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<br>FSL,
Because you’ve just had a quick look at the thoughtfully placed big screen and spotted that Spencer has switched inside to make his challenge?
AP
<br>Call me cynical, but I reckon it was deliberate (and no I didn’t have a bet on the race).
Nor am I having a specific dig at Fallon or Coolmore, since I believe this is now a pattern in big races. The jockeys know that the chances of being disqualified are almost zero and are happy to take their chances on a ban in order to win a Group race.
To watch the senior offical responsible for the interpretation of the rules say on BBC – ‘he was an easy winner, so I expect he’ll keep the race’ – leaves me despairing for the state of the game in Britain. Of course he was an easy winner – he put his two closest rivals over the rails!
When my horses run in future, should I instruct the jockeys to get in front and then hang across any rival that tries to pass?
AP
<br>He’s had 250 rides approx and two thirds have been over hurdles. His overall strike rate is 15% for hurdles, the same for bumpers, but only 10% for fences.
It’s that overall strike rate that makes the recent performance look odd in contrast.
There’s nothing unusual about a claimer having the majority of his rides over hurdles – there are more rides on offer in low grade hurdles than elsewhere. I don’t know if he rode in points in Ireland as well as pony races, but if not, then his lack of experience over fences could be an issue in that particular stable.
I hope it works out for him – last autumn he looked a real prospect – but recently he seems to be lacking in confidence, which is hardly surprising given his results.
AP
<br>Merrigan had a hot spell in Oct/Nov last year, but in the six months since he’s 6/92 and only one of those winners was over fences.
Given the bias towards chasers in Nicholls yard, the temperament problems noted above and his recent record, I’m rather surprised by this move.
The one thing that Merrigan has in his favour is that he’s on the books of top agent Dave Roberts, so he shouldn’t be short of outside rides.
AP
<br>It’s an odd choice of race for him, even leaving aside the ground concerns. Surely his best chance of a big prize is in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Jul 23rd. But if he wins this Listed race (worth peanuts by comparison), he gets a 5lb penalty for the Newbury race which has total prize money of £125,000.
AP
<br>Gamble,
Gentlemen at Goodwood<br>may favour the crumpled coat<br>but I am best renowned<br>for my golden anorak!
AP
<br>I sent an Email to the HRA this morning requesting clarification and to be fair, they have replied in detail.
The view they put forward, backed by the stewards secretary on duty at Goodwood is that Doyle had his whip in the correct hand throughout, that he shifted his weight to try to stop the horse hanging and that he also stopped riding when it was clear that he was causing interference.
They considered it borderline between careless and accidental and the local stewards opted unanimously for accidental.
Reading between the lines (and this may be unfair), there also seems to be an element of ‘this stuff happens at Goodwood’, and that it’s a natural result of the track layout.
However, full credit to the authorities for a quick and detailed response. I still don’t agree with their view of the incident, but accept that it’s a judgement call and they’ve got better replay facilities and more angles than I’ve seen, as well as the advantage of questioning both riders involved.
AP
<br>Drone,
Yes that’s right, but his form on the flat since then has earned him the right to keep his feet on the ground.
As to that stewards enquiry, I’m bemused by the decision. A ban for Doyle wouldn’t recoup my lost prize money (£1250 for 3rd or £650 for 4th), nor would it help my friends and family who backed him each way, but I was very surprised he didn’t get at least two days and felt that four days would be about right.
Nothing against Doyle personally – my trainer assures me he’s a decent hard working lad willing to take advice from senior jockeys. But to call that accidental sets a precedent for less scrupulous riders that know the owner is on each way and expects to collect.
My kid sister had £2.50 ew in a Hill shop and texted me demanding a stewards enquiry!
AP
<br>The Independent really should get some decent sub editors – according to Cornwell, Devon Loch lost the ’53 Grand National because he ‘broke down’ – and the Preakness is run over 1m 3f. Some of his other comments seem a bit OTT as well.
