Stable 2nd String

[davidbrady]

Thu 19-Jun

ASC 15:05 Ribblesdale Stakes
John Gosden runs 2 fancied ones here, the favourite Michita and the 3rd favourite Dar Re Mi.
Selection – Dar Re Mi – 1pt win

ASC 16:55 Hampton Court Stakes
A Listed race but 2 interesting runners for Michael Stoute. Ryan Moore has chosen to ride the once-raced Kensington Oval over the paper favourite Dr Faustus. It’s highly likely that Kensington Oval will go off the shorter of the 2 with Moore on board. I’d recommend betting Dr Faustus as close to the off as possible (or shock-horror – take the SP)
Selection – Dr Faustus – 1pt win

[Spitfire]

During Henry Cecil’s hay day when he was at the very summit of his considerable powers I believe he had a second string horse in a maiden at somewhere like Leicester or Nottingham or one of those type tracks that started at 50/1 and it duly won. That horse was the Sheikh Mohammed owned future absolute top classer Belmez. I never backed it at the time but I do remember thinking before the off that horse shouldn’t be 50/1.

In those days Henry’s 2nd string in maidens would normally be about 8 to12/1 or at any rate a lot shorter than 50/1.

EDIT

Actually my memory failed me it was a Newmarket maiden that 2nd string top classer Belmez landed at 50/1.

[Ken(West Derby)]

I clearly remember the Sheikh having many second-string winners when he first ventured onto the British racing scene. I also think Prince Khaled enjoyed similar second-string successes.

[Nathan Hughes]

Hey Billion, what do you make of this one?

Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

[billion]

It is interesting

Nathan

.

I always worry and never trust stables with 2+ runners in a race and when interviewed they claim to all have some sort of merit.

M Johnston had 5 in a race last Saturday at Ascot, what is the punter to make of such situations?

I would never dare call the likes of MJ a cheat but some of these chaps certainly know how to manipulate the rules to their advantage and not to that of the punter and he is one I treat with the utmost caution.

I accept in small fields there can be a pacemaker to "TRY" an ensure a true run race but over and beyond that is beyond my understanding.

It does happen when the second string goes on and wins but if the two are well matched and the prices allow and if the race is of interest, why not bet them both?

Billy's Outback Shack

[Purwell]

I’m firmly of the opinion that they should be coupled as they are in other Countries.

I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways

[Author]

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