Page 36 - March 2008 The Game

36IThe Game, February 2008 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
n past years, Martin Pipe
OutsidetheBorders
enclosure when returning to Plumpton for a course and distance win. She’s in line for a C$120,000 bonus if she wins a chase at the Cheltenham Festival and connections have tasted glory at that meeting before with Shamayoun, in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the 2006 Festival.
has largely dominated the
chasing game. His momentous
drive for winners rewrote the
record books, but even with
those historical accomplish-
ments set for others to achieve, he
still retired with a number of the most prestigious races eluding him. To some extent his mantle has been taken by neighbouring rival Paul Nichols and this ex-jockey, with the support of Paul Barber, Harry Findlay and Andy Stewart may not be collecting the numbers, but with his powerful and talented stable is certainly amass-
ing the silverware that Martin Pipe couldn’t acquire.
with Nigel Griffiths
Having guided Kauto Star to collect the C$2million bonus that culminated with victory in the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup, he now holds all the aces in the race this time around with strong rst and second favourites.
Things need to be put things
in perspective though, Denman, now a winner of 11 races from 12
has progressed to an of cial rating of 176, while Kauto Star presently stands at 180. On the other hand, past hero Desert Orchid peaked at 187 and arguably the greatest steeplechaser ever, the mighty Arkle, tops them all at 212 and carried 175lbs on the two occasions to win the Hennessy........ but he’s a story all on his own.
On a more positive note, returning after nearly 3 years off, Gold Medallist ran a tremendous race in his rst start over fences in the boylesports.com Novices’ Chase and should improve a fair bit for the experience along with
a step-up in trip. He would be one to watch for in the R&SA Novices’ Chase at the Festival next March.
A case for an increase in the English minimum weights was put before a BHA board meeting recently, under the issue of jockey’s welfare. The request was for a rise of 6lbs to a minimum
Last season his youngster Denman carried all before him as a novice, sealing a promising season with a comfortable 10 length win in the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at the Festival. This year, leaving the security of the novice ranks behind him, he made his debut for the season in the famous Hennessy Gold Cup, a handicap over 3m 2f worth C$300,000 at Newbury, where he would give away lumps of weight to older and more experienced horses. Heading the weights with
Who will win in March............. you tell me?
of 116lbs, bringing it into line with Ireland 116lbs, France 114lbs and Australia 117lbs. The weights were last raised in 2002 from 105lbs to the present limit.
the burden of 166lbs (bottom weight 140lb), he was easy to back on course, drifting out to 5/1 second favourite
at the off. Even though a little burly for his debut, Denman travelled well during the race and when asked the question, simply left the opposition oundering in his wake and winning as he liked by 11 lengths.
After being totally washed away during the oods of a few months ago, Southwell re-opened with its Fibresand surface.
jurisdictions that may well have resulted in a reversal, even though the infringement would probably have not altered the structure and result of the race.
Race goers haven’t seen a performance like that for a good
For the last few seasons Mac’s Joy has always been in the mix with the very top hurdlers of this
few years and any price offered for the Gold Cup in March was quickly snapped up and he now sits as the 2/1 second favourite for the big one.
generation, but sadly that all came to an end when he broke a tibia on the at in the Bula Hurdle and had to be put down. The highly competitive Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown also saw the demise of race favourite Do The Trick, who fell three out when going well. The ex-Australian racer had adapted well to hurdles after being successful on the at in both Australia and Ireland, but surgery for the resulting damage to his hock found it too extensive to save him.
Although the at season seems
light years away, Ascot received good news with the announcement that their premier mile race of the season, the prestigious Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on September 27 will be sponsored by Sony. This will also result in an increase in prize money to $500,000 for the race.
On the Champion Hurdle front,
last years Sublimity looks a good ante-post bet at the moment. Fourth on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham in December, he is targeted for the Gr1 AIG Hurdle on January 27 at Leop- ardstown, but is not certain to run due to the ground and may head straight for the Festival where he is presently the 4/1 favourite.
