The Group 1 Futurity Stakes over the Straight Mile for two year olds at Doncaster was the main focus on the domestic front, but it wasn’t the real highlight of the week. That went to the highest rated racehorse in the world, the Japanese superstar Equinox (121). As always, with the BHA Official Formbook speed figures scale which I use, (117) represents Group 1 Par, and each step down the class ladder represents a drop of 2 points (equalling 2 lengths per mile). I will insert the speed figure after the horse’s name. The Tetsuya Kimura trained 4yo produced another dominant display in the Grade 1 Autumn Tenno Sho over 2000 metres at Tokyo racetrack, finishing 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Justin Palace. The (121) speed figure may not have been the highest we have seen on the year, but it was the manner it was achieved in which left horse racing enthusiasts wondering where the ceiling sits for the son of Kitasan Black. Returning from a 126 day break, the strong travelling colt tracked the pace in third before jockey Christophe Lemaire switched him outside in the home straight to sweep into the lead two furlongs out. A couple of love taps was all that was needed to record his fifth Grade 1 race in a row. The track record was lowered by 0.90 seconds, and next stop looks to be the Japan Cup where he has been cut to 1-2 favourite in the betting. A win there would see him become the highest prize-money earner in Japanese history.
Racing was abandoned at Doncaster on Friday after the course was saturated with over 79mm of rain in the previous week. The meeting on Saturday did pass a morning inspection at 7.15am with the Going Stick reading a lowly (5.5). The ground was advertised as Heavy, and the times were indicating a deteriorating surface during the day. Ancient Wisdom (90) came home 1 3/4 lengths to the good over the David Menuisier trained Devil’s Point in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes. The race was delayed after the Aidan O’Brien trained Battle Cry went down in the stalls before the start. The expected front runner had to be withdrawn, and it was left to William Buick to set a steady pace on the eventual winner. It won’t go down as a vintage renewal, and the winner was not at his best following a recent impressive victory at Newmarket. It still warranted a cut in his price for next year’s Epsom Derby from 12-1 into 6-1 from most bookmaking firms.
Ballymount Boy (104) took the Listed Doncaster Stakes for two year olds over 6 furlongs by 1/2 length from Alaskan Gold, for trainer Adrian Paul Keatley. The soft ground loving colt was showing his second place behind Vandeek at Goodwood on similar ground in August was no fluke, and the well-grown son of Camacho should be even better next season.
Chantilly hosted the Group 3 Prix Miesque for two year old fillies over 7 furlongs on Friday, and UK based trainer David Menuisier had a double on the day with Tamfana (103) in the big race, and War Chimes (103) in the Listed Prix Isonomy also for two year olds over 9 furlongs. Both horses benefitted from being ridden prominently in the Heavy conditions. Described as David’s best two year old filly, Tamfana was backing up her recent 9 1/2 length Maiden win at Kempton. She will be aimed at all the big mile races for three year old fillies next year. Carlos & Yann Lerner’s 3yo filly Exxtra (113) took the Group 3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise over 6f by 3/4 length from American Kestrel, having also benefitted from raced prominently. It was her first Group win, and she appreciated the drop back in trip, having been unplaced in the Prix De La Foret.
Dundalk hosted the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Pat Smullen Mercury Stakes over 5 furlongs on Friday night, and it was a career best (116) from the Daniel James Murphy trained Dun Na Sead that took the prize by 2 1/4 lengths from Bouttemont. It was a remarkable performance from the 4yo filly who was having her first run for her trainer, having switched from Kieran Cotter’s yard. Daniel reported after the race that she had two wind operations, and her wind had been much clearer recently, following a change in her training programme.
My favourite winner of the week was the Simon & Ed Crisford trained Vespasian (112) who overcame a wide draw over 6f at Wolverhampton, and made short work of a Class 4 field, coming home 2 1/2 lengths clear of Coup De Force. The handicapper has only raise him 6lbs to a new mark of (82), and it will be interesting to see if he can reproduce this effort going forward.
Till the next instalment,
Stay Lucky,
Graham