Old Persian. Sheema Classic. I'm beginning to really like William Buick's progress. Pushing out the way he did and having to switch whip hands and then drive the horse with great power, was very impressive.
Plus Que Parfait takes out the UAE Derby. In winning he earned the 100 points needed to give him a start in the Kentucky Derby. A very nice ride by Jose Ortiz. No 4, red and white, red cap, blue sleeves.
The Anthony Freedman trained, Mark Zahra ridden Santa Ana Lane today won the AU$2,500,000 G1 T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick, setting in train a possible international program. First up he'll probably head to Hong Kong for the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, if he goes well there, then maybe Ascot for the G1 Diamond Jubilee. Freedman said they'd like to try England, but the lure of a major share of the AU$14,000,000 on offer in The Everest, might just keep him in Australia instead of the UK. He settles last.
The horse on the outside with the red cap who had his run checked by the winner looked a little unlucky Cyc - not sure the name of the horse but would have finished a lot closer with a clear run. Champagne Cuddles I think
I just had a look at it again Oddy, it wasn't a bad run for a 100-1 shot. She traveled 4 deep for most of the race as well.
The 100,000 Euro, 2700m G3 Theophile Lallouet Prize for mounted trotters was contested on the weekend at Vincennes. Last year's winner Arlington Dream started favourite in front of Boss du Meleuc and Clegs des Champs. They finished 1-2-3 but not in the right betting order. Number 6, Clegs des Champs in the blue with white striped sleeves was far too good. A very impressive win. https://www.letrot.com/fr/replay-courses/2019-04-06/7500/4
I listened to this race on the radio today, the noise of the crowd almost drowned out the commentary. https://www.racenet.com.au/news/farewell-winx--queen-elizabeth-stakes-result-and-replay-20190413
What a racehorse, one in a million, Heartfelt congratulations to all who had anything to do with her, and to Winx herself of course!
As important as the mare is, after the race Hugh Bowman painted a very clear and brutal picture of where Winx stands in the sport of horse racing. Bowman went out of his way to mention his good friend Tye Angland who at just 29 years of age has been left a quadriplegic due to injuries suffered in a barrier trial last November in Hong Kong. Bowman inferred that he loved Winx, but it was people such as Tye Angland who were the most important. It's rather sad that as time marches on, Winx will rightly be revered for her deeds on the track, but jockeys and others who are left with broken bodies will quickly fade from peoples memories. 30 years from now Winx will be remembered, Tye probably will not.
Folks on the forum might have noticed the massive bets being placed on Winx of late. Well there's a bit of a story behind it. Over the last two years a bloke now known as Winx Man began to unload on the great mate. On 25 February 2017, he placed his first bet on Winx, he had $56,000 at a $1.10. He then lumped his returns on the horse another 15 times. He rolled that initial $56,000 into his final bet today .... $271,540 at $1.06. A lady also had $550,000 at the same price. TAB FIXED ODDS BETS PLACED BY TAB WINX PUNTER $56,000 at $1.10 (TAB Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick on February 25, 2017) $67,000 at $1.15 (George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 18, 2017) $75,000 at $1.10 (Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 8, 2017) $94,150 at $1.15 (Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 7, 2017) $106,500 at $1.15 (Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 28, 2017) $108,000 at $1.06 (TAB Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick on March 3, 2018) $114,000 at $1.10 (George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday on March 24, 2018) $124,500 at $1.18 (Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 14, 2018) $140,000 at $1.12 (Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 18, 2018) $155,000 at $1.10 (Colgate Optic White Stakes at Randwick on September 15, 2018) $170,000 at $1.16 (TAB Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 6, 2018) $201,200 at $1.22 (Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 27, 2018) $219,000 at $1.10 (Apollo Stakes at Randwick on February 16, 2019) $239,000 at $1.09 (TAB Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick on March 2, 2019) $259,000 at $1.06 (George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 23, 2019) $271,540 at $1.06 (Today’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick)
Aubrion du Gers, one of the best trotters on the planet, yesterday lined up in the G2 Critérium de Vitesse in Normandy. Looking to make it 14 wins in a row. He started 1-10. He's No 7 and is in blue, red sash and cap. A new track record.
At long last the USA has begun a roll back on the use of Lasix. https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...04/29/kentucky-derby-laxix-horses/3610686002/
The 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden has died after being injured in a paddock at Overbury Stud. The French bred son of Nicobar spent his formative years racing in the Netherlands and Germany before travelling the globe. After beating the ill fated Red Cadeaux in a torrid duel in the Cup, Dunaden went on to win the Hong Kong Vase at his next start. He returned to Australia the following year to win the Caulfield Cup. The Dunaden - Red Cadeaux clash. Dunaden (yellow,blue stars) Red Cadeaux (blue, red diamonds and cap) is 4 stalls outside Dunaden. Wonderful call too.
There was a sensational outcome to the 145th renewal of the Kentucky Derby run yesterday at Churchill Downs. The second favourite Maximum Security led throughout to cross the line in front of the 65-1 chance Country House, but a protest by the second placed rider Flavien Prat put the race into turmoil. After a 20 minute interval,the stewards upheld the protest. Maximum Security was demoted to 17th. It was the first time in the history of the race that a first past the most has been rubbed out. Maximum Security ducked out in the final turn and forced several horses to steady. It's reported that War of Will came perilously close to clipping heels with Maximum Security, which could have caused a chain-reaction accident. Country House lost ground on the outside of War of Will, but was it enough to take the race from Maximum Security? What a sick way to lose the Derby.
There's a huge clash of he titans next Wednesday at Caen when two of the best trotters on the planet, Bold Eagle and Aubrion du Gers meet in the Grand Prix des Ducs de Normandie. It's cracking field. Billie De Montfort and the Philippe Allaire trained trio Traders, Django Riff and the youngster Bugsy Malone all capable of springing a surprise. Their gun driver takes the seat behind Bugsy Malone.
The Harbinger 3 year old filly Normcore slashed eight tenths of a second off the course record in winning the G1 Victoria Mile in Japan. She's the grey, No 4 and in white and blue. From the 4 gate.
