The Horse Racing Thread - Part 2

[sammy]

Much weaker renewal than Enable's previous King George wins particularly with main threat Japan running well below expectations and late withdrawal of Anthony Van Dyke. Didn't tell us anything we didn't already know, Yorkshire Oaks next before bidding for a third Arc.

Rather than me waffle on here's Oisin live take as events unfolded.

[Petingo]

Much weaker renewal than Enable's previous King George wins particularly with main threat Japan running well below expectations and late withdrawal of Anthony Van Dyke. Didn't tell us anything we didn't already know, Yorkshire Oaks next before bidding for a third Arc.

Rather than me waffle on here's Oisin live take as events unfolded.

I can’t understand why so many pundits want to talk the mare down.

Saying she wouldn’t count among the top ten mares/fillies over the last half century.

She must be the greatest race mare ever....her record speaks or itself.

English Oaks, Irish Oaks, two Arcs, three King George’s, a Breeder’s Cup winner, two Yorkshire Oaks.

Phenomenal.

[sammy]

Novice event over 1M 3yds at Yarmouth on Tues.
Some well bred sorts from big yards represented, ran in good time.

Piranesi bypassed Redcar Novice entry over 10F on Mon in favour of this. Well supported, he confirmed promise of debut here making just about all the running, soon led, travelled well and quickened when shaken up 2F out, driven out. Still learning as evidenced by him wandering around at business end, remains open to improvement.

[sammy]

Vintage Stakes G2 over 7F at Goodwood.
Usually one of the most informative races for 2yo's going forward and an up to standard renewal.

Royal Ascot Chesham winner Battleground was well supported prior to the off and took another step forward upped in grade here. Took keen hold, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on, considering the pace was only fair it's to his credit he won this with a bit in hand. Holds entries for G2 Futurity and G1 National Stakes both over 7F with Dewhurst likely further down the line, open to further improvement.

Devious Company had to settle for bridesmaid spot again following his 2nd in G2 Superlative behind Master Of The Seas. Matched that run in terms of performance but again had no chance with winner, prominent, led 2F out, kept on when headed over 1F out. Will stay at least 1M and again gave the impression here that a greater test of stamina would benefit.

Dark Lion more or less matched Coventry run here returned to G2 level. Does stay 7F but still of the opinion that a return to 6F would show improvement.

[sammy]

Much weaker renewal than Enable's previous King George wins particularly with main threat Japan running well below expectations and late withdrawal of Anthony Van Dyke. Didn't tell us anything we didn't already know, Yorkshire Oaks next before bidding for a third Arc.

Rather than me waffle on here's Oisin live take as events unfolded.

I can’t understand why so many pundits want to talk the mare down.

Saying she wouldn’t count among the top ten mares/fillies over the last half century.

She must be the greatest race mare ever....her record speaks or itself.

English Oaks, Irish Oaks, two Arcs, three King George’s, a Breeder’s Cup winner, two Yorkshire Oaks.

Phenomenal.

Highlight for me was her 3yo campaign. Five Group 1's, three of them on easy going, two against older horses, a massive workload for a filly that was on the go from April to her victory in the Arc in October. Simply outstanding and a fantastic training performance from Gosden.

[sammy]

Novice event over 7F 218yds at Thirsk on Weds.

Polar Appeal opened account with minimum of fuss at restrictive odds. Made all, travelled fluently, won easily. Open to further improvement particularly over further.

https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/284 ... -2020/1930

[sammy]

Sussex Stakes G1 over 1M at Goodwood on Weds.

Eagerly awaited renewal bringing together English 2000 Gns winner Kamenko, Irish 2000 Gns Winner Siskin, Queen Anne winner and last years runner up Circus Maximus and Mohaather the facile winner of the Summer Mile. As is sometimes the case at Goodwood there was trouble in running.

Mohatheer came here with relatively few miles on the clock having endured an in & out career that saw him visit the track just twice as a 3yo. Suffered a luckless passage in Queen Anne and looked as if history was about to repeat itself when stalking the leaders 2F out he took a bump from Wichita and was forced to switch around the weakening Vatican City. That cost him plenty of momentum but responded well for pressure to sweep past the leaders on wide outside inside final ½F to see it out all the way to the line in impressive fashion. Top class performance.

Circus Maximus has been tried at a variety of trips and has developed into a reliable performer since being trained exclusively for a mile. Had to settle for the runner up spot for second year running once again going down to a speedier miler. Moore made the most of his track position & stamina, shaken up 2F out, kept on but not quicken inside last ½F. Straightforward high class performer.

Siskin did little wrong here and improved again in defeat. Waited with before being switched wide 2F out, every chance after smooth headway over 1F out, one paced. He ran a personal best against top class opposition here despite emptying out in final 100 yds, plenty to be positive about going forward and very likely to remain competitive in G1 company.

Kamenko was the hard luck story of the race. Broke well and initially found himself at head of affairs before Oisin settled him in touch, going well when denied run 2F out, finished with running left. With Mohaather also meeting trouble it's difficult to assess how close he would have gone with a clear run, not guaranteed to meet winner again as connections will be eager to get black type over 10F to enhance stud career earnings. On a side note, Oisin views him as a miler.

Wichita wasn't at home on the undulations evidenced by him hanging into opponents 2F out. Line through this.

Vatican City suffered a tortuous day, losing a shoe and finishing lame after being struck into by stablemate Wichita, he was also found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat. Fingers crossed everything works out ok for him.

[sammy]

Richmond Stakes G2 over 6F at Goodwood on Thurs.

