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Two Group 1 races for 2YO this Sunday at Saint Cloud. There are only seven runners in each race but there is plenty of British/Irish involvement and there should be plenty of information coming in the aftermath.
The Criterium De Saint Cloud is over 2000m (roughly 10F) and Aidan has four of of the seven entries. Ryan Moore rides Delano Roosevelt, rather than recent Zetland winner Kew Gardens, who has Seamie Heffernan on board. Perhaps worryingly for Roaring Lion fans, Nelson seems 3rd choice with Donnacha O’Brien up. Hunting Horn completes the quartet and is surely the pacemaker.
Charlie Appleby sens Stage Magic, who has ample French experience, having caught Olmedo’s jockey napping when holding on by a short head from the front, but he ran a stinker next time.
The line up is completed by two fillies, Maiden Voyage and Luminate. Luminate has already beaten Maiden Voyage and thrashed Stage Magic, so she is of most interest against the Ballydoyle troops.
Despite being a filly, Luminate is one of a handful quoted for the French 2000 Guineas instead. Probably just the common Oddschecker balls up. She is trained by Freddy Head and is 2/2 so far. Freddy has a few talented 2YO fillies this year and she may be some value here after winning a Group 3 easily over 9F on soft last time. She should stay the 10F and on RPR of 106 so far she is in touching distance of the best here.
Nelson is Aidan’s best rated on RPR but seems third choice, there is nothing between Delano Roosevelt and Kew Gardens on the same rating scale. Ryan may be on Delano Roosevelt based on his second to Saxon Warrior in the Beresford, which is a race working out thus far. A win for Saxon Warrior in the Racing Post Trophy will surely see money for Ryan’s mount at Saint Cloud.
If we ever get odds I may opt for the Head filly if the price is appealing. Otherwise it looks like Delano Roosevelt stayed on best for pressure to nab second in the Beresford and he may relish the 1m 2f here.
Later on the Card we have the 1400m (roughly 7F) Criterium International. Aidan relies solely on Dewhurst 4th Threeandfourpence here, with Ryan Moore up. Woodmax is an interesting runner, having been 4th to Happily in the Lagardere. The horse took a 26 lbs leap up the RPR for that Group 1 run and it will be interesting to see if he runs anywhere near that here.
The fairly exposed Ellthea narrowly tops the ratings here but she didn’t last home in the Fillies Mile behind Laurens, I feel a less exposed one will win this. Andre Fabre’s Cascadian is a good bit behind the others and needs a good leap forward.
I expect Sacred Life will take the beating here. Proven on the ground (Is it ever NOT soft in France?) he has recorded an 8 lbs superior figure to Wootton who features prominently for the Guineas but he has not caught the imagination of punters or Godolphin. That may change on Sunday.
No doubt Liz Price will be along on ATR to tell us that both Favs might win and both second Favs may be an each-way alternative.
Enjoy!
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
If Saxon Warrior (or any of Aiden’s other runners) wins the Racing Post on Saturday, do you think all 3 of his will still run in the Criterium?
Sacred Life looks like a very talented colt in the Criterium International, and to me at least, 13/8 for him is much better value than the current 5/4 on Saxon Warrior.
He has won all 3 of his starts, by a head on debut, by 5l subsequently and following that up with a 6l romp in a Group 3 over course and distance. He beat an average bunch of colts that day, with familiar and throughly exposed names such as Aqabah and Alba Power beaten in behind. Nevertheless he beat them in the fashion of a horse with loads of natural ability. He has ran incredibly green on all three starts to me eye. He was niggled along from quite a way out on all occasions, and he looks like he has his own ideas about racing, but once the penny dropped he pulled away in that effortless manner that only top class horses can.
He was won on Good to Soft, Soft, and Heavy, so perhaps conditions have flattered him somewhat, but the going at Saint-Cloud is currently Soft as per the International Racing Bureau, so for the purposes of this race that can only be a positive.
Hey Gaman will probably go well on the ground, and I suppose we will know more about his chances after Seahenge runs in Doncaster, but Sacred Life is several pounds clear on both RPR’s and Topspeed ratings. Threeandfourpence doesn’t strike me as a horse that will go well on soft surfaces. Nothing about the other contenders makes me feel 13/8 is poor value.
Sacred Life 13/8 for the home team.
Well boosts for both Delano Roosevelt and Nelson, as Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion fought out the Racing Post Trophy with a reasonable gap back to the third.
All three to run in the Beresford have won since, so Delano Roosevelt looks very solid after his second there. It now looks that Nelson caught a tartar when finishing second to Roaring Lion in the Royal Lodge. He had gone into that race as an odds on shot after the defections and sporting a 110 rating to the Gosden colt’s 91. Sadly, I had an ante-post at 10/3, along with some others, for Nelson but he got cuffed a neck by today’s runner up, a result which saw Roaring Lion raised to 112.
Despite having won at 10F, I feel that Kew Garden’s win last time may have been been down to the better ground and lesser class of the Zetland Stakes. Delano Roosevelt stayed on in the soft of the Beresford behind Saxon Warrior to snatch second, whilst Kew Garden’s dropped to third and ultimately 4th in the closing stages. On Soft I would back Delano Roosevelt to confirm placings and perhaps more comprehensively this time.
There is a line of form which suggests Nelson should come out on top because he gave the other two a tanking when they clashed at Leopardstown over a mile. Donnacha had Nelson handy near the front before leading narrowly most of the day before kicking on under quite a lot of pressure to take several lengths out of the field. Kew Gardens and Delano Roosevelt were quite a way in arrears as it looked like Nelson might win by six lengths. Both colts stayed on steadily from the back to ultimately claim 2nd and 3rd and they did close to 3 lengths as Nelson started to look tired.
