He was a right old character. He stood at Aston Upthorpe Stud rather than Dalham Hall because he hated to be around other stallions - he liked to be lord of his manor!
You must be very young? Never, but never, get disgusted with horseracing, otherwise for the rest of your life you will remain in a permanent state of disgust. However, it can be alleviated by the occasional winner of course.
Haha, I'm a fairly young buck, my disgust was as much with the drink prices at sandown as it was with the odds on nag (which thankfully I couldn't bring myself to back). Emotions ran very high yesterday, could never be disgusted by a pasttime that invokes such passion
Reading some of this with DK taking on all and sundry I'm just glad to see it's definitely not me then... Pity O'Brien didn't run Highland Reel in this, would a been an easy win for him.
Watching the race back I think this was a serious performance by Ulysses. Barney Roy stayed, simple as that (helped almost certainly by the rattling fast ground and not unreasonable pace up front). Ulysses was cantering all over them down the straight, and when Barney Roy came alongside neck and neck you would be sure Ulysses wouldn't find much off the bridle and Barney Roy would have too much speed for him. Ulysses kept with him and I'm not convinced the result would have been any different if over further or shorter (granted i'd back Barney Roy to beat most over a mile on fast ground). I wouldn't be convinced Highland Reel would have won that yesterday. He's far better suited to further, yes he beat Ulysses fair and square in the Prince of Wales but had to really battle to win a couple of lengths. Given Ulysses profile and improvement race upon race I would be surprised if he wouldn't have reversed that form with Highland Reel over 10f yesterday. I'd drop Barney Roy back to a mile now for the rest of his days, if he couldn't win that race yesterday on ground and in a race that wasn't likely to test his stamina then I don't see the point of pursuing further. Not a Derby horse on any ground
The Steward's report from the race has a lot to say! "The Stewards held an enquiry into possible interference on the first bend. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that TAJ MAHAL (IRE), unplaced, ridden by Padraig Beggy, had interfered with DECORATED KNIGHT, placed sixth, ridden by Olivier Peslier, which in turn interfered with CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE), placed fourth, ridden by Ryan Moore. The Stewards found Beggy in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he allowed his mount to drift right-handed when not sufficiently clear, causing Peslier to take a significant check off heels, which left CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE) short of room and causing it to make contact with the rail and stumble badly. They suspended him for 8 days as follows: Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 July 2017, inclusive. The Stewards held a further enquiry into possible interference approximately 3 furlongs out. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that EMINENT (IRE), placed fifth, ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, had interfered with DECORATED KNIGHT (IRE). The Stewards found De Sousa in breach Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he had manouevered to his left to get a run when there was insufficient gap, shifting DECORATED KNIGHT (IRE) off its intended line. They suspended him for 2 days as follows: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July 2017. The Stewards also noted that EMINENT (IRE), attempted to bite DECORATED KNIGHT (IRE), during the interference."
Highland Reel will be lucky to win another race this season, would have been swamped by those two yesterday. Ulysses produced a career best by about 8 pounds, much improved from Ascot.
I recall a similar incident in the Lockinge Stakes a few years ago. I want to say it was Noverre or Keltos but I can't quite remember.
Ah, I was right! It was both of them! Watch this video and as Keltos (the grey) comes upsides Noverre (Godolphin first colours), Noverre tries to take a chunk out of Keltos' shoulder!
Get used to being ripped off at racecourses. They search your bags at the entrance not for explosives but for refreshments. If they stop you bringing in anything, they can charge £4+ for beer and £6+ for burgers. Simple solution – do not drink on course.
Rather obviously debatable whether Highland Reel would have won. Would the race have been run to suit him?
It was certainly a rough race but the enquiry seems to suggest that the two Ballydoyle representatives may have hurt each other. Eminent has been a poor luck story all season. Clearly the pacemaker impeded Decorate Knight, who then impended Cliffs Of Moher. But that is racing – luck in running.
I certainly do not agree that Ulysses was 8lb better than his last race. This was an average Eclipse field and the winner probably did not improve more that 3lb or 4lb on his previous effort. No point starting a pointless debate about Highland Reel winning another race...
