Well I didn't see Foxtrot Lady winning that today but she popped up at 18/1. Cloak Of Spirits had no excuse today and I am surprised she didn't reverse form with Althiqa after the way their race went last time. Foxtrot Lady has probably run her best race for two years on a literal reading of the form but it looked a Listed quality renewal to be honest with you. Jubiloso and Mubtasimah were the two I approached the race in order to oppose and it is disappointing that both of them were awful, yet the selection could not cash in and Cloak Of Spirits has finished behind three fillies rated lower than 100 on official ratings today and that has to be pretty poor for a Guineas runner up. Althiqa has run another solid race today and has had a generally progressive season, something that cannot be said about Cloak Of Spirits and she will need to be dropped from her official rating of 107 because she was nothing like that today. Some very poor efforts today and the Hugh Taylor/Simon Rowlands coming of minds together on Mubtasimah was well off the mark, so it is encouraging to know that everyone has bad days at the office in this game. On to tomorrow and better results.
You missed the other Nunthorpe winner Lyric Fantasy (Richard Hannon senior). I guess it depends how old you are for Freddie Head (as a jockey) winning the Prix de l’Abbaye on juvenile Sigy. It was nearly twenty years before another French horse won it and they have hardly won this century – in fact, Freddie Head (as a trainer) is one of two. I do remember two year old Risk Me being beaten in a photo by his stablemate in the Prix de la Forêt when Dancing Brave won the Arc. It is only possible for two year olds to race their elders toward the end of the season because of weight for age but very few of the best ones ever try it as the prize money for the big juvenile races is now much better.
