|
| There was a lot of action around the world in the past four days. Favourites were beaten in all the major races with one exception. Let us begin with the exception. This is a race run on Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan. The race was Oka Sho, the Japanese 1000 Guineas for three year-old girls. The 2/10 favourite was Buena Vista. It was an easy win for Buena Vista who won by a length and a half. The 1600-metre race on a firm course was run in 1 34. Eighteen ran and the race carried a total purse of 2.1 million US dollars. The winning jockey was Katsumi Ando and the trainer was Hiroyishi Matsuda. Buena Vista, the top freshman filly in Japan in 2008, has started her sophomore campaign on a bright note. Special Week is Buena Vista’s sire. The dam is Biwa Heidi who is by Caerleon. There were 72,734 fans in attendance at Hanshin on Sunday. The handle on 1000 Guineas day was 27,141,313,500 Japanese yen. The last time I checked, 115 yen will get you one US dollar. Three races of some importance were run at Longchamp on Sunday. The going was good to soft. The Group III Prix de La Grotte, a 1600-metre race for sophomore girls, was won by Tamazirte, a 69-10 chance. Christophe Lemaire was aboard. J C Rouget trains Tamazirte who won by a neck over Soneva. Proportional, the 7-10 public choice, was third, one half length away. Again at Longchamp on Sunday, the Grade III Prix de Fontainbleu went to Silver Forst, the 3-2 favourite, ridden by Olivier Peslier. Y De Nicolay trains the winner. Taking second was the Aidan O’Briem-trained Westphalia, ridden by John Murtagh, the 32-10 second favourite. The Fontainbleu, a race for three year-old colts, serves to sort out the good from the not-so-good sophomores. The third race at Longchamp that merits mention is the Group III Prix La Force for three year-olds. The 69-10 On Est Bien, ridden by A Crastus, won it. E Lellouche trains the winner. Top Class, Stephen Pasquier up, was second. Black Bear Island, ridden by John Murtagh and trained by Aidan O’Brien and the 13-10 favourite, was a non-threatening third. On Saturday, Papa Clem, the 4-1 second favourite, won the Grade II million-dollar Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Old Fashioned, Terry Thompson up and the even money favourite, set the pace and gave way to Papa Clem after a long stretch duel. Papa Clem, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, is by Smart Strike. Miss Houdini, a Belong To Me mare, is Papa Clem’s mother. Papa Clem was second to Pioneerof The Nile in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita and again played second fiddle to Friesan Fire in the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds. Winning trainer Gary Stute explained: “At Fair Grounds, we got there late and Papa Clem did not have time to get some work in. At Oaklawn, we came here three weeks ago. He has worked three times to my satisfaction. He has done everything perfect. We are on our way to the Derby.” The unflappable Bejarano talked about his ride. “He (Papa Clem) was relaxed. I get him coast inside. I wanted to be out of trouble on the turn. I was able to swing out. I knew we would win when Old Fashioned fought back. I had a lot of horse. I am hopeful about the Derby.” After the race, it was reported that Old Fashioned had a non-displaced slab fracture of the right knee. Trainer Larry Jones said, “He will miss the Derby. The problem is not life threatening but it could be career-ending. Old Fashioned has been taken to a hospital in Lexington. Let the vets make the call.” At Keeneland on Saturday, the feature was the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass. A 14-1 chance, General Quarters won with a measure of comfort in the hands of Eibar Coa. Finishing second was Hold Me Back, the 2-1 favourite. Massone salvaged the show spot. The 1800-metre race on Keeneland’s polytrack was run in 1 49.26. General Quarters had been fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby won by Musket Man. It is a matter of interest that Eibar Coa was aboard Musket Man who won the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne a week ago Saturday. General Quarters was wide all the way and out of trouble. Coa hit the front turning for home and went one better as Hold Me Back and Kent Desormeaux mounted a fierce challenge down the stretch. General Quarters, a gray colt, is by Sky Mesa by Pulpit. Jockey Eibar Coa talked about his mount’s chances in the Kentucky Derby. “He was quite professional. In the straight, when I asked, he gave me what he had. He’ll be one of the horses to beat in the Derby.” The 75 year-old Tom McCarthy owns and trains General Quarters who was claimed for $20,000. Trainer McCarthy, a former high school headmaster, will have a horse in the Derby for the first time. The Grade I Maker’s Mark mile on turf was run at Keeneland on Friday. Mr Sidney, ridden by Kent Desormeaux and trained by Bill Mott, came away victorious. Mr Sidney was a 32-10 chance. The 1600-metre on yielding turf was run in 1 41.8. Thorn Song, Robby Albarado up and the 2-1 favourite, set the pace and folded when looked in the eye around the far turn. He finished sixth and last. At Maisons Laffitte in Paris on Friday, Naaqoos, winner of the Jean la Gardere at Longchamp on Arc day last year, went postward as the 2-5 favourite in the 1400-metre (straight) Prix Djebel. The listed race was run on good to soft ground. Le Havre, Christophe Lemaire up, lowered the colours of Naaqoos in a photo finish. J C Rouget trains Le Havre. Naaqoos, the pride of the Freddie Head stable, was handled by Davy Bonilla. Naaqoos was considered a serious prospect for the English and the French 2000 Guineas. No plans were revealed. In the same card at Maisons Laffitte, Christophe Lemaire connected again with Elusive Wave, the even money chalk, in the Prix Impridence, a Group III event for sophomore girls. J C Rouget won another high profile race. At Keeneland on Thursday, Ventura was a piping hot favourite in the Vinery Madison Stakes, a Grade I race over 1400 metres for distaffers. The race went to Informed Decision, a Monarchis filly, who won narrowly over Ventura. The winner’s share of the purse was $180,000. Informed Decision, a grey, was the 3-1 second favourite. John Velasquez rode Informed Decision who won the Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland last fall. It was the second photo loss this year for Ventura who won the BC Sprint last October. In her 2009 reappearance, Ventura was beaten in the Frank Kilroe Mile against the boys at Santa Anita. Jockey John Velasquez is articulate, “The other horse (Ventura) had the momentum. So I was like, Oh, I have waited too long. She responded. It took longer than I thought but she got it done.” Indian fans will be interested specially in this item. Tony Farina - does the name ring a bell? Jockey Farina won at Keeneland on Thursday with Perfectly Campbell who paid $121.20. Eight horses have been given a ‘second stage’ entry for the Epsom Derby. It is a payment of 8,000 British pounds. The third stage falls on June 1 when a 75,000-pound fee is required. Theregoesjojo, an America-based colt who raced in the Blue Grass on Saturday, is an entrant. Five horses are from the Godolphin stable. Michael Stoute has Ballymacoll Stud’s Glass Harmonium. John Gosden has entered the Princess Haya-owned Debussy. Pricess Haya of Jordan, wife of Sheikh Mohammed, won the 2008 Derby with New Approach. Ernie Paragallo, owner and breeder, has been banned by the New York Racing Association. At the Hudson Valley Farm, 177 horses were seized on grounds of malnutrition. Paragallo is an authorized agent for Paraneck stables, a well known outfit in New York. Quality Road, a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby, has suffered a quarter crack. The problem was detected soon after Quality Road's win in the Florida Derby. Dr Ian Mckinlay is attending. The hoof was patched by Dr McKinlay and Quality Road went for a gallop last Wednesday. Dr McKinlay was pleased. "He galloped perfect. There was no blood. If the foot is cold the next day, it's a done deal. It looks like I got an easy one." |
| [News Around Archives] |
|
|