AP
<br>Jackane,
Entry for the Derby costs £315 paid on Dec 1st 2004 for the 2006 Derby. Then there are various declaration stages at which more money has to be paid.
£1000 on March 7th, £3000 on May 19th and £2500 at the 5 day stage on May 29th.
The Oaks is different as the initial entry isn’t until March 1st 2006 and costs £800, with subsequent payments of £1400 and £1200 on May 19th and at 5 day stage.
So connections of Speciosa could have entered in March and dropped out after the Guineas if she’d disappointed for a cost of £800.
Of course the returns put the entry fee into context – the Derby winner this year collects £709,750.
AP
<br>There is one exception to the ’12F horses not in vogue’ – if the horse is a son of Sadlers Wells it doesn’t matter what his best trip is, he’s going to be popular as a stallion and his yearlings will sell well.
Best current examples – Galileo and Montjeu.
Astonishing when you look back at all the money Sangster and Magnier spent at Keeneland trying to buy stallions and Sadlers Wells was bred from a mare that Sangster owned and raced – Fairy Bridge.
AP
Quote: from SirHarryLewis
Whats more of a puzzle is why the race produced so many good horses in the eighties and so many duds in recent years.
SHL,
I’d guess it’s because most breeders are now aiming to produce 10F horses, not Derby winners. Around the world, the biggest prizes – Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Breeders Cup – are at 10F.
And the stallions with the biggest valuations are those that produce the 10F horses.
How many recent Derby winners have been dropped to 10F for their subsequent races (e.g. Motivator) rather than aimed at the St Leger?
If you read the book about Sangster and Magnier and their campaign in the 80’s, the aim was to buy the Derby winner as a yearling as that provided the biggest return in the stallion market. But that no longer applies and Derby winners aren’t that commercial unless they can win at shorter or go on to take the Arc and/or Breeders Cup Turf.
AP
<br>Hannon’s comment before Newbury that their one doubt was whether he’d stay 5F now looks pretty accurate.
He’s all speed, but no response when challenged on todays evidence.
Who was it who wrote ‘it’s not how fast they go, but how they go fast that matters’.
AP<br>
<br>Worth remembering that the date for the Derby was set early for very good reasons, although those reasons no longer apply.
Throughout the 19th century and at least until 1914, Epsom didn’t stage any meetings after the Derby and Ascot didn’t stage any after the Royal meeting. That was because the tracks had no watering system and the trainers had no artifical surfaces on the gallops at home.
The classics were set in April, June and September to avoid the hard ground that was normal in mid summer.
Personally I’d favour moving the race back, particularly to allow for the inclusion of a Group 1 over 10F between the Guineas and the Derby, but I concede it’s never going to happen. It does remain ridiculous though that we have up to three options for 3-y-olds over 1M (Nmkt, Curragh, Ascot), but none over 10F. Changing the St James Palace and the Coronation Stakes to 10F would be an improvement in my view, but again, I know it’s never going to happen.
AP
<br>They could stage six Group 1 races at one hour intervals and some peopke would still whinge.
If they’d opted to start at 6:50 this evening and stuck to 30 min intervals, what would there be to complain about. Of course the racing is put on to fit in with shop opening times – that’s because racing and betting are financially tied together, just the same as they are in every other country in the world bar Dubai.
As for the football analogy, is the London derby being staged at 12:45 tomorrow to suit the fans and players – or is it just possible that it’s a financial arrangement to suit Sky TV.
He who pays the piper dictates what time he tunes up – racing is hardly alone in that.
AP<br>
<br>Three flat meetings yesterday with plenty of runners and there wasn’t a single one set to carry less than 8st 4lbs.
Apart from mixed age handicaps in which 3-y-olds get a big weight allowance from older horses, there are very few occasions when any race produces a lower weight in the current program – and that could be resolved in most cases by raising the top weight for the older horses.
The 24lb range from 8-4 to 10-0 should be sufficient.
AP
