Ruia Cup at Mahalakshmi on Sunday

I like a horse a great deal in Sunday’s first race in Mumbai. It is Captain Abdon. As I look at the Original Vel book, Captain Abdon, in six starts has been worse than fourth only once. In Race 44, with S A Amit up, Captain Abdon was a winner at 20/1. His key victim was Kandinsky who was winner in his next outing. Entrusted with the public purse in an accident-marred Race 104, Captain Abdon, again in the hands apprentice Amit, was a length and a half adrift.

On Sunday, Captain Abdon is set to carry 59 ½ kgs and has drawn seven in the 11-horse field. The distance is 1200 metres. Consistency and readiness are the key elements and the entire cause is strengthened by the presence of A Sandesh in the saddle. The trainer is quite willing to give up the apprentice allowance and that is a measure of the connections’ confidence.

Spanish Saga had to go to 1-26 to win Race 62. In Race 116, Spanish Saga was a length and quarter off in third when running on promotion.

On current form, the first race, in my view, is confined to Captain Abdon and Spanish Saga. The Captain has done much better at Sunday’s level and with the switch to Sandesh, my vote goes to him.

In the second race, my choice is Magnolia. Dismissed at 10/1 in her debut as a four year-old, Magnolia ran fourth and was eight lengths off the winner. In Race 116 in Mumbai, Magnolia, now a five year-old mare, was the 11/10 favorite with N S Parmar. She was fourth again beaten a length and a quarter and she runs again in ten days.

Sunday’s jockey is Jim Crowley, It is Crowley’s first ride in India. As he left London late Friday for Mumbai, jockey Crowley won with his last two mounts at Loingfield Park. The fact that Magnolia was the 11/10 chalk tells a story. With Crowley in the saddle, it is reasonable to think that Magnolia will be able to elevate her game. Post 10 in the 1600-metre race will not be a handicap. It is not a given as Rain Dance, Azadegan, and Top Wizard check in fit for the fray. Normal progression is what Magnolia needs to deliver.

A word or two on Teofilo, Magnolia’s sire.  A son of Galileo, Teofilo was the champion two year-old in Europe in 2006. He ran five times and won all those races.  In the Group I National Stakes, Teofilo beat Holy Roman Emperor at the Curragh. Holy Roman Emperor went to Paris and was victorious in the Lagardere, Europe’s richest race for freshmen. In a rematch in Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes, Teofilo gained a narrow verdict over Holy Roman Emperor. Teofilo was made the early favorite for the 2007 Two Thousand Guineas and the Epsom Derby. An injury three weeks before the 2000 Guineas took him out of England’s first Classic and a promising career ended. A stallion, Teofilo is beginning to enjoy some success.

Paddy Power, the Irish betting behemoth, refunded the Guineas and Derby ante post wagers made on Teofilo because of the Irish connections. Jim Bolger, trainer of Teofilo, called the Galileo colt the best he had trained. Bolger rated Teofilo better than St Jovite. A son of Pleasant Colony, the Bolger-trained St Jovite won the Irish Derby in 1992 and also the King George VI Stakes at Ascot that summer. St Jovite, 27 years of age, died on Friday.

Let us now take a look at the sixth race, the 2000-metre R R Ruia Gold Cup. Phoenix Tiger is a tiger on the loose. His appetite is growing. The Phoenix Tower colt has won five races from six starts. The Todywalla pupil is yet to taste defeat with Colm O’Donoghue in the irons. Phoenix Tiger’s win in the 2000 Guineas was impressive. He did what needed to be done to win. The 2000-metre trip should not be a problem. O’Donoghue is a world class rider. He is capable of making smart decisions. Yes, there are worthy adversaries but Phoenix Tiger is in a class of his own. I do not see any chinks in his armour.

Airco is an above average sort but it is clear that he is not in the classic mould. Colombiana is one step below the required level but the Nanda-owned colt tries hard every time. The sparingly raced Gestapo is two for two and the son of Mastercraftsman has the services of Jim Crowley. Gestapo shows considerable promise but he lacks the exposure and experience of Phoenix Tiger. Jefferson has had some battling successes but I believe he needs to elevate his game a great deal to be effective. Magnificence lacks the tools to be a viable threat. Ostwind, the only horse in the Ruia field to have beaten Phoenix Tiger in Bangalore, gets Suraj Narredu. A son of Holy Roman Emperor, Ostwind has not kept pace in terms of development with his more accomplished rivals. Saker comes off a win in Race 16 in Mumbai and that was a 2000-metre race for 40-66 players. There is no question Saker is in deeper waters in the Ruia Cup. Sea Lord has a record that would normally be enviable  but he has to reach new levels to have a shot. Sentosa Cove, a Teofilo gelding, is yet to show the potential that would make him a frontline contender.

The Magician is another I like in Sunday’s tenth race. He was a going-away winner in Race 102. He steps up and has drawn four. It was an optimism-generating victory. I believe The Magician can make another winning bid.

In Hyderabad, Vijay Vaishnavee goes for a hat trick in the opener. Given her cracking form and with P S Chouhan up, the daughter of Yeats, looks home and dry. Yeats won the 4000-metre Gold Cup at Royal Ascot four years in a row from 2006 to 2009.

Vijay Vidhata is in burning form and is the one to stop in the third  race.

The Healer figures to be a deserving favorite  in the fourth. The Healer is by Lord Shanakill. Jim Crowley’s Group I winner in France is Lord Shanakill. Jockey Crowley makes his Indian debut at Mahalakshmi on Sunday. A coincidence worthy of mention.

Good luck

Costa Del Sol and Dancing Prances highly impressive

That was an imperious display by Costa Del Sol in Mumbai on Sunday. It was a five-horse field. The only worthwhile adversary was Bullrun, the Pune Derby winner. Trevor Patel stayed several lengths off the lead, made headway with 800 metres left, pounced on Bullrun who had taken over in the lane and drew away. Costa Del Sol’s record speaks for itself.

 

At this point, Phoenix Tiger and Costa Del Sol, in my opinion, sit atop the pecking order in the ‘Classic’ division. The Indian Derby is about four weeks away.

 

Dancing Prances made mincemeat of his rivals in the Bookmakers’ Association Million over 1200 metres. The six year-old gelding by Ace has struck a purple patch. Gold Bag, reunited with Suraj Narredu, had a large following. Jockey Sandesh elected to hold Dancing Prances up. He angled out straightening for home and swept past the front runners in effortless fashion. It was an awesome performance. Gold Bag was outclassed and outpaced.

 

Intelligence had won in Hyderabad and failed in her next start in Bangalore. She carried top weight in the 1400-metre Squanderer Double Stakes for horses rated 60-86. Trevor Patel got Intelligence alertly away from the gate. Intelligence set a ‘friendly’ pace and had enough left when a bunch of challengers made their bids.

 

Personify came out of stall 12 in the 1600-metre Bright Hanover Double Stakes. Excolence and Angelic Aria were in a duel in the final 300 metres and the former was emerging the winner. Neeraj Rawal, on Excolence, was hoping the wire would come to his rescue. It was not to be. An energy-drained Excolence was passed by Personify and jockey Sandesh. The Dr MAM Trust-owned Personify unleashed a sparkling turn of foot. I will put Personify in my notebook for an encore.

 

In the Greater Mumbai Police Cup, Schiehaillon had what appeared to be a winning lead but suffered a life-threatening injury and came to a halt. Advance To Contact landed the generous odds offered on him.

