International Racing

The WFA, G2 McEwan Stakes run over 1000m at the Valley brought together a small but handy field of 6, with total earnings of $4,500,000 between them.

 

Two fillies from across the Tasman are in town for the Cups carnival. They contested the 1600m G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. First and second. Bonneval and Abbey Marie.

 

The first of the big races today at Vincennes has gone to the wonderful filly Evidence Roc who broke the heart of the big colt Eye Of The Storm. The three year old trotters traveled together early on before the colt took the lead. Numbers 8 & 9. She starts 3 from the inside, he 2 from the outer.

 

With 12 minutes to go before the Final of the Trotting Masters, Bold Eagle is 1.30, Aubrion Du Gers 7.5.

 

The skies open for the running of the final. Aubrion Du Gers is in black with red stripe and cap, Bold Eagle red with yellow cap. 11 & 14.

 

Indeed I was, big time.
That look behind by Spencer at the 300 pretty much says it all.

 

With the Germans doing well in the Arc in the last decade, can Dschingis Secret run a bold race?

 

Interesting times at Chantilly yesterday

1.50 Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2) (3yo Colts & Fillies) (Turf) 1m4f - Cracksman - Time: 2m 37.78s (slow by 8.78s)
3:15 Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Turf) 1m4f - Bateel - Time: 2m 32.90s (slow by 3.90s)
4:35 Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2) (4yo+ No Geldings) (Turf) 1m4f - Dschingis Secret - Time: 2m 35.86s (slow by 6.86s)

 

Winx aims to make it 20 in a row tomorrow

 

Winx in the G1 George Main today. For a while I thought she was a shot duck. Following her is playing havoc with my nerves.

On a side note, if we'd had a $10 bet on Winx in the first of the 20 wins sequence, then went all in for the next 19, we'd now have, $140,000. She's in Blue and drawn the inside. No. 7.

 

Just watched that race Cyc, not knowing you'd posted it. In fact I was just about to paste in the link I'd copied

What a mare she is

 

At Vincennes yesterday, the G1 Prix De Normandie, a race for mounted 5 year olds, went to the heavily backed Cassate. No 7 in the Blue and yellow, running mid field on the inside. It's one of the richest races in Europe for horses of this age.

 

How funny is that? Presumably they are disqualified if they start to canter/gallop? What were the two in yellow at the back doing?

 

I think they were disqualified Ron. Not long after they broke stride, a notice appeared on the bottom of the screen saying that 11 & 3 got rubbed out.

 

Ron, am very surprised that, living in France, you appear to be unfamiliar with Monté? Used to watch it a lot on TV when I frequented the bookies down here, and I was struck by the superb horsemanship of the riders, all of whom are top harness racing drivers too. Seen a few 'funny' remarks on here about Monté in the past, but surely, it must be bloody difficult to race a horse at the trot without being the cause of it to break stride into a canter or gallop? These guys are top horsemen in their own right IMHO. Monté is almost always done in France, although I did see one or two attempts at it in Daglfing here; was pretty pathetic actually!

 

Grub better at Daglfing than Vincennes!

 

Speaking of their riders, I noticed that they seem stronger on the thighs that a lot of the UK riders. I've often wondered what if any effect it has on a horse when a rider is constantly bashing his arse into the saddle. It looks awful though. Maybe they need more time in the gym. You see next to none of that in trotting.

A piece of useless information. I read on the the PMU site that trotting turn over in France is 10 fold more than on thoroughbreds. It must be huge over there. Today there's a jump meeting, a flat and three trots.

 

Just never been interested in seeing horses trotting Swanny. The thought of being behind another horse and not being able to set it alight I find frustrating.

 

I seem to recall that the PMU 'take' on the Prix d'Amerique was greater than that on the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe.

 

If they are banging their arses on the horses back they can't ride properly Cyc; doesn't do the horse any good. Some may look as though they are but aren't actually touching the back. In trotting I think they have to sit pretty still otherwise the horse might change its gait. I might be talking rubbish. I'll ask Amanda, she'll know.