It is now 18 for 18. Zenyatta stayed unblemished when racing past the stubborn Rinterval and holding on when the latter attempted a comeback in the Grade I Clement L Hirsch stakes at Del Mar on Saturday. The John Shirreffs-trained mare was fifth in the six-runner field as Rinterval set a slow pace. Zenyatta, the 1-10 favorite, was about eight lengths off the lead after the first five furlongs. Rinterval ran the first six furlongs in 1 15.11 seconds. Jockey Smith let Zenyatta loose before the final turn and the unbeaten mare was wide coming into the stretch. She struck the front moments after and for a split second, the surge appeared to stall. Rinterval, with an alert Rafael Bejarano sensing an opportunity, fought back. In a matter of strides, it became apparent that jockey Smith had complete control of the situation. A reminder and Zenyatta stretched out with her ears pricked. The margin was a neck but it was a ‘convincing’ neck. The time for the 1700-metre Clement Hirsch was 1 45.03.
Mike Smith is eloquent when describing a race. “She (Zenyatta) began pulling herself up when she made the lead. She thought the job was done. She was out for a good cruise. She was literally playing,” Smith said.
“I hit the button a little too soon. When she gets in front, she wants to salute the fans,” Smith joked.
Owner Jerry Moss was laconic. “It is all sweet. Having her is a miracle. It is so great the fans turn out for her.”
Trainer Shirreffs spoke. “I cannot train over the phone. I do not want to take her to New York. We will follow the same script as last year. We will keep her here and give her a start in California.”
Shirreffs confirmed on Sunday that his mare’s next outing will be in the $250,000 Zenyatta Breeders’ Cup Stakes on October 2 at Santa Anita. After Zenyatta’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November, the Lady’s Secret stakes was renamed. Zenyatta won the Lady’s Secret in 2008 and 2009. The renaming was a reaction to the announcement that Zenyatta would be retired. When the six year-old mare resumed training, the name change was not rescinded. The Classic at Churchill in November, it has been reported, would be Zenyatta’s swan song but have we not heard it before?
Saturday’s Clement Hirsch victory gave Zenyatta her third consecutive win in that race. She has now won 12 Grade I contests. She is four for four in 2010. Her account has $6,254,580 and Ouija Board’s $6,334,296 tally is imminent danger. Zenyatta is now after Pepper’s Pride’s record of 19 consecutive wins. The win payoff was $2.20. Place paid $2.10 and there was a $94,675.39 minus pool. There was no show wagering.
The attendance number was 32,536. Mike Smith took his time to return to the winner’s circle. Zenyatta took a dance step or two and acknowledged the cheers.
Rinterval’s rider, Rafael Bejarano made a pithy comment. “She (Rinterval who had forced Informed Decision to a photo) was going OK. I tried to wait but she (Zenyatta) came up outside and I had to go. If I could have waited a little more, may be, it would have been different but the winner deserved it. She was good.”
Did jockey Bejarano think that he could have won? What does his statement tell you? Two jockeys can read the same situation two different ways.
Zenyatta is by Street Cry. Vertigineux is the dam and she is by Kris S. Zenyatta’s color is dark bay or brown.
There is sad news to report. Do you remember Tuscan Evening? The Irish transplant is six for six in 2010 and was getting ready to come to Chicago for the Beverly D on August 21, Million Day. On Sunday, the five year-old mare did a 1200-metre gallop in 1 15.25 at Del Mar. She was going to the half mile pole and she collapsed. In a matter of minutes, she was dead. There is no official confirmation but a heart attack is believed to be the cause.
Jerry Hollendorfer trained and William DeBurgh owned the daughter of Oasis Dream. Tuscan Evening’s mother was The Faraway Tree by Suave Dancer. With 12 wins from 27 starts. Tuscan Evening had earnings of $1,138,508. Her last win came in Arlington Park’s Modesty Handicap (Grade III) on July 17. She won races from 1300 to 2000 metres this year.
Dan Smith, Del Mar spokesman confirmed the death. “The workout went fine. There was no indication that anything was wrong, “ he stated.
In my next blog, we will look at the Whitney and the Test stakes at Saratoga on Saturday. Saratoga had the Alfred G Vanderbilt handicap on Sunday. The West Virginia Derby was held at Mountaineer Park on Saturday.
Two races from Europe and they were run on Sunday. Zoffany, an Aidan O’Brien pupil, took the Group I Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. Zoffany, John Murtagh up, was held up as stablemate Snow Mountain set a generous gallop. Richard Hannon’s Strong Suit, in line for three consecutive wins in as many starts, lay handy. Strong Suit, ridden by Richard Hughes and strongly fancied at 4/9, drew first blood in the 1200-metre race and was joined by Glor Na Mara ridden by Keving Manning. Glor Na Mara was gaining the upper hand as Zoffany came with a burst. In the waning yards, Zoffany shot past the front two to win by one half length. Glor Na Mara was a short head in front of Strong Suit. The time was 1 11.29 seconds.
Aidan O’Brien has a lease on the Phoenix Stakes. He has won the race 11 times in the past 13 runnings. “He (Zoffany) went to Ascot as a baby and it all happened a little bit too fast for him. We stepped him up in trip so things would happen a bit slower,” O’Brien commented.
O’Brien was referring to Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes in which Strong Suit won and Zoffany finished sixth. Zoffany is by Dansili out of Tyranny who is by Machiavellian. The freshman has won five races from six outings. The bookmakers reacted. Zoffany, Glor Na Mara and Strong Suit were made the top three in the English 2000 Guineas (2011) market.
It was a rare defeat for the Hannon-Hughes team. Strong Suit had won two races and was thwarted when going for three in a row. Zoffany has been odds in four of his wins. In the Coventry, he was 9-2. Zoffany was the second favorite at 3-1 on Sunday.
This will be music to the ears of those who followed jockey Adrian Nicholls in India this past winter season. Jockey Nicholls won a Group I race in France on Sunday. He rode Regal Parade, a six year-old gelding trained by his father, David Nicholls, to a neck victory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. The 1300-metre de Gheest was run in 1 16.8 on good to soft grass.
The pace was fast and Adrian Nicholls had Regal Parade in midfield and out of harm’s way. The pace began taking its toll on the leaders and Regal Parade hit the front in the final furlong. Joanna, a sophomore filly, finished with a flourish to be second.
Regal Parade was coming off a win in the Group III Shadwell Stakes at Newbury in July. The de Gheest provided an encore and gave Regal Parade his 10th win in 33 trips to the gate. Pivotal is the sire. Model Queen, a Kingmambo mare, is the dam.
Trainer Nicholls was thrilled. “He (Regal Parade) loves to get his toe in and I think experience played a role in beating the three year-old filly. He looked superb. The Haydock Sprint (September 4) is next,” he said.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Jehanbux wins for Dhunjibhoy-Shirke-Desai at Sandown
On July 2, Richard Hughes was aboard Jehanbux, a Giant’s Causeway colt, in a maiden race at Sandown Park in England. Right-handed Sandown is a course located in Esher, easily accessible by train from London Waterloo. The freshman colt came from Richard Hannon’s yard. Trainer Hannon has had phenomenal success with two year-olds in recent times and Jehanbux’s debut was a matter of great interest. For fans in India, why would a colt’s first start on English soil be a worthy news item? Jehanbux was owned by K N Dhunjibhoy, V B Shirke and B M Desai. Does not the name ‘Jacqueline’ come readily to mind?
It was a Friday and a short distance away at Wimbledon, two Ladies’ Singles finals were being played but to a committed racing fan in India, the Jehanbux debut had emotional overtones. A field of 13 answered the starter’s call. Jehanbux, despite running green, was second in a photo. Jockey Hughes got a two-day ban for careless riding. Jehanbux’s second start came at Ascot on July 23 over another 1400-metre contest. There were seven runners and the Richard Hannon pupil was the 4/6 favorite. Unable to stage a winning rally, Jehanbux ran fourth although only a length and a half off the winner.
