Equinties - From Seamie with love

Gm Equinauts

The Irish Derby, the highlight race of the weekend perhaps even the year for Irish flat fans, live on the World Pool for the first time for millions of eyes to watch the big Group 1 stallion making race.

What a story the race was set to tell; AUGUSTE RODIN, the special one, gunning to be the first horse since HARZAND in ‘16 to win the English and Irish Derby double.

AND HE DID IT! AUGUSTE RODIN did it! His name is permanently stamped in the history and stallion books.  

But that ain’t what people are talking about.

If you didn’t know Elon had broken Twitter, you’d be forgiven for thinking Seamie’s ride on ADELAIDE RIVER did. Racing fans did NOT like his tame effort at the finish.

Tbf the horse had no right to be there at all. A homebred by AUSTRALIA, he won on debut but had done nothing close in 5 starts after that maiden victory including being pumped at 7/4 on in a Group 2.

Whether ADELAIDE RIVER suddenly found improvement because the World Pool was watching or his stablemate AUGUSTE RODIN had an ‘off’ day, one thing was certain, Seamie wasn’t supposed to be there.

It was payday for Coolmore yesterday. And no, not from the betting. The money Tabor had down on his winner is pocket change in comparison to the recurring yield AUGUSTE RODIN brings in as a stallion.

So, what do you think - did AUGUSTE RODIN win fair and square or did Seamie let him win for the Coolmore payday?

Anyway, let’s dive in.

BGP FANTASY LEAGUE COMP

We’ve been hyping up the TOTE’s new Fantasy game since we found it. Why? Simply because there is nothing else out there now which can help people cage the betting chimp while maintaining an emotional interest in the big races of the day.

People bet way too much and the Fantasy allows you to get limited risk on, fill your brain up with the dope it craves and still be in the mix for a big win.

If we hit 250 stables, top of the BGP private league get’s a new ‘GM’ cap.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

Pretty good performance 

The Pretty Polly highlighted Saturday’s card of racing and it was George Boughey’s VIA SISTINA that stole the show as she won doing handstands under Jamie Spencer.

It was a Spencer special from the rear (plus a bit of interference) to beat STAY ALERT and ABOVE THE CURVE to land a first Group 1 for the FASTNET ROCK mare.  

It’s quite incredible to think that VIA SISTINA is a five-year-old as it feels like she is just hitting the limelight.

However, the big thing about this race was that interference. Is it bad? Yes. Would STAY ALERT have won? No. Although some racing jurisdictions would have thrown her out, something that would definitely deter others from doing it, that is not the rule in the UK and Ireland and a holiday for Spencer is correct.

The Group 1 Nassau Stakes in a mouth-watering clash between BLUE ROSE CEN, SOUL SISTER, and WARM HEART could be on the cards next. Sign us up!

A Guineas contender 

We know, the Guineas is miles away, but when Coral and Ladbrokes go 14/1 about her, it’s worth a mention because STAR OF MYSTERY was very impressive in the opening contest at Newmarket on Saturday.  

The half-sister to ALTHIQU (1m1f Gr1 winner) and MYSTERIOUS NIGHT (1m Gr1 winner) is the first foal of Mistrusting by KODIAC as the others were either by DARK ANGEL or FRANKEL and she was the first leg in a welcome treble for Charlie Appleby at Newmarket having been out-of-form for a little while.  

The two-year-old is entered for the Moyglare Stakes over seven furlongs at the end of the season and is as big as 33/1 for the 1000 Guineas next year – is she a horse that has impressed you so far?

Group treble for Sea The Moon

In 2014, SEA THE MOON rampaged down the stands rail to take the Deutsches Derby and on Sunday his son FANTASTIC MOON took the same path to glory.

A €49,000 yearling from the Baden Baden sales. A group 3 winner as a 2yo, he got beat on his seasonal debut to the reopposing MR HOLLYWOOD. A drop in trip to 1m2f says his trainer Sarah Strindberg.

MUSKOKA, by SEA THE MOON also captured the Gr3 Brummerhofer Stakes and now targets the German Oaks, Preis der Diana. The 11 furlongs might be a stretch but the Henk Grewe trained filly is o/o a PEINTRE CELEBRE mare so it shouldn’t be a problem on breeding, plus MONSIGNOR is back in her pedigree. A good buy for €80,000.

The Gr2 at Hamburg on Saturday was one by ASSISTENT, a son of SEA THE MOON. The 4yo had already notched up a Gr2 win at Cologne but most recently had ran under par. The €58,000 yearling duly obliged this time round. Trained by Henk Grewe it’s difficult to know where he goes next. But TORQUATOR TASSO had won this for the past 2 years and he was competitive in an Arc.

YOUNG BLOOD

15.15 Pontefract

A muddling heat, but interesting all the same.

TWILIGHT ROMANCE and WE NEVER STOP took each other on last time out and the former won, trained by John Quinn. However, a 4lb swing in the weights gives We Never Stop a chance today and he is a juicy 8/1.

TWILIGHT ROMANCE is by TWILIGHT SON so he’ll love the fast ground today. Any rain allowing a change in going would be a massive hindrance.

THE CAMDEN COLT has already beaten TWILIGHT ROMANCE so there are crucial form ties. He’s by unfashionable sire FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND but he’s quick and Richard Hannon did like him leading into Royal Ascot. He never delivered and admittedly looked out of depth but this is easier.

BARG sauntered home at Ripon 11 days ago, but the horse in second ran very green and like most 2yo race’s up north, the field was terrible. May well improve for his two outings but weak pedigree and one to take on.

MIAMI HEAT was a £125,000 breeze-up purchase. He was initially a 7k foal, and a 25k yearling. His dam is a sister to DUCHESS OF FOXLAND who won a Listed race and was Gr3 placed. Can’t imagine French Davis has had this horse long, will be fresh from Aguiar’s who should have him ready but up against good horses with experience and no money for him.

Verdict: This is too tight to call and not a betting prospect but it’s tempting to listen to Hannon and side with THE CAMDEN COLT. The worry is TWILIGHT ROMANCE reversing the form if the ground stays concrete. Should be between those two.

RISK ON

There are a couple of ground dependant horses and with the weather forecasts remaining unclear, we will wait until closer to the race to post.

BGP Capital is on a big gamble today too which has been slammed but will no doubt drift to a more palatable price to back later.