Channel 4's Derek Thompson interviews Aidan O'Brien and Sir Henry Cecil. Derek. Sir Henry, why did you enter both Twice Over and Midday for this race? Henry. Pure mathematics, Derek. I looked at the runners and calculated that both my horses would finish in the first three. Therefore I have three chances....First and second wins me £547, 000. First and third gives £472,000. Second and third returns £225,000. Derek. But you couldn’t guarantee both being in the first three if Roderic O’Connor had run. Henry. A little bird told me he wouldn’t go to post. Derek. Aidan, why didn’t you run Roderic, when he could have won at least £37,000 for having a training gallop and finishing fourth? Aidan(smiling). Listen, Derek. Obviously you don’t know the economics of multi entries for Group Ones. You frighten off the opposition by entering up to ten or twelve horses- and then see what happens. Derek. But now you’ve taken Roderic out, there’s only five runners and nobody gets the £9,000 for sixth place. Aidan. Obviously, as Henry said, it’s pure mathematics but look, Derek, I’m a racehorse trainer- not an Oxford don. I’ll bear that in mind though. Derek. What do you think about it, Sir Henry? Henry. It goes to make things interesting, doesn’t it? Derek. Some people would say it’s ridiculous that there’s £700,000 up for grabs and that only your two good selves and Jo Hughes have runners in the race. What do you both say about that? Henry. It’s not for me to...... Aidan(interrupting). Listen, Derek. If he wants the £18,000 for finishing fifth, then good luck to him! Henry. I think you’ll find Jo is a lady, Aidan, not a gentleman. Aidan. Obviously, Derek! Derek. Anyway, how do you both think the race will pan out? Henry. Should be a great spectacle. Aidan. Does it really matter, Derek. Henry and I will collect £673,000 between us and no doubt analyse it afterwards. Shame about that sixth place going a begging, though. ( Aidan’s phone rings). Listen, Derek. Must go. Jo Hughes is on the phone. Derek. I didn’t realise you knew her, Aidan. Aidan. You learn something every day, Derek. Derek. How so, Aidan? Aidan. I had 500 grand at evens that Zafisio would finish fifth in the race, not sixth. Derek. So that’s why you took Roderic out! Aidan(smiling). You got it, Derek. Pure mathematics! See ya! Reference: Juddmonte International Stakes, 2011. Prize Money. 1st. £397,000 2nd. £150,000 3rd. £75,000 4th. £37,000 5th. £18,000 6th. £9,000.
I'm not knocking UK racing Tam, but how is it that a place that touts it's self as the capitol of thoroughbred racing, is stretched so thin when it comes to top flight middle distance G1 horses?
Cyclonic, perhaps the horses are following the modern trend of "laziness." Humans driving to the corner shop( or sitting at computers); dogs in overcoats and sleeping in bed with their owners; cats in centrally heated catteries; and now top Group One performers running as little as five or six miles total on the racecourse- before doing leisurely 'blanket jobs' on overweight mares for the rest of their life.
Post Race: Derek. Aidan, did you get your maths right? Zafisio finished fourth, not fifth! Aidan. Listen, obviously.....oh fack, I hate Group Ones! You just wait and see, Derek, I'll have every runner in one of them soon, and then I'll obviously clean up!
janabelle13 , unfit ,high temperature and near cannon bone fracture - all together. have you noticed there isnt a comments page on the racing post article about fame and glory''s defeat today?? i posted the above on the opionion poll article instaed and it was quickly removed lol
Yes saw that. He's going to have to come up with excuses for the 2yos that were defeated in the Futurity too!!
Derek Thompson isn't the best post-race interviewer! Who remembers what he said to Ruby Walsh after Denman beat Kauto Star in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Ruby's response?
Just for future reference, Tamerlo, the £9,000 sixth prize money is won by somebody. If there are fewer runners than there is prize money places, the 'other' money either goes to the winner or is distributed according to the prize money percentages for the other places. I cannot remember which of those applies but it does not just disappear! I went into a local Bet Fred on Thursday and they had Thommo doing some betting advise on the day's York card and in the twenty-runner Sales Race that started the card, he reckoned that the favourite (9/4 Crown Dependency, six pounds well in according to Timeform) was not worth backing and suggested nursery winner Roger Sez each-way at 16/1, which had at least ten pounds to find on the book. I did not take his advise - it ran nowhere - even though I backed it when it won previously. When Thommo is being paid by the bookies to give you betting advise, he really should be ignored.
