5 things I learnt over the weekend.
1) Jamie Spencer really is The Hankerchief…
i.e. he’s always in a pocket. The ride he gave Father Time in The Leger was definitely not his finest hour. I know I’m talking through my pocket, although I did have a nice saver on the winner, but he spent the entire period from 3 furlongs out trying to find a gap on a horse full of running. In a long distance race like the Leger you need to get your horse galloping as evenly as possible not stopping and starting as you try and find a gap. Asking a stayer to run in snatches like that doesn’t do the horse (or punters) any favours and uses up valuable energy that is needed at the end of the race. I’ve never been a fan of Frank Spencer and his ride on Saturday has done nothing to change my views on him, why Tom Queally wasn’t onboard I’ll never know.
2) York’s Acomb Stakes could be one of the 2yo races of the season…
The result of the race read
1st) Elusive Pimpernel
2nd) Emerald Commander - won easily next time out in a Listed race
3rd) Poets Voice - won the Group 3 Champagne Stakes on Saturday
4th) Vale of York - won Listed race at Goodwood
5th) Mata Keranjang - 2nd in the same Listed race at Goodwood
On his debut at Newmarket’s July meeting Elusive Pimpernel had Poets Voice and Emerald Commander back in 3rd and 4th. He is 2 from 2 this season and 20/1 for next years 2000 Guineas. Next stop is likely to be the Dewhurst. Could be some value there.
3) French Stewards are a law unto themselves…
Their rules on interference are different from ours and strictly applying these rules to yesterday’s Prix Vermeille there were grounds (however slim) for disqualifying Dar Re Mi. She slightly hampered the 5th horse home Soberania and if the stewards thought that this denied the filly a better place than she achieved then Dar Re Mi has to be disqualified and placed behind Soberina. In this case that’s exactly what they thought and she was therefore placed 5th and Soberania promoted to 4th. What is strange about this case is that when Dylan Thomas won the Arc (great result!) he too hampered a horse, the 4th home Soldier of Fortune, and definitely denied him a higher placing. He was allowed to keep the race that day but looked a certainty to be disqualified. Maybe the fact that the second horse in the Arc was also British trained swayed their decision whereas yesterday a certain French superstar was the runner-up. Sacre Bleu! Mais Non! Hors de question!
4) War Artist may yet win a Group 1 in Europe…
James Eustace must be another trainer reading this blog as in bringing War Artist back to 5f he was able to win a Group sprint yesterday and put himself very much in the reckoning for next months Prix de L’Abbaye. I’d long thought and written that this distance would bring out the best in him and although he managed to pick up a weak Group 2 in Germany over 6f I definitely think his best chance of Group 1 success will come over 5f. France’s most prestigious sprint beckons and I’ll be backing him accordingly.
5) I reckon I saw the Ayr Gold Cup winner in Saturday’s Portland…
With the ground likely to be softer and the distance over slightly further I’m pretty sure I saw the Ayr Gold Cup winner run in Saturday’s Portland Handicap. There’s only 7 days between the two races this year but these sprinters are tough animals and I don’t think that will affect him too much. I’ll let you know his name later in the week…
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Before I go I’ll leave you with another mathematical problem that has caused no end of debate since it was first aired on the Monty Hall TV show in America some years ago. I’ve altered the scenario a bit but the underlying problem is exactly the same…..
You’re in a TV quiz show and have made it through to the final round. Chris Tarrant, the host, now places 3 boxes in front of Box A, Box B and Box C. In one of the boxes is a cheque for £50,000 and in the other two boxes there is nothing. If you select the box with the cheque in you get to keep it, simple as that!
You make your choice (Box B) and you and the audience hold your breath in anticipation.
Chris Tarrant then announces ‘I’ll tell you what, I’m going to open one of the other boxes for you’
He proceeds to open Box C and reveals an empty box.
He now asks ‘Would you like to switch boxes?’
And that is the basically the question …..Should you switch boxes? or stick with your original choice?
I’ll reveal all tomorrow but if you want to leave a comment below, please do (simply click on the Comments link at the end of the Post)
Good luck,
Gavin.