In any case, my return was greeted by a ‘close but no cigar’ call in the Cesarewitch and, in today’s Monday Mish Mash, I’ve got a run down on the Newmarket racing from Saturday, and a look at what’s set to be a running debate: the introduction today of the new whip rules.
It’s all about the jocks today, so chocks away!
Firstly, let’s look back at the weekend’s racing from Newmarket, with a view to next year’s Classics, but before that, a quick review of the Ces.
I’d made a pretty robust case for a horse called Ermyn Lodge in my Cesarewitch Preview piece at the end of last week. Those who followed me in were rewarded on the place part of the bet, as Ermyn Lodge battled bravely to beat 31 of his 32 rivals and finish second.
But the plaudits go to Frankie Dettori, a man I’ve lambasted a fair bit on here over the years, largely because he doesn’t always give a horse the benefit of all of his considerable talent. Saturday was one of those career defining victories, and bookended the week when he was lucky to win his 500th Group race, with a victory here that he had no right whatsoever to claim.
His mount, Never Can Tell, was drawn in the car park’s car park in 36 (which was actually the 33rd stall from the shortest course, due to non-runners, and the widest of all). If you think that makes no difference over two and a quarter miles, the stats disagree. And so does this image.
Frankie wins the Cesarewitch from an impossible position
What’s more remarkable was that, once the field entered the interminable Newmarket home straight, Frankie was alone in deciding to race down the centre of the track.
We (I!) often criticise jockeys for a lack of bravery, especially in terms of choosing a furrow where they perceive the best ground to be, and this was brave bordering on foolhardy in such a big race, and as the only one of 34 riders so to do.
But he’s not the best for nothing and, on his day, Dettori is simply unplayable, to use parlance from other sports. This was a master class ride in every sense, and if we who had backed Ermyn Lodge were to be beaten, then we have to concede defeat in the most sporting of contexts. For me, this was probably the ride of the season.
It was simply brilliant. And Frankie knew it. You don’t see him do this when he wins Group 1′s, so to see him do it in a handicap (albeit a pretty good handicap) told you a lot about how chuffed the micro-Italian was with his efforts and those of his gallant Montjeu filly, Never Can Tell. Have you ever seen Frankie do this before:
A delighted Frankie Dettori punches the air after a truly brilliant ride on Never Can Tell wins the Cesarewitch
And there was more credit to be distributed in the finishing positions of the Cesarewitch as, aside from our brave Ermyn Lodge, a three year old – Colour Vision – was just outbattled in the closing stages. Granted, Mark Johnston’s 20/1 shot was getting a fair whack of weight for age, but this was a great effort nonetheless.
And a further fine effort from the super tough and genuine victim of his own partial success, Mount Athos. Lugging top weight here – as is his penance for fine run in defeat after fine run in defeat – Marwan Koukash’s second frame placing (he had the winner as well) deserves a big race success.
So it was a great effort and we got a fine run for our money, but ultimately 9/2 the place is not nearly so good as 9/2 the place and 18/1 for the win (returned 16/1). Onwards and downwards…
The more material races for the future were the juvenile ‘trials’, and it was an Irish jamboree as both the Middle Park and Dewhurst pots were snatched across the sea to the Emerald Isle. In fact, they also snaffled the Rockfel Stakes to boot!
First, it was Crusade who proved three-quarters of a length and more too good for his rivals in the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs. It’s a race that typically produces a high class sprinter rather than a Classic contender, but that doesn’t normally stop the winning owner from trying to stretch the stamina beyond the implications of the form book.
Crusade was having his fourth run and was perhaps a typical winner of the race. In his previous three races, he’d been beaten twice at seven furlongs and won his other effort… over six furlongs. This is the Classic Trial for non-stayers!
In behind they were mostly reasonable to quite good sticks, but nothing in here is going to win a Group 1 next year beyond six furlongs (if at all) I wouldn’t have thought.
Onto the more meaningful Dewhurst Stakes, presumably named after ‘the master butcher’, a proper trial for the 2000 Guineas won by the likes of Frankel last term, and Teofilo, Sir Percy, and Rock of Gibraltar in recent times.
It had also been won by Jim Bolger in three of the previous five years. So quite why his Parish Hall was sent off at 20/1 is beyond me!!! I was playing football at the time and, naturally, hindsight is both a wonderful thing and affords full 20/20 vision.
I do hope that trainer pattern was spotted by some of you as JS Bolger had prevailed here with an ‘unfancied’ 20/1 shot as recently as 2008 (Intense Focus). He also had the 33/1 third, Glor Na Mara, behind Frankel last year.
OK, so it’s obvious looking back. But what about this chap’s future prospects?
Well, he won’t be winning six furlong races next term, that much is clear. His dad is the aforementioned Dewhurst winner, Teofilo, and his mum calls Montjeu ‘daddy’, so there’s a nice blend of middle distance blood there.
It looks as though he needs at least seven even now, and he might turn out to be a Classic contender next season, without having the pace to win a Guineas or necessarily the stamina to win a Derby. Saying that, he’d probably have a better chance in the Irish version of the latter race than the Epsom one.
He’s unlikely to feature on my ticket for either unless showing considerable progression in the Spring prep races (possible).
Nothing in behind is especially worthy of mention, with the runner-up – favourite, Power – looking all over a sprinter (might win the July Cup next year, you heard it here first!).
The third home, Most Improved, lived up to his name and looking at his pedigree (by Lawman out of a Linamix mare), he might have a nice future. This was only his third run, and there ought to be a fair bit more to come next season. He’s a name to remember.
After the Cesarewitch came the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes for juvenile fillies over seven furlongs. Not too many top notchers emerged victorious here, though 1000 Guineas winners Speciosa and Finsceal Beo, the latter for that man Bolger, were two, and Music Show wasn’t bad either.
Wading was much the best here, coming home two lengths clear of a good yardstick in Pimpernel. Wading was second of 20 on debut and, since then, has won back to back races. She looks a stayer, by Montjeu out of Cherry Hinton (a daughter of ‘super-dam’ Urban Sea, mummy to Galileo and Sea The Stars as well as this lass).
While 10/1 is hardly generous for the 1000 Guineas, it is at least reasonable as she was clearly the pick here, and it’s hard to find too many standout candidates for the race elsewhere. She looks certain to progress, this being only her third run, and being a Ballydoyle runner, she won’t want for good care.
The 12/1 for the Oaks with Paddy Power is, again, hardly supreme value, but there are lots of reasons to believe she’ll a) go to Epsom, and b) go to Epsom with a chance. I’ve had a cheeky each way on her with PP, and the link below will enable you to do likewise, should you so wish.
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