Least said soonest mended regarding last week’s suggestions but I have to add I was unconvinced by the rides given to any of my suggestions and I won’t be sending the usual Christmas cards to one or two I could mention.
Coming late to the party as always, didn’t the Kentucky Derby get more than its fair share of media attention both at home and around the World, though an interesting spilt between negative and positive of about 80/20 with even President Trump having his say on the disqualification of comfortable victor Maximum Security who in my opinion was the winner on merit and really ought to have kept the race, the prize money, and the financially massive breeding rights. The horse did “jink” for whatever reason (conspiracy theories abound with some poor photographer a regular target of social media ire), and there is even a good argument that jockey Luis Saez deserved a suspension and a fine, but to disqualify the winner was yet another example (see race day medication) of just why the rest of the World still sees America as a racing backwater and will continue to do so until they join Category One nations when it comes to interference and the punishments that follow.
On to the UK and the so called Derby trials start just days after the Guineas though horrendous rain at the likes of Chester have rather taken the gloss off them and made the form even more open to question than is normally the case. Sir Dragonet certainly caught the eye when taking the Chester vase by an easy eight lengths on Tuesday but with the same stable also taking the Dee Stakes with Circus Maximus on Wednesday, and neither guaranteed to even run at Epsom thanks to the strength in depth of the Aidan O’Brien horses, if anything the waters are even muddier than they were before the week began.
This weekend we see the Lingfield Oaks and Derby trials but the days of their influence over the classics have long gone though that is not to say they are not decent events in their own rights. The Listed class Oaks Trial at 1.55pm looks a race well worth watching for future reference though finding the winner looks close to impossible. Frankellina heads the early betting and could be anything, but a few of the Haggas hotpots have been turned over recently and at least we know that Anapurna has trained on at three after the daughter of Frankel hacked up on her return at this track on the all-weather. She represents the in-form John Gosden yard and will do for me even if she obviously has to improve considerably on the form we have seen from her so far.
Sadly, I really don’t like the Derby trial that follows at 2.30pm and although Anthony Van Dyck is a worth favourite with the O’Brien colts carrying all before them, he doesn’t look bullet proof enough to be sent off at evens and I will find my second bet for the weekend elsewhere on the card. The 3.40pm is at least a Group Three and on this occasion I will be keeping my fingers and toes crossed that Pretty Baby can handle the softer going and continue her rise to the top. A daughter of Orpen, there is every reason to think she will be as effective on the predicted soft going and with three wins form her four starts last season and every chance of a lot more to come now she has turned four, James Doyle can hopefully steer her home in front today, with Perfect and Devant the most obvious dangers.
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