Equinties - mad money

Gm Equinauts

In a time when the household income squeeze is crippling the average family, banks are frantically raising rates to try curb inflation and mortgage lenders are shitting their pants, 2022’s Book 1 yearling sale simply laughed at the worlds problems.

As Jane Mangan said on Nick Lucks podcast, ‘the news isn’t on the TV at Tattersalls.

The figures were phenomenal and to think it’s being held in a country where the economy is on a knifes edge blows my mind. Over half of it is Middle Eastern money, a quarter of it is American money with the Dollar being so strong and then you’ve got Europe and in particular Coolmore who have 4 billionaire (Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg) partners clubbing together and who have a collossus amount of revenue coming from their current stallions at home in Ireland.

It almost doesn’t feel right that this kind of money is being spent when people outside (and some inside) the gates of Tattersalls are struggling to heat their homes, put fuel in their car and buy food.

BUT THE SHOW GOES ON.

126,671,000gns spent (a 47% yoy increase), 424 lots sold for an average price of 298,752gns, and FRANKEL offspring proving to be most popular. 

The top lot of day three saw Richard Knight’s mystery buyer lock down a FRANKEL colt out of BOLD LASS, a SEA THE STARS mare who is a half-sister to the 2004 Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner TANTE ROSE, for 2,000,000gns. 

BOLD LASS’ dam, MY BRANCH, won two Listed events between six and seven furlongs, has produced ROSIE’S POSY (a SUAVE DANCER mare who has foaled two Gr1 winners in DUBAWI HEIGHTS and MAKE BELIEVE), and is a half-sister to the Triumph Hurdle-winning CELESTIAL HALO. That’s a lovely family.  

Elsewhere on the day, Coolmore continued to go big on FRANKEL colts as they secured a yearling out of the three-time winner BLUE WALTZ, a PIVOTAL half-sister to two Gr3 winners, for 1,900,000gns.  

And Godolphin made sure they were amongst the high-value lots once again, throwing down 1,500,000gns on a DUBAWI filly out of the Gr1 winner GOD GIVEN – he is a half-brother to this year’s Gr3 Solario Stakes winner SILVER KNOTT  

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Friday's preview

Bar old Mick Easterby’s last tooth going up for auction, nothing else happened in the world of horse racing yesterday so we are going to give a brief preview of some of the big races at Chepstow and Newmarket today. 

Gr1 Fillies’ Mile 

The 2021 renewal of the Fillies’ Mile has some soon-to-be very nice horses in the line-up.  

I mean, look at last years race. Won by superstar, INSPIRAL with PROSPEROUS VOYAGE second, CACHET behind her, MISE EN SCENE in fourth, Godolphin’s WILD BEAUTY in fifth, CONCERT HALL crossed the line in sixth, and MAGICAL LAGOON was a length off her in seventh. These seven horses would go on to win eight Group events combined, including six Group 1 races.  

This year, John and Thady Gosden have a good chance at retaining their title as they send COMMISSIONING to the race. 

We didn’t want to desert Eve’s RAGE OF BAMBY when she ran against COMMISSIONING last time as they think a lot of her but COMMISSIONING bolted up meaning she HAS to be very good.

There were whispers she was the yards 1000 Guineas horse.

Currently the odds-on favourite, this daughter of KINGMAN is two for two and already has the Gr2 Rockfel Stakes under her belt, a race she won comfortably by nearly three lengths – already rated 112, she will be tough to bet.  

The next best on ratings, though needing to find six pounds officially, is Harry Dunlop’s POLLY POTT, a MUHAARAR filly who is looking for her fifth consecutive victory – she will be trained by Ben Pauling next year (weird) once Dunlop hangs up his boots.  

She caused a huge upset 29 days ago when winning the Gr2 May Hill Stakes at 40/1, beating NOVAKAI, a horse who reappears today, by a length and a half – it would be brilliant to see Dunlop pick up a Group 1 before he says goodbye to the game.  

The only Irish raider in the field is Aidan O’Brien’s LIBRARY, a GALILEO filly out of a DANSILI mare, suggesting today’s first try at a mile should suit on pedigree.  

