5 things I learnt at York this week…..
1) Jockey’s are either stubborn or stupid….
How else can you explain the way they blindly followed each other down the centre of the course in the races immediately following the 2.15 after Dream Lodge had stuck to the rails to run the race of his life and finish 2nd in a Group 3 with some very smart opponents toiling behind him. He was the lowest rated of all the runners and the outsider of the field so it would make sense to think that he had gained an advantage by running up the far side of the track. But no, not if you’re a jockey. They had made their mind up that racing down the centre was the best way to go and all the runners in the City of York stakes came down the middle with not one of them daring to try the far side route. Crazy….
2) Owners don’t deserve any sympathy.
4 runners in the International Stakes and all were Irish…What a state of affairs when a Group 1 race with hundreds of thousands of pounds in prizemoney cannot muster a single home runner. All 4 to line up were Irish, two were pacemakers and though the race itself was a cracker I can’t believe that there isn’t a single horse in Britain who couldn’t get within 32 lengths of Mastercraftsman over 1m 2f. If there is an owner of a 10f horse rated over 100 who isn’t kicking himself for not taking his chance I’d be very surprised. £64k for finishing third or £32k for fourth and all you had to do is beat a pacemaker? You don’t get that sort of money for WINNING certain Group races and you need to win an awful lot of handicaps to make that kind of cash.
3) The St. Leger just got interesting….
With both big race fancies Alwaary and Harbinger out the back of the field in the Great Voltigeur and winner Monitor Closely unlikely to take his chance in the final classic of the season the St Leger has been blown wide open. Kite Wood is the favourite and has done nothing wrong since The Derby but I’m sticking with my fancy Father Time and backing him again at 14/1. He moved up very stylishly at York before not going through with his effort and coming home in 3rd. He looked to me in need of softer ground and with that quite likely at Doncaster he is still high on my list. 7 of the last 12 St Leger winners ran in the Great Voltigeur but didn’t necessarily win it with finishing positions of 2413211 proving that a top 4 finish is what is important.
4) Tax Free should not be backed at Ascot…
It’s patently clear now that should Tax Free ever run at Ascot again we should avoid him like the plague. After his excellent 4th in the Nunthorpe yesterday it brings his career to 34 runs of which he has finished in the top 5 on 30 occasions and has won 14 times. He really is a genuine top class sprinter who always runs his race….Except at Ascot! Of the 4 times he has been out of the top five 3 have occured at the Berkshire track finishing 15th of 28, 11th of 20 and 14th of 15. Something to remember come next June.
5) Red Badge is one to watch out for…
I doubt I was the only one who was scribbling down the name of this horse after his run in the sales race on Thursday as he looked desperately unlucky not to have been involved in the finish. He had run some fine races before then including a 3rd to Buzzword and a 2nd at Glorious Goodwood and he is surely a winner waiting to happen. A maiden race should now be a formality. I await his return with great anticipation.
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Not a great day’s racing for a Saturday but I’ve managed to dig out four for today…
In the 2.55 Chester Henry Cecil runs Unleashed and this one should appreciate the drop into handicap company. He’s run in Group 3 and Listed races this season and while not troubling the judge has shown enough to convince me that he can take this race off a mark of 102
3.30 Chester. This is a cracking handicap with all the usual suspects lining up. Racer Forever has been running well in the big 7f handicaps all season and from stall 6 can gain his reward today.
5.25 Sandown. A speculative punt on a bit of a monkey. Seventh Cavalry has managed to make the top 4 in 14 of his 16 starts but has never got his head in front. There’s obviously some ability there and I hope Neil Callan can be the jockey to bring out the best in him.
3.15 Sandown Lang Shining is one of my horses to follow and today looks the day he gets his head in front. He ran 2nd in this race last year off the same rating and has this is obviously his seasonal target. He’s managed to get a good draw and I think everything is in place for a big run.
I’ll be staking £4ew at 7/1 on him for my £100 to a Grand challenge.
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Good luck,
Gavin.
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:45 am
You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
Hi Gavin,
I’m still in a mind to keep on the right side of Alwaary. I’m just now certain that he doesn’t like or handle anything firmer than genuine good going (I await other excuses for his performance - genuine ones, such as blood “not right” etc.) but will be having an each way saver on Father Time in the Leger - I’m like you, having some reservations about Kite Wood but will mainly be keeping my powder dry till the day or eve of the race so that there’s some indication of the weather and going.
All the best,
Jez