Equinties - Team Ireland shitshow

Gm Equinauts

I think I got a little over-excited yesterday. The rain was pretty relentless for a good few hours and I thought ‘this is it’, finally the turn in the weather… aaaand then it was gone.

The weather forecast looks pretty bearish for slow ground horses. If anyone reading this is wondering why I’m obsessing over this, it's quite simple. With the drought and subsequent hosepipe ban, water is at a premium and therefore tracks won’t be able to maintain the level of moisture that allows any rain to ‘get into the ground’.

Newmarket is only properly soft today because they’ve been watering all summer and then Suffolk had a thunderstorm of biblical proportion. Everywhere else is basically maintaining good and that will quickly return back to concrete. If the weather doesn’t turn now, like, literally right now, it means basically the whole 2022 flat season has been run on fast ground. What do trainers do with the soft ground horses? And will it be any better next year?

Take a horse like WAHRAAN in the 15.45. I look at him and wonder if we’ve only seen him out now so late in the season because of the weather. I know loads of owners who can’t run their horses atm and you can’t just keep them in training either, you’ll fuck them over. This year has been very weird and if such inclement weather becomes the new normal – then what, do we stop buying soft ground horses? BIG predicament.

Anyway, let's dive in.

Headline roundup

Thriller in week 3 of the Racing League

The third week of racing’s favourite competition made a big statement last night as it felt like finally the event stamped its mark with brilliant racing.

Obviously all the teams were gunning for Matt Chapman from the outright, but after a sustained battle on track fending off Wales & The West all evening, Matt Chapman’s London & The South remained at the top of the leader board by just one point thanks to a MENAI BRIDGE victory for Charlie Hills and Marco Ghiani.

Jamie Osbourne’s team Wales did tbf momentarily enjoy top spot when Frankie Dettori returned to the Newcastle winners enclosure with ZAMAN JAMIL but that didn’t last long.

Frankie did his usual flex – the flying dismount and I have to ask, does anyone else wince when he does it? I just feel like one day he won't be able to get back up.

He got into the spirit of things in his post-race interview, something that the Racing League needs on a weekly basis to sell the product to a wider audience. Yo, RL – if you want me as your commercial director… you can’t afford me, so that’s just a freebie for you.

And the evening ended with a three-way (yes please) photo finish which went the way of SHOW ME SHOW ME for The North - again, a brilliant advert for the competitiveness of the Racing League.

I think Racing League producers will be thanking the gods after an entertaining week of action and if the product they are producing is entertaining, that’s all they can do to try win over the racing public.

However, there is one thing from the Racing League last night that wasn’t great which I have absolutely no time for (and clearly neither does Kevin Blake).

Blake a no-show

Team Ireland’s misery at the bottom of the Racing League table intensified yesterday as their racing manager, Kevin Blake, couldn’t be arsed to make the trip over to Newcastle. I could have called this in yesterday's newsletter tbf but I thought I gave him enough stick.

Poor old Vanessa Ryle, a fellow Betfair Podcast member alongside Blake, took over as ‘interim’ manager of Team Ireland because SHE IS DEFINITELY IRISH. Obviously joking. This is bull shit and doesn’t come across well.

There’s no doubt that Kevin is a busy man, he has Golden Farms to run, articles to write, presenting duties to do across the week, and his ‘race planning’ for Joseph O’Brien. If that’s the case, then don’t take the fucking job. He knew deep down he wouldn’t be able to commit to the obligations and therefore I think it was a rather vain decision to take on the role.

If the Racing League is trying to promote this as a league system, then the managers have to be there - Sir Alex Ferguson missed only three matches in his whole stint at Manchester United, one for his son’s wedding, one for his brother’s wife’s funeral, and another to scout David De Gea. We aren’t suggesting Blake’s time with Team Ireland is like managing Manchester United, but it’s a point of principle. Well, on current performances – they’re quite alike tbf.

SACK OFF KEVIN BLAKE.

Best rides of the night

Without a doubt, the best rides of the night were on FRESH HOPE and ZAMAN JEMIL. Check these out:

More news

Behind the scenes at the Yearling Sales

Doncaster stages a two day sale every year in August, speedy precocious bred yearlings are the order of the day; DARK ANGEL, ACCLAMATION and WOOTTON BASSETT are all graduates of the sale and the list goes on.

Ridiculous energy costs, soaring inflation and a likely recession were all laughed at. The yearling market for potential racehorses is insatiable with this year seeing a 20% increase in aggregate rev from last year, to just under £16 million for 363 yearlings. The average up 8% from last year to £44k and the median up 9% to £35k.

Richard Hughes going big for a Frankel Colt on Wednesday:

The profit and losses of this year’s pinhooking:

A lot of these yearlings have already been through the sales ring as foals, they are then brought back to the sales ring as yearlings 6-8 months later. That’s pinhooking. Trading. You’re hoping the stallion comes into fashion, think NIGHT OF THUNDER and HAVANA GREY. Or his or her siblings to your foal come out and win a race, the better the race, the better the return. Got to keep your finger on the pulse.

This is our bread and butter and we want the Equinauts involved on the next round so, watch this space – BGP Capital is coming.

Japanese target for the Bubble

DOUBLE OR BUBBLE, fifth in the July Cup behind Alcohol Free, could be set for a trip to Japan this year, confirms trainer Chris Wall.

Double Or Bubble finishing fifth at Newmarket last month:

The £2,000,000 Gr1 Sprinters Stakes on October 2nd is the aim for this Exceed And Excel mare, a race last won by the 118 rated PIXIE KNIGHT for Japanese trainer Hidetaka Otonashi.

The five-year-old is roughly three pounds away from getting into the Nakayama-based race according to trainer Wall, and runs on Saturday in the Gr3 Supreme Stakes at Goodwood to see if she can improve her mark.

Today’s best stats

YANTARI runs off a mark for the first time in 15.10, Appleby who lands 1 in 3 with handicap debutants.

BERNADO O’REILLY goes for a three-timer in the 16.25 having won it in ’18 and ’19. Up against one of my favourite horses in PUNCHBOWL FLYER (another heavy waiting for the slop!).

SIMPLY SONDHEIN is on a streak and Boughey has a bullish 31% sr when turning winners out within 7 days (this lad won Friday). 16.20.

Shaggas has a great 25% sr with 2yo’s at Goodwood and runs RAMENSKY in the 17.35. He also fucks at Hamilton (long way to go too) and runs a couple there.

Goldie is 2 from 2 in the 17.43 and is rep’d by two in AYR POET and SHINE ON BRENDAN, latter being squeezed into fave and former drifting.

Risk on

15.30 ADMIRAL D

Off same mark as lto where he got blocked and his race was over early but still finished 3rd to ADAAY IN ASIA (since won at York). Small ew at 6’s.

15.45 WAHRAAN

I think this lad has been waiting for the rain. Full bet at 6/4 or downsize and use SIMPLY SONDHEIM or YANTARI as lev.