The scene shifts back to Sandown. It was Thursday, August 5 and the Esher track was holding a twilight meeting. The 6 45 PM race was the Brothers Pear Cider E B F Maiden Stakes over 1600 metres. Jehanbux was a 2-1 second favorite. There were eight runners.
Now, I will let Mr Dhunjibhoy describe the action. I spoke to him Friday morning Chicago time. “It was impressive in more ways than one. There was serious interference with 400 metres to go. Our colt had to be checked. Richard (Hughes) got him out and got going and made up, at least, two and one half lengths on the leader. He won by a neck but I would say, it was a long neck.”
The E B F Maiden Stales was worth 3,238 pounds and Jehanbux, with a 3-1-1-0 record, has 5,213 pounds in his account. The time for the race was 1 46.25. Harlan Honey by Silver Hawk is Jehanbux’s dam. The foal was born on March 19, 2008.
“I go to Europe four times a year. We were in England in April with the intention of buying two fillies. I had been thinking for sometime about racing in England and Ireland. I was at the Tattersalls Breeze-up sales. We liked the looks of a colt we saw. We made the decision to buy him for 80,000 Guineas,” Mr Dhunjibhoy said.
I asked Mr Dhunjibhoy why Richard Hannon was chosen. “We know Richard Hughes very well. He rides for Hannon and they have been a great partnership. Hannon has been very good with two year-olds. It was not a hard decision at all,” he stated.
My next question was where does Jehanbux stand in Hannon’s pecking order. “Hannon has a lot of good two year-olds. He believes that Jehanbux will rank right up with the best. We are optimistic. It is an exciting time,” Mr Dhunjibhoy exulted.
“Tom, I will be in Paris for the Arc in early October. I am hoping to see you there, “ Mr Dhunjibhoy concluded.
Trainer Hannon has several promising freshmen and is coming to a point where in a big race, his best prospect is opposed by another from his yard. Hughes is having a sensational season. He has a realistic chance of landing his first British riding title. He is chasing Paul Hanaghan.
The colors that Hughes uses when riding Jehanbux are different from those he had when aboard Jacqueline. I am unable to determine what they are. Mr Dhunjibhoy was very kind. He sent three pictures and they are all being used with this story. I am not computer savvy and had to enlist my daughter's help to get the pictures in the blog text. You can see the UK colors of Dhunjibhoy-Shirke-Desai. The picture (taken in June)with a rider is of Jehanbux after work on the track. The bottom picture shows Jehanbux on the day of the sale in April. I can see how pictures brighten the text. I am trying extra hard to understand the photo inserting process.
I suggest strongly that fans in India follow the progress of Jehanbux. Please visit Richard Hannon’s website and register. That is a convenient way to be informed of the happenings in the Hannon stable.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Zenyatta seeks to take streak to 18 in Del Mar's Clement Hirsch
The 15-race card at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian day gets under way at 11 35 AM Eastern time. Meadowlands racetrack is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It hosts the biggest harness meeting in North America. There is a 10-week thoroughbred campaign in the fall. The long card will end about 4 30 PM and some of the more important races are being carried on network television.
The Hambletonian trot carries a purse of $1,500,000 and is over a mile and is restricted to three year-olds. There are ten trotters going postward. Lucky Chucky is the 5/2 morning line favorite and will be driven (not ridden) by John Campbell, a Hall of Famer. Cassis is the second favorite at 7-2 and will have the services of Tim Tetrick, the young talent who is blossoming into a top class driver. Pilgrims Taj is the 9-2 third choice. The incomparable Mike LaChance, a man of many accomplishments, gets the driving call. The Hambletonian is the tenth race.
The smallest purse on Saturday is $25,000. The biggest purse is $1,500,000. The Hambletonian Oaks, for sophomore girls, is the ninth race and has a $750,000 purse.
The Meadowlands card starts at 11 35 AM Eastern Time. I will be at Maywood Park, a harness track, by 10 30 AM. Chicago is in the Central Zone Time and an hour behind Eastern Time. It will be 9 05 PM Saturday India time. Here is my suggestion. Please go to thebigm.com and click on live racing and follow the prompts and you will be able to see the action. You will enjoy it. Take my word for it.
Let us look at news coming out of Del Mar. Zenyatta will go for her 18th consecutive win in the $300,000 Grade I Clement L Hirsch this afternoon. The Street Cry mare has drawn post five in the six-runner field. She will be seeking her third consecutive win in the 1700-metre Clement Hirsch and incidentally, it will be her (only) third start on Del Mar’s polytrack. Saturday is ‘Zenyatta Day’ at Del Mar and there is a special pint glass set giveaway. The glasses will have the images of Zenyatta and jockey Mike Smith.
The Clement Hirsch is the ninth race and will be at 6 PM Pacific Time. There will be no show wagering in the race. Zenyatta is the 1/5 morning line choice. In show wagering, you get paid if your horse is first, second and third. There is a mandatory five percent payoff on a wager. There are fans who would bet 100,000 to make 5.000. A wager of one million will get you 50,000. The track has to pay out of its pocket. To eliminate that possibility, Del Mar has decided to abandon show betting.
Zenyatta has won 11 Grade I races and the Clement Hirsch provides her the chance to win her twelfth. She has $6,074,580 in earnings and is going after Ouija Board who retired with $6,334,296. NTRA.com will have a live feed and make an attempt to watch it.
Saratoga has the Grade I Whitney Stakes on Saturday. The race carries a $750,000 purse. Six run and Quality Road is the 2/5 favorite and carries 126 pounds in the 1800-metre contest. A Todd Pletcher trainee, Quality Road comes off an impressive win in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on May 31. Blame has 121 pounds and was the winner of the Grade I Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in June. Haynesfield, winner of the Suburban Handicap, is another runner. Musket Man, second in the Metropolitan, takes his chances. Who else is in? Mine That Bird, winless since that shocker in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, tries to resume winning ways. The winner of the Whitney gets a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Grade I Test Stakes is another high profile event on Saturday at Saratoga. The 1400-metre race has a $250,000 prize. Franny Freud, the early favorite, has been withdrawn because of an injury. It has been reported that Franny Freud suffered a ligament tear in her left front ankle and would be retired. She won eight times from 11 starts and won the Prioress Stakes last time out. The Test stakes is now a wide open affair. Franny Freud’s defection has made more news than the runners.
The West Virginia Derby will be run at Mountaineer Park today. It is a Grade II race over 1800 metres. Concord Point, a Tapit colt, comes off a victory in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. There are those who doubt Concord Point’s staying prowess. Exhi, successful in Keeneland’s Coolmore Lexington, is in. The Maria’s Mon Colt is yet to prove himself on dirt. Skipshot, winner of the Swaps Stakes, is in the line up.
The Hambletonian trot carries a purse of $1,500,000 and is over a mile and is restricted to three year-olds. There are ten trotters going postward. Lucky Chucky is the 5/2 morning line favorite and will be driven (not ridden) by John Campbell, a Hall of Famer. Cassis is the second favorite at 7-2 and will have the services of Tim Tetrick, the young talent who is blossoming into a top class driver. Pilgrims Taj is the 9-2 third choice. The incomparable Mike LaChance, a man of many accomplishments, gets the driving call. The Hambletonian is the tenth race.
The smallest purse on Saturday is $25,000. The biggest purse is $1,500,000. The Hambletonian Oaks, for sophomore girls, is the ninth race and has a $750,000 purse.
The Meadowlands card starts at 11 35 AM Eastern Time. I will be at Maywood Park, a harness track, by 10 30 AM. Chicago is in the Central Zone Time and an hour behind Eastern Time. It will be 9 05 PM Saturday India time. Here is my suggestion. Please go to thebigm.com and click on live racing and follow the prompts and you will be able to see the action. You will enjoy it. Take my word for it.
