Racing in 2009
15/11/09 01:56 PM Filed in: Thoroughbred
racing |
Travel
Between At the Races
from the UK and the NTRA in the US (and the
occasional YouTube video), I've been able to catch
most of the major horse races during the year on the
internet whenever I have some free time. However,
there is just nothing like a day at the track.
My racing year (attending live, that is) this year included the Arlington Million at Arlington Park in Chicago, the mile championships at Ascot featuring the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp, the Champion Stakes day at Newmarket, various and sundry Group races at tracks around Paris in October, and for a finale, the Breeder's Cup in Los Angles. Overall, a lot of very good racing. As one might expect, there were some performances that stood out above and beyond the others.
My racing year (attending live, that is) this year included the Arlington Million at Arlington Park in Chicago, the mile championships at Ascot featuring the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp, the Champion Stakes day at Newmarket, various and sundry Group races at tracks around Paris in October, and for a finale, the Breeder's Cup in Los Angles. Overall, a lot of very good racing. As one might expect, there were some performances that stood out above and beyond the others.
The Royal Lodge Stakes
(G2) for two year olds at Ascot saw Joshua Tree burst
from the rest of the pack with a very impressive
move. He ran green, and was all over the place, but
this horse may turn into quite a monster - and he
doesn't even seem like the best juvenile in Aidan
O'Brien's barn. The horse that finished a very
credible third in that race was Vale of York. Of
course I liked him in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile off
that race, so I was pleased when he got the job done.
The Pride Stakes is a Group 2 race for three years old and up fillies and mares run at Newmarket over a mile and a half. It was won in a very close finish by the Aga Kahn's Ashalanda(FR), narrowly defeating the favourite Crystal Capella with a huge run at the end to take it at the wire. A very exciting race to watch, and doubly so for me, as I had a bet on the winner (a phrase I wish I could say more often!).
I was near the finish line for both Sea the Stars and Zenyatta's wins in the Arc and BC Classic respectively. At both races the crowd went wild, although I'd have to give an edge to the crowd in Paris (which had a huge number of Brits there) over the LA crowd in showing their excitement at the outcome. Where I was standing, programs went flying into the air as the crowed cheered Sea the Stars across the line; people were ecstatic. It all probably depended on where you were standing in either crowd though. Certainly both races were outstanding, and I was quite happy to have been there to see them.
Goldikova, whom I liked (and backed) last year at the BC, ran a disappointing race at Longchamp on Arc weekend in the G1 Prix de la Foret, and trainer Freddie Head had no explanation at the time for the outcome. He stated then that the intention was still to advance to LA and contest the BC Turf Mile. Her race at Santa Anita proved she is still the best miler around, and vindicated Head's confidence in her. It was another very good race to watch, as she came from well off the pace. In her loss at Longchamp, she had been on the lead well before the wire, and was run down by the two who finished in front of her. Her come from behind run in the BC race was a thriller, to be repeated later by Zenyatta.
Some unexpected outcomes as well. Although Gio Ponti was a convincing winner at Arlington in the Million (winning his fourth consecutive G1), I wasn't sure how strong the fields he beat were, so I still wasn't looking for him to show as well as he did in the BC Classic against a field full of strong G1 winners. I had much the same opinion of Twice Over, who won the Champion Stakes (G1) at Newmarket as a longshot, and I wasn't giving him much credibility at all going into the Classic. Both performed very well, finishing second and third in the BC Classic respectively, but Zenyatta was not to be denied her victory. I certainly had to revise my opinions of both of those horses though. I hope Gio Ponti will be racing in 2010.
Conduit ran very well, although I was far from confident he could win, and both Dar Re Mi and Spanish Moon looked like possible threats. I did think that Presious Passion could well steal the whole thing though, and he very nearly did. A very game horse, and I was sorry that we didn't get to see his best performance when running on a heavier and tiring track at Arlington in the Million. I knew Santa Anita would suit his front running style much better, and Conduit earned his win.
