Page 18 - July 2007 The Game

18 The Game, July 2007
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Outside the Borders with Nigel Griffiths
After winning the 2000 Guineas at 25/1, Cockney Rebel was favourite to win the Irish equivalent and rewarded his supporters with a cosy length win over Creachadoir. Connections have been offered C$21million for the colt and now, after fracturing a pelvis in the Gr1 St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, they find they have plenty to consider. The son of Val Royal veered sharply to the right when delivering his challenge, finishing fifth. The race went in gallant style to Excellent Art (noted in the June issue), to complete a 1,2,3 for Ballydoyle.
Finsceal Beo (Mr Greeley) also took her reputation to the Curragh for the Irish 1000 Guineas. She had to work hard for the win, in the end holding off Dimenticata by a neck. It was unfortunate that she was beaten a head by Darjina in the French Guineas, as the treble would have been a very memorable accomplishment.
After heavy rain, the ground was against her at Royal Ascot in the Gr1 Coronation Stakes. She trailed in 8 1/2 lengths down to Indian Ink after challenging at the furlong marker but found nothing. Taking second spot however was the German filly Mi Emma (noted in the June issue) who ran a great race against top class opposition.
Following strong ante-post support, Authorized was sent off the 5/4 favourite for The Derby. Dettori brought him with a strong run 3 furlongs out, where he quickly put distance between himself and the others for a 5l win. Connections favour a step back to 10f for the Eclipse and older horses for his next outing.
The English Oaks was an emotional occasion for Henry Cecil. This accomplished trainer has had more than his fair share of troubles in recent years, but this win by Light Shift (Kingmambo) would have done him nothing but good.
Royal Ascot with all its pageantry and tradition, also provides some seriously good racing and this year didn’t disappoint. Some good youngsters showed they have a bright future at the game and they were fully supported by the older horses. The curtain raiser for the five day event, the Coventry Stakes over 6f for 2yo’s, was won by the very promising Aidan O’Brien trained Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo). He looks to have plenty of improvement in him after only his second lifetime run and bookmakers Paddy Power were inundated as punters took the 10/1 offered for next year’s 2000 Guineas. Now 8/1.
There was a lot of interest was in the Gr2 King’s Stand Stakes over 5f. No fewer than four live contenders from Australia were here for this race and William Hill went 10-11 an Australian-trained horse to win one of either the King's Stand/Golden Jubilee (Saturday), 13-8 all Australian runners to be beaten in both races, 4-1 any Australian-trained runners to win both races.
The race went in scintillating style to multiple Gr1 winner Miss Andretti who won by a comfortable ≤ length from the unlucky Dandy Man (May and June mentions). As Mick Naughton said, “She looks like a bag of spanners in the paddock, but there’s a total transformation when a jockey gets up and she steps out
onto the course”. Australia completed the places with Magnus third and Takeover Target 1/2 length behind him.
All eyes were on the return to action of the enigmatic George Washington who was made favourite for the Gr1Queen Anne Stakes. He travelled keenly under Mick Kinane and eventually stayed on well for a 1/2 length fourth to the Godolphin owned Ramonti.
The German bred Manduro (Monsun) was a very convincing winner over Dylan Thomas in the 10f Gr1 Prince of Wales Stakes.
Yeats (Saddlers Wells) made it back-to- back wins in the Gr1 Ascot Gold Cup over 2m 4f. He will again be targeted at the prestigious Melbourne Cup.
And so, onto one of the weeks talking points, would the Australians take both of the big sprint races of the meeting.
Miss Andretti took the first leg on Tuesday, but this extra furlong of the Gr1 Golden Jubilee brought stronger opposition and heavy rain had added much speculation. Bentley Biscuit was an absentee after his disappointment on Tuesday and bookmakers felt that Miss Andretti was vulnerable. The ‘accountants’ were correct and she didn’t get a blow in, so it was left to fellow countryman and global traveller, Takeover Target to fly the flag, just losing out to the well supported Soldiers Tale.
Derby winner Authorized (Montjeu) has been sold to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud for an undisclosed sum.
British raider Fashion Statement captured the Gr2 Oaks d’Italia over 1m 3f for Michael Jarvis. She fought off a strong local challenge to win by 1≤ lengths.
