Page 14 - July 2008 The Game

14 The Game, July 2008
Fleabag - Cont. from Page 12
Outside The Borders
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
with Nigel Grif ths
I scented its mane with lavender and named it Fleabag on account of its junkshop pedigree. My daughter’s arms were just long enough to wrap around its neck. Then I gave Fleabag a push and off went Francesca at a trot.
Throughout the winter months, on the back of an un- beaten record and Gr1 victories in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst, New Approach was the strong ante-post favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby. Voted Champion 2yo, this son of Galileo caused a huge ripple in the betting when his trainer announced that he would miss the Derby in favour of the Irish version.
not apparent as they went to post, much to the relief of everybody concerned and although the start went with- out hitch, the race itself was very different. Pulling like the proverbial train at the back
considered 33/1 outsider Look Here who demanded just that and won with a commanding performance, quickening clear and then staying on well to take this coveted Gr1 prize.
My daughter has covered a great deal of turf since
then. The third word out of her mouth – after “Mamma” and “Dad-zzz” was “Orse”, and the eightieth or so was “Gockey.” She watched the rst race of this season from the press box, her blue eyes shielded from the sun by Jim Reynold’s fedora, and stood in the winner’s circle next to Rank Six, an Alex Murray-trained horse she helped to feed. Within weeks she will be mounting Fleabag without help, and if she continues to excel at her ABCs, she’ll be nger- ing through The Form in no time. Then it’s up to her father to secure for her a real horse for when Fleabag is passed on to her soon-to-be sibling.
of the 16 horse eld, jockey Kevin Manning had his work cut out to settle the colt, but
to his credit he managed to
get him settled and moved up through the eld as the race started to take shape. Down and around the infamous Tatten- ham Corner he was mov- ing well in the pack while the Michael Stoute trained Tartan Bearer was heading for home on the outside, trying to go one better than his brother Golan who had to settle for second
Commendable though Look Here’s effort was, it was a llies performance over the Channel in France that re- ally looked impressive. I have to mention Zarkava because
Above:
Peter & FrancescaValing Left:
Francesca on Fleabag
After surprisingly being beat- en by Henrythenavigator in the 2000 Guineas, New Approach was soundly put in his place by the same horse when expected to turn the tables in the Irish Guineas. Equally surprising
as the news that he wouldn’t run in the Derby, was the news just days before the event that he would and was promptly reinstated by the bookmakers.
in 2001 behind Galileo. The gods must have been looking down on Manning as he took an adventurous run up the rail to reign in Tartan Bearer and win by half a length at the line.
I feel she is something spe- cial. She didn’t do a jot in the rst three furlongs and raced lazily, even coming into the straight she was more last than rst, but when Christophe Soumilllon asked her to pick up, she ew and won eased down by a comfortable 3 lengths. Bred by H H Aga Khan and trained in France by Alain De Royer-Dupre, this daugh- ter of Zamindar will be worth watching.
Much had been said by the media and trainers about his pre-race antics, but these were
Manning said: “I had
to go back further than I would have liked, but I had loads of horse under me and when the gaps opened up
I took them. He is a very, very classy horse, this is every jockey’s dream from when you are a kid.”
With Royal Ascot in full swing, the opening day was
a treat for horse race enthu- siasts as they were presented with three Gr1 races to whet their appetite. Ireland and the Ballydoyle team took rst blood, beating off a persis-
tent French challenge, but the Spanish took the second keep- ing a strong Australian effort
by Takeover Target in order in the 5f King’s Stand Stakes (the Australian may go one better over a furlong further in the Gr1 Golden Jubilee on Saturday). The highlight of the day was the third race, the St James’s Palace Stakes, with Henrythenavigator stamping his authority in the mile division as the 4/7f.
Continued Next Page - See Outside the Borders
We would like to
CONGRATULATE
Trainer Roger Att eld, on earning
his 8th ueen’s Plate,
and the $1 million 2008 ueen’s Plate
Winner
NOT BOURBON
Sunday, June 22, Woodbine – Not Bourbon stalked in 4th, made a 4-wide bid on the far turn, then opened up a 11/2-length lead with an eighth le , and won by a head in time of 2:03.59.
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The plan is still the Irish Derby next, where he will again face Tartan Bearer and Casual Conquest and then the major Gr1 races throughout the season.
While the boys were
on show in the Derby, the day before, the girls had all the attention in the Oaks. Jim Bolger sent out the favourite Lush Lashes, but it was the un-
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The Game JULY 2008.indd
14
6/25/08 1:55:26 AM
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BURNS