In Sweden's Gothenburg's Aby Racetrack, there's a strange old event connected with the European Trotting Series, called the Aby Stora Pris. Eight horses are drawn in the first round of the the G1 event. I'm not sure, but I think they may have run a second time with the two winners to race off in the final. Three races on the day. (maybe) The two horses into the final were Midnight Hour and Muscle Hustle. The latter went as a very hot favourite. The driver Robert Burgh quickly handed up the the lead of the race to Midnight Hour's driver Likka Nurmonen who promptly dropped anchor. With no pressure applied from that point on, the race was pretty much run at a farcical pace. The match racing concept is interesting though.
The G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois as run at Deauville. The winner gets a walk up start in the Breeder's Cup Mile at Del Mar. Al Wukair in the centre gets the nod.
G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin. Hawkbill went out a 7-5 favourite, just ahead of Dschingis Secret at 5-2.
Tomorrow Winx, the darling of the Australian turf steps out in Sydney looking to run her undefeated streak to 18 when she contests the G2 Warwick Stakes over the 1400m trip. She currently stands at $1.07 in the market. Someone has already helped themselves to $61.600 at $1.08. The track is rated at a good 4 which should suit the champ down to the ground. Go the mighty mare. This weekend will see the two highest rated horses according to Longines, as of the 6th of this month, get to strut their stuff. Winx rated at 132 will fly the flag for the Southern Hemisphere, while Arrogate, rated 134, will take to the track 14 hours later in America. After Arrogate's last start, abject failure, all eyes will be on the massive 4 year old as he attempts to erase some of the fears now filling the hearts of his fans. His main opposition should come from the horse that lowered his colours the last time they met, Accelerate. Can the great horse catch the tear away leader this time out? I guess only time will tell.
How would you like to have $61,600 at $1.08 and see you selection walk out of the stalls? My sphincter would be working overtime I can tell ya'. Just as well he had a champion to carry his cash. Winx makes 18 ..... the hard way. In the end, she blew out to $1.10.
Scroll down for Hughie Bowman's after race interview. With the times they were running during the day, he was worried the mare might be able to pick them up. Scary stuff. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...k/news-story/3802868ffecd0804e4f329848af209c7
Arrogate beaten again in the Pacific Classic, this time by stablemate Collected: Not looking like the best horse in the world anymore, is he?
The only mitigating circumstance I can think of is that the race was not run at a great pace and normally Arrogate is held up towards the rear and brought with a late burst. This time he sat nearer the pace but could not real in Baffert’s other runner. Out to 3/1 for the Breeders’ Cup Classic now... bad news is that it is run at Del Mar this year over the same course and distance, so if he does not like the place punters should start looking elsewhere. Maybe this is some sort of ruse to lengthen the odds? Nearly a weekend of shocks all round with Winx only just winning in your back yard.
Unfortunately - Darley Prix Morny - 20/08/17: and............... Marmelo - Prix Kergorlay - Deauville - 20/08/17:
The wonderful Timoko pushed his earnings past five million euros and in the process, further cemented his second place in the Master's Trot Series behind Bold Eagle, when he won the G2 Gd Px Du Departement Des Alpes-Maritimes yesterday. Eleventh ranked Billie De Monfort ran a nice second. Timoko, number 7, is in the blue and black and drawn the outside of the front line. Billie De Monfort is Number 4 and in orange and green. Timoko started long odds on.
Number 3 ranked Masters Trotter Propulsion went around in the G1 Sundsvall Open Trot yesterday but has his colours lowered by 8 ranked Ringostarr Treb. Second placed Nadal Broline's effort might have been just enough to get it a place in the Final next month.
A star studded field went around in the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga last Saturday. Mike Smith rode a masterful race up front in the 148th running of the event.
The G1 Forego Handicap run the same day, over the 7 furlong trip saw the coming together of the Breeder's Cup Sprint winner Drefong and the hot, new kid on the block Mind Your Biscuits.
Same day. G1 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap. 12 Furlongs. Moore on Idaho started a 7-5 favourite.
According to the French site Equidia Live, Saturday's G1 Critérium des 5 Ans, to be run over the 3000m trip at Vincennes is the be all and end all when it comes to a stallion's career at stud. The race allows for fillies to start, but only one will go around this weekend. This is where it begins, it's the 5 year old championship of France. The list of wonderful horses who've won this event stretches well back in time. The favourite this time around is Carat Williams who'll be having his first attempt at the distance, but he looks a bit of a beast. He's trained by Sebiastien Gaurato, the man who trained last year's winner, the mighty Bold Eagle. Gaurato has a pretty strong second string going into the Criterium in the shape of Bold Eagle's little brother Cash And Go who's been placed at this level but is yet to crack it at G1. Another in with a large shout is the winner of both the 3 and 4 year versions of this race, Charly du Noyer who is also a son of Ready Cash. He's also a 3 time G1 winner who should get over the 3000m ok. His trainer can't see him missing a place and holds high hopes of rolling Carat Williams. Should Charly du Noyer get the biscuits, he'll be just the third horse in history to do the 3, 4, and 5 year old treble. Another with a shot is Cyprien des Bordes who's just come off a nice win under saddle. Cheltenham and Chicago Blues could run well as well. With next to nothing in the pool at the moment, Carat Williams is 1-5, but they'll probably bet much better than that. G1 Critérium des 5 Ans. 3000m. 1. Capac - J.Ph. Moncli. ? 2. Candide d'Ortige - M. Mottier. 3. Caviar du Vivier - F. Ouvrie. 4. Comtesse du Chêne - M. Abrivard. 5. Cash And Go - F. Nivard. 6. Classic Way - E. Raffin. 7. Cheltenham - Cl. Duvaldestin. 8. Cap Matyss - A. Barrier. 9. Chicago Blues - Th. Duvaldestin. 10. Coquin Bébé - J.M. Bazire. 11. Cyprien des Bordes - J.L.Cl. Dersoir. 12. Carat Williams - D. Thomain. 13. Charly du Noyer - Y. Lebourgeois. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Orbolution looks like a pretty decent two year old filly. She started an odds on favourite for this Listed event.
