In the 11:30 at Chantilly today I'm having a small each way on number 14 Bonfire Heart. Often runs well at this track, conditions to suit, low weight to carry and the booking of Antoine Hamelin another plus.
Yesterday's VRC Oaks in Melbourne went to Miami Bound, the little filly with the big heart. She was ridden by the old master Damien Oliver. No1. White and blue, blue arm band and blue cap. Jumped from gate 7.
When Nature Strip gets it right, he's a sensational piece of horse flesh. There probably isn't a faster horse out of the stalls in the country, but he doesn't always go on with the job, especially in Sydney. But at home in Melbourne, where they race anti clockwise, he's something else. He didn't have to turn any corners today in the 1200m G1 $2,000,000 Darley Sprint Classic at Flemington though. It was straight to the front, goodbye and good luck. No2, yellow with red stripes, blue sleeves, blue and yellow cap.
With the world's most prestigious trotting race, the G1 Grand Prix of America just over two months away, the first of the good horses stepped out on the weekend in the G1 Grand Prix of Brittany. The first three home earned an automatic start in the Vincennes race. Davidson du Pont, last year's winner of the Grand Prix of Brittany, again saluted. He finished fourth in the great race last season. No 11 starting from the outside. Green, yellow sleeves and red cap.
Britain's Oisin Murphy rode a cracker of a race to win the prestigious G1 2400m Japan Cup aboard the Yasushi Shono Suave Richard. No 5. White and red, red cap.
More than a hundred years ago, on the battle fields of Gallipoli, Bill the Bastard was a legend. Bill was a mean spirited Waler that had given a load of grief when being broken in. And it seem his name was well suited. Not only was he a legend on the battle front, he carved reputation as one hell of a stout hearted horse. In honour of Bill the Bastard's deeds, the Victorian town of Warrnambool last year named a race in his name ... The Jericho Cup. It's billed as the longest flat race in the world. Yesterday saw the second running of the race. To give an insight into just what the 1918 Jericho Cup was all about, the link below is from a novel written by Roland Perry, called Bill the Bastard. Below that link is a replay of yesterday's race. https://www.thejerichocup.com.au/chapter-24-page-1 https://www.racing.com/news/2019-12-01/news-ablaze-wins-jericho-cup
Just a side light to the win by Ablaze over this extreme distance Oddy, some of the connections have a share in probably the fastest horse in the country, Nature Strip. How lucky can some people be? Here he is winning the $2,000,000 Daley Sprint Classic last month.
Tomorrow in Hong Kong we'll see the renewal of the 2,750,000 pound G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup to be run over 2000m. The link below gives the field and form replays of the 8 runners. https://www.racing.com/news/2019-12-05/news-hong-kong-cup-preview
Face Time Bourbon is a 4 year old trotter going places in a hurry. His win in the G2 Prix Octave Douesnel took his tally to 17 wins from 20 starts. He looks a serious horse. No 10. Yellow and green. https://www.letrot.com/fr/replay-courses/2019-12-07/7500/2
The G1 Prix Raoul Balliere, a mounted race for 3 year old trotters went to Gangster Du Wallon who came with a strong run late. No 8. Blue and white. https://www.letrot.com/fr/replay-courses/2019-12-07/7500/1
And 3 more horses have earned in a start in the world's greatest trotting race, the Prix d'Ameriqueto be run at Vincennes on January 26. In winning the Grand Prix du Bourbonnais, Delia Du Pommereux and the placed horses, Bold Eagle and Billie De Montfort all get a ticket to the big dance. Finishing order. 6,18,16. https://www.letrot.com/fr/replay-courses/2019-12-08/7500/4
With the Prix d'Amerique just 6 weeks away, I though I'd take a peek at the favourite for the great race, Cleangame. He's some kind of horse. On the back of his latest win, he'll take a power of beating in the big race. In the Grand National Final of Trot Paris Turf, he had to spot them 25m start. He's last at the beginning. No 15. White, red and black sleeves and cap. https://www.letrot.com/fr/replay-courses/2019-12-01/7500/4
A week ago, Japan produced an outstanding 2 year old filly. Her name is Resistencia. She make the G1 Hanshin Juvenile a one act affair. The commentator mistakenly called the race an event for 3 year olds. She leads throughout.