Moving away from Europe, South African speed machine Mythical Flight was beaten a neck in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville, by the Mike De Kock trained Kildonan. (Make note of the winner for later in Dubai).
Not only have the Japanese made a great success of attracting the younger generation to racing by making it a ‘hip’ sport for girls (the boyz will follow), but the gals are also getting the results out on the track. Vodka, by winning the Japan Derby, became the first filly in six decades to do so and the Arc de Triomphe in France later in the season is now a possibility.
In Hong Kong, Mick Kinane showed what a class rider he can be, when having flown in only two hours before, won the Gr1 Champions and Chater at Sha Tin over 12f on Viva Pataca.
Down in New Zealand there was tragedy, when respected horse woman and jockey, Rebecca Peters died as a result of a fall while schooling at Riccarton Racecourse, Christchurch. Rebecca was riding trials to qualify horses for competing in jumps races and the horse took a fall in the final trial where she sustained severe injuries.
Across in Australia, Oaks winner Anamato completed her final piece of work before being flown to California for the American Oaks.
Large Fields in Stakes at Assiniboia
Photo - Gerry Hart
By Allan Gray
The Assiniboia Downs stakes season got out of the starting get quickly with some of the largest and most competitive fields seen in recent years at the Manitoba track, with local favourites and invaders both seeing success.
The 2007 stakes schedule will shine the spotlight on the $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby for 3-year-olds on Monday, August 6. The richest race at the Winnipeg track will be surrounded by three other stakes making it the richest day in Manitoba horseracing. Along with the Derby, the weekend will feature the $45,000 Winnipeg Sun Stakes (Older fillies & mares) on Sunday, August 5, the $45,000 Debutante (2-year-old fillies), $45,000 Assiniboia Oaks (3-year-old fillies), and the $45,000 Wheat City Stakes (older horses) on Derby Day.
The Winnipeg Futurity (2-year-olds) which has been on derby day in the past has been moved to closing day Sunday, September 23 and lengthened to one mile. This move allows Assiniboia Downs to close their 49th season with a bang including the $75,000 Matron Breeders’ Cup (3 & Up Fillies) on Saturday, September 22 and $75,000 The Gold Breeders’ Cup also on closing day.
this year’s Manitoba Lotteries Derby. Next stop for Country Humor and the 3-year-old crop will be the Derby Trial on
July 15.
Doctor Jane wins LaVerendrye Stakes
A sudden rain storm prior to the running of the Sunday feature couldn’t dampen the spirits of the winning connections of Doctor Jane.
Doctor Jane, owned by Larry Carter, broke in front and never looked back as she wired the field in the $45,000 LaVerendrye Stakes. Claimed for $10,000 at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, Doctor Jane definitely reward- ed her connections for bringing her to the ‘Peg.
Iowa invader Des Moines easy winner of Chantilly Stakes
The lone invader Des Moines left no doubt why she shipped north from Iowa by winning the Chantilly Stakes by a commanding eight lengths.
When asked if Winnipeggers would see Des Moines again, assistant trainer Tanner Tracy, standing in for his father Ray said, “I don’t make those decisions, but I hope so.”
Des Moines, a 3-year-old filly by Evansville Slew marked her first stakes win in open company and now has four of five wins and one second in her
3-year-old campaign.
Through adversity the best prevail in the Free Press.
Going six wide around the final turn was not the plan trainer Carl Anderson gave rider Alan Cuthbertson to guide Illusive Force home; however nothing could stop the 7-year-old chestnut from winning the $45,000 Free Press Stakes. Southern invader Lite Brigade got wiped out at the start and still
edged out the big grey Elite Mercedes for third.
Horse of the Year in 2006, Elite Mercedes, who is still trying to find his form from last year, winning six straight including three stakes, showed he still can be counted on for a pay cheque with his third place finish.
Country Humor winner of the Golden Boy S.
Country Humor gets last laugh in Golden Boy Stakes
“I just pulled the trigger and he flew,” said leading rider Alan Cuthbertson about Country Humor after his victory in the $45,000 Golden Boy Stakes.
The 3-year-old Distorted Humor colt has been highly touted as the favourite in
A Happy Father’s Day!
Trainer Kevin Attard with his wife Kristal and their son Joshua and daughter Taylor after winning the $75,000 Zadracarta Stakes with Siwa for owner Knob Hill Stable at Woodbine on
Father’s Day June 17.