Just the one winner last week but at 5/1 that still meant we all made a profit to level stakes, but more importantly, what a shame the softer going saw Enable fail to make it here Arcs in a row when second to Waldgeist, a horse officially her inferior and who has finished behind her more times than I care to count. He did arrive with a wet sail to win going away from his field and is a tribute to the training skills of Andre Fabre (or “God” as other trainers often refer to him), but surely there have to be excuses from the runner up?
She hasn’t had a particularly arduous season (this was just her fourth race of 2019), clearly handles track and trip as well as or better than any and was as strong in the market as you could hope for leaving the sticky going as the one thing against here. It was good when she won last season, soft the year before but very soft last Sunday and in my view, that simply stopped her giving her best or accelerating as we all know she can, and I wonder if she will head for the Breeders Cup or call it a day in case that took too much out of her.
Elsewhere in the big wide World of horse racing we have had good news with jockey Fergus Sweeney, who retires from the saddle at the end of November, starting his new career almost immediately as he goes in to training to work for the BHA as a Steward. The phrase poacher turned gamekeeper springs to mind and it will certainly be interesting to see how Fergus puts his experience in the saddle to good use when making decisions for or against those he has ridden with or against for so many years.
Much as I would like to talk about the telephone number figures changing hands at this week’s sales (I would love to be involved but even a lottery win might not be sufficient if Godolphin and Coolmore are involved), it is not my area of expertise and in all honesty, I do wonder if the bloodstock industry is a case of “the Emperor’s new clothes” sometimes. They like to give the impression that pedigrees are an exact science but we all know that cannot be the truth – and I remember the best looking girl I ever met had parents who looked like bit part actors from the Addams Family proving that nothing is as it seems when it comes to genetics (unless she was adopted I suppose).
On to the racing this weekend and it seems like I am stuck on repeat at this time every year as the recent rains make the going softer than ideal and do not guarantee us seeing the results the formbook suggests. I will be limiting my stakes accordingly (and suggest you do the same), but I still have three horses over the weekend who should give us a run for our money. Newmarket intrigues with some high class racing but my first foray on to them market will be when Volkan Star steps out in the Group Three Zetland Stakes at 2.20pm over the mile and a quarter. A very easy six length winner of his second start when coming home alone over the mile, he has middle distance written all over his pedigree as a son of Sea The Stars out of Azamour mare Chicago Dancer and is too tempting at 4/1 or so stepped up to this trip.
Pinatubo looks a real class act but at odds of 1/3 or so on the softest ground he has ever encountered, he is not a betting proposition to me in the Dewhurst Stakes at 3.30pm. He ought to still prove far too good for these but if you could print money, we would all be doing it and I will sit back and savour rather than get involved at those prices. The Cesarewitch has seen a plunge on the Willie Mullins trained Frankie Dettori ridden Buildmeupbuttercup who is a worthy favourite but having “spotted” Billy Ray as a potential improver, Mick Channon’s four-year-old will carry a pound or two each way at a big price. A beaten favourite at Ascot when last seen in August he has had a wind operation since and the benefit of a first time visor here and could surprise them all for a yard far shrewder than most punters seem to realise.
Finally, I had one for Newton Abbot Sunday, but they have already abandoned so we will switch back to Newmarket Saturday when Roger Varian will be expecting a much improved effort from Prince Eiji who has only had the one run so far this season when fourth to King Of Change at Sandown. He continues to work like a class act on the local gallops which must be frustrating for his connections, but he has been found a race he can go close in via the Darley Stakes at 5.20pm. The nine furlongs looks ideal though we have to take a guess over his abilities on a softer surface but as a son of Dubawi he ought to at least cope with it and is another who is freely available at an each-way price.
Horses To Follow:
Winter is just around the corner (sadly) and our attentions need to switch to the winter game starting with a novice hurdler called Olly The Brave. Trained by Dan Skelton and a bumper winner at Warwick he made his debut over obstacles at Worcester on Thursday afternoon. I was told that he had been schooling well and a huge run was expected but he didn’t quicken up as hoped after being held up a bit longer than I hoped before running on in to third over the two miles. A step up in trip may be needed to see him at his best but I have no doubts at all that he is a winner in waiting barring any mishaps of course.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Volkan Star 2.20pm Newmarket Saturday
Billy Ray Each Way to small stakes 4.10pm Newmarket Saturday
Prince Eiji Each Way 5.20pm Newmarket Saturday
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