One suggestion one winner last week (selections at the bottom of the page), and I am so glad I chose Belmont where I had a better idea of the going with the UK weather as unpredictable as ever and my Derby suggestion pulled out because of the softer ground at Epsom, though he would have needed to sprout wings to beat the impressive winner so I may well have saved my money there.
I have got a little tired of my own voice whining on in recent weeks about the various issues in British racing but decided it was time for a “smiley” me this week, so I have been on the hunt for some happy stories instead – trust me, it wasn’t easy. While recording last week’s podcast I had Epsom on in the background and I have to say, I was delighted to see Martin Dwyer win the Coronation Cup on board Pyledriver, though I wasn’t quite so amused that I had neglected to back him. Firstly, the jockey is a fellow Evertonian with a wicked sense of humour, but better still was the look of elation on the face of co-trainer William Muir after his charge had somehow won a ding dong battle up the straight despite hating the track. A neck was the official margin (with seven lengths back to the 120 rated third) so this was some performance, but you just don’t see a smile that wide when one of the so called bigger trainers succeeds, even in a Group One, and it reminded me what racing is all about. The plan for the rest of the season looks ambitious with the Hardwicke Stakes next week at Royal Ascot, followed by the King George and then possibly the Arc, and if you love your racing then like me, you will be cheering him home – even if you back something else in the same race.
Next up I was perhaps a little surprised to see the story that young Irish jockeys Ross Coakley and Adam Farragher are relocating to England, the first named with Hugo Palmer and the latter with William Haggas. Both look destined for greater things but I cannot help but wonder why, when prize money is better over the sea and jockeys get a share of the prize money to boost their earnings, they are heading over here now? We won’t go in to that this week and suffice to say new blood among the jockey ranks is always a good thing and I wish the pair of them the very best of luck – unless I am betting against them, of course.
From one old fogie to another how emotional was trainer Phil Middleton after the 13 year old Exitas won at Southwell on Tuesday? Nearly put down after a career threatening injury they tried retiring him but he hated it and has to be kept in training to keep him happy, a real fairy-tale story and interestingly, he is declared to run again this weekend. He might win, he might not, but as long as he comes home sound no one will really mind, but he serves as a reminder that the vast majority in this game just love their horses despite the media trying to paint a very different picture.
The World Pool is my next subject, and a bit of a follow up to last week’s podcast bookie attack as we need to strengthen the purses for racing to survive in its current form. The idea is simple enough – provide strong Tote style pool for major race meetings co-mingled with other racing jurisdictions to ensure huge pots when outsiders win, and stable markets when they don’t. Add in a take out that goes to racing (after costs) and this may be the only way forward for our sport, and with the Hong Kong Jockey Club involved, we know everything will be run professionally. I understand punters have loyalty to their favourite bookies, but they have zero loyalty to you my friends, and this could be the only way we can all get value bets on and racing can get their funding it so badly needs.
Lastly for today (and we have so little racing of note this weekend to talk about), we have the matter of Royal Ascot with reduced crowds next week. Although I sometimes feel the fashion and the celebrities see racing lost in the television mix, it is the best flat meeting of the year by far, and well worth watching if you get the chance. With my new job taking up far too much time at present I am sorry to say I won’t have time to produce a daily article this year (sorry), but I will try and find one a day for you – though do wait for race day to place any bets as runners are uncertain at the time of writing!
Tuesday - Kaufymaker Coventry Stakes – for many the best of the week with the Wesley Ward trained American raider. Believe me, she is a beast of a filly and gets weight from her make rivals here which if track work is to be believed, she doesn’t even need. She won her only start by over six lengths on dirt but has taken well to the turf and her trainer certainly thinks she could be something very special.
Wednesday – Dancing King each way Queen’s Vase – Mark Johnston’s three-year-old has improved leaps and bounds since being gelded and more importantly, he can front run if needed – or come from off the pace. If others go off at a suicidal pace he looks to have the stamina to run them down late on – if not he can dictate his own fractions from the head of affairs. Tough sort who doesn’t like being beaten.
