Equinties - United rocked

Gm Equinauts 

Straight into it today. 

Let’s dive in. 

Headline Roundup

The Rock of United 

Coolmore’s ROCK OF GIBRALTAR passed away yesterday at the age of 23.

Racing people will remember ROCK OF GIBRALTAR for his triumphs on the track; he was AOB's Champion 3yo of 2002, winning seven CONSECUTIVE Gr1's and was voted the 2002 European Horse of the Year, but he was just as well-known off the track, by the wider public too… especially amongst the United fans. 

Owned by Magnier and JP McManus, ROG (ROCK OF GIBRALTAR) was part-leased to United manager, Alex Ferguson at the time and subsequently ran in the club's famous colours of red and white.

Magnier, JP and Fergie knew each other well - Fergie the manager of the biggest club in the world and Magnier and JP shareholders of it. 

All was fine with the powerhouse owners relationship while ROG was winning, but it was when the superstar was retired things started to turn sour. 

Big Fergie assumed he owned the breeding rights to the horse, whose balls were now very much in demand, but that wasn’t in the leasing contract and Magnier and JP knew this all along. 

This didn’t go down well with Fergie who thought he had a claim to the riches that ROG’s new career would bring and decided to file a lawsuit against Coolmore. In effect, Fergie was suing the owners of his own club! (Even Roy Keane thought this was a bad idea!). 

A bitter feud between the Irish and Scotsman quickly realised, and naturally this didn’t go down well with the clubs Board who called for Sir Alex to resign… quickly. 

Fergie didn’t budge and subsequently caused JP and Magnier to play some power moves which would change the history of Manchester United forever. 

The Irish money men bought further, huge stakes in United and forced a growing influence in the club - leverage over the manager. 

Fergie buckled and the whole episode was settled out of court, shrouded in an omertà where no one really knows the finer details (I think Magnier paid Fergie £2m to fuck off) and JP sold his shares in United to the Glazers who went on to amass 98% of the club.  

The club has never been the same since. 

BLACKBEARD sails off to stud

Aidan O’Brien’s two-time Group 1 winner BLACKBEARD has been forced into retirement after picking up an injury on the gallops yesterday morning.

The two-year-old was last seen winning the Gr1 Middle Park at Newmarket in September by a good two lengths and was touted as one of O’Brien’s future stars, despite his loveable, playful pre-race antics. 

O’Brien told the Racing Post: “Blackbeard was a little off after exercise this morning in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup. Unfortunately, when we had him x-rayed the radiographs showed a small chip in his right knee and a decision has been made to retire him.” 

This is a real shame for everyone involved, enjoy retirement, fella! 

This news comes just days after Tony Mullins announced that his superstar PRINCESS ZOE had been retired following her fourth in the Gr1 Prix Royal-Oak on the weekend. 

She was a proper horse who won the Gr1 Prix du Cadran back in 2020 and finished a good second to SUBJECTIVIST in the 2021 renewal of the Gr1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot - have a good retirement, Zoe! 

More: 

Gamble failed 

A two-horse gamble for the same owner was foiled yesterday as both could only manage the runner-up spot after receiving heavy market support. 

Adam McCormack, also known as @adam_gg_bets2 on Twitter, had both of his horses, GANDHI MAKER and PRINCE HECTOR, well-backed before the off of their relevant races on the day (6/1 to evens and 18/1 to 11/8 respectively) but both could only manage second. 

I’m sure the owner was fine, at the prices the place double was a great bet!

Quick-fire bumper previews (there’s three today!)

Chepstow 

Market headed by colours all day one huns will remember - the owners of BRAVEMANSGAME and PANIC ATTACK! The two legs of THAT treble we landed a couple of years ago. 

Racing Post describe this horse as ‘could be anything’ but despite the 6 figure price tag, most likely won’t … he’s trained by David Pipe who, let’s be honest, hasn’t exactly reached the heights of his old man. 

Nicholls’ next in line with another expensive horse owned by last years winning connections (HENRI LE SECOND makes his chase debut today, could the owners book end the card!?). Nicholls is 3 from last 5 in this race too. 

The horse I’m looking at is STEEL ALLY. Owners, Walter Plant Hire have a few out today and actually have a horse in all three bumpers! They love winning them and honestly, wouldn’t put you off an owner place treble. 

Our view: Not the most expensive horse, but STEEL ALLY has a lovely pedigree. Too competitive to bet imo, could see some Cheltenham Festival horses here. 

Bangor bumpers 

The first division really isn’t that inspiring and can see why Snowden’s is fave. He won a crap point but he won it by a million lengths and looked quite good. Snowden targets bumpers. Watching race for me. 

The second division is a little better. 250k pointer PEAKY BOY heads market. I wouldn’t be afraid to take him in, I think he’s more a 3miler like his half bro. 

I don’t think Curtis’ can win despite me wanting to see her face on tv. 

Longsdons has a nice ped for the race but she’s a filly against the boys and might struggle. Might do, dunno. 

It’s the Walters Plant Hire I like. By DOCTOR DINO who sires their Chepstow runner too (think LA BAGUE AU ROU) he has one of the nicer peds in this race. 

The Walter Plant Hire bumper place treble (LUMP SUM, STEEL ALLY and VINCENZO) pays 7’s. Small bet.

Risk On

Bumper owner place treble for reasons in the previews.