Let us look at news coming out of Del Mar. Zenyatta will go for her 18th consecutive win in the $300,000 Grade I Clement L Hirsch this afternoon. The Street Cry mare has drawn post five in the six-runner field. She will be seeking her third consecutive win in the 1700-metre Clement Hirsch and incidentally, it will be her (only) third start on Del Mar’s polytrack. Saturday is ‘Zenyatta Day’ at Del Mar and there is a special pint glass set giveaway. The glasses will have the images of Zenyatta and jockey Mike Smith.
The Clement Hirsch is the ninth race and will be at 6 PM Pacific Time. There will be no show wagering in the race. Zenyatta is the 1/5 morning line choice. In show wagering, you get paid if your horse is first, second and third. There is a mandatory five percent payoff on a wager. There are fans who would bet 100,000 to make 5.000. A wager of one million will get you 50,000. The track has to pay out of its pocket. To eliminate that possibility, Del Mar has decided to abandon show betting.
Zenyatta has won 11 Grade I races and the Clement Hirsch provides her the chance to win her twelfth. She has $6,074,580 in earnings and is going after Ouija Board who retired with $6,334,296. NTRA.com will have a live feed and make an attempt to watch it.
Saratoga has the Grade I Whitney Stakes on Saturday. The race carries a $750,000 purse. Six run and Quality Road is the 2/5 favorite and carries 126 pounds in the 1800-metre contest. A Todd Pletcher trainee, Quality Road comes off an impressive win in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on May 31. Blame has 121 pounds and was the winner of the Grade I Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in June. Haynesfield, winner of the Suburban Handicap, is another runner. Musket Man, second in the Metropolitan, takes his chances. Who else is in? Mine That Bird, winless since that shocker in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, tries to resume winning ways. The winner of the Whitney gets a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Grade I Test Stakes is another high profile event on Saturday at Saratoga. The 1400-metre race has a $250,000 prize. Franny Freud, the early favorite, has been withdrawn because of an injury. It has been reported that Franny Freud suffered a ligament tear in her left front ankle and would be retired. She won eight times from 11 starts and won the Prioress Stakes last time out. The Test stakes is now a wide open affair. Franny Freud’s defection has made more news than the runners.
The West Virginia Derby will be run at Mountaineer Park today. It is a Grade II race over 1800 metres. Concord Point, a Tapit colt, comes off a victory in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. There are those who doubt Concord Point’s staying prowess. Exhi, successful in Keeneland’s Coolmore Lexington, is in. The Maria’s Mon Colt is yet to prove himself on dirt. Skipshot, winner of the Swaps Stakes, is in the line up.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Joe Talamo fractures wrist and out until September end: Smiling Tiger makes it all in Bing Crosby at Del Mar
In 1975, when I landed in America, Cleveland was the first city I lived in. Thistledown in North Randall, a suburb of Cleveland, was the first racetrack (thoroughbred) I went to. Last Saturday, Thistledown hosted the Grade III $100,000 Ohio Derby for sophomores. The 1700-metre race on the main (dirt) track resulted in a victory for Pleasant Prince, the 18/10 favorite. It was the first stakes win for Pleasant Prince, by Indy King (by A P Indy) out of Archduchessby by Pleasant Tap. After winning a maiden race at Churchill Downs as a freshman, Pleasant Prince had run up a seven-race losing streak. Worldly, fancied by many, came within a nose of Pleasant Prince who had been touched off by Ice Box in the Florida Derby in March.
Pleasant Prince was bought for $30,000 by Sarah and Ken Ramsey. The affable Alex Solis rode Pleasant Prince who is trained by Wesley Ward. The 1700-metre Ohio Derby was run in 1 43.9 seconds on a fast track.
Dakota Phone had suffered 16 consecutive losses but had raced well in most of those outings. In the Grade II $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on Saturday, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Dakota Phone was a 47/10 chance. The favorite’s role went to Battle of Hastings who was at 3-1. The 17th attempt to break the negative spell proved to be the charm. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Dakota Phone won by one half length. By Zavata (Phone Trick) out of World Of Good by Spinning World, Dakota Phone will now go in the Pacific Classic on August 28. The time was 1 43.55 seconds for the 1800-metre San Diego Handicap.
The Ruffian Handicap, a Grade I 1800-metre race was run at Saratoga on Sunday. Six ran. Malibu Prayer, a daughter of Malibu Moon, won going away. The margin was a length and three quarters. The time was 1 48.14 seconds. The red hot John Velasquez rode Malibu Prayer, a 47/20 chance. Unrivaled Belle, who holds the distinction of Rachel Alexandra this year, ran second as the 65/100 favorite.
We will take a look at the Grade I Bing Crosby contested on Sunday at Del Mar. Bing Crosby, the famous singer and entertainer, was a devoted racegoer. Smiling Tiger got away alertly, set pressure-free fractions and went on to win by a length and a half. The time was 1 09.21 seconds for the 1200-metre trip. Scenic Blast headed the beaten brigade. E Z’s Gentlemen took third. Cost Of Freedom, the 3/5 favorite ridden by Rafael Bejarano, broke in the air, bobbled, was rushed up and was a spent force with 400 metres to go.
Victor Espinoza was aboard Smiling Tiger, a son of Hold That Tiger. The win payoff was $17.80 on a $2.00 ticket. Smiling Tiger was making his first start against older and the only three year-old in the race. The $250,000 Bing Crosby was the first Grade I win for trainer Jeff Blonde.
Trainer Blonde commented. “I thought he (Smiling Tiger) would be one run short because of an illness. I had to pray he was not one run short when on the lead coming into the final turn. He came up with a nice win.”
Monday’s big race at Saratoga was the $150,000 Amsterdam for three year-olds on the main track. Discreetly Mine, one time contender for the Kentucky Derby in which he finished 13th, showed he had found his right distance when sprinting away to a nine-length win. John Velasquez rode for Todd Pletcher. Discreetly Mine paid $3.20. That was the sixth stakes win for John Velasquez at Saratoga. The Amsterdam was over 1300 metres and the time was 1 14.27 seconds. The 1400-metre King’s Bishop on August 28 is the target for Discreetly Mine.
Todd Pletcher spoke. “He trained very well all winter and we thought he was on the Derby trail as a legitimate contender. Now, we have backed up in distance and he has really found his niche.”
Desert Party has been retired. A son of Street Cry and the property of Sheikh Mohammed, Desert Party won six races from 10 starts for $928,467. A soft tissue injury was cited as the reason. Desert Party ran 14th in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and he returned with a chip in the left front ankle. He won the Sanford in 2008. In 2009, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee won an allowance event and the Grade III 2000 Guineas at Nad Al Sheba. In 2010, Desert Party won the $200,000 Don Levine Memorial Handicap at Philadelphia Park in late June.
Lookin At Lucky is out of the Travers. The Haskell winner had a temperature after the Haskell. He will stay at Monmouth and get treated. The August 28 Travers is off the table according to Mike Pegram, owner of the Preakness-Haskell champion.
Here is news from San Diego. Joe Talamo was unseated on Thursday at Del Mar during the running of the third race. Rockstar Ben, Talamo’s mount, broke the right foreleg and fell and was euthanized. Jockey Talamo fell and fractured his wrist. X-rays have confirmed the injury. Talamo will be out of action until end of September when Santa Anita opens.
The 20 year-old Talamo has 10 wins at Del Mar. He has 96 wins from 774 rides this year. His mounts have earned $5.2 million.
Here are some numbers from America. First, here are the top three horses. Super Saver has $1,715,200 in his account. Lookin At Lucky has $1,470,000. Paddy O’Prado has won $1,089,950.
Among jockeys, John Velasquez has 137 wins from 657 starts. His money stands at $8,701,494. Ramon Dominguez has 215 wins from 842 rides. His bankroll is $8,648,772. Rafael Bejarano has 800 rides and 180 wins. His money tally is $8,560,143. Joel Rosario has won 170 races from 791 outings for earnings of $7,168,096.
Let us take a look at the owners. Winstar Farm has 21 wins from 130 starters for earnings of $4,127,214. Midwest Thoroughbreds have won 176 times from 642 starts. They have $2,601,944 in purse money. Maggi Moss has 122 wins from 394 races. There is $2,260,287 in the account. Heilibrodt Racing Stables have 83 wins from 480 starters for earnings of $2,531,675.
