Good shout QM, we had the forecast between us which paid £106.18
Never mind. In the race itself my horse didn't trap as well as last time but managed to get the lead. He was pestered by the pacemaker for a long way though. Just when I felt Maranoa Charlie was going to be swamped he fought on very gamely. In the end the winner finished most strongly to land the spoils.
Cosmic Year went from hacking along to coming under heavy pressure in about two strides. I reckon the idea of a pacemaker backfired and I'd be trying him a 6f next time if he were mine.
Shadow Of Light also flattered to deceive with a promising run but he could not sustain the effort. He looks in need of a rating drop as he has not progressed from a decent effort in the Guineas.
The Lion In Winter ran a cracker, considering he had run so badly in the Derby. It was a great training performance to get this kind of run out of him but awful placing of him in the Dante and Derby. I wonder if "The Lads" need to trust the trainer to make the calls. It's their money though and they are rather successful.
Forecasts always look great with hindsight but I cannot say that I would have done it. I was happy with my 18/1 each way on the winner after my two Saturday bets bombed at Sandown (fourth, given too much to do) and Haydock (tailed off last, never a factor).
I am inclined to think that being pestered by the pacemaker was probably what did for
Maranoa Charlie. Last time he had an uncontested lead and was able to quicken when he wanted (admittedly in a lower grade of race). Graffard told Sky Racing that they might drop back to six with
Woodshauna but he will have to find races with no Group 1 penalty or just run in Group 1s.
I was not sure what to think of
Cosmic Year. The race time does not tell us much as the ground was quick (certainly by French standards) but
Cosmic Year had a nice break after the Irish 2000, so it was not two races too soon. I would be going back to a mile with him rather than dropping to sprinting as he has never run over less than the 1400 metres of the Prix Jean Prat. The jury is very much out on
Shadow Of Light; however, a small blanket covering the first four makes me think this was not a great renewal. It will be interesting to see who goes to the Prix Maurice de Gheest (surely
Woodshauna) and who goes to the newly upgraded Group 1 City Of York Stakes (the intended destination of
Maranoa Charlie according to his new Yorkshire based owners). O’Brien told the Racing Post that
The Lion In Winter might go to the Sussex Stakes or the Prix Jacques le Marois, so it seems he now thinks the Sea The Stars colt is a miler having thought he was a Derby horse.
My assessment of Sunday’s Deauville card did not turn out too badly. I nominated
Nighttime in the opener and
Beauvatier in the Group 3 that followed; but my might-run-well-at-a-price in the second Listed race did not and Karl Burke’s
Bright Thunder won the third Listed race well with
Euboa doing little to advertise the Prix Allez France form of Aventure while
Pinta caught the eye in third, giving the impression there may be races to be won with her.