Frozen Fire is entered in the Dante Stakes (G2) at York tomorrow. If Twice Over shows up he will be a short-priced favourite, around 4/6 at the moment. Frozen Fire is expected to go off around the 14/1 mark. The race over one and a quarter miles should be right up his street and there could be a big improvement on the cards for him. Aidan O'Brien's horses seem in good form and if this guy is entered in such a race he must be deemed to have a good chance by his owner and trainer. I hope he will do really well. Unfortunately I will be at work so I won't be able to see the race :o(
Godolphin have announced that Ibn Khaldun may run in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on 24 May after a pleasing work over Chippenham hill. He ran very flat in the english version and I hope he will redeem himself, because he is much better that he showed in that race.
Showing posts with label 2000 Guineas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2000 Guineas. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Sunday, 4 May 2008
A Disappointing Saturday
I had such hopes for yesterday. In my mind Ibn Khaldun had a great chance and Sugar Swirl was going to win the Humana Distaff. Unfortunately, things do not always go the way you want them to...
The Guineas was worthy of the 2ooth birthday of the race, but Ibn Khaldun was not involved. He ran flat and backed up quickly through the field about 2-3 furlongs out and finished 10th in the end. His trainer Saeed Bin Suroor has not made further plans for the colt, but is sure he can do better. As am I. Normally he cruises quite easily, but he was struggling a long way out. Maybe a lack of fitness? I still believe in him and I think he will redeem himself over the course of the season.
Whether Alfathaa was quite ready for such a big task was always the question. He missed training and the Craven Stakes with a foot abscess, so his preparation was far from ideal. He started keenly near the front, but was not quite fast or fit enough to stay out the trip and also faded through the field. Alfathaa should do better as the season progresses and a longer trip would probably suit him better as well. Another who I hope will improve over the course of the season. The 2,000 Guineas was won by Henrythenavigator by a nose over New Approach with Stubbs Art putting in a fantastic performance to be third.
Then there's Sugar Swirl, my best horse in the US right now. She too disappointed, finishing 5th. The race was won by Intagaroo. I am sure she will get her revenge.
Then there was the tragic events that unfolded after the Kentucky Derby. Eight Belles, the brave filly that just finished second behind Big Brown, broke both her ankles while galloping out and had to be euthanized. Poor girl. My heart goes out to all her connections. She will be remembered as a great filly.Horse racing is a beautiful sport, but sometimes it shows its ugly side and I wonder whether it is all worth it. And yet, is there a more beautiful sight than a horse in full stride.
The Guineas was worthy of the 2ooth birthday of the race, but Ibn Khaldun was not involved. He ran flat and backed up quickly through the field about 2-3 furlongs out and finished 10th in the end. His trainer Saeed Bin Suroor has not made further plans for the colt, but is sure he can do better. As am I. Normally he cruises quite easily, but he was struggling a long way out. Maybe a lack of fitness? I still believe in him and I think he will redeem himself over the course of the season.
Whether Alfathaa was quite ready for such a big task was always the question. He missed training and the Craven Stakes with a foot abscess, so his preparation was far from ideal. He started keenly near the front, but was not quite fast or fit enough to stay out the trip and also faded through the field. Alfathaa should do better as the season progresses and a longer trip would probably suit him better as well. Another who I hope will improve over the course of the season. The 2,000 Guineas was won by Henrythenavigator by a nose over New Approach with Stubbs Art putting in a fantastic performance to be third.
Then there's Sugar Swirl, my best horse in the US right now. She too disappointed, finishing 5th. The race was won by Intagaroo. I am sure she will get her revenge.
Then there was the tragic events that unfolded after the Kentucky Derby. Eight Belles, the brave filly that just finished second behind Big Brown, broke both her ankles while galloping out and had to be euthanized. Poor girl. My heart goes out to all her connections. She will be remembered as a great filly.Horse racing is a beautiful sport, but sometimes it shows its ugly side and I wonder whether it is all worth it. And yet, is there a more beautiful sight than a horse in full stride.
Friday, 2 May 2008
Here Comes The Guineas
I am so proud that two of my ToF horse have made it to the 2,000 Guineas this year. It promises to be a great race with New Approach firmly at the head of the betting with many believing he should be the easy winner. Of course I beg to differ.