My sentimental favourite this year was Yeats. I had seen him win the Irish St Leger (G1) in 2007, and was delighted when he won the Ascot Gold Cup (G1) for the an unprecedented fourth time this summer. He ran in the G1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamps during the Arc weekend, but could only manage a third place finish in what was already known as his last start before retiring, now at the age of eight. He had finished third when I saw him run the same race in 2007 as well. He was definitely another crowd favourite though, and he still got a big ovation when he returned after the race. Another horse I got to revisit was Benbaun, an Irish horse who I had watched win the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp in 2007 after backing his winning effort at the Curragh some weeks before (on the St Leger race day). Alas, a fourth place finish in this year's Prix de l'Abbaye was the outcome this year. Like Yeats he is 8, so I imagine that it's unlikely we will continue to see him race.
Near the end of October I also got to see another veteran run when Ask contested the G1 Prix Royal Oak at Longchamps (which was won by Yeats last year). He was another favourite of mine, second (to Cloudy's Knight) in the 2007 Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine. This time he came out on top.
Disappointments? Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle did not run as I had anticipated at the Breeder’s Cup (although I'm sure the Ballydoyle folks were far more disappointed then I), Zacinto had to be eased in the BC Turf Mile, although I never did learn what the problem was, and Fame and Glory seemed to be done for the year by the time he contested the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and never figured at all on BC day (against a much easier field than he faced in the Arc). The European group at Arlington seemed weak this summer compared to other years; basically Group Three horses sent to contest a Grade One race. A million dollars doesn't draw like it used to, especially with a weaker US dollar and lots of rich races closer to home for the Europeans. Not seeing Rachel Alexandra run at the BC was unfortunate, and the track surface issue certainly isn't going to just go away, so I'm sure we will have other similar issues in the future. Perhaps I'll be at a race track next year where she is running - it would be a shame to never see her in person, but that happens a lot in life. So many horses, so many tracks, so little time (and money).
Thank goodness for Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Presious Passion to give the summer in North America some lively G1 races. Summer Bird may turn out to be something as well as he matures if he races at age 4, and we can't take for granted that Rachel Alexandra can continue to beat him - although she is truly a race horse. We still don't know if she can run past nine furlongs, but up to that distance - look out! There is still much to look forward to in 2010 with some of these horses. The Ballydoyle stables in Ireland have a lot of very good horses turning three, it will be interesting to keep an eye on them. They are also keeping some very good horses in training in 2010 (Rip Van Winkle and Fame and Glory are apparently continuing to race), so there should be some excellent older horses coming from that yard.
The hard luck horse I'm cheering for? The just-won't-quit horse Youmzain in France. Three consecutive second place finishes in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (to Dylan Thomas, Zarkava and Sea the Stars) remind us that he is a very good race horse. At this point, I understand the owners will continue on with him and have yet another shot at the Arc. If so, it will be hard not to cheer him on.
The Pride Stakes is a Group 2 race for three years old and up fillies and mares run at Newmarket over a mile and a half. It was won in a very close finish by the Aga Kahn's Ashalanda(FR), narrowly defeating the favourite Crystal Capella with a huge run at the end to take it at the wire. A very exciting race to watch, and doubly so for me, as I had a bet on the winner (a phrase I wish I could say more often!).
I was near the finish line for both Sea the Stars and Zenyatta's wins in the Arc and BC Classic respectively. At both races the crowd went wild, although I'd have to give an edge to the crowd in Paris (which had a huge number of Brits there) over the LA crowd in showing their excitement at the outcome. Where I was standing, programs went flying into the air as the crowed cheered Sea the Stars across the line; people were ecstatic. It all probably depended on where you were standing in either crowd though. Certainly both races were outstanding, and I was quite happy to have been there to see them.
Goldikova, whom I liked (and backed) last year at the BC, ran a disappointing race at Longchamp on Arc weekend in the G1 Prix de la Foret, and trainer Freddie Head had no explanation at the time for the outcome. He stated then that the intention was still to advance to LA and contest the BC Turf Mile. Her race at Santa Anita proved she is still the best miler around, and vindicated Head's confidence in her. It was another very good race to watch, as she came from well off the pace. In her loss at Longchamp, she had been on the lead well before the wire, and was run down by the two who finished in front of her. Her come from behind run in the BC race was a thriller, to be repeated later by Zenyatta.