Steve Asmussen has 331 wins from 1555 starts in the training division. He has $10,067,112 in his account. Todd Pletcher has 176 wins from 636 races. He is top in earnings with $14,017,156. Jerry Hollendorfer has scored 159 times from 639 tries for earnings of $5,163,246. Bob Baffert, Lookin At Lucky’s trainer, has 73 wins from 291 starters. He has $6,445,148.
I took these numbers from the NTRA site.
On Saturday, Meadowlands will host the Hambletonian, the most prestigious trotting race in North America. There are 15 races and the first race is at 11 35 AM Eastern time. We will devote a paragraph or two to the Meadowlands in my next blog.
Pleasant Prince was bought for $30,000 by Sarah and Ken Ramsey. The affable Alex Solis rode Pleasant Prince who is trained by Wesley Ward. The 1700-metre Ohio Derby was run in 1 43.9 seconds on a fast track.
Dakota Phone had suffered 16 consecutive losses but had raced well in most of those outings. In the Grade II $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on Saturday, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Dakota Phone was a 47/10 chance. The favorite’s role went to Battle of Hastings who was at 3-1. The 17th attempt to break the negative spell proved to be the charm. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Dakota Phone won by one half length. By Zavata (Phone Trick) out of World Of Good by Spinning World, Dakota Phone will now go in the Pacific Classic on August 28. The time was 1 43.55 seconds for the 1800-metre San Diego Handicap.
The Ruffian Handicap, a Grade I 1800-metre race was run at Saratoga on Sunday. Six ran. Malibu Prayer, a daughter of Malibu Moon, won going away. The margin was a length and three quarters. The time was 1 48.14 seconds. The red hot John Velasquez rode Malibu Prayer, a 47/20 chance. Unrivaled Belle, who holds the distinction of Rachel Alexandra this year, ran second as the 65/100 favorite.
We will take a look at the Grade I Bing Crosby contested on Sunday at Del Mar. Bing Crosby, the famous singer and entertainer, was a devoted racegoer. Smiling Tiger got away alertly, set pressure-free fractions and went on to win by a length and a half. The time was 1 09.21 seconds for the 1200-metre trip. Scenic Blast headed the beaten brigade. E Z’s Gentlemen took third. Cost Of Freedom, the 3/5 favorite ridden by Rafael Bejarano, broke in the air, bobbled, was rushed up and was a spent force with 400 metres to go.
Victor Espinoza was aboard Smiling Tiger, a son of Hold That Tiger. The win payoff was $17.80 on a $2.00 ticket. Smiling Tiger was making his first start against older and the only three year-old in the race. The $250,000 Bing Crosby was the first Grade I win for trainer Jeff Blonde.
Trainer Blonde commented. “I thought he (Smiling Tiger) would be one run short because of an illness. I had to pray he was not one run short when on the lead coming into the final turn. He came up with a nice win.”
Monday’s big race at Saratoga was the $150,000 Amsterdam for three year-olds on the main track. Discreetly Mine, one time contender for the Kentucky Derby in which he finished 13th, showed he had found his right distance when sprinting away to a nine-length win. John Velasquez rode for Todd Pletcher. Discreetly Mine paid $3.20. That was the sixth stakes win for John Velasquez at Saratoga. The Amsterdam was over 1300 metres and the time was 1 14.27 seconds. The 1400-metre King’s Bishop on August 28 is the target for Discreetly Mine.
Todd Pletcher spoke. “He trained very well all winter and we thought he was on the Derby trail as a legitimate contender. Now, we have backed up in distance and he has really found his niche.”
Desert Party has been retired. A son of Street Cry and the property of Sheikh Mohammed, Desert Party won six races from 10 starts for $928,467. A soft tissue injury was cited as the reason. Desert Party ran 14th in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and he returned with a chip in the left front ankle. He won the Sanford in 2008. In 2009, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee won an allowance event and the Grade III 2000 Guineas at Nad Al Sheba. In 2010, Desert Party won the $200,000 Don Levine Memorial Handicap at Philadelphia Park in late June.
Lookin At Lucky is out of the Travers. The Haskell winner had a temperature after the Haskell. He will stay at Monmouth and get treated. The August 28 Travers is off the table according to Mike Pegram, owner of the Preakness-Haskell champion.
Here is news from San Diego. Joe Talamo was unseated on Thursday at Del Mar during the running of the third race. Rockstar Ben, Talamo’s mount, broke the right foreleg and fell and was euthanized. Jockey Talamo fell and fractured his wrist. X-rays have confirmed the injury. Talamo will be out of action until end of September when Santa Anita opens.
The 20 year-old Talamo has 10 wins at Del Mar. He has 96 wins from 774 rides this year. His mounts have earned $5.2 million.
Here are some numbers from America. First, here are the top three horses. Super Saver has $1,715,200 in his account. Lookin At Lucky has $1,470,000. Paddy O’Prado has won $1,089,950.
Among jockeys, John Velasquez has 137 wins from 657 starts. His money stands at $8,701,494. Ramon Dominguez has 215 wins from 842 rides. His bankroll is $8,648,772. Rafael Bejarano has 800 rides and 180 wins. His money tally is $8,560,143. Joel Rosario has won 170 races from 791 outings for earnings of $7,168,096.
Let us take a look at the owners. Winstar Farm has 21 wins from 130 starters for earnings of $4,127,214. Midwest Thoroughbreds have won 176 times from 642 starts. They have $2,601,944 in purse money. Maggi Moss has 122 wins from 394 races. There is $2,260,287 in the account. Heilibrodt Racing Stables have 83 wins from 480 starters for earnings of $2,531,675.
Steve Asmussen has 331 wins from 1555 starts in the training division. He has $10,067,112 in his account. Todd Pletcher has 176 wins from 636 races. He is top in earnings with $14,017,156. Jerry Hollendorfer has scored 159 times from 639 tries for earnings of $5,163,246. Bob Baffert, Lookin At Lucky’s trainer, has 73 wins from 291 starters. He has $6,445,148.
I took these numbers from the NTRA site.
On Saturday, Meadowlands will host the Hambletonian, the most prestigious trotting race in North America. There are 15 races and the first race is at 11 35 AM Eastern time. We will devote a paragraph or two to the Meadowlands in my next blog.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Goldikova wins tenth G I race: on course for Breeders' Cuo Mile at Churchill
The Group I Prix Rothschild was run at Deauville on Sunday. Deauville is the Saratoga of France. It is France’s summer racing headquarters. There are two tracks in Deauville. There is a turf course and there is a fibersand track. The Rothschild is a straight 1600-metre race. Seven ran in the prestigious race and three of the runners were part of an entry that was the 3/10 favorite on the PMU which stands for Pari Mutuel Urbain. Goldikova headed the entry and the wonder mare was seeking her tenth win in Group I races, a record held by Miesque. Freddie Head, rider of Miesque, trains Goldikova who is owned by the Weirtheimer Brothers. Olivier Peslier has been the partner for the dual Breeders’ Cup Mile winning Goldikova. It must be pointed out that Miesque won two consecutive Breeders’ Cup races. What we call ‘Pattern’ races were introduced about 40 years ago.
Only Green, Goldikova’s stablemate, set a fast pace. Goldikova was held up but not far too back. Davy Bonilla, riding Only Green, was repeatedly looking back to where Goldikova lay. With 400 metres to go, Goldikova moved between horses and cruised past Music Show who was coming off a smart win in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes. The winning margin was three lengths and the five year-old Anabaa mare timed 1 37.5 seconds on firm turf. Music Show kept the runner-up berth and Elusive Wave was able to salvage third.