Ibn Khaldun : By a miler out of a miler, he is perfectly bred for the Guineas. His dam Gossamer in fact won the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2002. Gossamer is also a full sister to Barathea, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and was second to Zafonic in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1993. Ibn Khaldun has nothing but improved over his two-year-old season and the noises coming out of the Godolphin camp are positive. If he kept up the progression at the same rate as through last year, he will be right up there and should be capable of winning. He is likely to be 3rd in the betting behind New Approach and Raven's Pass. I definitely feel he is a better horse than Raven's Pass. Whether he will be able to beat horse-of-the-moment New Approach, we will find out tomorrow. He is trading at 4/1 to 9/2 at the moment. I put some money on him last October at 25/1. Fingers crossed! He could be a superstar...
My other runner is Alfathaa. He has recovered from his foot problem and will likely take his place in the starting stalls tomorrow. He is a bit of an enigma. I am not quite sure what to expect of him. He ran well enough last year as two-year-old and was not far behind the leading two-year-old colts. He won a maiden by five lengths over a mile and finished a creditable fifth in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge (G2) behind City Leader by only 1 1/4 lengths. His sire Nayef won G1s at 3, 4 and 5 and his dam was a listed winner at 4, so plenty of scope for improvement for him over the coming season. Whether he is ready for such a big task yet remains to be seen, but I hope he will run well. I have bet him each way for tomorrow, as I think he definitely capable of running a good race.
The field:
SC PP Horse (Jockey)
1. 4 Alfathaa (Richard Hills)
2. 8 Bahamian Kid (Ted Durcan)
3. 3 Dream Eater (Martin Dwyer)
4. 6 Fireside (Alan Munro)
5. 10 Henryhenavigator (Johnny Murtagh)
6. 9 Ibn Khaldun (Frankie Dettori)
7. 11 Moynahan (Richard Quinn)
8. 2 New Approach (Kevin Manning)
9. 5 Perfect Stride (Ryan Moore)
10. 1 Plan (Michael Kinane)
11. 13 Raven's Pass (Jimmy Fortune)
12. 15 Scintillo (Richard Hughes)
13. 12 Stimulation (Steve Drowne)
14. 14 Strike The Deal (Eddie Ahern)
15. 7 Stubbs Art (Seb Sanders)
My somewhat biased prediction for tomorrow:
1. Ibn Khaldun
2. New Approach
3. Alfathaa
Ibn Khaldun : By a miler out of a miler, he is perfectly bred for the Guineas. His dam Gossamer in fact won the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2002. Gossamer is also a full sister to Barathea, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and was second to Zafonic in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1993. Ibn Khaldun has nothing but improved over his two-year-old season and the noises coming out of the Godolphin camp are positive. If he kept up the progression at the same rate as through last year, he will be right up there and should be capable of winning. He is likely to be 3rd in the betting behind New Approach and Raven's Pass. I definitely feel he is a better horse than Raven's Pass. Whether he will be able to beat horse-of-the-moment New Approach, we will find out tomorrow. He is trading at 4/1 to 9/2 at the moment. I put some money on him last October at 25/1. Fingers crossed! He could be a superstar...
My other runner is Alfathaa. He has recovered from his foot problem and will likely take his place in the starting stalls tomorrow. He is a bit of an enigma. I am not quite sure what to expect of him. He ran well enough last year as two-year-old and was not far behind the leading two-year-old colts. He won a maiden by five lengths over a mile and finished a creditable fifth in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge (G2) behind City Leader by only 1 1/4 lengths. His sire Nayef won G1s at 3, 4 and 5 and his dam was a listed winner at 4, so plenty of scope for improvement for him over the coming season. Whether he is ready for such a big task yet remains to be seen, but I hope he will run well. I have bet him each way for tomorrow, as I think he definitely capable of running a good race.
The field:
SC PP Horse (Jockey)
1. 4 Alfathaa (Richard Hills)
2. 8 Bahamian Kid (Ted Durcan)
3. 3 Dream Eater (Martin Dwyer)
4. 6 Fireside (Alan Munro)
5. 10 Henryhenavigator (Johnny Murtagh)
6. 9 Ibn Khaldun (Frankie Dettori)
7. 11 Moynahan (Richard Quinn)
8. 2 New Approach (Kevin Manning)
9. 5 Perfect Stride (Ryan Moore)
10. 1 Plan (Michael Kinane)
11. 13 Raven's Pass (Jimmy Fortune)
12. 15 Scintillo (Richard Hughes)
13. 12 Stimulation (Steve Drowne)
14. 14 Strike The Deal (Eddie Ahern)
15. 7 Stubbs Art (Seb Sanders)
My somewhat biased prediction for tomorrow:
1. Ibn Khaldun
2. New Approach
3. Alfathaa
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