[video=youtube;UXEm_8mSmCg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXEm_8mSmCg[/video] [video=youtube;K3yYjHcJdqQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3yYjHcJdqQ&feature=related[/video] Mandaean, who Godolphin have bought from Fabre, looking mighty, mighty impressive last season.
Sacking Kenny is a piece of really strong leadership by FSG irrespective of whether you agree with the decision or not. Not a decision to be taken lightly and one that could yield fierce reactions from supporters. I'm quite impressed. Didn't he tell the press he was responsible (or at least backed) for the investments made in players since he arrived? They've been, in the main, an unmitigated disaster. He's been woeful in the league and although he's done well in two domestic cup competitions, that is not nearly as important to any big football club as winning Champions League status. He certainly would have been asking for more investment this summer which is very difficult to sanction when he's proven so inept in the transfer market thus far.
Don't think they bought him,he was already owned by Sheikh Mo...just transferred him to the Godolphin banner. Always find those French races hard to evaluate...the rp postscripts don't help either.
I was impressed with the first run, less so with the one in the Criterium. Was a little bit wayward. That said, Barzalona is pretty good on those sorts of horses from the front. Will be interesting to see if a head to head develops between Mandaean and Ernest Hemingway, who made all in his maiden. I can't have Fencing or Ektihaam threatening at all and Bonfire, whilst very talented, didn't strike me as middle distance last season.
I'd be very worried about why they started EH out at Dundalk. Someone else may know better but I can't think of a Derby hopeful that they have ever sent to Dundalk before for his debut run. Plus that race is rubbish and even looked it at the time. Camelot is their main Derby hope and obviously they were never sending him to the Dante which leaves me to think that EH is the intended pace maker for Derby day and they may be just using this race as a test to see whether he actually is good enough to go a good end-to-end gallop in the Classic against horses of similar ability as to what they'll face at Epsom. Of the rest I actually do think Fencing may have a squeak and at 7/1 is the only horse i'd consider backing in that race.
6.10 Bath Rockme Cockney 20/1 Was waiting to see if the cash came for this one. Could be incredibly well handicapped off a mark of 60 after plummeting from his opening handicap mark of 75. Ran a good race off a mark 70 back in November and he drops into a very poor 0-60 for the first time in his career. Matthew Cosham takes the ride and takes off a very handy 5lb in what is his only ride of the day and also his first ride for the in form Jeremy Gask. Had a decent sized bet on this one.
Very eyecatching debut from TRUE VERDICT at Naas, came from a long way back and never any suggestion of being given a hard time.
I still like Buffy the Beatle in the bumper to run in the first three. Showtime absolutely hammered into 13/2 Thanks Stick - took the price earlier so 25/1 sitting in my account.
Could mean nothing Quel but as I said this morning it's an interesting runner from a scheming yard! Good luck