The Rothschild was worth 151,699 pounds to the winner. Goldikova is out of Born Gold, a Blushing Groom mare. A mouth-watering clash with Canford Cliffs is on Goldikova’s agenda. The race is the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15. A run in the Prix de la Foret over the Arc weekend in early October is in the cards. The 2010 campaign will end at Churchill Downs in Kentucky when Goldikova will go for her third consecutive Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Trainer Head, who speaks excellent English, commented. “The race went exceptionally well. The pace was sensible. She has so much class she was cruising. There were pointed ears inside the final furlong.”
Jockey Peslier, fresh off a romp in the King George on Harbinger, was effusive in his praise. “It is magnificent to win the tenth Group I in such style. She is a totally exceptional filly. She has kept her form so well. We wrapped up the race 500 metres out. She is calmer now and entered the stalls directly. She is a real lady.”
Do you remember Gloria de Campeao? The Brazilian-bred seven year-old has been retired because of a tendon injury. Gloria de Campeao is the winner of the world’s richest race, the 10-million dollar Dubai World Cup at the Meydan in March. The Pascal Bary-trained Gloria de Campeao ran in three consecutive World Cups. He won the 2009 edition of the Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji when lasting over the fast-finishing Presvis, ridden by Ryan Moore. Lizard’s Desire reversed the World Cup result (second in the 2010 World Cup) with Gloria de Campeao in Singapore this year. Incidentally, Lizard’s Desire is fighting laminitis, a life-threatening ailment. T J Pereira was the regular rider of Gloria de Campeao. . By Impression, (a Brazilian sire) Gloria de Campeao earned six million dollars.
Trainer Pascal Bary was emotional.” I will miss him. It happened last Tuesday. He has been travelling a lot. It was because of accumulated fatigue.”
Here is a result from Greyville in South Africa. On Saturday, trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Anthony Delpech combined to land the Grade I Durban July Handicap, a 11-furlong race on the grass. Bold Silvano, a 76/10 chance on the South African tote, ran the distance in 2 minutes and 13.03 seconds. Mike de Kock has a world wide operation and has had a great deal of success in England and America.
We will turn our attention to the Group I Henkel Preis der Diana run at Dusseldorf on Sunday. Sixteen sophomore girls ran in the 2200-metre turf race. The 203,539-pound winner’s purse went to Enora. The grass was soft and the winner clocked 2 14.68 seconds. Enora won by one half length over Elle Shadow, ridden by Andrew Starke. Hibayeeb, the Godolphin flagbearer and the 6-4 favorite, finished seventh in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
Enora was a 152/10 chance in the German tote. When there are Group I races in other countries, British bookmaking companies offer fixed odds. Enora is trained by T Mundry, a well known retired German jockey. Enora was steered to a well-judged win by T Hellier.
Why is Enora’s win significant? She is by Noverre out of Enrica who is by Niniski. Noverre is standing at stud in India. Music Show is by Noverre. Though he is in India, Noverre has left behind some promising kids in Europe.
Here is an item from Del Mar. I saw the Grade III Cougar Handicap on closed circuit TV at Maywood Park (where there was harness racing Friday evening) and Temple City made it all. The 2400-metre Cougar Handicap was run late Friday afternoon at Del Mar and California is two hours behind Illinois. At Maywood Park, there are 14 races on Fridays and the card gets under way at 7 10 P M and goes until 11 45 PM.
Temple City, Joe Talamo up and trained by Carla Gaines, led the five-horse field. The fractions were painfully slow. Unusual Suspect tracked the pacesetter and Richard’s Kid, the 2009 Pacific Classic winner and the even money favorite, raced third. Jockey Talamo had a lot left turning for home and Temple City had no difficulty clinging to the lead. The margin was three and one quarter lengths and the time was 2 30.46 seconds. Temple City, a five year-old Dynaformer horse, was the 11/10 second choice. Curriculum (by Danzig) is Temple City’s mother. The Cougar Handicap was run on Del Mar’s polytrack.
Saturday’s racing at Deauville saw the unveiling of new talent. Zagora, a Green Tune three year-old filly and the even money favorite, came through in the Group III Prix de Psyche. It was a grass race over 2000 metres. On good turf, Zagora ran the 2000 metres in 2 minutes 5 seconds. Ioritz Mendizabal rode the winner. Jean Claude Rouget trains.
There were two races of some consequence at Saratoga on Saturday. Proviso, by Dansili out of Binche by Woodman, made it three consecutive wins in Grade I races in the $500,000 Diana. It was on the grass over 1800 metres. Proviso, one of the top freshmen in France in 2008, returned $6.40 on a $2.00 wager. Share Account ran second and Forever Together, the favorite, managed third. Mike Smith rode Proviso who is trained by Bill Mott.
The other big race at Saratoga was the Grade II $500,000 Jim Dandy for three year-olds. Eight ran and Miner’s Reserve set a strong gallop. A Little Warm tracked the leader and went ahead in the lane to win by a length and three quarters. The time was 1 47.98 for the 1800-metre race on the (fast) main track. Anthony Dutrow trains A Little Warm and John Velasquez was the winning jockey.
By Stormin Fever out of Minidar who is by Alydar, A Little Warm got his first graded stakes win and is now headed to the Travers Stakes on August 28. Fly Down, the 195/100 favorite, was in the rear and was a non-threatening fifth. Steinbeck came from Ireland to carry the Ballydoyle banner and took sixth.
Trainer Tony Dutrow spoke. “I felt strongly he was going to run a terrific race. We work so hard with these animals and when you achieve a race like this, it is bigger than life.”
Winning jockey John Velasquez is on a roll. “You can place him wherever you want and let the speed go. When you ask him, he’s there for you. That is what I like about him. I don’t think he will have a problem with a mile and a quarter,” Velasquez said.
Lookin at Lucky had all kinds of problems in the Kentucky Derby from post one. Martin Garcia was summoned to ride the Bob Baffert trainee in Pimlico’s Preakness. When the dust settled, jockey Garcia had won his first Triple Crown race. Sunday at Monmouth Park, Lookin At Lucky was the 12/10 favorite in the million-dollar Haskell Invitational. Staying outside and staying away from trouble, Lookin At Lucky ran away in the stretch from his foes. It was a four-length victory in a time of 1 49.4 over 1800 metres. Trappe Shot took second over First Dude who set a lively pace. Super Saver was in striking range and produced little when asked. Lookin At Lucky trains on a synthetic surface but has been a terror on conventional surfaces.
I have received several emails about the Suraj Narredu story. I am thankful.
Only Green, Goldikova’s stablemate, set a fast pace. Goldikova was held up but not far too back. Davy Bonilla, riding Only Green, was repeatedly looking back to where Goldikova lay. With 400 metres to go, Goldikova moved between horses and cruised past Music Show who was coming off a smart win in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes. The winning margin was three lengths and the five year-old Anabaa mare timed 1 37.5 seconds on firm turf. Music Show kept the runner-up berth and Elusive Wave was able to salvage third.
The Rothschild was worth 151,699 pounds to the winner. Goldikova is out of Born Gold, a Blushing Groom mare. A mouth-watering clash with Canford Cliffs is on Goldikova’s agenda. The race is the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15. A run in the Prix de la Foret over the Arc weekend in early October is in the cards. The 2010 campaign will end at Churchill Downs in Kentucky when Goldikova will go for her third consecutive Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Trainer Head, who speaks excellent English, commented. “The race went exceptionally well. The pace was sensible. She has so much class she was cruising. There were pointed ears inside the final furlong.”
Jockey Peslier, fresh off a romp in the King George on Harbinger, was effusive in his praise. “It is magnificent to win the tenth Group I in such style. She is a totally exceptional filly. She has kept her form so well. We wrapped up the race 500 metres out. She is calmer now and entered the stalls directly. She is a real lady.”
Do you remember Gloria de Campeao? The Brazilian-bred seven year-old has been retired because of a tendon injury. Gloria de Campeao is the winner of the world’s richest race, the 10-million dollar Dubai World Cup at the Meydan in March. The Pascal Bary-trained Gloria de Campeao ran in three consecutive World Cups. He won the 2009 edition of the Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji when lasting over the fast-finishing Presvis, ridden by Ryan Moore. Lizard’s Desire reversed the World Cup result (second in the 2010 World Cup) with Gloria de Campeao in Singapore this year. Incidentally, Lizard’s Desire is fighting laminitis, a life-threatening ailment. T J Pereira was the regular rider of Gloria de Campeao. . By Impression, (a Brazilian sire) Gloria de Campeao earned six million dollars.