Some unexpected outcomes as well. Although Gio Ponti was a convincing winner at Arlington in the Million (winning his fourth consecutive G1), I wasn't sure how strong the fields he beat were, so I still wasn't looking for him to show as well as he did in the BC Classic against a field full of strong G1 winners. I had much the same opinion of Twice Over, who won the Champion Stakes (G1) at Newmarket as a longshot, and I wasn't giving him much credibility at all going into the Classic. Both performed very well, finishing second and third in the BC Classic respectively, but Zenyatta was not to be denied her victory. I certainly had to revise my opinions of both of those horses though. I hope Gio Ponti will be racing in 2010.
Conduit ran very well, although I was far from confident he could win, and both Dar Re Mi and Spanish Moon looked like possible threats. I did think that Presious Passion could well steal the whole thing though, and he very nearly did. A very game horse, and I was sorry that we didn't get to see his best performance when running on a heavier and tiring track at Arlington in the Million. I knew Santa Anita would suit his front running style much better, and Conduit earned his win.
My sentimental favourite this year was Yeats. I had seen him win the Irish St Leger (G1) in 2007, and was delighted when he won the Ascot Gold Cup (G1) for the an unprecedented fourth time this summer. He ran in the G1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamps during the Arc weekend, but could only manage a third place finish in what was already known as his last start before retiring, now at the age of eight. He had finished third when I saw him run the same race in 2007 as well. He was definitely another crowd favourite though, and he still got a big ovation when he returned after the race. Another horse I got to revisit was Benbaun, an Irish horse who I had watched win the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp in 2007 after backing his winning effort at the Curragh some weeks before (on the St Leger race day). Alas, a fourth place finish in this year's Prix de l'Abbaye was the outcome this year. Like Yeats he is 8, so I imagine that it's unlikely we will continue to see him race.
Near the end of October I also got to see another veteran run when Ask contested the G1 Prix Royal Oak at Longchamps (which was won by Yeats last year). He was another favourite of mine, second (to Cloudy's Knight) in the 2007 Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine. This time he came out on top.
Disappointments? Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle did not run as I had anticipated at the Breeder’s Cup (although I'm sure the Ballydoyle folks were far more disappointed then I), Zacinto had to be eased in the BC Turf Mile, although I never did learn what the problem was, and Fame and Glory seemed to be done for the year by the time he contested the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and never figured at all on BC day (against a much easier field than he faced in the Arc). The European group at Arlington seemed weak this summer compared to other years; basically Group Three horses sent to contest a Grade One race. A million dollars doesn't draw like it used to, especially with a weaker US dollar and lots of rich races closer to home for the Europeans. Not seeing Rachel Alexandra run at the BC was unfortunate, and the track surface issue certainly isn't going to just go away, so I'm sure we will have other similar issues in the future. Perhaps I'll be at a race track next year where she is running - it would be a shame to never see her in person, but that happens a lot in life. So many horses, so many tracks, so little time (and money).
Thank goodness for Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Presious Passion to give the summer in North America some lively G1 races. Summer Bird may turn out to be something as well as he matures if he races at age 4, and we can't take for granted that Rachel Alexandra can continue to beat him - although she is truly a race horse. We still don't know if she can run past nine furlongs, but up to that distance - look out! There is still much to look forward to in 2010 with some of these horses. The Ballydoyle stables in Ireland have a lot of very good horses turning three, it will be interesting to keep an eye on them. They are also keeping some very good horses in training in 2010 (Rip Van Winkle and Fame and Glory are apparently continuing to race), so there should be some excellent older horses coming from that yard.
The hard luck horse I'm cheering for? The just-won't-quit horse Youmzain in France. Three consecutive second place finishes in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (to Dylan Thomas, Zarkava and Sea the Stars) remind us that he is a very good race horse. At this point, I understand the owners will continue on with him and have yet another shot at the Arc. If so, it will be hard not to cheer him on.