Equinties - Havan'em both

Gm Equinauts

The rain hasn’t stopped recently and it’s causing havoc up and down the country. Like Yarmouth yesterday, both Fontwell and Worcester are off today due to waterlogged tracks, but it’s further North who are hurting most post-Storm Babet.

Check out the mess below - Southwell is still totally underwater. Local trainer Scott Dixon has had to shift over 40 horses out of his yard to safety of which he recently praised the herculean efforts of his staff.

Let’s hope they can get back to normal soon.

An hour up the road from Southwell, Doncaster Racecourse is in need of a quick reversal of the current weather in order to stage Saturday’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes as the course is still currently waterlogged in places.

The track has been hit by more than 70mm of rainfall since Friday and more rain is set to come down on Thursday to further temper enthusiasms about racing on Saturday.

That said, clerk of the course Paul Barker is still optimistic, as he said: “It’s heavy going and there is some standing water in waterlogged places, which is beside the round mile chute – that’s where it’s most affected.

As a result of the weather, there’s only two meetings today and the main one is Newmarket, so let’s dive in!

Our sponsor UK MEDS are the only online pharma-distributor to have the fat loss jab OZEMPIC in stock ever since Elon Musk tweeted about it creating a shortage.

Use code EQUINTIES50 for £50 off and free delivery.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

NO SUN FOR FRANKIE (YET)

Frankie Dettori is set to miss the Melbourne Cup as he has been handed a combined 16-day ban for his rides on TRAWLERMAN and KINROSS on Champions Day.

The Italian used the whip ONCE more than the permitted six strikes in both races, therefore collecting two separate bans of eight days due to the classes of the races he was riding in. We know it’s the rules but it’s a bit bonkers. The obvious question is, if they’re limiting whip use, why is it discriminate to the grade of race? Still blows our mind.

This lengthy ban means he will miss Australia’s premier event on November 7th. To be fair, Dettori’s participation in the race was in doubt before this news anyway as Zac Purton was booked to ride ABSURDE due to weight issues and no other horse had been put forward as a potential ride, but the ban now means he definitely can’t

BIG BALANCE OWED

Day two of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale proved fruitful for Australian connections as the progressive BALANCE PLAY, formerly with Ralph Beckett, was sold for 575,000gns to Johnny McKeever and Claudia Miller, agent’s for Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse.

Miller said she was “under strict instructions” not to leave Newmarket without the 101-rated son of LOPE DE VEGA who won three races for owners Valmont this season and finished third in the valuable Lester Piggott handicap on Derby Day.

Miller and McKeever also splashed out 280,000gns for BEAR ON THE LOOSE, a three-year-old gelding by FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND, who won two Class 4 races at Epsom and Goodwood earlier this season.

Some good horses to try and catch down-under then!

HAVAN’EM BOTH

Due to such strong demand for their super sire HAVANA GREY, Whitsbury Manor are requesting breeders send mares to SHOWCASING too if they’re to get a chance of booking a date with the grey rocket who is restricted to only 140-150 mares.

Communication from the stud states that due to the ‘severe pressure with interest in HAVANA GREY’ they’re giving first dibs to those breeders who are using SHOWCASING too at a discounted rate of £35k as opposed to the usual fee of £45k.

Clever.

SLOP ACCA

With only one worthwhile meeting on today, all eyes will be on Newmarket.

It’s been raining overnight and with the ground soft, we thought we’d put our pedigree knowledge to use and serve up a fun 35/1 ‘soft ground’ acca.

Please note, it’s 35/1 for a reason (meaning the bookies think it can’t win) so use lunch money stakes only if following:

RISK ON

15.00 ANZAC DAY

One of the nicest as a yearling in this line up. Ran green on debut which is normal for Balding’s lot but did finish very well. A step forward from that is expected and he should go close if not stopped by the ground. 7/1 ew.

Subscribe using the link below to get access to our Weekender edition plus membership to the Weekender Racing Club, entry to the Vegas comp and other big news and invite-only events coming soon.

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

• • The weekender edition (Mon-Fri still free)
• • The weekends best bets
• • That warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing the intern gets fed
• • Only £1 a week!