Trainer Pascal Bary was emotional.” I will miss him. It happened last Tuesday. He has been travelling a lot. It was because of accumulated fatigue.”
Here is a result from Greyville in South Africa. On Saturday, trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Anthony Delpech combined to land the Grade I Durban July Handicap, a 11-furlong race on the grass. Bold Silvano, a 76/10 chance on the South African tote, ran the distance in 2 minutes and 13.03 seconds. Mike de Kock has a world wide operation and has had a great deal of success in England and America.
We will turn our attention to the Group I Henkel Preis der Diana run at Dusseldorf on Sunday. Sixteen sophomore girls ran in the 2200-metre turf race. The 203,539-pound winner’s purse went to Enora. The grass was soft and the winner clocked 2 14.68 seconds. Enora won by one half length over Elle Shadow, ridden by Andrew Starke. Hibayeeb, the Godolphin flagbearer and the 6-4 favorite, finished seventh in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
Enora was a 152/10 chance in the German tote. When there are Group I races in other countries, British bookmaking companies offer fixed odds. Enora is trained by T Mundry, a well known retired German jockey. Enora was steered to a well-judged win by T Hellier.
Why is Enora’s win significant? She is by Noverre out of Enrica who is by Niniski. Noverre is standing at stud in India. Music Show is by Noverre. Though he is in India, Noverre has left behind some promising kids in Europe.
Here is an item from Del Mar. I saw the Grade III Cougar Handicap on closed circuit TV at Maywood Park (where there was harness racing Friday evening) and Temple City made it all. The 2400-metre Cougar Handicap was run late Friday afternoon at Del Mar and California is two hours behind Illinois. At Maywood Park, there are 14 races on Fridays and the card gets under way at 7 10 P M and goes until 11 45 PM.
Temple City, Joe Talamo up and trained by Carla Gaines, led the five-horse field. The fractions were painfully slow. Unusual Suspect tracked the pacesetter and Richard’s Kid, the 2009 Pacific Classic winner and the even money favorite, raced third. Jockey Talamo had a lot left turning for home and Temple City had no difficulty clinging to the lead. The margin was three and one quarter lengths and the time was 2 30.46 seconds. Temple City, a five year-old Dynaformer horse, was the 11/10 second choice. Curriculum (by Danzig) is Temple City’s mother. The Cougar Handicap was run on Del Mar’s polytrack.
Saturday’s racing at Deauville saw the unveiling of new talent. Zagora, a Green Tune three year-old filly and the even money favorite, came through in the Group III Prix de Psyche. It was a grass race over 2000 metres. On good turf, Zagora ran the 2000 metres in 2 minutes 5 seconds. Ioritz Mendizabal rode the winner. Jean Claude Rouget trains.
There were two races of some consequence at Saratoga on Saturday. Proviso, by Dansili out of Binche by Woodman, made it three consecutive wins in Grade I races in the $500,000 Diana. It was on the grass over 1800 metres. Proviso, one of the top freshmen in France in 2008, returned $6.40 on a $2.00 wager. Share Account ran second and Forever Together, the favorite, managed third. Mike Smith rode Proviso who is trained by Bill Mott.
The other big race at Saratoga was the Grade II $500,000 Jim Dandy for three year-olds. Eight ran and Miner’s Reserve set a strong gallop. A Little Warm tracked the leader and went ahead in the lane to win by a length and three quarters. The time was 1 47.98 for the 1800-metre race on the (fast) main track. Anthony Dutrow trains A Little Warm and John Velasquez was the winning jockey.
By Stormin Fever out of Minidar who is by Alydar, A Little Warm got his first graded stakes win and is now headed to the Travers Stakes on August 28. Fly Down, the 195/100 favorite, was in the rear and was a non-threatening fifth. Steinbeck came from Ireland to carry the Ballydoyle banner and took sixth.
Trainer Tony Dutrow spoke. “I felt strongly he was going to run a terrific race. We work so hard with these animals and when you achieve a race like this, it is bigger than life.”
Winning jockey John Velasquez is on a roll. “You can place him wherever you want and let the speed go. When you ask him, he’s there for you. That is what I like about him. I don’t think he will have a problem with a mile and a quarter,” Velasquez said.
Lookin at Lucky had all kinds of problems in the Kentucky Derby from post one. Martin Garcia was summoned to ride the Bob Baffert trainee in Pimlico’s Preakness. When the dust settled, jockey Garcia had won his first Triple Crown race. Sunday at Monmouth Park, Lookin At Lucky was the 12/10 favorite in the million-dollar Haskell Invitational. Staying outside and staying away from trouble, Lookin At Lucky ran away in the stretch from his foes. It was a four-length victory in a time of 1 49.4 over 1800 metres. Trappe Shot took second over First Dude who set a lively pace. Super Saver was in striking range and produced little when asked. Lookin At Lucky trains on a synthetic surface but has been a terror on conventional surfaces.
I have received several emails about the Suraj Narredu story. I am thankful.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Richard Hughes, with nine wins, is leading Glorious Goodwood rider: Mid Day defends her Nassau title
Three jockeys, Lester Piggott, Kieren Fallon and John Murtagh, have ridden eight winners at Glorious Goodwood and that mark stood until Saturday at the Chicester course. The most number of wins in the training department was held by Sir Michael Stoute. It was six. When the 2010 campaign ended on Saturday, both marks were bettered. Trainer Richard Hannon had saddled nine winners. All the nine were ridden by Richard Hughes, Hannon’s retained jockey and son in law.
The 37 year-old Hughes is the tallest jockey in the United Kingdom at five feet 10 inches. He rides at 53 kgs. The ninth win for Hughes came in the penultimate contest. The 100-30 Eucharist was bumped and ran on after the interference to win by a neck.
Jockey Hughes said, “I have to thank everybody at Richard Hannon’s yard for making it all possible. It has been a fabulous week. Things have been going from strength to strength. There was a lot of pressure before Canford Cliffs ran in the Sussex Stakes but after that, I was able to enjoy the rest of the racing. Someone said that it has been the Richard Hughes week and I like the sound of that.”
The Racing UK award for top jockey at Glorious Goodwood went to Richard Hughes. This is what Hughes was honored with. He received a lifetime subscription to the Racing UK channel. A thousand-pound donation was made to Racing Welfare in his name. A thousand pounds will be given to the charity picked by Hughes. Finally, he gets a Goodwood hamper.
Richard Hannon is going through a splendid spell. Royal Ascot and Newmarket have given him winners and Goodwood was the icing on the cake. “Goodwood was unbelievable. The one that mattered was Canford Cliffs. Everything else was a bonus. Hughesie (Hughes) is riding out of his skin. He gets them balanced and they run for him. The days he took off to avoid suspension have been worthwhile,” Hannon exulted.
Let us begin with Friday’s action at Goodwood. Libranno, the 5-4 favorite in the Tanqueray Richmond Stakes, justified the public confidence. The freshman colt ran 1200 metres in 1 11.48 seconds. A Librettist colt, Libranno has been very effective on the front end and at this point, there are doubts if he will get a mile. Libranno has won three races in a row.
The seventh winner for Hughes came with Royal Exchange, the 3-1 favorite in the RSA Nursery, a 1400-metre race. Royal Exchange closed willingly to edge ahead close home. As the name would suggest, Royal Exchange, by Royal Applause, is owned by royalty. Queen Elizabeth is the owner. Royal Exchange, incidentally, was giving Hughes his 100th winner of the English racing season.
Hughes went to Newmarket for the Friday twilight meeting. Kieren Fallon rode three winners. Frankie Dettori had two winners. In the 8 35 PM finale, Richard Hughes steered the Jar Toller-trained Pirate’s Song, the 5-4 favorite, to victory.