 

Cavalia and Dasrath Singh grabbed the lead leaving from post 12 in the 12-horse field in the 1600-metre Pradeep Vijayakar Cup. Cavalia was so well rated by Dasrath Singh that the Chevalier filly kept finding more in the stretch. She ran out an easy winner. It has to be borne in mind that Cavalia won in 1-26 company. Given the manner of winning, she may have a chance on promotion.

 

In Chennai on Sunday, the Hyderabad betting ring was large enough. The Mumbai ring was congested. You cannot move around. You get pushed. My suggestion is that the entire ring be used. It will give fans much needed breathing room.

 

There is more wagering on Chennai races and more than one bookmaker told me that the Chennai races are attracting more attention. It is a positive development.

Happy New Year's Day!

The decision to take B Fifty Two down on Thursday in Mumbai was appalling, egregious and in total violation of the principle of ‘fairness.’

Taking a winner down is done only if the evidence is overwhelming. The evidence presented was anything but overwhelming. The opinion of the paid stipes was disregarded. Yes, Sandesh leaned in and Khayyam and Trevor Patel may have been inconvenienced. Trevor is a good rider and I am sure he is extra smart. He did not react. He over reacted. He had an objection in mind. Khayyam was simply not equal to the task.

Whatever happened, as alleged by Trevor, did not stop Khayyam from winning the race. ‘Incidental contact’ is something we see all the time. You cannot take the winnings of a fan who wagered on B Fifty Two. Penalize Sandesh for poor riding, injudicious riding, reckless riding and whatever other phrase you can coin. Do not punish the fans.

B Fifty Two was a deserving winner. It is sacrilege to disqualify a winner in the absence of evidence without a shadow of a doubt.

I was reminded of an old story. A wolf and a lamb were getting their water from a vertical stream. The lamb was at a lower level. The wolf complained that the lamb was muddying up the water. The lamb pointed to the fact that the wolf was at a higher level. The wolf, intent on finding an excuse to make the lamb his next meal, said that the lamb’s father would have muddied the water. A moment later, the wolf pounced on the defenseless lamb.

The investigating authority was intent on giving the race to Khayyam. The deliberation was needlessly long. It was such a blatant abuse of power. I wish I knew what the motivation was.

This is what I want to say about Friday’s Bangalore races. I visited Martin Dwyer in October when my wife and I were in England. Martin showered praise on trainer Padmanabhan.

In the seventh race, Brabus and David Allan made it all. Brabus comes from Padmanabhan’s yard. In the eighth, Sun Moon And Stars, despite being on the shelf for 12 months, was the favorite. Held up and let loose in the final 300 metres, Sun Moon And Stars, a four year-old filly by Burden Of Proof, came with a withering run to pass the front horses. Given the manner of winning, Sun Moon And Stars, the form she is in, can get an encore.

Reflect for a moment on how good a trainer must be to get a horse race-ready after 365 days and Padmanabhan is atop that distinguished list.

David Allan, after riding in India as the winter campaigns got under way, went to England to sort out his work permit. He has come back and struck with two winners. There is a lot more to come.

Dare To Dream defied conventional wisdom by getting the better of Azzurro. The latter  had a tremendous advantage in weights. Imran Chisty and Dare To Dream raced well away from the lead and moved with 400 metres to run. Azzurro fought for a stride or two. That was the extent of the resistance. The lesson is that Dare To Dream has improved beyond recognition. Tested theories go awry and that is the reason we wager on the outcome of a race.

Let us take a look at Saturday’s Bangalore card.  The Padmanabhan-Allan speeding train has steam left. Iceglow can win the first race giving the duo a natural hat trick.

In the third, Iron Will, a Padmanabhan trainee, makes his debut. A three year-old colt by Arazan, Iron Will is likely to be the public choice. Bred for speed, Iron Will can give David Allan his fourth winner in as many steers.

Cadillac Sky is in the third race. Her sire is Summer Bird. Owned by Dr K K Jayaraman and Vilasini Jayaraman, Summer Bird won the Belmont Stakes, the Travers at Saratoga and the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in 2009. He was second to Rachel Alexandra in Monmouth Park’s Haskell Invitational. Summer Bird’s final race was in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Zenyatta won and Summer Bird was fourth. Taken to Japan for the Japan Cup dirt, Summer Bird suffered an injury and did not race again. I am writing this because Summer Bird has a strong Indian connection.

Super Strong is the one to beat in the fourth. A winner last time out, Super Strong, faces a field lacking in depth. His form should carry the day. Suraj Narredu will ride.

Angel Dust is my pick in the sixth race, the Bangalore Oaks. An upset winner in the summer Bangalore Derby, Angel Dust flopped in Hyderabad and then ran second to Starlet in Bangalore in the 1000 Guineas. I do not know how to account for the Hyderabad race. There is no question that she has the best overall credentials. Trevor Patel will be on board.

In the seventh race, I like the chances of Shivalik Star. The Arjun Mangalorkar-trained Shivalik Star comes off a resolute win against most of his adversaries. The weight is eminently manageable. I am expecting a repeat victory for Shivalik Star.

The Volkswagen Steering Column problem

This blog is about how I handled a car problem.

 

Here is the chronology of events. A Volkswagen Vento (petrol or gasoline model) was bought from Sundaram Motors in Chennai in April 2011. The original owner sold the car in 2013. I bought the car from a reputed used car dealer in December 2013.

 

In March 2015, we noticed a tightening of the steering wheel. An effort was needed to turn the steering. It began to stick. We took the car to Sundaram Motors for scheduled maintenance. We asked the Service Department to take a look at the problem. We were told that the steering was absolutely fine.

 

Move the clock forward. It is July 2015. We get drivers from the Top Four service in Chennai. I am not able to drive in Chennai. Driver after driver, without being asked, told us that there was a problem with the  steering. As the steering was turned, right or left, we could hear ‘tick tick tick.’ We feared  that the steering could pose a safety issue.

 

We found out that the battery was failing. A new battery was installed. Our car has an electro-magnetic steering.  My fond hope was that the new battery was what the doctor had ordered and that it would correct the steering. I was not lucky. The problem did not go away.

 

Soon after, the car was taken to Sundaram Motors. The car was kept for three days. Then the verdict was delivered. 

The entire steering column had to be replaced. The cost was about 65,000 Rupees. I asked Sundaram Motors if I could get help in view of the fact that the car had been on the road for a little over four years. The steering column is not a part that is subject to ‘wear and tear’ like a tire or a belt. Further, in a car like Volkswagen, having a serious problem with the steering column in a span of four years from the time of sale, is not a good advertisement for the brand. Above all, the car had only 20,000 kilometres. My plea fell on deaf years.

 

I sent an email to Volkswagen’s main office in Germany. A reply came in a matter of hours. “We want to help you. We want to keep you as a customer. It is difficult for us to make decisions from here. We are instructing our Mumbai office to take up your predicament with the Chennai dealer. We assure you that Volkswagen will do everything possible to resolve the issue in keeping with our standards and to your satisfaction.”

 

I received an email from Mumbai.  I got a call from Sundaram Motors. I was asked to bring the car to the dealer for inspection. After a (test) drive, the problem was confirmed.  Mr Srinivasan, the Customer Satisfaction Manager, and Mr Sudhakar, Service Manager, met me. I explained my situation. They listened patiently. I was promised that some help will be offered and a decision will be conveyed in two weeks.

