Equinties - Juddmonte for the girl?

Gm Equinauts

Week four of the Racing League is upon us and it’s a tight-knit affair at the moment with 106 points separating four teams.

That being said, Team Ireland (4th) could be set to lose some ground on their rivals as they have a depleted squad this week.

Although the rain fell heavily last week and there were a fair few non-runners, soft ground horses had their day whilst Saffie Osborne landed a treble to put her on top of the jockeys’ standings.

She has four rides tonight, notably on KATEY KONTENT for Clive Cox who has been running some good races this season.

Oisin Murphy made his seasonal Racing League debut last week and Mr Haemorrhoids is back with six good rides for London & The South - don’t be surprised to see them do well tonight.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

ROUGH RIFFA RIDE

AL RIFFA was mightily impressive on Sunday when winning his first Group 1 over in Germany, so much so that you have to make him a serious contender for the Arc.

He had a bit of trouble around the bend, but that was no bother by the time he quickened clear in the straight.

Well, if you did take the 16/1 available after the race, you might be regretting that decision as regular rider Dylan Browne McMonagle has lost the ride on him for the season-defining race in October.

Why? Well, the horse's part-owner, Masaaki Matsushima, wants to give legendary Japanese rider Yutaka Take the opportunity at Longchamp instead.

Poor Dylan.

This isn’t to have a pop at Take as he is Japan's winning-most jockey who has a plethora of Gr1 successes under his belt, and he also isn’t a stranger to the Arc having rode in the race 10 times previously.

But, getting to know Group 1 horses on an intimate level can be the difference between winning and losing key races. It could be the smallest thing that a regular rider will know compared to a new jockey, but those things can (but not always) alter races.

McMonagle has done nothing wrong to lose this ride, and this isn’t something the owner is insinuating, but he has now lost the ride in what would be the biggest race in his career.

Take has always wanted to win the Arc, so getting this chance at 55 years old is nice for him, but this could be something that comes back to bite connections.

JUDDMONTE FOR JUDDMONTE

Although she is warm order to win the Yorkshire Oaks and looks like a standout on form, connections of BLUESTOCKING are eyeing-up CITY OF TROY in the Juddmonte International.

Smart decision? Potentially.

She has great form with WARM HEART from last season and has turned a bit of a corner this season having smashed up a fair field on seasonal debut.

That run when behind GOLIATH in the King George was also good, so she’s shown she can handle the boys.

Furthermore, running over 10 in the Juddmonte might just suit her better than 12 in the Yorkshire Oaks. She is 0-6 over 12 furlongs and she goes well over 10 furlongs.

This want to take on CITY OF TROY in the Juddmonte explains the small move in the ante-post market for her, though today’s confirmations will explain a bit more as to where she might head.

On why the decision is even a thing, Ralph Beckett said: “I'd really like her to go to York because both of her runs there have been out of the top drawer and it makes sense to go, and I wouldn't mind dropping her back to a mile and a quarter. She's got the stamina but she's a Group 1 winner over a mile and a quarter.”

This, honestly, should be the move they take. She is good enough and conditions in the Juddmonte will suit her better than the Yorkshire Oaks.

SIRE GOING WELL

Although our new hire Norm was on the wrong side of the result, NEW CENTURY was a nice winner of the Listed Stonehenge Stakes.

It marked the first Listed winner for KAMEKO as a sire, who has seen his progeny hit the ground running…late.

Of the 26 runners that have hit the track, nine of them have won and seven of them are rated at least 80, three of which are rated above 98. That’s a good start for a sire who was a precocious two-year-old himself, so it seems like his progeny are taking after their dad.

He has some nice types as well who will continue to improve, notably the half-sister to NYMPHADORA (GHOST RUN) and WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE who was third to the unbeaten ANCIENT TRUTH in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes.

RISK ON

No bets today as yet but check out our new hire Norm’s twitter/X account - he has an interest today at a mammoth price apparently.

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