A quiet week on the Group Race stage with just two being held in the UK, both on Saturday at Haydock. The Group 3 Lester Piggott Stakes over 11f 175y for Fillies and Mares (Registered as The Pinnacle Stakes) was run in honour of the great jockey for the first time. It was fitting that his son-in-law William Haggas won the race with Sea Silk Road (110) who was held up last and came through to lead at the furlong pole to beat Peter Schiergen’s Nachtrose by three quarters of a length. It was her first Group success and connections feel that she is just starting to strengthen up this year. The Lancashire Oaks back over the same C/D has been mentioned as a future target. The Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes over the extended 7f was won by Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jumby (107) who added to his Hungerford Stakes win of last year. A drop back in trip for the Wokingham could be next on the cards, which he finished third in last year behind Rohaan. The Edward Bethell trained Regional (112) posted the best speed figure of the two days when taking the Listed Achilles Stakes by 1.25L from Charles Hills’ Equilateral. Flat tracks and decent ground seem to bring out the best in him. The Nunthorpe in August at York would appear to be a long term target for him.
For the biggest figure of the week we go to France again and Longchamp where West Wind Blows (117) took the Group 3 La Coupe – Fondation Claude Pompidou Stakes by 1.75L. This is the third time Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding has recorded a Group 1 time between 10f and 11f. A Group 2 event at least should be within his grasp, now that he is learning to relax better in his races.
The most talked about race of the week was no doubt Al Asifah’s (102) Listed Stakes win over the extended 9f on Sunday at Goodwood. Readers of this column will have noted her (110) figure, achieved on debut at Haydock, marking her out as a serious prospect. Although the figure was low due to the slow early pace, the manner of the victory looked very impressive. Smooth headway was made 3f out, before leading at the 2f pole and drifting right towards the rail before putting an impressive 6.5L between herself and the 94 rated Empress Wu. The Irish Oaks was mentioned afterwards for which she will have to be supplemented. Early quotes of 25/1 for the Prix De L’arc De Triomphe were quickly changed to 14/1. It will be interesting to see her progress this season.
Leopardstown introduced sectional timing following a remeasurement of it’s race distances on Thursday, completing it’s compatibilty process for the Course Track sectional timing system. This has been a long, long time coming. I contacted Raceday Head Of Operations Paul Murtagh in 2017 about the need for remeasurement of all Irish racetracks. I was told that the Clerks of The Courses felt the measuring wheel was accurate at the time. Six years is a long time.
Paddy Twomey’s Moon De Vega (114) took the 9f Listed Glencairn Stakes by a neck from Aidan O’Brien’s Salt Lake City. This was a career best effort on just her second start for Paddy, and it seems a weekly event now that we are talking about his magic touch with other trainer’s horses. The Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes at The Curragh next month could be on the agenda. Dermot Weld’s Coeur D’Or (112) took the Class 3 Handicap by 4.25L from Coill Na Sionainne after taking up the running off a slow early pace 6f out. Things might not be so easy from a 10lb higher mark under different circumstances.
Fairyhouse became the second Irish track of the week to announce the introduction of sectional timing. A GPS device called the Trimble Measuring Device has been trialled which can measure race distances as rails are moved. A different system to the one in use at Leopardstown, it will come into effect at this Friday’s meeting. At last Friday’s meeting Warrior Brave (113) made all under the welter burden of 10st 1lb from a handicap mark of (91) to beat Master Matt (112) by three quarters of a length over the 6f trip. Things will be a bit more difficult for Ross O’Sullivan’s 5-y-o from a new handicap mark of (100) and an entry has been made for Friday’s 6f handicap. The announcement that all race distances were 3-4m per furlong longer than actually advertised over the years was well welcomed information from General Manager Peter Roe.
Starnberg (112) made all at Nottingham on Wednesday from a handicap mark of (85) to win by 7L from Sean Woods’ Gulmarg. A new mark of (97) will make things more difficult. He has been installed as 7/2 joint favourite with Paddy Power for a Class 2 Handicap over 7f 127y at Chester on Saturday. Ready Freddie Go (111) posted a career best over the minimum trip at Catterick on Saturday for trainer Ollie Pears and jockey 3lb apprentice Harry Russell beating Alice Haynes’ Live In The Moment by 1.25L in the Class 4 Handicap. Better targets should be on the agenda soon.
My favourite one of the week was Ian Williams’ gelding Blow Your Horn (112) who took advantage of a decent pace set by Coltor and Ghadbbaan. Richard Kingscote manoeuvered his way through the pack from the rear, before leading a furlong out and being pushed out to hold on by three quarters of a length from a lowly handicap mark of just (72). Rated in the high 80’s when trained by Charlie Fellowes there looks to be a bit of room for improvement for the son of Golden Horn, who possibly doesn’t want to be hitting the front too soon.
Till next week,
Stay Lucky,
Graham.