 

The two-week time frame passed. I called and began to put (gentle) pressure. Mr Srinivasan sent an email. “Sundaram  Motors will meet you halfway. If you  paid 50% of the bill, the steering column will be replaced. There will be a two year warranty on the work done.”

 

My wife and I agreed. The car was taken to the dealer on a Tuesday morning. The repair was done. I picked up the car late Wednesday. The car has been handled by one Top Four driver. He gave the steering a clean bill of health.

 

Mr Srinivasan called to find out what was happening. We expressed our satisfaction.

 

What is the lesson? Do not give up. Sundaram Motors could have given me the 50-50 deal but it was done only after Germany (main office) got involved. If there are avenues you can take, please explore them. Be polite but firm. Our perseverance paid off.

 

Mr Srinivasan, I would now like to call him the Customer Extreme Satisfaction Manager, was very helpful. My wife and I express our appreciation.          

It is Yash Narredu's day At Pune

It is a tricky card on Saturday in Pune. However, I have some picks.

 

In the second race over 2400 metres, my selection is The General. The Mallesh Narredu trainee was a comfortable winner two back in Pune. He had the beating of Aquamarine who was an easy winner last Sunday although running with her kind. In his second Pune venture, The General was overmatched. It was the race that Amazing Grace won. To be ridden by Yash Narredu, The General returns to handicap company on Saturday. Okavango’s form leaves a lot to be desired. Caesar’s Star has not won in ages. Al Shamsheer, a son of Yeats who won the Ascot Gold Cup four years in a row from 2006 to 2009,  is likely to set the pace. Yash should not let Al Shamsheer get away with slow fractions. That is how Al Shamsheer beat the streaking Zazou in the waning days of the Mumbai campaign. Yash should tackle Al Shamsheer early enough. There is no denying that The General is the best on current form. Pace will be the key.

 

In the third, my selection is Zahrazan. The  daughter of Arazan broke the duck in her Pune debut. She came out of post 13 and was on the lead in a matter of strides. In her next outing, despite drawing the fence, Zahrazan could do no better than take fourth.  Zahrazan is a free-wheeling type and was in tight quarters and failed to put her best foot forward. The horses finishing ahead of Zahrazan  have all performed well in Pune in recent weeks. On Saturday, Zahrazan comes out of post 12 in the 1000-metre race. Yash Narredu needs to show alacrity. Blasting out and getting the lead will be critical.

 

Enthralling was  an eye-catching winner last time out. Raghubir Singh, an apprentice claiming a five-kg allowance, is Enthralling’s rider. Post one is a big blessing but why seek an apprentice’s services to get the weight benefit? That is not exactly a vote of confidence in the horse.

 

Abbey is my choice in the sixth. In her second career start in Mumbai as the season was ending, Abbey, a Phoenix Tower filly, was three parts off the winner. Running after a layoff, Abbey dismissed the strongly-fancied  Magnum Opus with an eye-popping make-it-all effort. The three year-old filly has drawn three and has Yash Narredu in the irons. I believe that there is more to come.

 

Abigail left the maiden ranks in Mumbai. She was scratched two weeks ago in Pune with a swelling issue and that is a red flag. Fitness questions linger. Phoenix Fire, a last outing winner, returns and is a player. He dug deep to repel the bud from Magnum Opus. On the other hand, Abbey handled Magnum Opus with little or no fuss.

 

The final pick is Dramarama in the eighth race. She was unplaced in the 1000 Guineas on December 18, 2014. She returned to the racing wars on March 7, 2015. Carrying top weight (20-46) in a 1400-netre race, Dramarama,  Colm O’Donoghue up, won in effortless fashion. The Phoenix Tower four-year-old goes in a 40-66 race on Saturday. She has above average ability. She runs well when fresh. She has drawn six and that makes a lot of options available to her.

 

You will see that, in general, I favor repeat winners. There is no substitute for current form. What you see is what you get in horse racing. Stick with what is known and avoid traversing unknown territory.                  

Trail-blazing English trainer Clive Brittain announces retirement

There is an Indian connection to the Group I Betfred Sprint Cup to be run at Haydock Park on Saturday, September 5, 2015.  Gordon Lord Byron will carry the Poonawalla colors in this prestigious contest. The Poonawalla torchbearer won the Sprint Cup in 2013. He was the bridesmaid in 2012 and 2014.  Gordon Lord Byron has won 12 races in his career and three of those wins have come in Group I events.

 

 

Aaday, winner of three races in his last four starts and victorious in Newbury’s Group II Hungerford Stakes, is the favorite at 6/1. Co-owned by Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Morgan Calahan, Gordon Lord Byron is the 8/1 third choice.  There are 17 runners in the 1200-metre race.

 

Wayne Lordan, the Irish ace, rides Gordon Lord Byron. Tom Hogan trains the productive seven year-old. Coming off a third place finish in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, Gordon Lord Byron has been working well. Trainer Hogan expressed satisfaction. “Gordon Lord Byron worked extremely well last Tuesday and I’m very happy with him. He likes flat tracks like Haydock and Deauville.”

 

On Saturday, Saratoga in upstate New York, hosts two Grade I races. Freshman girls are in the spotlight in the 1400-metre Spinaway Stakes. Six go postward.

 

Eight run in the 1800-metre Woodward Stakes. Liam’s Tap, second to Honor Code in the Whitney Stakes, is in fine fettle and is the one to beat.

 

Del Mar’s feature on Saturday is the Grade I Debutante Stakes for two year-old fillies. Eleven answer the starter’s call in this contentious race.

 

Clive Brittain, 81, is calling it quits. A legend in the British training fraternity, Mr Brittain has been a trailblazer. In 1985 when the Breeders’ Cup was only run for the second time, he won the Fillies-Mares Breeders Cup Turf (2400) with Pebbles at Aqueduct. That was the first time a British trainer had won a Breeders’ Cup race. The incomparable Pat Eddery was the rider for Pebbles.

 

Perhaps the most notable Brittain accomplishment in the US was the runner-up effort from Bold Arrangement in the 1986 Kentucky Derby.

 

I  spoke To Mr Brittain in 2003 at Epsom Downs after his Warrshan (by Caerleon) had won the Coronation Cup. It was that first Friday in June in 2003 that Martin Dwyer won three races including the Oaks with Casual Look. Warrshan got an encore in the Coronation Cup in 2004.

 

Jupiter Island, a Brittain pupil, won the 1986 Japan Cup. It was another feather in Mr Brittain’s cap.

 

It was in 2005 in Tokyo that I got to chat  with  Mr Brittain for a few minutes. Warrshan was in the Japan Cup (grass) field. Alkaseed won that race in a photo finish from Heart’s Cry.

Clive Brittain made a statement. “I am retiring at the end of this season. I have had a good innings and enjoyed nearly all of it. It has been a fantastic life and lifestyle but it has come to the time where I want to retire.”

 

          Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah’s owner, has confirmed that his Triple Crown champion will go in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. “We’ll run him in the Classic. My concern was about American Pharoah’s condition because he did not run his ‘A’ race in the Travers. He, however,   has come out of it in great shape. There was a combination of factors that prevented him from doing his absolute best. I think he can run  his best again and deserves the chance to do so.”

 

Beholder is a likely prospect. She is the indisputable ‘distaff queen’ at the moment.

