Today at Flemington, two of the best sprinters in Australia, Brazen Beau and Wandjina took to the straight six for their final hit out before they hit the skies for England. They were sent from the gates at the half mile and both quickened nicely to stop the clock in 46.08, coming home the last 400 in a smart 21.09. Brazen Beau took control and looked impressive as he took the heat, while the Wandjina had to be asked a tiny bit more at the end. Once he found the gears, he too went to the line in an impressive manner. Both horses leave Melbourne next Wednesday. They'll have the company of the mare Sharmal Wind. It looks as though Wandjina will target the Diamond Jubilee. A decision is yet to be made on whether Brazen Beau will tackle the King's Stand or the Jubilee. Depending on the ground, the stable is at the moment leaning toward the Jubilee as well. Shamal Wind will tackle the King's Stand. Today's trial. Brazen Beau is in the gold, Wandjina is against the fence.
Another really interesting gallops day will arrive next Wednesday at Ascot. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness winner from last year, California Chrome, will have a hit out in preparation for the Prince Of Wales on June 17. It's been quite a while since we've seen an American galloper of this quality in Europe. The trainer of the Australian entrant for the PoW, Criterion, was offered the chance to work with the champ, but they refused, saying they'd wait until race day to meet him. Frankie Dettori will evaluate both horses on Tuesday. I should imagine he'll opt for the North American in the PoW, but you never know.
According to racenet.com.au, Criterion has won 6 of his 27 starts. Last time out at Sha Tin (Hong Kong) he was third in the QEII Cup over 2000m, a couple of lengths behind Blazing Speed. On his previous start (fifteen days before) he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick over 2000m. I cannot see why Dettori would choose not to ride the New Zealand bred from Down Under that has turf form ahead of the American contender who may find our green stuff not to his liking (Hollywood Derby at Del Mar only turf win).
QM, there is nothing I'd like to see more than a bold run by Criterion in the Prince of Wales. Overall his record does not look all that flash, but they seem to have found the key to him of late, so hopes are high among connections. That said though, I firmly believe that California Chrome is a better class of animal. As you've stated, there is certainly a doubt as to whether can can bring his A game to the grass, but as there isn't any real proof that he can't handle the green stuff, I think he has to be given the benefit of the doubt. I've had a look at the Hollywood Derby. He went ok for mine, maybe not as well the commentator would have us believe. There was also some doubt about the quality of the opposition. From what I've read, he seems to be doing well working inside the Rowley Mile course, so I wouldn't be prepared to write him off just yet. And to add spice to an already mouthwatering clash, we get to throw in the hotshot from Japan, Spielberg. Another nice clash comes in the Queen Ann when Solow takes on Able Friend from Hong Kong. The later being touted as the best miler in the world. The clip below shows Able Friend doing his thing, most impressive. Dark colours and back towards the rear.
A little bit of history will be made when the first horse from Peru, Liberal, takes his place in the King George. He looks as though he likes a nice fight. Don't know if he has the class to be competitive, but I hope so. He's the winner of the South American Championship - the Gran Premio Latinamericano - at Palermo in March. He has bright yellow sleeves and the horse has a yellow shadow roll.
Cyc, I think that the biggest problem for California Chrome will not necessarily be whether or not he handles the turf but the way that the race will be run. In America they almost always race hard straight from the gate and that is not how the race will be run at Royal Ascot. If they have been working him on Racecourse Side, whoever rides his work will be able to tell whether the horse is letting himself down or not. I know that Able Friend is considered to be outstanding and his performances certainly suggest that he would be top draw in Europe, but I think that Freddie Head may have unearthed another monster in Solow. Now that they have figured out that a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter are his best trips they must be really gutted that he is not an entire. I was at Longchamp last year when he won a Group 2 race on the Saturday of the Arc meeting in a common canter; and although Cirrus Des Aigles did not give his running in the Prix d’Ispahan (spread a plate in running), Solow won the race very easily. Solow’s only defeat since 2013 was when they tried him over a mile and 7 furlongs. He looks my idea of banker material at 7/4 in a two-horse race.
What do you think? When asked, I think a couple of days ago about California Chrome's chances in the POW, Rae Guest replied. “Impossible. He’s a good horse, there’s no doubting that, and it’s a very sporting challenge by his owners,” the trainer said. “But this is a new discipline for him. He’s got to deal with a new track, a new style of racing, a right-handed bend, and an uphill finish.” Is this talking down his chances in case of failure, or a way of suggesting just how good he is if he runs well?
California Chrome’s only run on turf was the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar (San Diego), which is a left-handed track. Ironically, the Hollywood Derby used to be run at the now closed Hollywood Park and, as of this year, will be run on dirt as they are ripping up the turf track at Del Mar. As most tracks in the USA are flat and left-handed, it may well be true that the American raider has never gone right-handed. You would think that they would arrange a racecourse gallop for him somewhere that has a right-hand bend so he could get used to the idea. If they are training him on Racecourse Side, they will have an idea how he handles undulating ground because it is not flat. How the race is run will be different for him and there is little they can do to prepare for that unless they are planning to make their own running. In short, yes I do think that they will be talking expectations down as I seem to recall that there was some disagreement amongst the owners about bringing him here at all.
If all their tracks are left handed, why don't they run some races the other way round? They could have removable furlong poles.
At a lot of American tracks, the starts are on spurs so that they do not have to move the starting stalls out of the way when the race distance is more than one circuit. I expect that to run races the other way would also require them to move the winning post to the other end of the home straight too.
Another visitor that looks as though he might have a nice trip to the old dart, is the Wesley Ward trained Hootenanny. The colt saw off a massive field last year in taking out the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over 5 furlongs at Ascot. He then went on to win the Million Dollar Breeders Cup Juvenile at the mile. He'll be dropping back to the 6 furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup but he seems to have some class about him. The trip might be a bit short for him now, but he's just come off an easy win over 5 furlongs, so maybe the extra furlong might just see him run them down. At the moment there is some 5-1 still on offer. The video below suggests he's progressed.
Oh, I love that South American race; the commentary was the best I've ever heard in my life......without understanding a word of it! . Bloody good race too, hell of an end-spurt by the winner.
Just a thought gents, I've read that boom miler Able Friend won't be leaving on his 21 hour trip from Hong Kong until Saturday. Considering that a number of visitors have really been flattened and are now just starting to come good, is 10 days leaving it a bit too close until race day?
Just had a quick look at the Jubilee betting. For anyone interested in backing either Brazen Beau or Wandjina you might be interested to know that if they met in Oz, there probably wouldn't be much between them. So at about 12-1, the later looks real value. Might be worth a small, early each way bet.