Based on the Leopardstown run and a neck second to Roaring Lion would put Nelson 3rd in the Racing Post Trophy, half a length behind Saxon Warrior and we know that Saxon Warrior beat Delano Roosevelt 2 and a half lengths in the Beresford, with Kew Gardens two heads further back in 4th place. The off-putting factor is that Nelson was never able to kick on when he ran at Ascot in the Royal Lodge. He seemed a bit outpaced if anything before staying on for pressure. I thought briefly that he might pull it out of the bag and scrape home to win in uninspiring style but Roaring Lion seemed to just stay on that bit better.
If today’s race were a mile I would perhaps opt for Nelson at 10/3 but over the extra 2F I get the feeling Delano Roosevelt might relish the extra 2F the most of the three serious Ballydoyle challengers.
The filly Luminate muddies the waters here because her 106 Racing Post rating leaves her within reaching distance of the best here. Freddy Head’s daughter of Lawman made a huge improvement from her debut to beat a field of all colts in a Group 3 next time. Interestingly, Freddy Head said after that race that she would probably be put away for next season and that it was unlikely that she would run in today’s race. It shows that you can’t implicitly trust what trainers say.
Freddy Head stated that he always felt Luminate would stay well and having won over 9F on very soft ground it clearly looks like 10F seems no problem and she claimed front runner Stage Magic (who re-opposes here) pretty readily last time up). Godolphin’s Stage Magic set out to make it a test that day but in the end the aggressive ride took its toll and he weakened into last place. In contrast the jockey on Luminate was able to have a long, lingering look around before scoring by 3 lengths. Bizarrely she is quoted for the French 2000 Guineas but not the 1000 Guineas. It may not matter, as she is probably a French Oaks type on the evidence so far.
In the end I plumped for the filly here, I assume she must be showing them enough to come here after earlier suggesting she was done for the season. I found it hard to call between Nelson and Delano Roosevelt for second best here and the 4 entries made it look like the Ballydoyle team feel there might not be much between them.
Luminate at 3/1 it is then and have done singles and a double with Sacred Life who came right away last time to go 3/3 so far. The slight concern is his hitting a bit of a flat spot last time but he powered away when he picked up last time and looks a cut above the rest in the shorter race over 7F. The ground should ensure he can pick the field off in the closing stages.
Luminate 3/1 and Sacred Life 7/4 two singles and a double
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Fightingirish was given a form boost yesterday with Nebo winning at Newbury. He has to find more for 7f though as his sole attempt at the trip saw him weaken to finish over 7 lengths behind Elarqam in a novice event.
Ellthea won well enough on soft over 7f in Ireland but those in behind have done nothing for the form.
Cascadian could improve again but was 2nd to Mythical Magic on his 2nd start and that one has ran ok in a group 2 & 3 since. Not standout form though.Woodmax wants further but could be suited by a silly pace were it to happen and Threeandfourpence ran a very solid dewhurst fourth last time out but Seahenge didn’t exactly give a boost to that race yesterday.
I don’t really want to tip up a short priced fav but Sacred Life has what looks like the best form on offer albeit last time beating a very average bunch. He travelled well though and wasn’t given a hard time to win by 6 lengths. There’s clearly a decent turn of foot there and proven on soft ground so I would be happy to give him my money win or lose as it just about feels like the right decision.The 10f race looks a lot trickier. Kew Gardens is essentially the only one who doesn’t have to prove he gets the distance but he’s the one I least fancy of the AOB crew. Delano and Nelson could both be anything at this trip, it looks sure to suit. Delano looks like he could be best suited and I might have a go closer to the race. Luminate could be a bit special but I’m always dubious about one stepping up a furlong having led from a fair way out beforehand. It’s hard to judge and there’s just no way I can write her off so I’ll keep giving this race a bit of thought.
Racing abandoned due to to protestations and strike action from (small) owners and trainers about proposed cuts to premiums and bonuses from winning, placing etc.
They have blocked the pre parade ring area leading to the parade ring and talks obviously haven’t progressed well so the decision has been to call the meeting off after 1 race.
Typical, meeting abandoned because of selfish people. We live in times of recession, something has to give.
The police should have moved them on for obstructing proceedings. People have a right to enjoy their day off and not be denied by fools who will achieve nothing by what amounts to blackmail.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Typical, meeting abandoned because of selfish people. We live in times of recession, something has to give.
The police should have moved them on for obstructing proceedings. People have a right to enjoy their day off and not be denied by fools who will achieve nothing by what amounts to blackmail.
Agreed,
What a complete and utter shambles on an afternoon featuring top level action.
Was watching on waiting for them to get security to move them or something
The races will likely not be run now because of so many foreign runners
I don’t pretend to know anything about the details of this dispute. Apparently it’s been going on all year but races have just been delayed. I’m guessing that the wider French population has little sympathy with the financial woes of racehorse owners and trainers and escalation of this sort of action seems unlikely to win any new supporters.
All the time and effort getting horses prepared and the expenses incurred in transport etc I presume there is some sort of compensation paid but nothing can compensate for wasted time and effort of the trainers and their team of helpers,some travelling across The Channel to bring their horses to the track for their declared event.
Also as Steve so rightly said..families and hard working folk out for a few hours relaxation have their day ruined by a bunch of selfish protesters with the police unable or unwilling to use force to disband them..
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Why don’t these people take their protest to the people that matter?
One simple reason. They would get short shrift and be moved on or bundled into vans under arrest.
These cowards always pick the softest targets and are pumping other people who feed off the same industry teat right up their backside.
No better than the bomb hoaxers who get meetings called off.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
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