 

Gleneagles, from Aidan O’Brien’s yard, skipped York’s Juddmonte International because of soft ground. The English 2000 Guineas hero is supposed to go in the Irish Champion Stakes on September 12 at Leopardstown subject to the course being satisfactory. Another target is the Q E II Stakes on October 17 at Ascot on Champions’ Day. Trainer O’Brien has said that Gleneagles  will be in the Breeders’ Cup Classic line up at Keeneland on October 31. It is a leap of faith. That will be the first time that Gleneagles will go on dirt. If Aidan O’Brien, the maestro that he is, cannot make his colt manage the transition, who else can?

 

I am fortunate. My wife and I will be in Lexington for the Breeders’ Cup extravaganza.    

Keen Ice has the last laugh in the 146th Travers

As the horses were being stalled for the 1986 Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp in 1986, the BBC ( there was a commentary in English for the British fans) commentator made a statement. “The favorite here is Dancing Brave. He has won several races but the Epsom Derby (1986) will be spoken about more for his loss than the victory for Shahrastani.”

 

Dancing Brave, with Greville Starkey,  came from out of the blue and failed to catch Shahrastani who had taken over with less than a quarter mile to run.  The race was run in June. The two met at Longchamp in October 1986. Pat Eddery rode Dancing Brave and won the Arc with a well-timed stretch charge.

 

This is what happened on Saturday at Saratoga, USA. American Pharoah was conquered by Keen Ice in the 146^th Travers Stakes. American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown Champion, was seeking his ninth win in a row. Keen Ice had made a winning debut and had been beaten in the next eight outings. It was an upset of enormous proportions. The 146^th Travers will be more remembered for the defeat of American Pharoah than for Keen Ice’s victory.

 

American Pharoah’s loss is in keeping with the ‘graveyard of champions’ notoriety. Gallant Fox, Whirlaway and Secretariat failed to break Saratoga’s tradition. American Pharoah  now has become the latest addition to that list that is growing ever slowly.

 

Keen Ice, a 16/1 outsider, raced in fifth as American Pharoah, the 35/100 favorite, set out on a start to finish mission. The quarter came in 24.28.  The half (800 metres) was in 48.30. The numbers convey that American Pharoah was in his comfort zone but Frosted, who had run second in the Belmont Stakes, was putting pressure on the leader. Victor Espinosa, committed to the lead, asked American Pharoah for more. Keen Ice was not going away. The three quarters (1200 metres) came in 1 11.48. Turning  for home, American Pharoah had seen Frosted off. He had a lead of about two lengths as raced inside the last eighth. Jockey Espinoza could realize that the Triple Crown champion was leg weary. The winning post did not come soon enough. The party-ruining Keen Ice, responding to jockey Javier Costellano, was gaining ground. In the final 100 yards, it was clear that Keen Ice would win. The margin was three parts if the length and the time was 2 01:57. 

 

It must be noted that the Kentucky Derby time was 2 03.02. There was no pressure-free lead. Plus the 18,000-mile back and forth air trips was a contributing factor.

 

Dale Romans trains Keen Ice. He had thanked the Saratoga management for capping the attendance at 50,000 so that there would not be a bigger number  booing when Keen Ice lowered American Pharoah’s colors. Was it a funny thing to say? Was it a prophetic statement?

 

Jockey Castellano was winning his fifth Travers Stakes. He said, “I followed those two (American Pharoah and Frosted) and I just kept tracking them. I saw them coming back to me turning for home. I knew I had a chance. My horse ran a hard race and to beat American Pharoah, that’s a good race.”

 

Victor Espinoza made a matter of fact statement. “May be it was a just little too much those three weeks, flying back and forth. I knew I was in trouble some way to go.”

 

Trainer Bob Baffert is a thinking man. “You never know how the horse is feeling until he runs. American Pharoah travelled and trained well. I could tell by Victor’s body language that he was done at the half mile pole. The only reason he was second, it’s because he’s such a great horse. The winner ran a really great race.”

 

“My gut feeling is we should retire him. He is not the American Pharoah I know,”  Owner Ahmed Zayat emphasized.

 

Keen Ice is by Curlin out of Medomak who is by Awesome Again. Curlin won the 2007 Preakness Stakes and won the 2008 Dubai World Cup.

 

It is jockey Castellano’s comment that sums up the Travers story. “Anything can happen in horse racing. That is what makes this a great game. American Pharoah is a great horse. Take nothing away from him.”

 

In other news, jockey Lindsay Charnock has died. He was 60. He rode primarily in Northern tracks in England. He rode with considerable success in Calcutta. He is a brother in law of Richard Alford.

 

Bart Cummings has passed away. A legend in the training profession, Cummings won 12 Melbourne Cups. His last win in the ‘Cup’ came with Viewed in 2008. Cummings was 87. He won 266 Group I contests.                   

Not an unmitigated disaster

My handicapping debut was not an unmitigated  disaster. In Pune, Lord Jim carried even money favoritism to an easy victory. Jupiter, I believe, left his galloping shoes in his stable. Jockey S J Sunil had my hopes up with a crisp steer on Scarlet of Hope in the opener but was all at sea on Jupiter who was a lost cause a long way from home. One lesson to learn was that Jupiter hates running two races alike.

 

In Kolkata, Real Presence was bet as if defeat was out of the question. Torero had a ground-saving trip and was no match for Aashikaara when the heat was on. Deserving Visit had post one. She stayed in striking range. C Alford ran into a spot of trouble but there was no denying Evesham who was making his fourth start in 38 days. Deserving Visit finished behind Gentle Knowledge. It was a bitter pill for me to swallow.

 

Let us now take a look at today’s Pune card. The first race has two ‘in form’   horses. Blavatsky carried 60 kgs to win on July 24 in class 1-26. That form was franked when Soul Centric, second in that race, was a winner in 20-46 yesterday.

 

Atalya played the bridesmaid role when Iridescence won in 1- 26 in Race 26.  Iridescence got an encore in 20- 46   in Race 65. Annie, Flying Show and Zahrazan, all winners this meeting,   followed Iridescence home.   Another noteworthy fact is that Sail Past was behind Atalya in Race 26. Sail Past was a winner yesterday.

 

The irrepressible Trevor Patel rides Atalya and that influences me.

 

Jockey Patel is aboard Jefferson in the second race. A winner in his debut, Jefferson was third and second in two subsequent starts. He carries the statutory penalty for a win. The principal adversary is Turf Dancer, a filly. She broke the duck in a field that lacked depth. I am taking Jefferson’s side.

 

In the third, my choice is Remember Me. He is receiving chunks of weight from Maximus and Silver Streak. Maximus has S A Amit about whom we know precious little. Silver Streak gives Remember Me 14 kgs. An Imtiaz Sait trainee, Remember Me comes off a win in Race 53 in 60-86. Remember Me was fourth behind Gold Bag in Race 16. The latter has won four in a row.

 

The fourth race is at the mercy of Victoria Harbour. The Phoenix Tower filly is two for two. Suraj Narredu gets the call. The Mistry establishment has been firing on all cylinders. Victoria Harbour won her debut by six. She repeated with a four-length romp.

 

Am I in a quandary or what? The fifth race is a 1200-metre dash (handicap) for horses in 20-46. Roman Flame, a Holy Roman Emperor filly, made a belated debut in Race 8 at Pune. What a debut it was! Roman Flame blew her maiden rivals out of the water. She has been given 62 kgs in her handicap debut and will be ridden by apprentice Abhijeet S about whom we hardly know anything. Roman Flame has drawn 10. Jockey Abhijeet claims a five-kg allowance. I am unable to make a case for Roman Flame. At the same time, I do not wish to oppose her given how brilliant her debut was.

