ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN
It has been a quite horrendous week or so for the racing community as you will all have read elsewhere, and with cocaine the latest issue after Jordan Williams had his licence withdrawn for six months following a positive hair test. I won’t be going into the rights and wrongs as that is up to higher powers than me, but I am fully aware that cocaine has been an issue for many years in our major training centres, in part as jockeys look to keep their weight as low as possible. Weights have always seemed a catch 22 scenario to me, with many wanting to see them increased for the health of the jockeys - but animal libbers screaming that would mean more weight for the horses to carry, and I can certainly see both sides. The only solution that answers both issues is to increase minimum weights (again) but don’t increase top-weights, but that in turn compresses the handicap (making the racing less competitive if that is even possible), while the lightweight jockeys will lose any advantage when it comes to booking rides. It really is a a bit of a conundrum where even I cannot come up with an answer, but if you have any ideas, feel free to let me know, I am all ears?
Next on the list is the ongoing row between Flutter and Arc over racing media rights, which I gather the bookmakers want to renegotiate. Legal threats appeared to stop a boycott of Bath earlier in the month, but I am guessing Flutter think they have found a way around that by offering prices at Chepstow Thursday – but only minutes before the off of each contest. Personally, that sounds like killing the golden goose to me (surely Flutter are losing money to their rivals?), but it does show the strength of feeling with my own concern being less media rights means less is put back into the sport by the racecourses, which is already the cause of plenty of concern.
Ending on a rare bright note for the week, and welcome back Vincent Ho who is here for a month after the end of the Hong Kong season, and has already ridden out for the Charlie Johnston yard. Five winners from 17 rides for Mark Johnston in the past tells its own story as to just how quickly he can adapt, and I urge you to look twice at any of his mounts over the next few weeks, with his ability from the saddle unquestioned despite a lack of experience on our tracks. Rarely seen without a smile on his face, Vincent will be a breath of fresh air to the waiting media with his willingness to talk to the press when asked, and I only wish we had more characters like him to brighten up our sport.
Saturday racing.
3.00pm Newbury
For a Group Three there is a lot of depth to the Greenwood Stakes over six furlongs and finding the winner may not be quite as simple as the early betting would have you believe. Regional is the jolly as I write but as a six-year-old he has to give weight to his younger rivals, and I suspect that may prove too much for him here. Kind Of Blue was sorely tempting each way at odds around the 16/1 mark despite losing his unbeaten record with a four-length fourth to Inisherin at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, but that was a Group One and with further improvement likely, he is entitled to find this company more to his liking. James Delight enters calculations as he looks for his hat-trick after a win at Deauville on soft ground, and any further rain may aid his cause, but my final vote goes to Elite Status. Three wins as a two-year-old peaked with a win in this grade at Deauville, but it was his return as a three-year-old that caught my eye. Sent here over course and distance in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes, he strolled home by close to three lengths from Group Two winning filly Relief Rally (giving her 5lb), and any improvement at all will make him the one to beat this afternoon.
3.05pm The Curragh
Off to Ireland now when nine are set to go to post for the Group Two Sapphire Stakes, a five-furlong sprint that seems sure to be run at a furious pace. Three-year-olds have won three of the last four runnings but they look weaker than normal this season and I am happy to side with British raider Believing, a classy four-year-old daughter of Mehmas who has been running well in better company recently. Fourth to Asfoora and only beaten a length and a half over this trip in the Group One King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, she followed that with another fourth over a furlong further in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at the same meeting four days later, and has been rested since. A fast run five looks her ideal trip at present, and if she gets that here she deserves to record her sixth career victory, with the booking of Ryan Moore to ride a very positive move.
3.40pm The Curragh
It would be ridiculous of me to knock a classic, but the fact that a horse without a win this season (Content) heads the early markets for the Irish Oaks does at least suggest it is not an open and shut case. Her third in the Pretty Polly Stakes warrants
consideration, but in the never ending hunt for value I am happy enough to look elsewhere. Hanalia steps up in class but arrives after wins here and at Naas and may have more to offer as she gains in experience, while Willie Mullins, better known for his Cheltenham winners, has an unknown quantity in Lope De Lilas, a maiden winner at Leopardstown after which she was sold to race in the colours of Wathnan Racing. She has been well backed all week but that may just be the Mullins factor, and I will be supporting You Got To Me each way. Ralph Beckett’s filly has pulled too hard for her own good recently with a weakening fourth in the Epsom Oaks and a fourth to Port Fairy (reopposes here) in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot when she went off far too quickly far too early. A tongue tie is added here and if Hector Crouch can get her to settle to save something for the finish, I think a top three spot is within her abilities.
4.15pm The Curragh
Shamida looks one to consider assuming she is ready to go for her first start of the season, and with three wins in a row last season and only seven career starts, she is well worth a market watch for any signs of confidence behind her chances. Vauban is a class act for that man Willie Mullins and is impossible to ignore, but I am happy enough to give another chance to Tower Of London. Aidan O’Brien has won this race six times in the last 10 runnings and knows exactly the sort needed, with the son of Galileo his latest classy stayer. Wins at Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Meydan (Dubai) were followed by a below expectations seventh at York in May – and he hasn’t been seen since, missing Royal Ascot. He did lose a shoe that day which accounts for some of his issues, but I think he just had an off day, and if he is back to his best then this ought to be his for the taking.
Sean’s Suggestion:
Tower Of London 4.15pm The Curragh
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