Equinties - Cocaine horse

Gm Equinauts

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HEADLINE ROUNDUP

COCAINE HORSE

There’s a film you might have heard of - it’s called Cocaine Bear.

Based loosely on the true story of ex-racehorse trainer turned drug-smuggling kingpin Andrew Thornton Smith II who, in a botched attempt to smuggle coke in by plane had to bail from the plane with $15k in cash and about $15m worth of coke. He dies a horrible death when his parachute fails and the drugs and money get scattered around the woods he was found in.

But Thornton Smith wasn’t the only fatality of the disastrous evacuation attempt, a 175lbs black bear was found deceased having died from, yep you guessed it, a cocaine overdose….50miles away! The bear has since been nick named Pablo Escobear (lols) and as such, a fairly successful Hollywood comedy ‘Cocaine Bear’ film was made.

We’re sure other animals since Thornton Smith’s time in 1985 have accidentally ingested cocaine, namely the fish in the Thames who are forced to swim in the bi-product of party London, but nothing like the the back story like Pablo Escobear… until now.

LUCIDITY, a four-year-old filly by ZOFFANY, finished second in a Brighton handicap in July 2023 but has since tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine.

Perhaps a Hollywood screen writer would be licking their lips at this story had the horse actually won but, in a result akin to most of Dunlop’s efforts, she was a losing favourite and, honestly, a beaten second doesn’t quite grab the headlines as much as it would have had she bolted up on the party bag.

It would be even better if it turned out Ed Dunlop had only been moonlighting as a trainer to cover up his international drug smuggling operation, but that’s simply not true (as far as we’re aware!).

It’s a little bit more boring as (obviously) no one knows how LUCIDITY hoovered up a line but a bit more has come to light in the process of Ed Dunlop trying to clear his name.

According to CCTV obtained from the stable yard, two people approached LUCIDITY - one of whom stroked the nose of the horse and posed for a photo - but have since denied having anything to do with the recreational drug and indeed, giving her a bump.

Another, and more likely explanation, is that one of the stable staff at home has had a bit of a good night Newmarket and perhaps contaminated the feed. Still quite farfetched but the coke had to end up in the horse somehow! And no, Oisin Murphy has NOT sat on the horse.

It’s a strange case, one which will now hang over Dunlop as he deals with the threat of a one-year suspended penalty - a harsh penalty for a man who has owned a clean record since day dot, but the rules are in place and that’s the minimum they had to give him.

AL NAYYIR FOR NEXT YEAR

We highlighted AL NAYYIR as an eye-catcher from York for his effort in the Lonsdale Cup last week, and we hope that the form looks solid.

Tom Clover is hoping the same as well as the Group 2 Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day is his next target.

This is a welcome update as the UK stayers scene has needed a few fresh faces for a while, so with a profile like his, he could be very interesting.

 "He's in at Ascot on Champions Day,” said Clover. “I love that day's racing and it would be great to see him line up there.”

However, he is still likely to be heading back to Meydan and Riyadh, two courses he has form at from the start of this year, in 2025, as he added: “I'd say that's the favoured option at the moment but, all being well, we'll be going to Dubai and Saudi Arabia early next year."

One can also imagine that two miles at Ascot will suit better and he has won on soft before, so if the ground does have a bit of cut, he should be able to handle it.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/tom-clover-eyeing-450000-long-distance-cup-after-huge-run-from-classy-new-recruit-at-york-aSL5l0y7EDq3/ 

CITY OF TROY AT ASCOT

Fine, the title is mis-leading but true in the sense it’s actually CITY OF TROY form lines that could be on display at Ascot.

CALANDAGAN, second to the Derby hero in the Juddmonte International, has the British Champion Stakes in his sights.

It goes without saying, but the CITY OF TROY form is quite hot wherever you look, even if there are personalities on Racing X trying to turn themselves into a ratings expert and crip TROY’s performances.

As a juvenile, he smashed up HAATEM who was second in the Irish Guineas to ROSALLION and then won the Jersey.

As a three-year-old, he has claimed the scope of the following nto winners: LOS ANGELES, AL RIFFA, SEE THE FIRE and TABLETALK. It seems that anyone he beats goes on to win so you’d do well to follow the likes of BLUESTOCKING, CALANDAGAN, AMBIENTE FRIENDLY and more next time.

CALANDAGAN has his eyes on the Champion Stakes back at a course he won at Royal Ascot. He should be a tough opponent to any after his second to CITY OF TROY, and Francis Henri-Graffard is pleased with what he has at his disposal.

“He came out of the race really well, I am very pleased to see how he took that race-even better than the race at Ascot,” said Graffard.

“We dropped back in distance so it was hard to get closer to the pace, but he finished really strongly and he was beaten by a true champion so we were very pleased with his run.

“We haven't made a decision yet, but at the moment we are leaning towards the Champion Stakes at Ascot for his next run.

“He has opportunities abroad, but it depends if we decide to wait for next year or if we keep going this season, that will be decided with the owner [Aga Khan].”

The beauty for us (and not the Aga Khan) is that he is a gelding, so he should be about for a few years before they retire him. So, they have time to play about with him without the burden of stallion duties.

RISK ON

We might have a play or two today but we’re on strict weather watch. Find our bets @equinties on X.

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