 

Schiehaillon is the one to pick up the pieces if Roman Flame fails. The Aussie Rules gelding has a record that is worth a second look. Suraj Narredu gets the call.

 

Aquamarine is the one to beat in the sixth race. The Mastercraftsman filly could not give weight to The General in Race 37. She is back with the girls. She did well in the Mumbai winter Classics. She ticks the right boxes.

 

I do not have an opinion about the seventh race.

 

Sunday’s finale is difficult and intriguing.        

American Pharoah tries to add the Travers feather to his glittering cap

Despite living abroad, thanks to the technological marvel called the internet, I have been able to follow horse racing in India. It was perhaps about 15 years ago that Indian racing began its world wide web journey.

 

America provided a good platform for me to see all the big events in the US racing calendar. It also made it convenient for me to travel to Europe, Japan and Dubai. The Melbourne Cup is the one glaring omission from the list of places I have visited. I made a seven-day trip to Trinidad in December 2006 to see racing at Santa Rosa racecourse.

 

My winter sojourns in India  (since 2000) have helped me make friends and develop contacts. I contributed to Indiarace in a big way for five years. RWITC carried a lot my stories and that gave me considerable exposure.

 

Given my interest in Indian racing and the time I spend understanding it, I believe that the time has come for me to venture into the ‘handicapping’ arena. I will make a beginning in this piece.

 

There are two meetings on Saturday, August 29, 2015. Let us deal with Pune first.

 

I like the chances of Lord Jim in the fourth race. Pesi Shroff trains Lord Jim, an Iffraaj progeny. Lord Jim was an eye-catching second in his debut. An odds on chance in his next start, Lord Jim delivered in impressive fashion. On February 28, 2015, Lord Jim, Richard Hughes up, ran listlessly in an 1800-metre race. Shivalik Showers won easily making it all and franked that form climbing to greater heights. Lord Jim, without question, did not perform up to his potential. Officially, no explanation has been given. Exactly six months later, the Shroff trainee sets foot on the track. The freshening should have done Lord Jim a world of good. Trevor Patel gets the call. Lord Him finds eminently manageable opposition.

 

There is another horse that I like in the Pune card. It is Jupiter in the fifth race.   In his first race in a handicap, Jupiter was ridden aggressively by Yash Narredu. Stalking the pacesetter until the final turn, Jupiter bounded forward when asked the question. I feel that there is more to come. Yes, jockey Sunil rides but claims a three and one half kilo allowance. Sunil is unlikely to hurt Jupiter’s chances. Christmas Eve, a filly with speed, will attempt start to finish tactics. Once looked in the eye, from what I have seen, she throws in the towel.

 

I have three in Kolkata that I strongly recommend. Real Presence, Shailesh Shibde up, went down fighting in a photo finish as  the 65/100 favorite. It is time for Real Presence to make a winner’s circle visit.

 

In the third, Torero,  who was touched off in his last outing, is ready. P S Chouhan has the mount.

 

The sixth race is the Kolkata  Monsoon Sprint. Deserving Visit has the most appeal. The China Visit filly has a record good as gold. Returning from a layoff, Deserving Visit, in the hands of C Alford, roared thru the short Kolkata stretch to win in her Monsoon debut. She is in cracking form and it is difficult to oppose her.

 

Here is news from England. Richard Hughes has been granted a trainer’s license. He will train in a yard located in Hampshire. British bookmakers are offering even money that Hughes will have a winner (as a trainer) at Glorious Goodwood in 2016. Richard Hughes has had  remarkable numbers as a jockey at the Chicester course.

 

American Pharoah will leave from post two in the Travers on Saturday. . The Travers (dirt 2000 metres) has a 10-horse field. The Bob Baffert pupil is the 1/5 morning line favorite. Coral, the UK bookmaker, is offering 2/7. It is about 29/100.

 

Texas Red, winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile in 2014 and the Jim Dandy winner at Belmont this year as a sophomore, will oppose American Pharoah. Frosted, second in the Belmont Stakes and again second in the Jim Dandy, is also in the Travers line up.

 

Two facts about Saratoga this year. The inside has not been productive. Favorites have been falling like nine pins.  Will the Triple Crown champion overcome these  two trends?

 

Only three Triple Crown winners have raced in the Travers. Gallant Fox was the runner-up in 1930. Whirlaway won in 1941. Affirmed, who had beaten Alydar in the Triple Crown races in 1978, won the Travers but was disqualified and placed second behind Alydar.

 

On Thursday, American Pharoah made a five-minute appearance for a gallop at Saratoga. Jorge Alvarez, the regular exercise rider, was aboard. He said, “you want to make sure that they handle the track the first time on it. He has been to numerous tracks. He handled it really well.”

 

American Pharoah will have another gallop on Friday and Bob Baffert will supervise the work.

 

Saturday’s Saratoga has an abundance of Grade I contests. The Travers is the centerpiece. There is the Ballerina, the King’s Bishop, the Forego, the Sword Dancer and the Personal Ensign.

 

When the Arc weekend racing is completed on October 4, Longchamp, the storied Paris course, will be demolished and reconstruction will begin. The plan calls for an all-weather track too. Longhcamp will not be ready until 2017. It is not known where the 2016 Arc De Triomphe will be run. Either Maisons Laffite or Saint Cloud, both Paris tracks, will face the axe. The decision will come soon.

 

I have great memories of Saint Cloud, It is left handed and it is beautiful.

 

I have been going to Longchamp for close to 20 years. The Arc weekend is one of the best organized meetings. The viewing area, the transportation, the press facilities and the general ambience are unparalleled.

 

American Pharoah sets sights on Saratoga's Travers

Is this a coincidence or what? La Tonnarella, a five year-old Glory Of Dancer mare, won a race in Pune on Sunday August 23, 2015. The Vishal Gaikwad-trained La Tonnarella had not raced since April 5, 2014. She failed in her debut. The April 5, 2014 start was La Tonnarella’s second start. She was a prohibitive favorite and who else was on board? It was Trevor Patel. La Tonnarella won laughing and the margin was nine lengths.

 

Turn the clock forward. On Sunday, August 23, 2015, the race was over 1400 metres. Trevor Patel was riding La Tonnarella who was the favorite and a clear favorite. Held up and making headway from halfway, La Tonnarella proved the fastest when it mattered in the lane. Trainer Gaikwad deserves recognition for a special skill. How many trainers can have a horse race-ready after an 18-month layoff? It is a simple case of defying conventional wisdom.

 

We now take a look at the Betfred Ebor, a 2800-metre race, run in York (England) on Saturday, August 22, 2015. Litigant, a seven year-old gelding by Sinndar out of Jomana (by Darshan),  had run on April 18, 2014 and was winning his fourth race in a row. Move the clock forward to August 22, 2015. Litigant was a 33/1 outsider in the Ebor .  Oisin Murphy, a promising young British rider, was aboard. Litigant came from trainer Joseph Tuite’s yard. Litigant asserted himself in no uncertain terms. Another case of conventional wisdom going awry. The question is if Vishal Gaikwad was Litigant’s trainer and Trevor Patel the rider, would the odds have been much lower?

 

Long layoffs are a concern in handicapping. It is a rule that must be rigidly followed. Yes, there are exceptions and those exceptions must be evaluated with due care and thought.

