable romantics always pursuing a long-priced winner, I cannot go past the favourite, Karuta Queen, in the two-year-old classic.

Having known, liked and respected knockabout trainer Neville Layt, I am prepared to take the short odds and abandon years of preferring boils to backing a favourite.

Good on you, Nifty.

I am sure your presentation of trophies acceptance speech will be a bottler!

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Meanwhile, if you're punting on the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas there's a $100,000 First 4 jackpot with the NSW TAB.