Pausanias, a 3-1 chance, won a maiden race on Saturday to give Hughes his eighth Goodwood winner. Winner number nine came with Eucharist who was successful in the 1200-metre Nursery Stakes.
On Sunday, jockey Hughes was at Deauville (outside Paris) and was second to Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild while aboard Music Show. He takes Monday afternoon off and will be in action at picturesque Windsor for the twilight card.
Joe O’Brien, Aidan O’Brien’s son, clicked with Rajik, 14-1, on Friday at Galway. Pat Smullen clicked with Rafaello Santi, a 9-4 favorite. The boyish-looking Fran Berry, favorite to win the jockeys’ race in Ireland this year, rode Pop Rock, a Japanese-bred, to a win in the 2800-metre Guinness Race. Takashi Kodama, now based in Ireland, trains Pop Rock.
The Saturday afternoon card at Doncaster saw William Buick ride three winners. Indigo Bay, trained by Bernie Meehan, was Buick’s first winner. The second was the Richard Fahey-trained Tepmokea. Zuider Zee was Buick’s third winner and is trained by John Gosden for whom Buick is retained rider in 2010.
The Bangalore trip has done Danny Grant a lot of good. At Galway on Saturday, jockey Grant connected with Isabellareine, a 20-1 chance, in a 3200-metre race. There were 20 runners.
On Sunday, at Cork, Danny Grant had two winners. Foolproof, a 11-2 chance won with Grant. The second came in a 2400-metre Group event. She’s Our Mark was held up and proved the fastest when it mattered. I am thrilled that Grant has struck form.
Here is good news about Silvestre de Sousa. We are looking at Saturday’s action at Thirsk where De Sousa lives. The hard-working De Sousa, who has endeared himself to fans in India, had three winners. He won with Nimue, a 7-4 chance. Signor Verdi, at 9-2, came through with the Brazilian-born reinsman. Simple Jim, a 11-4 chance, was the third winner for Silvestre.
The feature at Goodwood on Saturday was the Group I Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares. Seven ran in the (grass) 2000-metre race. Mid Day, a Sir Henry Cecil pupil, was defending her Nassau title. Tom Queally was aboard the 15-8 favorite.
Mid Day raced prominently and struck the front and opened up with 400 metres left. The race, many thought, had been put to bed. Stacelita, Christophe Soumillon up, found another gear to challenge Mid Day and got to within a neck. Mid Day, responding to Queally’s call, found extra to win by a length and a quarter. The result stood after a stewards’ inquiry.
Jockey Queally said, “Mr Soumillon’s filly was not keeping a straight course and my filly, as a consequence, went at an angle. However, Mid Day responded better and I won quite clearly.”
The race was worth 122,169 pounds to the winner. Mid Day, now four, has 1,195,393 pounds in earnings. The Nassau Stakes was run in 2 7.25 seconds. Oasis Dream is Mid Day’s father. Midsummer is the mother and she is by Kingmambo. Mid Day, after winning the 2009 Nassau on a soft course, was third in the Prix de L’Opera at Longchamp over the Arc weekend. She then won the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Last time out, she was beaten by Sariska at York. A BC repeat is on the agenda.
In my next blog, we will look at what Goldikova did in the Rothschild at Deauville on Sunday. There was a Group I race for girls at Dusseldorf. There was a lot of Pattern race action in America.
The 37 year-old Hughes is the tallest jockey in the United Kingdom at five feet 10 inches. He rides at 53 kgs. The ninth win for Hughes came in the penultimate contest. The 100-30 Eucharist was bumped and ran on after the interference to win by a neck.
Jockey Hughes said, “I have to thank everybody at Richard Hannon’s yard for making it all possible. It has been a fabulous week. Things have been going from strength to strength. There was a lot of pressure before Canford Cliffs ran in the Sussex Stakes but after that, I was able to enjoy the rest of the racing. Someone said that it has been the Richard Hughes week and I like the sound of that.”
The Racing UK award for top jockey at Glorious Goodwood went to Richard Hughes. This is what Hughes was honored with. He received a lifetime subscription to the Racing UK channel. A thousand-pound donation was made to Racing Welfare in his name. A thousand pounds will be given to the charity picked by Hughes. Finally, he gets a Goodwood hamper.
Richard Hannon is going through a splendid spell. Royal Ascot and Newmarket have given him winners and Goodwood was the icing on the cake. “Goodwood was unbelievable. The one that mattered was Canford Cliffs. Everything else was a bonus. Hughesie (Hughes) is riding out of his skin. He gets them balanced and they run for him. The days he took off to avoid suspension have been worthwhile,” Hannon exulted.
Let us begin with Friday’s action at Goodwood. Libranno, the 5-4 favorite in the Tanqueray Richmond Stakes, justified the public confidence. The freshman colt ran 1200 metres in 1 11.48 seconds. A Librettist colt, Libranno has been very effective on the front end and at this point, there are doubts if he will get a mile. Libranno has won three races in a row.
The seventh winner for Hughes came with Royal Exchange, the 3-1 favorite in the RSA Nursery, a 1400-metre race. Royal Exchange closed willingly to edge ahead close home. As the name would suggest, Royal Exchange, by Royal Applause, is owned by royalty. Queen Elizabeth is the owner. Royal Exchange, incidentally, was giving Hughes his 100th winner of the English racing season.
Hughes went to Newmarket for the Friday twilight meeting. Kieren Fallon rode three winners. Frankie Dettori had two winners. In the 8 35 PM finale, Richard Hughes steered the Jar Toller-trained Pirate’s Song, the 5-4 favorite, to victory.
Pausanias, a 3-1 chance, won a maiden race on Saturday to give Hughes his eighth Goodwood winner. Winner number nine came with Eucharist who was successful in the 1200-metre Nursery Stakes.
On Sunday, jockey Hughes was at Deauville (outside Paris) and was second to Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild while aboard Music Show. He takes Monday afternoon off and will be in action at picturesque Windsor for the twilight card.
Joe O’Brien, Aidan O’Brien’s son, clicked with Rajik, 14-1, on Friday at Galway. Pat Smullen clicked with Rafaello Santi, a 9-4 favorite. The boyish-looking Fran Berry, favorite to win the jockeys’ race in Ireland this year, rode Pop Rock, a Japanese-bred, to a win in the 2800-metre Guinness Race. Takashi Kodama, now based in Ireland, trains Pop Rock.
The Saturday afternoon card at Doncaster saw William Buick ride three winners. Indigo Bay, trained by Bernie Meehan, was Buick’s first winner. The second was the Richard Fahey-trained Tepmokea. Zuider Zee was Buick’s third winner and is trained by John Gosden for whom Buick is retained rider in 2010.
The Bangalore trip has done Danny Grant a lot of good. At Galway on Saturday, jockey Grant connected with Isabellareine, a 20-1 chance, in a 3200-metre race. There were 20 runners.
On Sunday, at Cork, Danny Grant had two winners. Foolproof, a 11-2 chance won with Grant. The second came in a 2400-metre Group event. She’s Our Mark was held up and proved the fastest when it mattered. I am thrilled that Grant has struck form.
Here is good news about Silvestre de Sousa. We are looking at Saturday’s action at Thirsk where De Sousa lives. The hard-working De Sousa, who has endeared himself to fans in India, had three winners. He won with Nimue, a 7-4 chance. Signor Verdi, at 9-2, came through with the Brazilian-born reinsman. Simple Jim, a 11-4 chance, was the third winner for Silvestre.
The feature at Goodwood on Saturday was the Group I Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares. Seven ran in the (grass) 2000-metre race. Mid Day, a Sir Henry Cecil pupil, was defending her Nassau title. Tom Queally was aboard the 15-8 favorite.
Mid Day raced prominently and struck the front and opened up with 400 metres left. The race, many thought, had been put to bed. Stacelita, Christophe Soumillon up, found another gear to challenge Mid Day and got to within a neck. Mid Day, responding to Queally’s call, found extra to win by a length and a quarter. The result stood after a stewards’ inquiry.