 

On the American front, there is news worth reporting. There were three Triple Crown champions in the US in the 1970-1980 span. Secretariat did it in 1973. Seattle Slew won all three races in 1977. In 1978, Affirmed and Steve Cauthen accomplished the feat. It was not until 2015 that there was another Triple Crown champion.  American Pharoah, favorite in every one of the contests, delivered in effortless fashion. In early August, American Pharoah, a son of Pioneerofthenile, made the trip to Monmouth Park (New Jersey) and justified odds on favoritism in the William Hill Haskell Invitational.

It has now been confirmed that American Pharoah will go to Saratoga (upstate New York) to race in the Grade I Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 29, 2015.

 

The decision was made after American Pharoah did an exceptional piece of work at Del Mar where he is stationed. A pupil of trainer Bob Baffert, American Pharoah was ridden by Martin Garcia. After going through fractions of 23, 47 1/5, 58.4/5 and  1 10 3/5, the three-year old American Pharoah completed 1,400 metres in 1 23:1/5.

 

Bob Baffert, rarely lavish in his praise, said, “it was  pretty incredible work. He is a pretty incredible horse.”

 

Asked to comment on a possible clash with Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (October 31 at Keeneland), Baffert gave an evasive but humorous answer. “I just hope she (Beholder) is his (American Pharoah’s) first date next year. They need to date.”

 

The Travers, called the midsummer Derby, has a 1. 25 million dollar purse. It has been increased to 1.6 million.

 

Saratoga has long been called the ‘graveyard of champions,’ Secretariat was beaten at Saratoga. It is a five-week meeting that carries immense prestige.

 

American Pharoah will be flown on August 26 to New York from San Diego. Victor Espinosa, going through a renaissance in his riding career, will continue the partnership.

 

It has been stated that the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be American Pharoah’s swan song. It is indeed a courageous gesture on the part of American Pharoah’s connections to have accepted to race in the Travers.

 

Athens, winner of the Bangalore Oaks this year, is a daughter of Pioneerofthenile.  Empire Maker, winner of the 2003 Belmont Stakes in the slop, is Pioneerofthenile’s father. On that day, across the pond, Kris Kin, Kieren Fallon up, won the Epsom (Vodafone) Derby.

Look over your credit card statements carefully

This is a lesson all credit card users need to learn. Before you pay the balance or part of the balance every month, please go through the items. And go through the items carefully.

 

Seven years ago, my credit card carried a nine-dollar charge for a highway toll in France. On the date the toll was incurred, I had returned to Chicago from Paris. Marriott Courtyard charged me for a breakfast (Pasadena, California )  after I had left a hotel. Marriott charged me for a movie I did not watch in my room. Radisson in (Stockholm, Sweden) charged me for a bottle of wine (in the mini fridge) that I did not consume.

 

These are not mistakes or cases of  oversight.  I strongly believe that this is a pattern. These (fraudulent) charges are inserted in your card statement. There are many who pay the amount without checking the charges. If one cardholder out of 100 pays this charge, it is money that these businesses get without providing the service.

 

In my July Chase Explorer Card statement, there was a $24.95 charge for a Time Magazine renewal. When I asked for a Time (12 months) subscription in July 2014, I used my Explorer card. As a matter of principle, I do not opt for automatic renewals.

 

I disputed the charge with Chase. My daughter (in Redmond, Washington) called Time and asked that the subscription be cancelled. She was told that it had been done and that the credit card will be notified.

 

In the August statement, a $24.95 charge for Time has appeared. I disputed the charge with Chase.

 

I went to the TIME webpage and canceled the subscription. I wanted an explanation why a second charge is in my statement after the subscription had been canceled.

 

I am awaiting TIME’s reply.

 

The point is that any merchant can put in a charge. It, then, becomes your headache. Same thing with US credit reports. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can put in a negative item. You have to fight it.

 

All businesses indulge in this nefarious practice. Please look over the items in your monthly statement.

 

Beholder teaches boys a racing lesson in the Pacific Classic

This is a horse racing story that has to be told. What happened at Del Mar in California on Saturday was out of the ordinary. Let me set the table. The race was the $1,000.000 Grade I Pacific Classic over 2000 metres. Beholder, a girl tackling the boys, was the favorite despite the fact that she was going over 2,000 metres  for the first time in her career. 

 

Beholder, ridden by Gary Stevens, justified the public confidence. Yes, she won without giving any anxiety to her supporters. And yes, she became the first filly or mare to win the Pacific Classic but the overwhelming part of the story was the manner in which Beholder did it.

 

Beholder and jockey Stevens sat third through fractions of 22.36, 45.45 and 1 09:98 and when Stevens let his mount loose, the five year-old Henny Hughes mare, shot to the front. In a matter of strides, the Pacific Classic had been put to bed. Beholder ran on putting daylight between herself and her adversaries. The winning margin was eight and one quarter lengths. The mile came in 1 35:2 and Beholder completed the 2000-metre journey in 1 59:77.

 

Richard Mandella, Beholder’s trainer,   was winning his fourth Pacific Classic since the race was instituted in 1991. “When she made that move, it just took my breath away,” Mandella said.

 

Jockey Stevens was effusive in his praise. “She did all that on her own. Her ears were pricked straight up as if it was a morning workout. I knew she hadn’t hit the after burners yet. I let out a scream as we went past the wire. It was out of jubilation. This mare makes me emotional,” Stevens averred.

 

Beholder now has a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to be run on October 31 at Keeneland Race Course. It is the mighty American Pharoah that Beholder will face in that race.

 

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff is another option. Beholder, by virtue of her win in the Clement Hirsch, has an automatic berth in the Distaff.

 

Beholder is Henny Hughes, a Grade I winner of the King’s Bishop and the Vosburgh stakes. Henny Hughes is a son of Hennessy. Leslie’s Lady, a daughter of Tricky Creek,  is Beholder’s mother.

 

I will be at Keeneland for the two-day Breeders’ Cup meeting on October 30 and 31.

 

I saw Beholder win the Juvenile Fillies race at the Breeders’ Cup festival in 2012 at Santa Anita. I was at Santa Anita again when she  won the Distaff in 2013 as a three year-old. In 2014, she was a late scratch in the Distaff.

 

Treve remains favorite to win the Arc De Triomphe this year. Now five, Treve is on course to make it three in a row. It is a case of a girl taking the boys on. With Golden Horn’s loss in York’s Juddmonte International, Treve is firmly planted atop the pecking order. The Arc will be run at Longchamp on October 4.

 

In the US, Beholder has run out of competition in the distaff division. Her Pacific Classic romp should encourage her connections to take their chances against American Pharoah.  What a treat will that be? Mouth-watering may be a hackneyed cliché. Let me call it ‘nerve-tingling.’

 

 

Air Ticket Mess

My wife and I have been in Chennai, India since early July. We are here to attend two weddings.

Every winter we leave our Chicago base to go to India for four months. More often than not, we use frequent flyer miles to book our tickets.

On Monday August 17, 2015 about 3 P M India time I contacted the American Airlines award travel ticketing section. I used the Skype system to call. It was 1 30 AM in America on Monday. The wait time is short when it is late night or early morning in the US.

After I had given the preliminary information, I got connected to an agent within a minute. I spoke to a patient and friendly lady agent. You need 135,000 miles for a round trip business ticket. I and my wife had enough miles in our respective accounts.

The agent was able to find two business (round trip) seats with Qatar Airways, a partner in the One World group that American heads. I gave the agent my frequent flyer number. She confirmed the (number of ) miles in my account. She made the booking and gave me a reference (what is called a record locator) number.

