International Racing

Once heard a comment that the only 'misbehaviour' that takes place in the infield at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day is the likely conceiving of a few new US citizens!

Only reason I would return to 'Trumpica' at the mo!

 

Takes me back to my school days! It's the scene at the end when someone asks if he ever had any children.

"I thought I heard you say it was a pity .... pity I never had any children. But you're wrong, I have. Thousands of them. Thousands .... and all boys"

Welling up a wee bit; don't make fillums like that nowadays!

Again, cheers Cyc.

 

The final of the Star Sports Greyhound English Derby to be run at Towcester this weekend looks like a race in two on paper. Paddys have Clares Rocket is 11-10 and Hiya Buttat 7-4. Both have brilliant trap manners which probably points the winner being the 1 or 3. The 6 combatants to contest the 500m final are Hiya Butt, Droopys Acrobat, Clares Rocket, Astute Missile Tyrur Shay & Murrys Act. Semis below.

 

Even at 56 years of age, the man was a freak of nature. Lester Piggott aboard Rodrigo de Triano in 1992. He's 3 from the camera and last away. A wonderful field of riders too. Forget the clip title, someone didn't know their arse from their elbow.

 

Three of my fav. jockeys; Pat Eddery, Mick Kinane and Thierry Jarnet!

 

Timoko, the second ranked horse behind Bold Eagle in the Trotting Masters, stepped out in the G2 Prix De Washinton in Belgium yesterday, and as usual ran a bold race. He's drawn the inside and is in the blue. This was his hundredth start. He won this event in 2013.

 

Please excuse my usual pedantic way, Cyc, but I believe this track is the Hippodrome d'Enghien-Soisy, which is in one of the most northern suburbs of Paris; 'tis possible there is a track of the same name in Belgium, that's true, but I don't think so. More importantly, this Timoko is a great trotter, one of the very best around. Thanks for the clip.

http://www.ot-enghienlesbains.fr/en/content/hippodrome

A big difference between Vincennes and Enghien harness racing tracks is the surface colour. Vincennes, of course, is black, and Enghien has a more-typical brown sandy-looking surface.

 

2017 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud:

Zarak beautifully ridden by Soumillon.

 

I had one of my best gambling weekends in France when the Grand Prix de St Cloud and the Grand Course de Haies d'Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) fell on the same weekend. Probably successful due to my inexperience of the PMU and outright good fortune than any skill or knowledge of form outside the runners in the main race at St Cloud. Great grub at this track on the outskirts of Paris with both food and drink at very reasonable prices. Very pleasant stroll from the track downhill (which suited my Mum) to the River Seine and the start of the bus routes back into the town centre; Montparnasse that year! Had a great meal in a Brasserie with some very friendly locals (and no other tourists).

Could Zarak emulate his Mum in the great race this October? Trainer has remarked that it's a pity the 'Arc' is being run at Chantilly again this year; would be a definite goer at Longchamp. Might still take some of Stan James' 16/1 each way (1/4 odds) with doubts surrounding fitness and attaining the distance for so many of the others at the top of the betting lists.

 

Thanks for the heads up Swanny, I need all the help I can get.

 

****; just realised I missed my annual punt on yesterday's Deutsches Derby! Would probably have backed the second on the nose so a few 'bob' saved. Youtube here I come.

 

I would never put you off Zarak for the big one, BK, that is a fast way to lose friends! However, his breeding does bother me just a bit. In yesterday's race he was ridden by Soumillon to get the trip, and the horse responded very well and won comfortably. The Arc will be more difficult of course. Basically, there are many facets of his breeding on both sides that would suggest 1-1/4 miles is his optimum trip. However, a glimmer of hope is that the dam of Zarak's sire Dubawi is by Deploy (then to Shirley Heights) which helps things a lot on the stamina issue, but there is an awful lot of 1-mile to 1-1/4 miles in Zarak's breeding. He will need decent ground on Arc day, honestly cannot see him winning in a bog? Stranger things have happened in horseracing though, that's for damn sure! Does Soumillon ride him in the Arc, guess we don't know that yet? Your final remarks are interesting, so Zarak's chances in the big race should certainly not be dismissed. Good luck with your ante-post bet!

 

SH; as I am your typical 'tight' and value loving dour Scot I will wait a while before possible investment. Nae rush as they say.

The trigger could and will likely be the lack of a 'star' three year old colt who truly stays 2400 metres. Grand Prix de Paris shortly will complete this part of the jigsaw. Coolmore competition falling by the wayside also a factor. How good will Almanzor be after return from injury? Japanese challenge does not appear at the moment to be as strong as in past ten years or so.

Your points about breeding and the distance are well made however it is a good few years since we had a truly 'soft' ground 'Arc'. In fact when my Mum and I used to visit Longchamp in October all I remember is warm days, horse chestnuts, "Un pression s'il vous plait" and attending the private party with the girls from Qatar Airlines at the Windmill; It helps if you are an unassuming chap dressed in tweeds and brogues!

 

The English Greyhound Derby Final. The complete outsider gets the biscuits and the 175,000 quid. Nice money. Trap 4.

 

My gaffer is a greyhound fanatic and he had an ante post of the Greyhound Derby and it was the five dog. He waited until Friday afternoon before telling anybody about it so nobody paid much interest as it was such a short price.

The excuse on Monday morning was that there were only two late finishers in the race and the four dog was the other one!

What I know about greyhounds would not fill a postage stamp (even though a friend of mine has owned a couple) but when I worked at the bookies and used to see the races all the time, it seemed that half the dogs got crowded out at the first bend so it was just betting on random chance.

 

Cheers Cyc. Can't believe I missed that. Is Towcester a new venue for it?

 

Yep, Ron, dear old Wimbledon's closed, and eventually will be the new home for AFC Wimbledon, so I believe? Did go a few times for greyhound racing there (not far from Kingston), but went mostly for Speedway in my teens. Was crackers about this motor cycle sport, smell of the cinder track, the lot.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4350978/Last-race-day-famous-Wimbledon-dog-track.html

 

What a sad day for greyhound racing

 

The last in a long line of sad days Ron. As a teenager my week was spent between Slough, Wembley, Wimbledon and occasionally Walthamstow. Now there is not a single London track still operating. How the landscape has changed.