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OK, we’ve been here before, but it FINALLY looks like Overdose is set to make his comeback!!! On Sunday 18th July, he’s been declared to run in a 5 furlong conditions race at Bratislava in Slovakia worth 10,000 Euros, and connections are so confident that he’ll run, that the jockey has already been booked!! And it’s none other that Czech based British born Gary Hind, who is a regular face at the Bratislava course.
The astonishing thing however, is that Overdose might not even go off favourite!! Whilst he’s been recovering from his injuries, the 3 year old German bred Murano (also trained in Hungary) has been stepping into the mantle of ‘Eastern European Sprint Star’ by winning a Group 1 race at Bratislava last month (the race Overdose won in 2008) in only his second racecourse appearance! Regular sparring partners such as Another True Story and Varosbiro are also entered, but if Overdose DOES run (I’ve been here SO many times before), he’ll have to concede weight and fitness to Murano, and it could be a very interesting race!
Thanks for that Darren. Such a shame he wasn’t ready in time for Royal Ascot or July Cup but at least he is still in the Nunthorpe.
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Can’t wait, hope the feet stand up and he’s as good as ever. Would be great if he globetrotts over to the Uk and kicks some ass.
When I spoke to Sandor Ribarski at Hoppegarten back in May, he did state to me then that Overdose would not run in England this year, simply because his fitness would not be good enough for him to run at the highest level. He also mentioned the type of races he would be entered in – conditions races in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Of course the problem is now that Ribarski is no longer the trainer, but he showed me a picture of Overdoses hoof, and it looked really bad to me. He did state that the hoof was improving all the time, but there hade been setbacks along the way. Let’s just hope that finally all will go to plan on Sunday and that the Budapest Bullet can put up another breathtaking performance!
Anyone think we might have another Kinscem on our hands?
I really do hope we get to see, if not this year then next, Overdose vs Starspangled banner, having heard Aidan O’Briens word on Starspangleds speed on the gallop and Overdose’s successes, it would be a tight match up. Cant see it happening as Starspangled would be retired by the time Overdose gets over to England. Would Overdose handle our tracks over here? I really cant wait till he comes over and all being well he probably will do. Lets hope he gets back to winning ways sunday, can anyone let us know the result in the thread after?
Well, I’ve just watched the race live from Bratislava – and what a struggle!! He’s won, but by only half a length!! Gary Hind was flat to the boards for half the race, and he just got home from about 4 other horses who were pretty close to him. I think it was Murano in second, but my word, I really thought he was beat a furlong out!!!
Sorry, but this wasn’t the Overdose I saw 2 years ago!
Thought it was a satisfactory reintroduction, considering his injury, time off and Longchamp target, which is still the best part of 11 weeks away.
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Looks to have lost a bit of his dash. Warm up or not he was spacing rivals like that mid race in the past. Let’s hope he can stay sound and continue to improve.
I am very happy with that comeback run, I think he still obtains alot of his ability. Dont think he ever looked like getting beat there, all roads lead to Longchamp, hopefully.
Thanks for the video.
Well, I’ve just seen Overdose run today in Budapest – and he was simply sensational!!! The Budapest Bullet is BACK!!
As in his last race, Gary Hind rode him, but he looked just like his old self as he took the lead up almost straightwaway. About 1 1/2 furlongs out, Hind pressed go – and boy, did he go!! This was very similar to his last run here, where he won under Christophe Soumillion with similar opposition. Indeed, Spinning Crystal, 2nd last year, filled the same place again today. At a guess I would say today he won by about 9 lengths.
Any doubts people could have had after his Bratislava race can be well and truly dispelled now. Knowing how good the current crop of German sprinters are, I believe Overdose will be very difficult to beat at Baden-Baden in 2 weeks time!
The video can been seen here:
http://www.kincsempark.hu/video/vasarnap/10_futam.wmvGary Hind now that’s a blast from the past, was a good friend of my brother’s when he was an Apprentice at Reg Hollinshead’s and my brother was a stable lad.
Glad to see he’s doing well.
Gary Hind now that’s a blast from the past, was a good friend of my brother’s when he was an Apprentice at Reg Hollinshead’s and my brother was a stable lad.
Glad to see he’s doing well.
He lives in Prague now, and often turns up at his local course as well as courses in Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Germany. Indeed he rode one of our horses at Munich a couple of years back. From what I hear, he’ll keep the ride for Baden-Baden as well.
As I follow racing in Central Europe, Gary Hind never really disappeared as far as I’m concerned. He’s ridden some of the best horses in the area, and is a very populer rider. However, thanks to Overdose, British racegoers can now see the ‘second coming’ of this excellent jockey.
Darren, while the bullet looks back to his old, which is brilliant news, do you know if his split times are back to what they were before his lay off?
If he’s not timed at home, is there another run at this track on the same going to use as a gage?
All I’ve got is his total time, which was 56.4 seconds. The ground was classed as soft to heavy. When Overdose won over course and distance last year with Christophe Soumillion on board, the time was 54.6 seconds. However, the ground was much better than it was today (officially classed as good last year). In the race last year, Overdose beat Spinning Crystal by 8 lengths giving him 6 kilos. Today, Overdose beat Spinning Crystal by 10 lengths, but did only give him 1.5 kilos. Personally, I think Overdose is pretty much back to his best. I’m not an expert on such matters, but if the ground is soft/heavy, would you expect to add on 1.8 seconds for 5 furlongs? I’m not really sure how you work out what that time would have been equivalent to on good. I think that’s the telltale sign to see exactly how good the performance is today.
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