We moved on to my wife's ticket. I gave the agent my wife's frequent flyer number. She confirmed that there enough miles in my wife's account. She made the reservation and gave a record locator number.

I gave her my (Citi MasterCard) number. The cost (phone booking charges and taxes and fees) were charged. The agent assured me that the process was complete and that I would receive confirmation for the two bookings by email.

Twelve hours later, there was a confirmation for my wife's ticket. No confirmation for me.

I checked my frequent flyer account. A 135,000-mile deduction had been made.

There was no deduction from my wife's account.

Something had gone wrong.

I waited for 24 hours. I called  3 30 AM Tuesday US time. I got through to an agent quickly. I explained the situation. The agent responded. "Sir, you did not have enough miles in your account for two tickets."

Another attempt was made. I said that a deduction had been made in my account and my wife's ticket had been issued. I had not been ticketed and that no miles had been taken from my wife's account.

Finally, the agent seemed to grasp the problem. Then there was this statement from the agent. "Sir, I now see what has happened. I need the credit card information but it must be your wife's card."

My wife has a Citi card but we did not have it in our possession. I pleaded with the agent to look at the number of times we have travelled together. She was adamant. "Sir, I cannot help you unless I have (my wife's) credit card information."

The conversation ended.

We contacted our daughter who had my wife's credit card. We obtained the details.

My wife called American. This is where luck came in. We are blessed. The lady agent did not take more a minute to understand our predicament. "There is a simple solution," she told my wife.

"I will take the miles from your account and issue a ticket for your husband and let me have the credit card information. I see the last four digits of the card," she said.

The agent mentioned the last four digits in the card and asked to confirm the validity date (until when) and the three-digit security code on the back of the card. Not a word that the card had to be my wife's. The exercise was over.

Yes, there's a security concern when using credit cards. In our case, there was overwhelming evidence everything was proper. The agent, playing hardball, made it difficult. From the first exchange, she appeared impatient.

The lesson is that no two agents ( people) are the same. You need to be lucky. We got lucky.

After all, we are going to travel together. We have been American passengers for a number of years. It was nothing but luck that brought an exasperating experience to a delightful end.

All this while hoping and praying that the Skype connection will not get disconnected.

Prince Bishop wins Dubai World Cup

I want you all to read Sam Walker's piece in the Racing Post about Prince Bishop winning the Dubai World Cup on Saturday.

I have often said that 'pace makes the race.' The pace was very quick. In the early stages, Prince Bishop, William Buick up, was unable to keep up. It would be appropriate to say that Prince Bishop was more out of the race than in it. The Dubai authorities had changed the Tapeta surface to conventional dirt to encourage American participation. The move may not have the desired effect but it has opened the door to US-based runners. Secret Circle , trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza, won the 1200-metre Golden Shaheen. The Golden Shaheen result was in keeping with the pattern set for the day. Speed was good and front runners did very well. The Dubai World Cup was an exception.

The pace set in the World Cup was unsustainable. California Chrome, wide for the most part, was part of the pace-making apparatus. I tried to get the fractions but could not despite a diligent search.
The speed machine fell apart.  Prince Bishop went from last to first.

Could California Chrome's jockey Victor Espinoza have done something different? It is a judgement call. California Chrome has done well when up with the pacesetters. The last thing that jockey Espinoza would have thought about was Prince Bishop making up that much ground in the stretch.

Yes, I had a small wager on California Chrome. I had a friend make my wager at an offtrack location in suburban Chicago.

Races are run to determine the winner. More often than not, the result does not meet our expectation.
That is what we need to understand.

A horse not being allowed to run on merit is a serious charge. Such a charge needs a higher-than-usual standard of evidence. In the absence of such evidence, 'the benefit of the doubt' theory prevails.

Take the case of Oxford Opinion. The MAM-owned youngster was making the fifth start in his career. Why would he shy away? Why would he become temperamental? He won in a 12-horse field in Bangalore. He was third in a big field in Mumbai's Poonawalla Million. In a four-horse field, Oxford Opinion was on his worst behavior. I am not attributing a motive. Frankie Dettori told me after running unplaced in the 2007 Arc de Triomphe with Authorized, "whenever horses race poorly, if we can pinpoint the reason, we will all be millionaires."

Suraj Narredu is going to France. He will ride there until mid-May. He called  Monday evening. Wished him good luck.

Yash Narredu called me. I said until we meet again, take care of yourself  and ride a lot of winners.



    

Dream Ahead mile clear in Middle Park: Hooray confirms progression in Chevely Park

Before the third race at Newmarket on Friday, the going was officially changed to ‘soft.’ Hooray was dipping her toe in uncharted waters and trainer Sir Mark Prescott had doubts about his filly’s propensity to handle soft ground. Fans, however, were unwavering in their faith and Hooray was the best fancied in the 1200-meter Cheveley Park Stkes, a Group I Contest for freshman girls. The Sir Mark Prescott trainee,coming off a romp in Kempton's Sirenia Stakes, was the 7/2 favorite.

Seb Sanders got away well and in a matter of strides, Hooray established control. The margn widened as the race developed. Sanders had little or no work to do as Hooray went on to win by four and one half lengths in a time of 1 14.09 seconds. That was Hooray's fourth win in seven starts. Hooray is by Invincible Spirit out of Hypnotize who's by Machiavellian.

Natagora and Special Duty, winners of the Cheveley Park Stakes in recent years, have gone on to win the English 1000 Guineas the following year. Will Hooray follow in their footsteps? Sir Mark Precott tried to answer that question. "I did not think she would handle the ground. When they are useful as she is on fast ground, you worry. She has been improving. We stopped restraining her and let her go on. It has been the making of her. She was very impressive although I believe she will not be an effective miler," Sir Prescott averred.

Jockey Sanders expressed his opinion. "She is improving all the time. Her best performances have been on fast ground but she handled today's ground."

The other Group I race at Newmarket on Friday was the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes. It was a race over 1200 metres for two year-old (entire) colts. Dream Ahead, coming off a facile victory in the Prix Morny at rain-softened Deauville, was going for a hat trick and was the 5/4 favorite. William Buick had the David Simcock trainee held up in the rear of the eight-runner field. Strong Suit, Richard Hughes up, drew first blood as they raced into the dip. Dream Ahead was seen making quick headway. As the leader was sighted coming out of the dip, it was Dream Ahead who had said 'goodbye' to the field. Despite veering across the track,the Diktat colt won drawing away by nine lengths in 1 14.28 seconds.The time tells you how (very) soft the ground was. Strong Suit edged Approve for the runner-up berth. Land of Dreams (by Cadeaux Genereux) is the dam of Dream Ahead. The Middle Park win gave Dream Ahead a three for three career record.

The Racing Post called Dream Ahead's effort a 'barnstorming performance.' Dream Ahead was introduced to the 2000 Guineas market as a 4/1 chance. Trainer Simcock spoke about how much his colt loves soft ground. "He won't run with any 'firm' in the description this year. He is an exciting horse. It is very much a relief and we are lucky to find one like him."

Jockey Buick spoke. "He's an amazing horse. He gave me a feel that no other horse has ever given me.He will be hard to beat. Bring on next year," he exulted.

Here are tidbits that you should find interesting. Blame arrived in New York early Friday afternoon. He had a workout at Keeneland before being put on the plane.

Belmont Park cancelled Friday's card. Saturday's weather forecast is encouraging.

