Bragging rights for me for a change this week after two winners from just the three selections last weekend, and odds of 6/1 and 11/8 will keep the wolf away from the door for a few weeks at least, with any luck.
Meanwhile, racing has once again shot itself in the foot with both barrels with the frankly embarrassing Justify scenario, and as a huge fan of International racing, I find myself deeply concerned. Sadly, I am not in a position to comment on the veterinary issues or whether or not the prohibited substance scopolamine came from contaminated foodstuffs or not, but I can say the story has tarnished the triple-crown winner’s image in my eyes to least, as well as the Californian racing officials who somehow decided to ignore their own rules and failed to disqualify him after his Santa Anita Derby victory, thus costing him a place in the Kentucky Derby and racing history.
Personally, I am pretty convinced Bob Baffert would never intentionally “dope” his horses, but surely rules are there for a reason whether you are a first season trainer or a multiple classic winner, and the implications that there is one rule for some and another for others is something the sport doesn’t need right now, especially with all the other recent issues in America that some will try to use to shut down the sport.
Turning the coin over and the Keeneland Sales saw plenty of cash splashed this week including $8,200,000 on a daughter of America Pharoah, smashing the sales record for a filly, though with no guarantees of course that she will be any good. Moon’s Whisper had held the record but I cannot find any record of her ever making it on to the track, while World record holder Al Naamah cost 5,000,000 and won on her debut at Chantilly in a race worth £14,000 but failed to add to that in six further starts – and they call my Lucky 15’s a gamble!
Finally for the news as I see it this week, and a fond farewell to Crystal Ocean, Sir Michael Stoute’s son of Sea The Stars who has been retired after a gallops injury after earning over £2,000,000 in win and place prize money and who looked to be getting better with age. It made a pleasant change in this commercial age to see a five-year-old running in Group One contests and he will be sorely missed, and it will be interesting to see over the years ahead how he does at stud – and whether his offspring will also improve considerably with maturity, time, and patience.
On to the racing this weekend and favourite backers have quite a few “shorties” to get stuck in to at Doncaster, but I wonder if there may be a bit of value to be found elsewhere in the same races, namely with the Aidan O’Brien and Godolphin challengers. Never No More looked an improving sort when winning at both Naas and Leopardstown before getting a terrible run at Arlington when fifth in the Secretariat Stakes after a four month break. The drop back to seven furlongs may see him in a better light and although he needs a career best here, the 7/1 overnight looks a little too tempting to ignore.
Threat looks a class act and will be a tough nut to crack in the Champagne Stakes but word from Newmarket has it that Royal Crusade has improved plenty for his debut success at Newmarket and the son of Shamardal is another who could be value at 4/1 or so – after all, if one of these wins we will be up on the day which for me is all I am realistically looking for.
To end with, I don’t really have a strong opinion of the St Leger (sorry) though hoity favourite Logician seems sure to go close and I will end my suggestions over in Ireland at Leopardstown when dual 1000 Guineas winner Hermosa looks to bounce back after a disappointing effort at Goodwood when tired over a mile and a quarter in the Nassau Stakes won by Japanese raider Deirdre. She didn’t get the early lead she likes in Sussex and may well have sulked before being eased when beaten, but dropped back to the mile we really ought to see her at her best, with the brilliant Laurens needing to reproduce her very best trying to give the selection five pounds here.
On Sunday we have the traditional Arc trials from Longchamp, but in all honesty, I am not convinced we should read much in to them, with just the four runners starting in the Prix Foy at 1.35pm making a mockery of the prize money on offer and surely an insult to the sponsors? Waldgeist and Japanese hope Kiseki should have this between them but with tactics unknown and the Arc in October the real target, I will not be opening my wallet. Ditto the Prix Vermeille where as I write the final line-up is unknown quantity, leaving me with Sottsass in the Prix Niel. Many feel he could well be the main danger to Enable come the big day but once again we have a farcical field of just the five runners and as we all wanted to see if he would get the mile and a half, I suspect a tactical race will see us bitterly disappointed.
He did stay on well to take the Prix Du Jockey Club over shorter but there have to be as many questions as answers as a son of Siyouni, though if this turns in to a sprint, he may yet be the one with the most gears. I won’t be backing him at odds on in those circumstances but will advise a watching brief on Sunday before we decide who to back come race day on the sixth of October.
Horses To Follow:
Sorry, nothing stood out this week other than the glaringly obvious.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Never No More 2.25pm Doncaster Saturday
Royal Crusade 3.00pm Doncaster Saturday
Hermosa 5.25pm Leopardstown Saturday
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