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4mm of water put onto the Ascot course overnight – WHY?
Day one was fantastic. No draw bias, fast times, no-one complaining about the ground. 5mm put on overnight. Result impossible to win from a low draw on day two. I can understand the need to water after day one to maintain the ground. Times were still quick Wednesday. After day two, with cooler weather forecast and possible showers, Stickels puts on another 5mm. Craziness. Result low draw bias this time and ground significantly slower, two races over three seconds above standard.
So what does brain of Britain do next, yes he puts another 4mm on. These horses are bred for speed. Is Stickels aiming for jumping ground or what?
Every year I end up moaning about watering. There is a need occasionally I get that but there is nothing wrong with fast ground.
14mm of watering in three days is way too much.
Same time, same place next year no doubt!
I was thinking this. It’s gone quite soggy in places by the sounds of what they were saying yesterday.
Plenty of natural watering up here in the North West… Ascot are welcome to some of that if they want it!
I think you’re totally out of order, IBRacing. Where did that come from?
Day 1 saw numerous course record times, suggesting the ground was borderline firm. Nobody wants to see good horses jarred-up and ruined on that sort of surface at a prestigious meeting. This is Ascot, not Musselburgh!
With more baking hot days and drying breezes, I think watering is essential. They just need to keep it safe.
I think you’re totally out of order, IBRacing. Where did that come from?
Day 1 saw numerous course record times, suggesting the ground was borderline firm. Nobody wants to see good horses jarred-up and ruined on that sort of surface at a prestigious meeting. This is Ascot, not Musselburgh!
With more baking hot days and drying breezes, I think watering is essential. They just need to keep it safe.
If you read closely I did say I understand the need to water after day one.
My issue is the amount of watering. 14mm in three days is ridiculous. The amount of watering has created draw bias twice and reduced the ground based on times to good yesterday.
I haven’t heard one person claim that Tuesday’s ground was unsafe by the way.
Got great sympathy with your views IB. It was undoubtedly a good idea to water after first day record times across the board, but watering did not look even to me; favouring stand side. Watering again wednesday night seemed to change the draw advantage. Early pace seemed relatively even across the course yesterday, and yet there was a bias by the time they passed the post. Notion that it’s only “where the best pace is” doesn’t wash for me. imo More likely it’s uneven watering.
Times were not as fast the second and then third days – some just above standard, some just below wednesday, all above standard thursday which strongly suggests there was no need to water last night. Unless… is watering being done to try and equal out the earlier uneven watering? I saw on TV they were claiming slower times were only because the rails were moved out (not because of watering)! If that were the case please explain why the straight course times were also significantly slower?
Value Is EverythingYet another reason I avoid punting seriously on Flat racing.
Clerk is between a rock and a hard place: he needs to keep the ground ‘safe’, which, to a large extent, is based on subjective judgement.
Also, Those ‘tractors’ which water do not look to me to be at the cutting edge of technology. I’d be astounded if 4mm or whatever goes on evenly. Wherever the water lands, the vagaries of terrain will ensure it flows here and there.
If nothing else, it shows just how much difference the ground makes to a horse’s chance.
Opening race 2.20 above standard over 6f. That is getting on towards good to soft ground (there is apparently a headwind). Stickels has made a right mess of the course this week.
He’ll probably put another 4mm on tonight.
Ground may be faster on the round course. Better time for the second race than the opener.
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