Grand Couturier has been retired. The son of Royal Lodge earned $1,449,701. He was a hard nut to crack on the grass. Trainer Robert Ribaudo talked about the physical problens that plagued his pupil. The announcement came on Thursday. Grand Couturier won the Grade I Sword Dancer Invitational in 2007 and 2008. He also won the 2008 edition of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

In England on Friday, Richard Hughes won with Scottish Boggie, the 5/4 favorite, at Newmarket. Paul Hanaghan had one winner, the 11/8 favorite, Haylaman, at Wolverhampton. Hanaghan has a nine-win lead going into Saturday's races.

Maxime Guyon clicked with three winners at Saint Cloud on Friday. The going was extremely soft. Jockey Guyon won with Golden Lilac, the 4/5 favorite trained by Andre Fabre. The duo won again with the 59/10 Kreem. Guyon's third winner was the 23/10 favorite, trained by E Leenders. Guyon is among the leaders in the riding department in France.

Sha Tin had two big races on Saturday. Sacred Kingdom, a multiple Group winner, made a worthwhile addition to his tally. The ultra quick Sacred Kingdom landed the 1000-metre Grade III Sha Tin Sprint Trophy as the 9.4 favorite. The time was 55.95 seconds on the Sha Tin turf course. Brett Prebble rode for trainer P F Yiu.

The other event, the National Day Cup over 1400 metres (turf) was taken by Lucky Nine who was the 27/20 favorite. Caspar Fownes, who has strong India connections, trains Lucky Nine. It was another high profile win for jockey Brett Prebble.

In the next blog, we'll look at Saturday's Newmarket action. There are big fields and wide open races. Three races have 20 or more runners. The feature is the Group I Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes over 1600 metres for fillies and mares. The Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap) has 35 runners and it is a 1800-metre race.

Longchamp has four Group II races on Saturday. We will look at the results briefly. America has a boatload of stakes action.

Saturday at Longchamp was damp and discouraging and there was a 5000-strong crowd. The skies are clearing in Paris and the forecast calls for dry weather until late Sunday. The rainfall has been so heavy that the going is likely to be soft. The Arc is supposed to attract 50,000 fans. A large throng is expected from Ireland and England.

October 2, 2010

Heavy rain in France and England as big races draw close: Freshman boys and girls hold center stage on Friday at Newmarket

Rain is dampening enthusiasm and causing drastic changes in the plans of big racing stables as major races are looming large in Europe. Newmarket has two Group I races, the Middle Park Stakes and the Cheveley Park stakes, that will be the co-features on Friday. There has been heavy rainfall and more rain is on the way.

Across the channel, rain is playing havoc in Paris. Doubts have been expressed about some well-backed contenders running at week’s end. The Arc on Sunday is likely to have 20 runners but there is every chance that a smaller field will go postward.

Here is news that is headline material. Goldikova may not run in Sunday’s Prix de la Foret. Freddie Head, Goldikova’s trainer, issued a statement on Thursday. “We’ll wait until the last possible moment. If it rains a lot, Goldikova won’t run in the Foret and she will go directly to the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 6. The mare is in great form.”

Two high profile withdrawals were announced on Thursday. Snow Fairy, Ed Dunlop’s dual Oaks-winning filly, will not travel to the French capital. She was scheduled to go in the Prix de l’Opera. Trainer Dunlop cited deteriorating weather in Paris. Native Khan, the unbeaten (two starts) freshman, will not line up for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Dunlop has said that Snow Fairy may take her chances in Newmarket’s Champion Stakes on October 16. Native Khan’s next target is either the Dewhurst Stakes or the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

There is one British contender for the Arc who has been given the green light. Workforce, a disappointment in the King George after a romp in the Epsom Derby, worked satisfactorily on Thursday at Newmarket and will be in Sunday’s Arc field. There was an immediate shake up in the Arc market.

Let us a take a look at Friday’s Newmarket plums. The third race is the 1200-metre Group I Cheveley Park Stakes. It is for freshman girls. Eleven run. Hooray looks for three wins in a row and is owned by the sponsors of the race. Although she needs to find more, Hooray has shown a progressive trend and may be able to manage the step-up. The soft going will have a big impact on several runners.

The fourth race is the Group I Shadwell Middle Park Stakes. It is also a 1200-metre contest for entire (freshman) colts. Dream Ahead is two for two in his career. After making a winning debut, Dream Ahead, trained by David Simcock, won the Group I Prix Morny at Deauville next time out. Soft going will help Dream Ahead’s cause. William Buick will ride Dream Ahead. Eight colts will go to the starting gate.

Blame faces seven rivals in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup to be run at Belmont Park (New York) on Saturday. Trainer Al Stall Jr, has exuded optimism about his trainee and is using Saturday’s race as the prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Blame seeks his sixth consecutive win. The Stephen Foster and the Whitney are Grade I races that Blame has won this year.

Racing at Belmont Park on Thursday was cancelled because of heavy rain. The flight bringing Blame to New York from Kentucky was cancelled as well. The flight has been scheduled for early Friday. Paddy O’Prado, favorite in the Grade I Hirsch Turf Classic, will travel in the same plane. There are three other Grade I races on Saturday. Females will go on the turf in the Flower Bowl. Then there is the Beldame for fillies and mares on the dirt. Finally, the Vosburgh over 1400 metres on the dirt will also be run. There are eleven races on Saturday at Belmont Park. Dry weather is forecast for Saturday.

Fly Down, Mythical Power, Tranquil Manner, Dry Martini, Haynesfield, Hold Me Back and Rail Trip will oppose Blame in the Gold Cup to be run over 2000 metres. This is the first time that Blame will run over 2000 metres.

Hoosier Park hosts the Grade II $500,000 Indiana Derby on Saturday. Hoosier Park is in Anderson, Indiana and is a three-hour drive from Chicago. Looking At Lucky takes on eight sophomores in the 1700-metre test on the dirt. A Bob Baffert trainee, Looking At Lucky won the Preakness in May and the Haskell Invitational in early August. Martin Garcia comes in from southern California to ride. Despite missing a month of training owing to an illness, Looking At Lucky has had four workouts since September 8.

Also on tap on Saturday at Hoosier Park is the Grade II $200,000 Indiana Oaks. There are other big prizes in that Hoosier Park card.

Now we come to Zenyatta. The Street Cry mare is heavily favored to win the Grade I Lady’s Secret on Saturday at Hollywood Park. She is 18 for 18 and a victory on Saturday will put her on par with Pepper’s Pride who retired with a 19 for 19 record. Zenyatta faces five adversaries.

Jockey Mike Smith talked about Zenyatta getting good this time of year. “She seems to get good at this time of year the last few years, The way she is going, she seems like she can do it again this year.”

Trainer John Shirreffs said, “she has been so consistent all the time. She has been the same all year long. It is unbelievable.”

There are 10 races at Hollywood Park. There are three other Grade I races. You have the Norfolk Stakes for freshmen. There is the Yellow Ribbon on the turf for distaffers. Goodwood Stakes, for three year-olds and up, will also be showcased.

Here is an update on the English riding title. Paul Hanaghan won with Heartbreak, a 3/1 chance trained by Richard Fahey, at Ayr. Richard Hughes rode two winners at Kempton for Jeremy Noseda. It was a twilight meeting. Hughes scored with Zip Lock, the 10/11 chalk and with Illustrious Prince, a 4/1 chance. Hanaghan leads Hughes 162-153.

Thursday, September 30, 2010