Thursday – Stradivarius Gold Cup - tougher to second guess with declarations still in place that seem unlikely to run (Snowfall, for example). The staying ranks look short of any new talent to be frank and although putting out Stradivarius didn’t need too much thought, he looks the likeliest winner (and runner) on the day, and if he comes home in front, a winner is a winner.
Friday – Campanelle Commonwealth Cup – the yanks seems to have us all ends up when it comes to the sprinters and once again I will rely on Wesley Ward whose speedy filly took the Queen Mary here last year and is reported to be in rude health. She arrives here without a prep race but goes well fresh and has been clocking some excellent times, Frankie rode her in her work this week and got off smiling and that is good enough for me.
Saturday – Pyledriver each way Hardwicke Stakes – I may have missed him last time out but I have always held a soft spot for the son of Harbour Watch though he did have a tough race and his participation remains questionable. He proved at Epsom that he likes a battle and won’t buckle under pressure, and let’s not forget, this is a Group Two and effectively a drop in class. The track seems far more likely to suit him than the cambers at Epsom and he did win the King Edward VII Stakes here last season over course and distance. Any rain will suit him as well (not guaranteed but this is England), and if he is considered well enough to run he has every chance of a follow up success.
On to the racing and as always, anyone who want to hear my dulcet tones (or can’t get to sleep easily), the bones of my article plus other’s opinions can be heard on the free of charge podcast here https://postracing.co.uk/2021/06/11/its-good-news-week-royal-ascot-the-world-pool-exitas-pyledriver-and-something-for-the-weekend/
Saturday Racing:
6.53am Eagle Farm
The idea of a handicap being a Group One still confuses me but it is what it is and we move on accordingly. This looks as tough to call as any UK handicap to be honest despite the higher quality though Vega One should prove tough to beat but is priced accordingly. He failed to get the run of the race last time out before busting trough late on to claim the Kingsford Smith Cup and if he gets the split when needed here he does look remarkably well handicapped. Savatoxl will probably set the pace from his wide draw and will take some catching and is another to consider for those looking to play at a bigger price, but the selection gets 4lb from that rival and looks likely to prove hard to beat if repeating his last impressive effort.
2.15pm Sandown
Poor racing this weekend and the line-up for this Listed contest isn’t as good as I had hoped, but something still has to win it and I am rather hoping (if not confident) that Irish raider Queens Carriage can step up again an get involved in the finish here. Her Dundalk all-weather form wasn’t really good enough to warrant a start here (even if she did win two on the bounce very easily), but her narrow success at Fairyhouse suggested she is in for a good season. As a daughter of Mehmas she ought to handle the Good ground (though anything faster isn’t guaranteed), and she looked as if she would strip fitter for her first run since December and could at least hit the places at a price this afternoon -solid each way material on a difficult day.
3.05pm York
Dear oh dear, just the four runners for our only other Listed event on a Saturday afternoon – what can you do? Red Vernon won this last year for Ed Dunlop but has looked out of sorts so far in 2021 with some wide margin defeats but he is dropped in class on better ground and is not out of this whatever the bookmakers think. Ranch Hand gets the narrowest of votes imaginable in a tricky race to call but ran well enough over even further last timer out when second in a Group Three here last month and won his first two starts of the season on the all-weather at Chelmsford and Lingfield. Trip track and ground should prove ideal though I am wary that there is precious little pace in the race and Oisin Murphy may well be forced in to making the running to make sure it doesn’t turn in to a two furlong sprint close home.
Sunday Racing:
3.38pm Salisbury
Three-year-olds have a decent record in this contest and although I am a big fan of Mums Tipple, giving weight to Line Of Departure looks a big ask. Roger Varian’s son of Mehmas looked pretty decent when winning at Yarmouth, Ascot, and Doncaster in handicaps before being caught out when a ten length last of eight in the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes but this looks far easier and he should have strengthened and grown over the winter. Naturally he has it all to prove here, and at the time of writing I have no odds to guide me, but I am told he has been working well enough with the stable’s better horses and if that is the case, he could improve enough to surprise them all today.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Kaufymaker Coventry Stakes Royal Ascot Tuesday
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