Ordinary renewal with the winner the only one not previously tried at listed or pattern level.

Supremacy took the step up in grade in stride to build on impressive Windsor maiden win in good style. Made all, ridden 2F out and drew clear over 1F out, kept on. Impressive here turning in one of the best 2yo performances thus far, does have stamina in pedigree but likely to stay at 6F with G1 Middle Park a potential target.

Yazaman ran well enough but failed to match previous effort in July Stakes, off the bridle before most, stayed on to take 2nd inside last. Didn't look entirely at home on this track and he's clearly useful but that aside he's developing into a tricky ride.

Lauded disappointed in Coventry following promising debut but back on track here with a good performance. Travelled well, ridden inside 2F mark, not quicken inside last. Far from the finished article and more to offer on this evidence.

Admiral Nelson was another who disappointed in the Coventry last time out put in a better display here. Held up and hung right when ridden 2F out, not persevered with when chance had gone. Looks badly in need of step up to 7F and still remains with potential.

Qadeer disappointed when sent off fav for July Stakes latest and again put in a below par effort here. Travelled well, not quicken when ridden 2F out, no extra final furlong. Has failed to progress last twice.

[sammy]

Gordon Stakes G3 over 1M 3F 218yds at Goodwood on Thurs.

Intriguing renewal and first real test of Derby form.

Mogul has been largely learning on the job, he's not the only one of course but you have to wonder on this evidence how he would have fared in the Derby with a more traditional prep. Ridden over 3f out he took a while to knuckle down before closing on rivals approaching final 1f, stayed on to lead final 50 yds, ridden out. Heading in the right direction and should go on improving. A rematch with stablemate Serpentine in Grand Prix de Paris reportedly on the cards.

Highland Chief made little impression in the Derby having virtually pulled his chance away early doors. Much more like it here under a more considered ride helping him to produce career best effort, travelled well and smooth headway 3F out, lacked the gears business end but kept on nicely. Nice colt, up to landing a pattern class event, stays 12F but may prove just as effective over 10F.

Subjectivist was highly tried as juvenile over shorter than this trip. Came here off back of Listed win and ran a personal best upped in grade under a canny ride from experienced pilot. Led and went clear, further extended lead at halfway, kicked on again 3F out before being headed inside final 50yds. Really battled well here, already proven over 14F and likely to stay 2M he could develop into a smart staying sort. Connections likely to favour Leger as next target.

English King didn't have much go his way in the Derby and was sent off the well backed jolly in the expectation of a better run. No excuses here where he never looked like threatening his rivals, didn't quicken after being shaken up in the straight, kept on final furlong. While this was a disappointing effort it left the overall impression that further may see him in a better light and with that in mind the Leger would seem the logical choice going forward.

Khalifa Sat put in a credible effort, employed same tactics as in the Derby here being the first to make his move in chase of leader. He was all out when receiving a bump around the 1F mark from Highland Chief and faded late on. Another who may progress for a sterner test of stamina.

[sammy]

Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes G3 over 1M at Goodwood on Fri.

Interference by the winner landed Moore 5 day ban for careless riding.

Tilsit with just two previous AW maiden runs was making turf debut. Significantly upped in class put in smart display despite still running green, causing interference with runner up at business end. Travelled well, effort over 2F out to lead 1F out, hung sharply right inside final furlong, quickened clear. Won this readily, should get further and will go on improving.

My Oberon came here with similar profile to winner having contested just two maidens and quickly upped in grade. Better than the bare result and would have finished closer to the winner had he not met interference. Led, shaken up over 3F out, headed 1F out and staying on when badly hampered inside last. This was good run and likely to progress further.

Khaloosy was sent off the 4/7 jolly on the back of a dominating display in Britannia at RA latest. Failed to repeat that form here, shaken up 2f out, not quicken, hung right, no extra inside last. Didn't look at home on this faster surface when let down, likely to improve on this under different conditions.



Head on

[sammy]

Maiden Stakes over 7F 36yds at Wolverhampton on Fri.
Lacked depth.

Fresh Snow finished 2nd behind subsequent winner Tinker Toy on debut and sent off the 2/5 Fav on back of that. Failed to build on that effort and disappointing that she couldn't see this out from a winning position being out battled last 50 yds.

[sammy]

Maiden Stakes over 7F 1yds at Lingfield on Fri.
Ordinary maiden.

Time Interval was given low key introduction on debut and confirmed promise landing this comfortably despite showing signs of greeness. Should stay 1M and will go on improving.

[sammy]

Handicap C3 over 7F at HQ on Sat.
Baashir making handicap debut off mark of 86 was very disappointing after promising Novice win latest. Fractious & sweating up in prelims carried that into race where he took a strong hold, carried head awkwardly & hung right throughout, soon beaten. Nothing in the stewards report apart from Veterinary Officer reporting that the colt lost its left-fore shoe.

[sammy]

Maiden Stakes over 1M 14yds at Chepstow on Sat
Some good yards & well bred sorts represented.

Desert Destination upped in trip from debut just missed out on landing maiden win by a nose from another well bred type. Headway 2f out, kept on well, headed final strides, useful sort who should be up to landing something similar.

[sammy]

Prix de Cabourg G3 over 5F 212yds at Deauville on Sun
Weak looking renewal

Mighty Gurkha was sent of fav and this looked a decent opportunity for him. Bit of a nightmare at the start, still had hood on when the stalls opened and then reared up as he left the gate. Managed to make up ground but had used up so much valuable energy getting there that exertions told at business end. Line through this.