Equinties - under trainer's orders

Gm Equinauts

Another day, another big jamboree of emotional altercations on Racing Twitter.

Check this out.

We all know what happened, Kitt’s obviously stopped the horse. It doesn’t make for good viewing, but really the only thing this lad has done wrong is give it a terrible, terrible ride.

If the horse wasn’t supposed to win his first start for Chris Honour, then he should have been no where near the front. Think novice events, in both flat and jumps, half the horses are out the back and aren’t supposed to win - that’s why they’re easy betting races. Bumpers especially, I love them because two thirds of the field are out for a jog (and half can’t win on ped anyway).

The rubbish disguise/bad ride is where the blame stops.

That hasn’t STOPPED Kitt (get it) from picking up a load of abuse on Racing Twitter though. Shouldn’t the emphasis be more on the owner and trainer?

For those reading this who have never owned a horse, the jockey instructions are made clear last minute in the pre’s and Kitt would have been told what to do two mins before sitting on the horse for the first time.

Catch 22 for a young jockey who no doubt wants to ride winners but also knows that if he wins, when he’s not asked to, won’t get to ride for the owner/trainer again. He’s in a tough situation.

In our view, there’s too much legacy in the UK and Irish racing industry for things to change. Gambling owns racing, the bookies own racing. The levy doesn’t work. So, unfortunately, owing to poor prize money and the ever decreasing incentive for owners to win races, cheating is a constant.

The British and Irish racing industry would need to quickly change to a model more akin to the French set up, but that’s a whole different subject.

At least Racing Twitter was mildly amusing yesterday:

Now, lets 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

Respite for Yarmouth

Yarmouth gave todays meeting the big go ahead yesterday after a much needed, but unusual amount of rain fall this week.

The official going at the Eastern track changed officially to soft yesterday following 66mm of rain on their chronically dry track.

The track has taken it well though and the going is now good to soft owing to it’s efficient drainage.

Clerk of the course, Aldous, yesterday: “We’re currently soft but we hope most of the rain has passed now. We have no problems at the moment and we have dealt with rainfall like this before. It’s a track that now drain fairly quickly and takes the rain really well. We’re quite happy at the moment, but we’ll wait and see if any more rain affects it too”

Well, the rain has cleared and the soft didn’t last long - not enough for slop comms we’re afraid!

Where do Joe’s go?

Both ABOVE THE CURVE and AL RIFFA put on disappointing show’s last weekend across Ireland and France, the latter especially who we thought was a good thing.

With those runs out the way, where do their recovery missions start?

It looks like both will be heading back across the channel to France as ABOVE THE CURVE lines up for the Prix Jean Romanet August 20th and AL RIFFA is likely set to go up in class to the Gr2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano.

Both ABOVE THE CURVE and AL RIFFA were on show last weekend across Ireland and France with both slightly disappointing, especially the latter who we thought was a banker.

STATS OF THE DAY

JJ historically has always had a load of winners in July and he’s travelling a long way with ZABEEL CHAMPION 15.48 who was an expensive purchase for owners. JJ lands 1 in 4 at Perth, the highest sr in the race.

Christian Williams has travelled a long way for the 16.18 and runs two with big chances. He has a 50% sr when travelling this far.

Burrows and Stott have a near all time 40% sr, they team up on the heavily squeezed EDDIE TEMPLE in the 19.50.

YOUNG BLOOD

16.45 Haydock 

Charlie Appleby is throwing some darts at Haydock. HIDDEN PASS cost 400,000 euros at the breeze ups in France, a little strange they didn’t buy him at the yearling sales beforehand when she fetched 180,000gns from the Shadwell draft. His dam was second in the Gr2 Rockfel as a 2yo and has produced a Gr2 winner in Australia.

JUANTORENA is trained by Balding. By HAVANA GOLD he was 4th on debut and needs to improve again for the run. His dam won 3 races as a 4yo.

MURASHAH is by NIGHT OF THUNDER who stands for €100,000 in Ireland. This colt is bred for 2yo speed, his dam is a sister to AWZAAN who won the Gr1 Middle a park as a 2yo beating SHOWCASING.

TRIBAL RYTHM cost £150,000 at the yearling sales, considerably more than his brother, the one and only BRADSELL. BRADSELL has improved the page immeasurably, there is 2yo form littered around the pedigree. James Horton trains the son of ULYSSES.

Verdict: It would be surprising if the winner didn’t come from the above mentioned and Godolphin’s has been slammed but MURASHAH looks competitive in and around 8/1 who could give the boys in blue something to worry about maybe.

18.40 Newbury

Richard Hannon has won this novice for the past 3 years, and 4 of the last 4 renewals. BAHEER is a warm favourite. Hannon reckons he’s the best 2yo he has ever had and this lad was slammed on debut but he found it hard to translate his gallop work to the track last time out. He’s by MEHMAS and bred to be a smart 2yo.

COUNT PALATINE had a day out at Royal Ascot in the Chesham Stakes but found that too spicy. He’s from a nice family, his sister is BOCCA BACIATA who won a Gr2, TOPEKA who won a Gr3 as a 2yo and KALSA who was a Group 3 winner. Trained by Brian Meehan.

CYNOSURE is by 2yo king sire NO NAY NEVER, and the breeders have intentionally bred to him as there is some stamina on the dam side. This colts sister is WHO’S STEPH who won a brace of Group 3s over a mile and a mile and a half.

MITWAA is trained by Roger Varian who is 5 from 21 with his juveniles. This colts brother is ANNAF who was 3rd in the Kings Stand at Ascot behind BRADSELL. MITWAA is by OASIS DREAM, making him a full brother to MUSHIR who won a 2yo Listed race for Varian. Varian knows the family well.

FIRST ENCORE is trained by Ed Walker who is having a great time lately. This colt is by ACCLAMATION who gets smart 2yo’s and from the immediate family of group 1 winner INVINCIBLE ARMY.

Verdict: BAHEER looks a naughty boy. He’s already been gelded and got withdrawn before the Norfolk stakes at Royal Ascot but if he can translate his homework to the track then he should win easily…that’s no certainty. MITWAA catches the eye.

RISK ON

Another incredibly tough day of racing, as it has been all week with no real stand out bets (the big one not declared). The stats look quite bullish today, a small chimp feeding perm won’t go too far wrong in our view - could get a full house.

14.40 TYPICAL WOMAN

Worth a small poke in this fillies race. Buick on the controls, he’s won on her before. Low mark compared to previous runs at track off 72 and 74. Small bet at 9/4 as Ian Williams horses sometimes a little unreliable but this is an easy race.

17.50 SERENITY DREAM

Blood pick here. A nice speedy pedigree vs potential staying types (bar Varian’s who is weak in market). Crisford’s in top form too. Full bet at 11/10.

There will be a couple more bets at our local track Newbury posted on twitter but will be left late.