Jockey Queally said, “Mr Soumillon’s filly was not keeping a straight course and my filly, as a consequence, went at an angle. However, Mid Day responded better and I won quite clearly.”
The race was worth 122,169 pounds to the winner. Mid Day, now four, has 1,195,393 pounds in earnings. The Nassau Stakes was run in 2 7.25 seconds. Oasis Dream is Mid Day’s father. Midsummer is the mother and she is by Kingmambo. Mid Day, after winning the 2009 Nassau on a soft course, was third in the Prix de L’Opera at Longchamp over the Arc weekend. She then won the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Last time out, she was beaten by Sariska at York. A BC repeat is on the agenda.
In my next blog, we will look at what Goldikova did in the Rothschild at Deauville on Sunday. There was a Group I race for girls at Dusseldorf. There was a lot of Pattern race action in America.
Suraj Narredu has a point worth listening to
A great deal has been said about the Suraj Narredu episode. Do I have an opinion? Yes and I would like to contribute to the forum.
I have been in touch with Suraj Narredu. His side of the story tells us what his mindset is. Given his talent and the promise he has shown, one must give proper credence to the stand he took and the explanation he offers about what has happened. I want to be clear that I am not defending his conduct but only trying to present it in a new light.
Sun Salvador, a 3/10 favorite, is beaten. Suraj Narredu is the rider and he objects. He contends that S Zervan, rider of Inspired Move, the winner, cut across sharply and took up Sun Salvador’s ground. Suraj was forced to switch lanes and finished on strongly. The objection is thrown out. Suraj is charged with lodging a frivolous protest. Adding insult to injury, the authorities find Suraj guilty of false/misleading evidence and for improper conduct during the inquiry. A 10,000-rupee fine is levied and jockey Suraj Narredu is stood down for a month and banned from exercising horses.
Now, look at the situation from Suraj’s viewpoint. He is beaten on a piping hot favorite. He alleges interference. Here’s the catch. A video (replay) may not adequately portray the severity or otherwise of the interference. The critical question was whether Sun Salvador clipped the heels or touched the heels of Inspired Move. A rider gets unbalanced and sometimes does not. It depends on how serious the interference is. Again, what a rider sees as interference, may not be seen as interference when the replay is watched. The Stewards did not agree with Suraj’s contention. These are subjective matters.
If Suraj had not objected, is there not the possibility that he would have been accused of being intent to lose on a favorite and not utilize the slim chance he may have had of persuading the judges to see it his way? It is an extremely plausible argument. Suraj failed in his bid.
Responding to repeated questioning about where the contact occurred, Suraj admits that, when speaking one sentence, he was a bit loud. Suraj avers that he was a bit louder than normal while speaking and finishing one sentence.
Here is what Suraj has to say about his demeanor. “I did not argue about any facts. I was not rude to them in any way. No improper language was used.”
Suraj quotes the ‘words’ uttered in the meeting with the Stewards after the last race of the day. “Sir, I’m extremely sorry for what happened today. Considering the objection was ‘live,’ I should have been more careful. You know me and I am not like this. I should not have spoken the way I did. I did not mean to hurt anyone. I apologize for this. I am extremely sorry and I promise this will not happen in future.”
This is how Suraj Narredu explained his position about offering misleading evidence. “Sir, I have stated a fact (incident) that happened to me in the race. It is my duty to report to you what happened. Whether you accept it or not, it is entirely your decision, Sir. Yes, I cannot show you on TV for various reasons especially because of our camera angles how the interference cost me the race. I have not lied to you or given any false evidence.”
We have every right to disagree but there is no denying the fact that Suraj’s story is worth listening to. How often we make determinations about how a race has been run and how often we revise our opinions once we come to know about incidents and facts that were not apparent during the running? In Suraj’s case, he thought he had a point and if there is even the remote chance he could succeed in the judges’ chamber, it is a course of action he must embark upon to serve the interests of the racing public.
One must remember Suraj’s situation. He is the leading rider in India. He is young. He has an international reputation. The world is in front of him. Would he do something that would jeopardize his career, his family and the prestige he has gained? I do not think so. There are impulsive people. Based on my experience with Suraj, he has a solid head on his shoulders, he is pragmatic and deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Does the punishment fit the crime? It will not be proper for me to venture an opinion. The Stewards must have thought that the punishment should be a deterrent. I am sure they believed that their authority was not respected. They have every right to think so. Flouting authority is serious but permit me to say that jockeys have emotions and they react. Suraj was caught off guard.
I have been in touch with Suraj Narredu. His side of the story tells us what his mindset is. Given his talent and the promise he has shown, one must give proper credence to the stand he took and the explanation he offers about what has happened. I want to be clear that I am not defending his conduct but only trying to present it in a new light.
Sun Salvador, a 3/10 favorite, is beaten. Suraj Narredu is the rider and he objects. He contends that S Zervan, rider of Inspired Move, the winner, cut across sharply and took up Sun Salvador’s ground. Suraj was forced to switch lanes and finished on strongly. The objection is thrown out. Suraj is charged with lodging a frivolous protest. Adding insult to injury, the authorities find Suraj guilty of false/misleading evidence and for improper conduct during the inquiry. A 10,000-rupee fine is levied and jockey Suraj Narredu is stood down for a month and banned from exercising horses.
Now, look at the situation from Suraj’s viewpoint. He is beaten on a piping hot favorite. He alleges interference. Here’s the catch. A video (replay) may not adequately portray the severity or otherwise of the interference. The critical question was whether Sun Salvador clipped the heels or touched the heels of Inspired Move. A rider gets unbalanced and sometimes does not. It depends on how serious the interference is. Again, what a rider sees as interference, may not be seen as interference when the replay is watched. The Stewards did not agree with Suraj’s contention. These are subjective matters.
If Suraj had not objected, is there not the possibility that he would have been accused of being intent to lose on a favorite and not utilize the slim chance he may have had of persuading the judges to see it his way? It is an extremely plausible argument. Suraj failed in his bid.
Responding to repeated questioning about where the contact occurred, Suraj admits that, when speaking one sentence, he was a bit loud. Suraj avers that he was a bit louder than normal while speaking and finishing one sentence.
Here is what Suraj has to say about his demeanor. “I did not argue about any facts. I was not rude to them in any way. No improper language was used.”
Suraj quotes the ‘words’ uttered in the meeting with the Stewards after the last race of the day. “Sir, I’m extremely sorry for what happened today. Considering the objection was ‘live,’ I should have been more careful. You know me and I am not like this. I should not have spoken the way I did. I did not mean to hurt anyone. I apologize for this. I am extremely sorry and I promise this will not happen in future.”
This is how Suraj Narredu explained his position about offering misleading evidence. “Sir, I have stated a fact (incident) that happened to me in the race. It is my duty to report to you what happened. Whether you accept it or not, it is entirely your decision, Sir. Yes, I cannot show you on TV for various reasons especially because of our camera angles how the interference cost me the race. I have not lied to you or given any false evidence.”
We have every right to disagree but there is no denying the fact that Suraj’s story is worth listening to. How often we make determinations about how a race has been run and how often we revise our opinions once we come to know about incidents and facts that were not apparent during the running? In Suraj’s case, he thought he had a point and if there is even the remote chance he could succeed in the judges’ chamber, it is a course of action he must embark upon to serve the interests of the racing public.
One must remember Suraj’s situation. He is the leading rider in India. He is young. He has an international reputation. The world is in front of him. Would he do something that would jeopardize his career, his family and the prestige he has gained? I do not think so. There are impulsive people. Based on my experience with Suraj, he has a solid head on his shoulders, he is pragmatic and deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Does the punishment fit the crime? It will not be proper for me to venture an opinion. The Stewards must have thought that the punishment should be a deterrent. I am sure they believed that their authority was not respected. They have every right to think so. Flouting authority is serious but permit me to say that jockeys have emotions and they react. Suraj was caught off guard.
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