Her dam, WORDS, is a half-sister to the 2016 Epsom Derby runner-up US ARMY RANGER and 2017 Gr2 Royal Lodge second NELSON, a son of FRANKEL who was behind ROARING LION that day. 

LIBRARY has a lovely family tree and if she can progress from her Listed second lto, she could be dangerous. I think AOB has won the race a few times too.

The other to note are SPARKLING BEAUTY for Hughesy. She’s good and should be competitive with her form lines.

Our view: I think you’ve be brave to take on Gosdens who could be special. At the price is one to watch.

Gr2 Challenge Stakes 

35 minutes earlier, everyone’s favourite non-Group 1 horses are back racing in the seven-furlong Challenge Stakes. 

SACRED, a horse that has stung the fingers of many this season, is returning to the track after her cosy success in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes at Newbury lto – this ended a three-race losing streak. 

Shaggas and connections will be hoping that she can pick up some more Group 2 black-type today, however, she isn’t the most consistent horse to be siding with.  

Charlie Hills’ POGO is the next best in the market, a type who has been the opposite of SACRED throughout the season, showing off his consistency in these Group-rated seven-furlong races all year.  

He is yet to win since his Gr3 Criterion Stakes success on the 25th of June at the Newmarket July course and he was second in this race two years ago – recent runs behind KINROSS and SANDRINE are good pieces of form.  

As for the bigger prices, OSCULA is having her 11th, yes 11th, run in four months for George Boughey, connections of course and distance winner JUMBY are trying their hand with a new pilot in David Probert, and PURPLEPAY needs to turn things around after two easy defeats in Gr1 and Gr2 company recently.  

Our view: I expect SACRED to win this but as she’s a mare with the attitude she has, I can’t be backing her again.

Gr2 Persian War 

“THE JUMPS ARE BACK!” - the whole of Racing Twitter.

Twitter has gone into meltdown today ahead of Chepstow’s jumps season opener and the highlight race on the card is the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle over 2m3f – seven will go to post and Dan Skelton’s QUID PRO QUO tops the market.  

Unbeaten in two, he has a combined winning margin of 21 lengths from his last two races and is proven on good ground – he ran to an RPR of 135 lto and he looks to be improving.  

Donald McCain’s PRESENTANDCOUNTING is having his first delve into Graded hurdle company today following his 10l victory at Worcester two weeks ago. This horse has cracked me up all season because McCain just keeps finding his shit races to win. It’s amusing to watch and the books always give him away.

McCain is firing out winners at a 16% SR currently and Brain Hughes boasts a 25% SR as well so he’s expected to run well but this is completely different opposition today.

DEEPER BLUE needs to prove himself on today’s fast ground in what is his first run of the season, whereas Paul Nicholls’ OUTLAW PETER was a comfortable 11l winner lto on good ground at Kempton and Nicholls tends to have his horses read for this early season Chepstow meeting.  

Our view: QUID PRO QUO looks decent (albeit hasn’t come off the bridle yet) BUT has drifted alllll morning out to 9/4. Something stinks here. I’m trying to work out if perhaps the perfect gambler (JP) plans to use a G2 to handicap this lad for a monumental punt in something like the County Hurdle which fat Dan targets well. He’d need to stick around the 135 OR mark to get a good weight in it. That said, todays a big race so perhaps JP just hasn’t clipped it yet. There is often a little sell off on his before being slammed straight back in before the off, so watch the market.

Risk On

I don’t like York for punting but word for two of Varians there today (yard fucking rn) in the 14.05 and17.00. Small double at 4’s.

14.25 RAGE OF BAMBY

Word from Eve lto, she’s good but this is her grade now. 7/2 so ew has gone but half bet to win and then to place at 10/11 for a self made ew.

14.25 LOSE YOURSELF

I’ve been harping on about the form lines form this one’s race first time out. It’s one to follow and I don’t think she’ll be out the places today. 11/10 to place top 3 is a bet too in RAGE OF BAMBY’s race. Would put you off a small rev fc at 17’s for a lunch money bet.

17.50 VILLE DE GRACE

Lost on her at Yarmouth, but I think she hit the front too soon. She likes this track where some horses can get out balanced, and hoping the experience will keep her in good stead. Half bet at 5’s ew as cant have her out the places.

18.15

Whispers she’s special.