The Entomologist, owned by Western Canada resident Ronald Brimacombe is turning out to be a useful sort, especially now that he’s going over fences. The 7yo has won half of his 10 lifetime starts and been place on two other occasions. The owner has quite a bundle of treasures over there, as he also bought from France KRUGUYROVA, a winning hurdler at Auteuil and Enghien. She debuted in the UK last November at Kempton in a Listed hurdle and was not disgraced in being beaten half a length by Re nement. She went one better 3 weeks later at Plumpton when dropped back to 17f and sent over fences. Over Christmas she was beaten into third by Mr.Strachen over 20f at Wetherby, but again found the winners
Rob de Kock is chairing an International Federation of Horseracing Authorities committee looking to harmonize the ruling of ‘interference’ within major racing authorities. An example cited was Ramonti’s victory over Viva Pataca in the Hong Kong Cup recently. 11⁄2f out there was minimal interference between the two and the stewards ruled that it did not affect the result, but the concern is that in other
Kylkenny, a rising 13yo, struck a blow for the old ‘uns by getting up
in the dying strides under 3lb claimer Travis Block to claim his 16th course victory and make it 23 victories from 117 outings in a 12f handicap.
The real emphasis is now on the Cheltenham Festival in March with what and who will take the honours at this Olympics of Steeplechasing.
Canadian Connections Out of Town
It has been an active and success- ful couple of months for our local horsepeople who are competing south
totalling $146,000.
Trainer Nick Gonzalez had a win for
Fair Grounds Race course & slots - New Orleans, LA
$100,000 Dr. A.B. Leggio Memo-
rial for owner/breeder Richard Lister. Wherethewestbegins was a winner the next day for $41,000 for owner Pin Oak Stable. On January 26, Autobahn Girl was the winner of the $60,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap Stakes with jockey Patrick Husbands in the irons for owner Live Oak Planta- tion.
of the border. The Game appreciates all who have called and emailed to make sure we knew who was winning and where! If The Game has missed some winners that you know about - let us know by email info@thehorsegame. com or call toll free 1-866-886-5827.
$10,500 claiming with Hot Deputy for Tucci Stables on December 20.
Did you know....that US trainer Steve Asmussen & Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan teamed up to win 6 of the 10 races on the card December 22, 4 of which were $100,000 stakes races.
Aqueduct - Jamaica, NY
charles town Race & slots - charles town, WV
Trainer Mark Frostad and owner Sam-Son Farms have had three wins at the Fair Grounds thus far. Mulmur was a winner for $41,000 Allow- ance Optional Claiming on January 7. French Beret was a determined win- ner in the G3 $100,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley H. on January 12 and Go to the Sun was a $30,000 Claiming win- ner on January 21.
Owners Mario Forgione and Lou Donato had a win with Unto the Hills, trained by Michael Hushion in a starter allowance worth $49,000 on January 6.
Owner Stephen Chesney had a win on December 22 with Nidas.
Stronach Stables had a win with Ontario-bred Explosive Heat in a $63,000 Allowance Optional Claiming on January 11.
Owner Shyman Farm had a winner on January 4 with Blazing Bull for $27,000 Allowance with trainer Wayne Mogge.
E. Judith won for $32,000 Maiden Claiming for owner Harvey Tenenbaum on January 26 under trainer Julian Canet.
Owner Bruno Schickedanz had a winner with Exclusive Leader for $25,000 MSW on January 19 with trainer Ernest Haynes.
Trainer Josie Carroll has had three winners thus far. True Resergence won for $40,000 MSW on December 30
for Donver Stable and Incorporating, with Patrick Husbands aboard, was
a winner on January 20 for Maiden Claiming $13,500 for Southern Equine Stable LLC. On January 26, Patrick Husbands gave a well timed effort to
calder Racecourse - Miami Gds, FL
Trainer Greg Tracy had a win for High eld Stock Farm on January 16 with Belle Cherie Mary for $20,000 MSW.
Trainer Brian Lynch racked up 7 wins from December 16 to January 2 for owner Stronach Stables for purses
Trainer Barbara Baird had a win on December 27 with Cheeky Jones in a $14,000 claiming for owner Russell Tanz.
Trainer Mark Casse had a win
with 2-yo- lly Britten’s Beauty for $40,000 MSW on December 27 for owner Whos Next Racing Team and Dick Simon followed up by a win the next day with Moonshine Hall for $41,000 claiming for owner Melnyk Stables Racing Stables. He had a win with Parris Hill for $39,000 MSW on January 19, a win with Palmers (with Patrick Husbands aboard) for $39,000 MSW on January 25, and a win with Seamans Village with Patrick Hus- bands aboard on January 27 all for Melnyk Racing Stables.
Delta Downs - Vinton, LA
Trainer Malcolm Pierce had a win on December 1 with Zetetic for Pin Oak Stable for $42,750 Allowance. Dancerofterealm (GB) was a winner for $42,000 Allowance on Decem- ber 28 and followed up that win with a Stakes win on January 12 in the
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