Equinties - the car park

Gm Equinauts

The poor old Japanese, hey!? They can’t catch a break!

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

CAR PARK, OR COUGHING?

So, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe draw was made yesterday, and the event itself actually provided us with more laughs than we were expecting.

Why? Well, we obviously wish the Japanese-trained horses all the best this weekend, as this race is something they as a nation have tried so hard to win. However, knowing how much they want to win this race, it is rather incredible to see two of their three chances drawn in 15 and 17. Enjoying the burger vans, lads.

Anyway, who were the big winners and losers from the Arc draw this year?

Even though the Arc isn’t a team event between nations, it was easy to see that Japan was a loser yesterday, and France was a bit of a winner. DARYZ, SOSIE, LEFFARD, QUISISANA, and CUALIFICAR were all drawn 2-8, and AVENTURE and GEZORA aren’t too far away in 12 and 13. GIAVELLOTTO was given five, but he might not even run in the race due to the ground, and KALPANA was handed 10, both of which seem very reasonable.

As for the Irish, MINNIE HAUK has 1, WHITE BIRCH has 9, HOTAZHELL has 11, and LOS ANGELES has 14. It’s not horrendous for Aidan O’Brien’s duo, but it could be better. MINNIE HAUK will have to avoid getting boxed in, and we assume LOS ANGELES will just buck out and try to get really handy from his wide draw. That could cost him late.
And then, there is ESTRANGE, a horse who was starting to gather a bit of a cult following over the last few days. She was given stall 18 of 18, and all that low-level hype soon came crashing down.

Chris Richardson told Sky Sports Racing in the morning that her stall was “a bit of a blow”, and then four hours later, she was officially ruled out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe due to scoping badly.

Now, we’re not going to accuse David O’Meara of being a fibber but it is just quite convenient that they have now pulled ESTRANGE from the race after getting stall 18 having previously been so bullish on her well-being! Anyway, they were never really 100% on going to France, and they can now wait for the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day, if she is well enough to go!

She may well be properly under the weather, and that’s fair enough, but stall 18 probably did contribute a little bit to their decision.

MAX SEND-OFF

We think we’ve just gotten over David Maxwell’s retirement, but just in case there is still some emotion flying about, we are set to get a potential perfect send-off at Chepstow next week.

The Max won’t be riding, unfortunately, but his colours will be in action in the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, and it seems like his trainer, Harry Derham, is confident those infamous red and maroon silks will be in the winners’ enclosure on Friday afternoon.

We’re talking about QUEENSBURY BOY, as Derham has apparently laid him out for this race. Now, we have a bit of history with this horse, and it’s mainly positive. We know just how much Derham thinks of this horse, and after a few social media posts from various accounts, it should be fairly easy for anyone to find out just how highly-regarded this six-year-old has always been within Upper Farm Stables.

On the current position of the horse, Maxwell said: "Harry really likes him. In fact, when I told him I was retiring he said, ‘but David, I’ve laid him out for the Persian War at Chepstow, please let me go and win this race’.

After quite a bit of arm-twisting and promising me he’s going to win, he’ll run in the Persian War. For those reading before the Persian War, lump on. For those reading afterwards, I hope I gave you good advice. He’s a very nice horse and he’ll definitely jump a fence."

We dare to think what QUEENSBURY BOY could be like with (sorry Max) a proper jockey onboard. Furthermore, Derham, like his old boss Paul Nicholls, is a great target trainer, and he has had success at this Chepstow meeting before.

Yes, Olly Murphy may be sending STICKTOTHEPLAN to the Persian War, but QUEENSBURY BOY will be a formidable opponent, and he will have plenty of fans.
Before we finish, there is another Maxwell-owned horse in Derham’s yard that is, apparently, the next SILVINIACO CONTI. Big words.

Maxwell said: “JUST ENNEMI won his first hurdle race in France, was utterly clueless for a circuit, then something clicked and he absolutely sluiced up. He’s now a fine physical specimen. Apologies to Harry’s other owners but Harry does say that he's the best horse in his yard. He calls him Silviniaco Conti, he thinks he's a real superstar. So I’d say if anyone is buying him, they’re taking Harry on."

One for the tracker.

THE LADY

Speaking of bullishness, we’ve been keeping an eye on LADY OF SPAIN this season, because she is quite interesting. We don’t want to go over our previous work, but in a nutshell, she’s so incredibly unexposed, and the way she won at Sandown after a huge break in August was very impressive.

She is obviously a horse that has been hard to get totally right, and that’s why she’s had a bit of time of, or maybe connections are just keen to keep her to softer ground.
Well, if it’s the latter, they are nicely in luck for this weekend as the rain has arrived ahead of her Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes task on Saturday.

Having looked smart in Group 3 company, she will head to the Rowley Mile on Saturday to take on the likes of FALLEN ANGEL, CINDERELLA’S DREAM, and BLUE BOLT, which is no walkover at all. She was also entered over in France at one stage, but this is definitely the right call as you may as well keep her to a mile for now against an ‘easier’ field.

Anyway, it’s worth seeing what Varian thinks, as he said: “We had her in at Longchamp, which we were tempted by as well. She won over nine furlongs in France last year, so she does stay beyond a mile, but I guess we were swayed by thinking she'd sharpened up a bit from Sandown and that was a good performance over a mile.

“She's always looked potentially top-class and we were delighted with her win at Sandown. Her work had been really good going into it, but it was her first run on turf and at that level and I thought it was quite a stacked field with some really solid opposition. 

"I think she's only improved since. We'll find out a bit more on Saturday, but I couldn't be happier with her condition going into the race.

"I think she's got the natural ability and the physique for racing at this level. She's a gorgeous filly and when she stands in front of you in the yard she's got loads of quality. She's big and scopey with good bone and a deep girth – everything you want in a high-class animal – and she's got the movement to go with it.”

Varian can appear quite reserved sometimes when talking about his horses, but here, he is decidedly confident on her ability. He also think she could run again this season, which further screams bullishness. We can’t wait to see what she does at Newmarket on Saturday, even if it will be a tough task.

RISK ON

A couple of winners yesterday, we were unlucky not to get three as Teals was chinned on the line. We’re slowly engaging our jumps brain now and today we like:

15.38 THE BELLHOP

Sizeable horse who is related to a few winners in the jumps sphere in the page. This lad should be fine over hurdles and fancied to go well today. 5/2 a small win bet.

16.27 JUSTLIKEFIRE

Stinks. Candlish has had good success for this owner with Irish cast offs, often improving them by 10-15lbs after a few runs (think FROMHERETOETERNITY). This lad gets a massive step up in trip after a quiet run last time (will suit on pedigree) and is bred to be a lot better than this field. Has a proper jockey booked today. Both yard and jockey won this race last year with a well handicapped horse to boot. 9/2 good win bet.

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